[New York Post] Amir Taheri - Ahmadinejad's two-day state visit to Iraq last week showed the limits of Iranian influence in that country. Iranian emissaries and pro-Iran elements in Iraq were supposed to ensure massive crowds thronging the streets of Baghdad and throwing flowers on the path of the visiting Iranian leader. Instead, crowds gathered to protest Ahmadinejad's visit. A good part of the Iraqi political elite, including cabinet ministers and members of the parliament, boycotted functions held in his honor. Ahmadinejad had come to Iraq to show it was an Iranian playground. He ended up by showing that Iran's influence in Iraq is widely exaggerated. Few Iraqis wish to see their country dominated by the Khomeinist regime in Tehran.
2008-03-10 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive