Iran Winning Iraqi Hearts And Minds

Reporter's Notebook: Baghdad Visit Part Of Ahmadinejad's Strategy To Befriend Iraq

(CBS)  This Reporter's Notebook was written by CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey, in Baghdad.

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Every initiative and operation in Iraq, be it economic or military, seems to have a title, usually one that sounds like it has been devised by throwing darts at a set of words and then combining them like a slogan on a tee shirt.

If the Iranians had wanted one for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's two-day jaunt, they could simply have used the title from a Carpenters song: "We've Only Just Begun".

Iran has been called the main beneficiary of the Iraq conflict so often it is almost a cliché. Ahmadinejad's trip was aimed at making it an indisputable fact. The removal of Iran's most implacable enemy - Saddam Hussein and his Baath Party - and its replacement by a Shiite-dominated regime, several of whose key players spent time in exile in Iran - was a freebie first step. Now the Iranians are well on their way.

For a send-off, Ahmadinejad didn't get just one "kiss for luck"; he got four, when he was welcomed by U.S.-backed Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who threw in a symbolic hug by standing impassive while the Iranian leader told a joint press conference: "The Americans have to understand the facts of the region. Iraqi people do not like America."

Many of them, notably the Sunni minority, don't care all that much for Iran either. But, even they were impressed by the fact that Ahmadinejad flagged his trip well in advance, made a ceremonial arrival in full view of Iraqi media, traveled by road and did not stay in the fortified Green Zone.

The show was in stark contrast to President Bush and other American VIPs who, if they deign to venture off secure U.S. military bases after they arrive here unannounced and in secret, do so by helicopter.

The visit was about a lot more than symbolism, however. Ahmadinejad's entourage included a cadre of economic and energy experts.

Iran-Iraq trade already tops $8 billion per year. New initiatives announced during the two day visit included customs agreements, joint investment projects in oil ventures, construction of an airport near the Shiite holy city of Najaf for pilgrims, a free trade zone, integration of banking systems, exchange of technical expertise and a $1 billion loan in the form of goods and services provided by Iranian companies.

Perhaps the most far-sighted of all was the possible supply of electricity to Basra. How, the Iranians will be able to ask, can we be denied nuclear power to generate electricity that will help our struggling neighbor? The inability, however justified, of the coalition to fix the electricity supply they helped break and cannot completely defend from insurgents will only add weight to the argument.

Iran has been building up to this point for a long time. The Iranians kept their embassy here open even during the U.S. led invasion. Few Arab states have a functioning embassy in Baghdad, even now.

No neighboring Arab leader has come here. In a piece in Tuesday's Times of London, foreign editor Richard Beeston summed it up in one succinct sentence: "Without the need to fire a shot, Iran is becoming Iraq's indispensable political ally and trading partner."

The fact that Iran may be firing shots through the proxy of militias it backs and weapons the Americans say it supplies did not come up during the state visit. Quite the contrary. Ahmadinejad even made his points without the fiery anti-American rhetoric he has carried over from his days as a leader of students who occupied the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979.

His message from the pulpit of a press conference, covered by virtually all of the Iraqi and mainstream Arabic language press, was straightforward: "The people of this area got nothing from the occupation here except damage, sabotage, destruction, insults and degradation."

It is not that much out of sync with what many Iraqis - Shiite and Sunni alike - see when they look at their inadequate public services, car and suicide bombs and their squabbling, dysfunctional government.

Admonishing "major powers who have come from thousands of kilometers away" as "an insult to regional nations," and telling them to "go back home" may be somewhat disingenuous on Ahmadinejad's part, but it does seem to have struck a chord that will keep Iran's song up high on the local charts.

[geecee827]

This is a big slap in the face to America. Here we are spending billions of dollars and thousands of lives, only to have Iraqi leadership embrace Iran. That''s our thanks, afer 6 years of fighting to "stabilize" Iraq and win them over. Like that''s EVER going to happen!! That''s what we get for going in in the first place.

[demslie]

Don''t let the Democrat lies fool you. The Democrat controlled media hardly mentioned that Angelina Jolie said the American troops need to stay in IRAQ. That is because millions of IRARI Refugees are now returning to a more stable country. Angelina Jolie said that the IRAQI people are not afraid of the American Military, they are afraid of Al Qaeda that gets all its support from IRAN. The IRAQI people do not hate American or the US Military. IRAN, Al Qaeda and Democrats hate us.

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush II is upset that the Iranian president "What''s His Face" was invited to and spent 2 days in Iraq, welcomed by a government that the Great Emperor thought were HIS friends!

The Great Emperor was irritated even further when he learned that "What''s His Face" traveled everywhere around Bagdad and no one shot at him, unlike the Great Emperor or other Americans who need the Nazi storm troopers, Blackwater, to protect them.

One get''s the very distinct impression that "What''s His Face" was rubbing the Great Emperor''s own "Face" in fresh camel dung, but the Iranian president was also thankful to the Great Emperor for being so stupid as to remove a great threat to the Iranians, Saddam Hussein and his Baath Party, from power, and throwing the country open to civil war!

Hussein and his buddies might have been bad people, but they kept the Iranians out along with Al Qeada, and after all, wasn''t there an old saying made famous by FDR about Joe Stalin during WW II: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend!".

But I forget, the neocons are saying the days of FDR and Truman are dead, "Long Live Neocon Stupidity"!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, McCain????

[tbweb]

This is a big slap in the face to America. Here we are spending billions of dollars and thousands of lives, only to have Iraqi leadership embrace Iran. That''''s our thanks, afer 6 years of fighting to "stabilize" Iraq and win them over. Like that''s EVER going to happen!! That''''s what we get for going in in the first place.

Posted by geecee827 at 09:05 AM : Mar 04, 2008,,,

Since the very beginning I have been pointing out the U.S. miscalculation in Iraq. The U.S. has always looked at Iraq as a nation, which it is but failed to consider the religious aspects which in nations with a large Muslim population can''t be underestimated. Iran is Shiite and Iraq''s new majority in power is Shiite, this Shiite link and bond will transcend nation and borders in the end. Iran is playing the "religious card", the Shiite religious link and bond, the U.S. don''t have that card to play! In a religious context Iranians and Iraqi''s are Shiite''s first and Iranians and Iraqi''s second, I''ve been saying this all along!

[cassandragop]

Don''''t let the Democrat lies fool you. The Democrat controlled media hardly mentioned that Angelina Jolie said the American troops need to stay in IRAQ. ...
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Posted by demslie at 09:12 AM : Mar 04, 2008
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Wow, the Republcans look to Angelina Jolie to decide foreign policy! And they complain about Hollywoods influence on the Democrats.

[soubaptist1]

Seems that " winning the hearts and minds of the people " has been tried before. An art we seem to be woefully inadaquate in.
WE need to get out of Iraq and let the people of that " nation " decide their own fate.
Unless of course we are really there for the oil and not for more noble aims.

[olebd]

Does anybody remember lie number 826 of the Bush administration? The reason we can''t leave Iraq is because Iran will invade and take over Iraq.

It''s time for us to leave. At the end of the day, Iraq is going to do what Iraq wants to do whether we are there or not.

GW Bush has more or less handed Iraq straight over to the Iranians.

Meanwhile, almost 4000 of our troops have died so that Iran can have more control in Iraq.

Nice one GW - you f**king moron.

[b-easy63]

Now. We did not really think after invading, bombing and killing and imprisoning Iraqis for years and telling ourselves it was for their own good and for "FREE DUMMM" was really going to fly--now did we? Here''s a Trillion dollar clue: If you hurt people (no matter how just you think the rationale is for doing it) they will not like you--and guess what? "Money can''t buy you love". LMAO

demslie wrote:

"Don''''t let the Democrat lies fool you. The Democrat controlled media hardly mentioned that Angelina Jolie said the American troops need to stay in IRAQ."

Sounds like you want to believe Angelina Jolie - regardless of the cost.

But tell me, who in their right mind would let a Hollywood "star" decide what''s right and what''s wrong?

Only an idiot would - sounds like you''re that idiot.

[cbsblogger]

You done a good job GW Bush. You''ve killed or maimed over 10K American servicemen while spending a generation''s worth of our wealth and have killed 1 million Iraqis...all to make Iran more powerful.

Why didn''t you listen to *** Cheney in 1994?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BEsZMvrq-I

b-easy63 wrote:

"Now. We did not really think after invading, bombing and killing and imprisoning Iraqis for years and telling ourselves it was for their own good and for "FREE DUMMM" was really going to fly--now did we? Here''''s a Trillion dollar clue: If you hurt people (no matter how just you think the rationale is for doing it) they will not like you--and guess what? "Money can''''t buy you love". LMAO"

Indeed - I wonder why dropping cluster bombs on innocent civilians and arresting 14 year old kids didn''t win the hearts and minds of Iraqis?

[b-easy63]

But, even they were impressed by the fact that Ahmadinejad flagged his trip well in advance, made a ceremonial arrival in full view of Iraqi media, traveled by road and did not stay in the fortified Green Zone. The show was in stark contrast to President Bush and other American VIPs who, if they deign to venture off secure U.S. military bases after they arrive here unannounced and in secret, do so by helicopter."

this is the best part of the story. Think about this: he tells them waaaay in advance that he is coming--leaving plenty of time for IEDs to be planted or removed--and then shows his faith in the matter by traveling on the roads and somehow--not getting blown up.

Whereas our guys come in secret in the dead of night, need entire platoons to guard them and face an IED about 3.7 inches outside the Green Zone.

The real grind is: If the insurgents (who supposedly are Sunnis) hate foreigners and Iran--why is there no problem with travel over roads for the Iranians, but continual problems of travel and even existence in Iraq for Americans?

Like we don''t know that answer. Guess who is the interloper? It ain''t the ones who all look like Arabs there. (Yes. I know Iranians are not Arab)

[nolalou]

This to me is just one more sign of the mess Bush made when he invaded Iraq based on dam-ed lies, with no thought of the aftermath and the ultimate consequences.

As for Angelina Jolie, I read her article, and it is mainly a call for humanitarian aid, so displaced Iraqis can return home. While I appreciate her genuine concern, I do not agree that keeping our troops in Iraq helps the situation. The problem is the surge was intended to give the Iraqi goverment time to get it''s act together, to have power sharing between the Sunni''s and Shiite factions. This has not happened, instead you have a ****** dominated goverment, cozying up to Iran, showing no interest in making peace with the Sunni minority, which just leads to more ethnic violence!

[zykracosmos]

Halliburton and Exxon had Cheney talk Bush into deposing Saddam, so that they could control Iraqi oil flow. Halliburton had the contracts to develop it until 1998 when Saddam gave the US an ultimatum on ending sanctions. The neocons thought they could simply walk in and take it, which they did, but never had a chance of holding it. By not dealing with Saddam, Exxon/Mobil and BP/Shell will have to now buy oil from an Iranian dominated Iraq, who very likely will end up giving development rights to the Russians and/or French, tipping the balance of the global energy economic structure away from US interests and in favor of Russia/Asia. It was a high stakes gamble by Bush Co and they have lost. The best the US can hope for now is that Obama with his "talk to the enemy" strategy, can make things civil enough with the Iran/Iraq new coalition for American oil companies to be able to buy crude from them without discounts. The US better start looking to non-fossil fuel energy sooner rather than later, cause we are on the losing end of the global competition for crude supplies now. You are starting to hear it from both Republican and Democratic congressmen... develop new energy resources here (and that might have to include nuclear). You won''t be able to drive westward without seeing wind machines just about every mile. Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada will be one big solar panel.

[demslie]

Halliburton and Exxon had Cheney talk Bush into deposing Saddam, so that they could control Iraqi oil flow. Halliburton had the contracts to develop it until 1998 when Saddam gave the US an ultimatum on ending sanctions. The neocons thought...
Posted by ZykraCosmos

The same lies that were told during the first Gulf War. It was all about oil. Well, we did not get one drop of free oil then and we will not get one drop of free oil now. Lies, lies and lies. And this is the new %u201CChange for America%u201D that Saddam Hussein OBAMA, Hitlery and Democraps have promised us.

[singingrick]

A report card on Iraq shows progress on only eight of 18 areas. Eight out of 18. And, of course, President Bush is thrilled. That''s the best report card he''s ever got in his life

[demslie]

This story is all about the Democrats love for IRAN and hate for America. Democrats hailed the North Korean nuclear program as a fine example of the peaceful use of nuclear power. The same Democrats joined their friends in IRAN and Al Qaeda terrorists in denouncing (bad Old) American attempts to stop (the good people of) North Korea from its peaceful aims. The Democrats screamed at America and praised the peace loving North Koreans right up until the time they exploded their first peaceful Atomic Bomb. Then, of course, we never heard a word from Democrats on the subject. Now, today, Democrats are giving the same aid, comfort and support to IRAN. And this is the new %u201CChange for America%u201D that Saddam Hussein OBAMA, Hitlery and Democraps have promised us.

[singingrick]

This week, a group of Republican congressmen asked President Bush what his ''Plan B'' is if the current Iraq plan doesn''t work. The ''Plan B'' discussion was difficult for Bush, because it involves two areas where he''s extremely vulnerable -- Iraq and the alphabet.

[singingrick]

This is the week that Congress sent the president a bill to bring the troops home, which, of course, as he promised he would do, vetoed it. The president said setting a deadline for withdrawal was setting a date for failure. And we all know, this is a president who likes his failures unplanned and spur-of-the-moment.

[creeper00]

"A report card on Iraq shows progress on only eight of 18 areas. Eight out of 18. And, of course, President Bush is thrilled. That''''s the best report card he''''s ever got in his life"
Posted by singingrick at 10:28 AM : Mar 04, 2008

Okay...who are you and what have you done with singingrick? He would never have posted anything even remotely critical of GW Bush or Republicans.

[tbweb]

Okay...who are you and what have you done with singingrick?

Posted by creeper00 at 10:34 AM : Mar 04, 2008,,,

There are 2 singingrick! One is spelled singingrick and the other is spelled singinrick! And yes they are very different! lol

[shingles1]

Posted by demslie

How are those paint chips tasting?

[singingrick]

And the three winners of the Iraqi war are:

1. Iran

2. Al Qaeda

3. Halliburton?

[rushlimbaug4]

This story is all about the Democrats love for IRAN and hate for America. Democrats hailed the North Korean nuclear program as a fine example of the peaceful use of nuclear power. The same Democrats joined their friends in IRAN and Al Qaeda terrorists in denouncing (bad Old) American attempts to stop (the good people of) North Korea from its peaceful aims


Posted by demslie at 10:29 AM : Mar 04, 2008

Greetings, Demslie, my loyal listener!
You are correct. There is no room for descent when it comes to war. We must go out and fight evil wherever it may be. Just because our nation was supposedly founded on descent and the British Aristocracy referred to use as Evil Rebels is of no consequence!

Anyone who does not agree that we should assassinate former allies like Saddam when the relationship becomes untenable when likes of Saddam decides to trade oil with Russia in rubles, should be shot in the street, for they do not truly love America!!
And I am so tired of hear limp wrested LIBz whining about America being the only country to use nuclear bombs when we incinerate all life, even microbial, at Nagasaki and Hiroshima!!!

Americans are so good and so loving of life that we are allowed to take life as we see fit for the GREATER GOOD! May God continue to only bless America, the Chosen nation of GOD!!

[ponco seno]

IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY

[ponco seno]

"Angelina Jolie said the American troops need to stay in IRAQ....."




She might be very attractive gal with a very good heart.However, she ain''t to bright.

