Sunday, February 25, 2007

Did Iraqi President Talabani Grant Any Wishes before Going to Jordan?

Two stories ran across the wire this weekend. One involved Israel asking Iraq for permission to use its air space for any attack on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities. Should the Jewish State choose to serve up a déjà vu of its raid on Saddam Hussein’s nuclear capabilities in the 1980’s, it will need an O.K. from the new Iraqi government. Who might be in such a position?

It’s doubtful that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki would grant permission given his Shia religious faith and close ties to Iran. That leaves President Jalal Talabani, an ethnic Kurd as the prime candidate. Kurds didn’t like Saddam and don’t like Iran much either as they desire their own ethnic homeland.

The President fell ill today and was rushed to a hospital in Amman, Jordan. Are there no quality hospitals in the Middle East’s newest democracy? I thought the U.S. recently presented a brand new facility to the Iraqi people.

Or was the President spirited out of the country for other reasons? Did he just grease the skids for an Israeli punch in the Iranian snout? Might the U.S. surge in Iraq just be the buildup needed to contain Iran’s retaliatory impulse after Israel’s raid? Did Ehud Olmert pick up Alladin's Lamp, rub it and out pop Jalal Talabani? Stay tuned…

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