Bachmann Responds to Iraq Statement
Washington,
Mar 2, 2007 -
In a recent interview, I referred to Iran’s influence in Iraq and the idea that Iran wished to partition Iraq.
Some people would prefer to dismiss Iran and al-Qaeda’s push to undermine the freely elected Iraqi government, but the threat is very real.
I said that an agreement had already been made to divide Iraq and create a safe haven for terrorists. Rather, I meant that America’s adversaries are in agreement that a divided Iraq benefits their objective to expel America from the region, resulting in Iraq being a safe haven for terrorists.
It was suggested that I might have revealed classified material. I was referring to publicly available reports out of the Middle East that declared the intent of the Iranian regime and al-Qaeda.
Let me make myself clear: both al-Qaeda and the Iranian regime hope for the US to fail in bringing democracy to Iraq. Destabilizing Iraq is one of their tactics. Moreover, they wish for the destruction of the United States and Israel.
Reuters reported in October 2006:
“an Iraqi militant group led by al-Qaeda has called for a separate Islamic state in Baghdad and other areas with a large Sunni Arab population, according to a video posted on the Internet on Sunday.”
“’Your brothers in the Mutayibeen Coalition herald the establishment of the Islamic State of Iraq ...,’ a speaker for the coalition said on the video.”
This follows Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s declaration in 2005 during the “World without Zionism” conference that:
“Is it possible for us to witness a world without America and Zionism? But you had best know that this slogan and this goal are attainable, and surely can be achieved.”
This comes from a man who proclaims publicly his intention to pursue a nuclear program that could result in nuclear weapons.
That same year, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, who leads the Iranian Guardian Council, hailed the coming of the “Islamic State of Iraq,” believing that the Islamic revolution that had begun in Shia Iran was being exported to Iraq.
My additional concern is that Iran has supported the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi army and their interest in dividing Iraq along sectarian lines. Al-Sadr hides today within Iran, protected by them. One can see clearly that Iran supports those Shiite elements within Iraq that wish for ongoing division along sectarian lines, the failure of the Iraqi government, and the promotion of terrorist insurgencies to achieve these objectives.
Try as we might to wish the Iranian and al-Qaeda problem away, they remain a great threat to American interests, our ally Israel, and the future of peace and stability in the region.
It is my hope that we can persuade Iran that further hostilities with the United States are not in its best interests. It is also my hope that pro-democratic elements within Iran will not submit to the current Iranian regime and will continue their vital work towards a free Iran.
The United States faces very real and clear threats from both al-Qaeda and Iran. We must stand strong in the face of terrorism and support our troops in Iraq.
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