[mcvet]

My Mother, God rest her soul, told me once when I was caught in the neighbors strawberry''s and denied being there, NOTHING good ever comes from a lie. She proceeded to spank my bottom until it was red. To bad someone didn''t have the same common sense with George W. Bush. I remember back when he was LYING so hard to all of you about this mess. So many of my brothers were telling all of you, this is another Vietnam. YOU wouldn''t listen. Sure North Vietnam was the bad guys but to those in South Vietnam, where so much war had been served on them, they weren''t bad at all. Thus we had the VC to fight and there was NO winning that fight because you couldn''t tell the good guy from the bad guy. Guess what? Here we go again. Sieg Heil Bush.

[getagrip54]

"The same lies that were told during the first Gulf War. It was all about oil. Well, we did not get one drop of free oil then and we will not get one drop of free oil now. Lies, lies and lies." posted by Demslie.

You''re right we didn''t get any free oil but Bush and Cheneys friends in the big oil companies sure did. It''s not a coincidence that millions of barrels of Iraqi oil disappered, the price of gas is over $3.00 a gallon and Exxon posted record profits last year.

[skyk-2009]

Now for all of you who do not know what a Butt Whoopin looks like, well this is a BUTT WHOOPIN! When the guy YOU blame for most of the killing and bloodshed ANOUNCES his arrival and is met with OPEN ARMS by the guys YOU installed, now THAT is a BUTT WHOOPIN! They studied Bush and his allies in the South. They knew just what buttons to push and how to push them. Thus we have egg on our face with no way out. Embarrassing? You be the judge?

[jersupporter]

She might be very attractive gal with a very good heart. However, she ain''t to bright. Posted by RealityToday
-------------------------
Neither are you - it should be too bright. LOL At least she has visited Iraq - have you?

[singingrick]

Nice job Bushies. Iran is the clear victor of the Iraq war. They have more influence in Iraq than we do.

[olebd]

Nice job Bushies. Iran is the clear victor of the Iraq war. They have more influence in Iraq than we do.

Posted by singingrick at 11:15 AM : Mar 04, 2008
+ report abuse

AND Iran gained their influence in a lot less time and a lot less money.

The Bush "My way or the highway" mantra is yet another failure.

[Syndicate]

All is going to plan. How will the Iranians deny their own people the rights and prosperity that they will soon see in Iraq? When Iraq prospers and Iran doesn''t the Iranian government will have a lot of explaining to do.

It would be nice to get some gratitude from Iran for the US getting rid of Saddam for them. They fought him for years and lost hundreds of thousands and then we came in and handled it for free!

[radiob-2009]

For a send-off, Ahmadinejad didn''t get just one "kiss for luck"; he got four, when he was welcomed by U.S.-backed Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who threw in a symbolic hug by standing impassive while the Iranian leader told a joint press conference: "The Americans have to understand the facts of the region. Iraqi people do not like America."

Many of them, notably the Sunni minority, don''t care all that much for Iran either. But, even they were impressed by the fact that Ahmadinejad flagged his trip well in advance, made a ceremonial arrival in full view of Iraqi media, traveled by road and did not stay in the fortified Green Zone.



No need to sneak in, and then be escorted by platoons for safety. Way to go Bush. We will be paying for this at the pump and more for decades.

[bogusbones]

Our Administration in it''s haste to use guns and bombs and all those things that thrill our Cowboy President, is as usual looking at things in a shortsighted manner. All our billions in Iraq don''t mean a thing and won''t bring one benefit to the American people. All we''ve done is engage many more enemies. Look out for an invasion of Iran because that is the only way these people know how to deal with problems. My goodness America, wake up. Get out of the Middle East conflicts and come clean things up at home - oh but i''m giving everyone $500 to spend. keep your blood money President Bush - you''re only giving us what you''ve stolen from us over the past 7 years.

[donbl1]

Lot of people being swayed by one journalist''s view of Achmedinejad''s visit and the "visible" portion of the visit.

Life is not that simple and superficial.

