Tension escalates between U.S. and Iran; Iraq caught in middle

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh stated this week that he believed Iraq had turned into a battleground for U.S. and Iranian competition, The Associated Press reported today. In the midst of resolving their own internal conflict, the Iraqi government has urged Iran and the U.S. to resolve their differences. While Iraq is dependent on the U.S. for troops in order to rebuild their nation, they also do not want to alienate their neighbors, Iran and Syria in particular, which are adversaries of the U.S. Saleh suggested that Iraq should be viewed as a “point of consensus” between the U.S. and Iran.

Despite Saleh’s pleas, the volatile relationship between the U.S. and Iran does not look as though it will calm any time soon. Earlier this month tensions escalated after U.S. troops invaded an Iranian government office in northern Iraq and apprehended five Iranians. Kurdish officials in Baghdad insisted that the raid was committed without warrant and demanded the release of the detainees. However, President Bush has authorized U.S. troops in Iraq to do whatever is necessary when encountering Iranians that could pose a threat.

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