[New York Times] Kenneth M. Pollack - The problems in Iraq were not caused by the Iranians, nor can Iran solve them all. Most Iraqis dislike the Iranians. In fact, "dislike" is too mild a term. While Iranian support is no doubt gratefully received, the evidence suggests that it is now more a supplement than a necessity for the major militias. Tehran can influence the behavior of the Shiite groups, but it probably would have a hard time forcing them to do things they do not want to do. The limits on Iranian influence are a double-edged sword. They mean that we cannot count on Iran to solve Iraq's problems, but they also mean that we need not offer the Iranians the world in return for their assistance. Right now, Tehran and its bombastic president are riding high in the Middle East, and they will doubtless want something in return for helping us deal with Iraq. The writer is director of research at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution.
2006-12-08 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive