what are the reasons behind Nejad's visit to Iraq?
Answer
This is a visit that was overdue.
Senior Iraqi officials had already visited Iran. It is normal for an Iranian President to visit Iraq. The two countries have over 25 centuries of common history.
President Ahmadinejad had the courage to make this visit despite Iraq being military occupied by the mighty American troops.
Ahmadinejad visited Iraq despite the fact that the Bush administration wants to control Iraq, accuses Iran of " interference" and "sabotage", and portrays it as the "ennemy."
The present American administration is trying to keep Iran out of Iraq and divide and keep the two separate in order to maintain its total control over the region.
I believe that the visit was a victory for President Ahamadinejad. I think it was also a step towards normalizing the Iranian-Iraq relations. It was also a move toward peace.
Name
Editor - Dina Abdel-Mageed
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Profession
Question
The session has started. Please join us with your questions.
Answer
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Name
Ahmed
-
Profession
journalist
Question
some observers described Ahamdinejad's visit as "a crowning moment for Tehran's deepening influence across the Middle East". do you think that this is true?
Answer
I will describe it more as a moment of recognizing Iran's influence.
Observers seem to fail to recognize the historical ties between the countries of Western Asia or the so called "Middle East". This is to remind them of these profound ties.
Name
Reza
- Pakistan
Profession
Question
does the visit has any significance with regard to iranian-us relations?
Answer
I think so.
First, Ahmadinejad visited what we can call an "American Iraq". His official visit to occupied Iraq means the acceptance of the occupation fact, even if it is reluctantly.
It also indicated the acceptance of the American administration of the Iranian President's official visit. It was a peaceful move, as I allude before. It indicated the two parties' acceptance of each other or tolerance towards each other.
This visit can also be seen against the backrop of the American presidential elections.
George Bush will leave the White House soon. And if any of the two Democratic candidates get to the White House, the American policy in Iraq will change because both of them have announced that they will withdraw the US troops. Cooperation with Iran for a safety withdrawal of the troops is a must.
Particularly, Barack Obama presidency could mean a peaceful transformation of the situation. He announced he will engage in dialogue with his Iranian counterpart.
Today, the American troops are assuring the security of the Iranian President visiting Iraq. Tomorrow, the Iranians could be the warrant for a smooth withdrawal of American troops and the stability of the region and the security of the Iraqi people and of the American withdrawal.
Name
Jalal
- Iran
Profession
political science student
Question
How do you explain he fact that Nejad was warmly welcomed in Iraq despite the accusations against Iran of interfering in Iraqi affairs? Do you think that Shiites are bidding for Iranian support in case of US withdrawal?
Answer
I find it normal that Ahmadinejad or any Iranian president be welcomed in a liberated Iraq. I don't think the Shi'a Sunni clash is real.
Name
Nora
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Profession
Question
Do you think that the visit will reduce the level of violence?
Answer
Yes. It is going in this direction.
I see it this way: the violence erupts when you don't recognize the nature of the things, when you want to force it otherwise.
The visit will make Iranians and Americans closer to each other by tolerating each other's presence.
It is a continuation of the dialogue that has started between the two countries and, also, perhaps most impotantly, it is to let the two neighboring states have normal relations.
Name
Sara
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Profession
Question
Some political analysts and scholars say that Iranians are competent in politics -- that they can do politics. Which is not the case with other Islamaists and non-secularists. Do you agree? And if yes, why is this the case in Iran? What makes Iranian politicians of the Islamic Republic more competent than Hamas or Muslim Brothrhood politians in Palestine and Egypt for example?
Answer
I am not sure.
It is normal that Iranians are not less competent that any other people. After all, one might be competent if you think they managed to survive for milleniums as a nation or state, but I do not think others are less competent.
I have never put any thought on such question, sorry.
Name
muhammad
- Algeria
Profession
Question
unlike the visits of american officials, the iranian president's visit was announced. what's the significance of this?
Answer
Act of courage. Also, perhaps act of defiance towards the Bush adminstration and the whole world that listens only to the Anglo-american media.
It was an act of courage by Ahmadinejad to illustrate the closeness of natural,brotherly relations between the two countries.
Perhaps, it illustrates that an Iranian President is not a stranger there and does not fear to be there, but an American President is a stranger.
Name
mona
- Egypt
Profession
teacher
Question
Responding to Bush's remark, ahmadinejad said in a press conference that "accusing others will only complicate America's problems in the region". do you see such statement as a threat to the united states? do you think that in the few coming days or weeks we'll see more escalation in Iraq?
Answer
No. I think this is a normal reply to a stupid statement by a warmonger American president.
Imagine Obama in Bush's place. He would have welcomed such a visit and would have perhpas used much nicer words.
Americans and Iranians can be allies.
Name
Nasim
-
Profession
Question
can Nejad's visit be seen in the context of the Iranian attempts to improve arab-Iranian relations?
Answer
Iranians have always been interested in improving their relations with their neighbours, particularly Arab-Iranian relations.
Yet, this visit was mainly about Iraq and the Iraqi situation situation.
Name
Robert
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
how do you see the future of the relationship between iraq & iran?
Answer
It depends on many factors and the developments that will happen in the future and that might not be foreseeable now.
But, on the long term, one hopes to see all the countries in the region coming together and forming a union (think of the European Union) and reformulate their dividing borders that can be traced back to the British colonialism during the 19th and 20th centuries. We can not have peace under the present poltical map drawn by the British colonialists of the 19th and 20th centuries, a map that was drawn with the precise goal to divide...(and rule)
We need to look and hope for the birth of new leaders who would understand such necessity.
Within such union, and it is only within such general cooperation of all states that Iran and Iraq would find the way to eternal peace and prosperity.
Name
Houman
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Profession
Question
do you think that the iranian intervention in iraq is justified?
Answer
I do not see any " Iranian intervention" in Iraq. I do see 2500 years of common history.
As I said earlier, the Iran-Iraq division is an artifice. The artifice has been there since the end of World War I with the creation of the present Iraqi State.
Our mistake is taking this division for granted and thinking of Iran and Iraq as two separate states.
The borders drawn by British colonialism, whetehr between Iraq and Iran, or Iran and Afghanistan, or Afghanistan and Pakistan, or the creation of the states in the Persian Gulf,and the list is long.
The smaller States in the Persian Gulf, that now form the United Arab Emirates but were separate states were all created starting in the 19th century by the British colonialism to protect British interests. It is good to see them form a bigger union and erase the divide.
All the boundaries in the region are artificial and should be reconsidered in a peaceful manner, and that can only be done in good faith with full cooperation of the regional actors without interference of external powers.
Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia are all neighboring countries interested that need to reconsider their borders and form an alliance and a regional system.
Divides made by the British colonialism should be all erased in order to establish a durable peace. it is up to the regional states and up to the people in the region to redraw a map of the region, and a political map that would bring hapiness, peace and prosperity to all.
Name
Editor - Dina Abdel-Mageed
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Profession
Question
The session is over. Sorry for not answering all of your questions due to time limitations.