Iran had no choice but to donate $1B (which they are going to have trouble coming up with.....).

Also, no comment was made about the convoy of armed guards accompanying Achmedinejad.

Remember, Iran funds Hezbolah, Hamas and many terrorist organizations around the world. In addition, the 3000 centrifuges are not for power production as only a few are needed for that quality of purification.

Lastly, supplying electric power to Basra is like Russia supplying gas to Europe - it is a way to get power over the region. Remember when the Russians cut off gas supplies last year? The Europeans caved in.

[billconn2]

The Americans have to understand the facts of the region. Iraqi people do not like America.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!

[killtheliars]

guess who won''t be getting any oil from the Kirkuk -Mosel pipeline being built through Jordan if Iran keeps gaining influence?
Israel, awww too bad.

[pfd572]

I am sick to death of this. Let them be best friends and have each other. The longer we stay, the more Iran gains favor using the favorite method of making friends..bashing the US, after first taking all they can from us. It is time to stop sacrificing our young men and women on the alter of oil and bad decisions. All we have accomplished, once again, is strengthening the oppressive governments, l.e. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, etc. Time to bring ''em home.

[pfd572]

badaxmofo: speak for yourself and quite the assumptions. Bush is not my president or leader, he couldn''t lead a boy scout troop to the closest McDonalds. He is responsible for the current debacle in the Middle East. How can you brain washed, right-wing zombies knock Iran for its oppression, yet praise Bush whose administration continues the cozy relationship with other oppressive governments? How different is our good friend Saudi Arabia in the treatment of women and religious minorities? And just love your rabid endorsement of sacrificing our service people for oil. You and your ilk are the jokes. Typical fascist, right-wing double-standards.

[pfd572]

ddhinyc: there have been stories in the ''liberal'' media about the good works of our foot soldiers, which you need has not been funded by the Bush administration. Those stories were about American influences and didn''t include Iran''s activities. Now we have a story about Iran''s influences, which, in this case, doesn''t parallel with the American good works. How sad that you and yours want to control the media, just like they do in the Middle East. You need to remember we get the same rights in this country that you say (!?) you wish for the rest of the world.

[pfd572]

rafteman1: You say it very well. Keep it up.

[actornaught]

This would be w and the US winning hearts and minds if the little warmonger''s inner voice told him that trillions of dollars of war could cause peace to break out.

btw, s''ick, you''re a lying piece of dirt.

[prinzowhales]

Oh, why do they hate us!!??? On Youtube.com and with links at infowars.com, you can see our brave freedom-loving soldiers throwing puppies off of cliffs...you can see them throwing hand grenades into flocks of sheep and killing sheep and sheepdogs...you can see the sick psychopaths torturing kittens and laughing gleefully as a poor old dog with his guts trailing behind him from their hand grenade attack stagger away...

...Oh, why do they hate us???!! When our sick psychopaths in the Demopublican Regime opine that it is fine and dandy to sexually torture children in front of their parents...when our sick psychopaths shoot women and children for sport! Oh, why do they hate us??!! Why, oh why?!

[prinzowhales]

The sick psychopaths who rule America are the scum of the earth!! They must be stopped! Their allies in Kabul, Mexico City, Bogota, Tel Aviv, the Green Zone, and London and in the KLA, ARE the drug dealers, terrorists and criminals that they claim to be fighting...And, Obama, Clinton and McCain are THEIR candidates!!

[prinzowhales]

singinrick--Still bearing false witness? Mark 7, tells us everything we need to know about you, twisted elf!

[actornaught]

One of little w''s rationales for invading Iraq was to keep al qaeda (who he & his lackeys knew weren''t in Iraq) from getting control of oil and driving up the price.

Oil is now at the official inflation-adjusted all-time high.

obl said he wanted to bankrupt the US. How''s that coming along, w?

[leftyintexas]

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Posted by singinrick at 12:20 PM : Mar 04, 2008

How about asking for God''s blessings for the world and not just our troops and America? You ARE a good Christian, aren''t you? Ha! Ha! Ha!