Another important point about Iran today. Remember how so much of the spin about the Annapolis meeting focused on the fact that this was a big sign that the Gulf Arab states had now “bought” the whole US-Israeli narrative about how Iran was now the main threat in the region?
Well, it so happens that the six conservative Arab Gulf rulers whose states are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are holding one of their regular summit meetings– in Doha, Qatar– and who should their main invited guest be? You guessed: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, invited to the GCC summit for the first time ever.
That report from Reuters and AP tells us that
- Ahmadinejad, who was escorted to the red-carpet welcome at the meeting by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, invited the other leaders to Tehran to discuss his proposal, which includes unspecified cooperation in the nuclear field and the training of Gulf scientists in Iran.
Ahmadinejad suggested a number of initiatives, including canceling requirements for visas to travel between the countries, establishing joint oil and gas projects, and cooperating on environmental protection and technology…
No takers on the proposal yet, it seems. But it does make all the neocon/Israeli schemes of building a united US-Israeli-Arab coalition against Iran seem just a little hallucinatory.
Just a little hallucinatory? You’re too kind.
H, this might be important for your book:
HRW on the situation of the Iraqi refugees in Lebanon
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2007/lebanon1207/
overheard schmoozing…
Abdullah to Ahmedinejad: If you think that your Holocaust Denial Conference, not to mention your Homosexual Denial remarks, upset the infidels, wait till I tell you about their reaction to our giving a rape victim a 200 lashes sentence!
Truesdell, to make you happier let sentenced British teacher in Sudan 15dayes in jail for insulting ISALM!!
BTW, I forgot to put my comment, so if we like these leaders who lead Annapolis Peace Conference and the Gulf Accord which proven to be more shaky like the kings and sheiks they don’t know what they doing or how using the huge OIL money just handed back to US to help the sick dollar from loosing its strength and confidence around the world.
That cancelled requirement proposed for visas to travel between Saudi Arabia and Iran sounds a lot like current conditions of travel enjoyed between Turkey and Iran.
For what it is worth, I have heard a few interviews in the last several months with a couple of academics who specialize in Iran, one of whom is himself Iranian (sorry, cannot recall the names right now). One of the things they emphasized was that relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have not been negative, and that contrary to the propaganda coming out of the Bush regime, Saudi Arabia had no fear of Iran. In fact, apparently Iran has been taking steps to make sure that the Shi`as in Saudi Arabia do not make trouble.
It’s just so very interesting that you hear completely different things from people who are really in touch with things than you do from those who have a political agenda about it.
Iran has been taking steps to make sure that the Shi`as in Saudi Arabia do not make trouble.
Shirin, this sort of stories we keep hearing again and again, about Iran leading some group here and there.
The fact is they are Saudi’s citizenry first they care about their country as other Saudis. What these notes are raising from some they trying to pump up Iranian’s influences inside the neighbouring countries.
Did you read this in the news from Iraq?