Support NeoGAF

[NYCmetsfan]

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/209409-graham-urges-obama-to-work-with-iran-to-save-iraq

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has long favored a tougher approach on Iran, now says it’s time to work with Iran to stop Sunni extremists overrunning Iraq.

teaming up with Iran now to the United States alliance with Soviet premier Joseph Stalin during World War II.

“The Iranians can provide some assets to make sure Baghdad doesn’t fall. We need to coordinate with the Iranians and the Turks need to get in the game and get the Sunni Arabs back into the game, form a new government without [Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al] Maliki,” Graham said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

He predicted if the United States declined to engage with Iran, it would take advantage of the vacuum to consolidate control over southern Iraq.

“We should have discussions with Iran to make sure that they don’t use this as an opportunity to seize control of parts of Iraq,” he said.

Graham said his biggest fear is that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) will consolidate control over northern Iraq and parts of Syria and eventually march on Jordan, an important U.S. ally.

“Iraq and Syria are going to be the staging ground for the next 9/11 if we don’t do something about it,” he warned.

“If the king of Jordan goes, he’s the victim of these guys, then the whole Mideast is in trouble,” he said.

Asked on "Fox News Sunday" if he favored Iranian involvement in Iraq, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) said he “wouldn’t fall into that trap.”

“Iran has been in Iraq for years," the House Intelligence Committee chairman said. "I think it’s a mistake and would be a failure of American leadership.”

Thought this was thread worthy for all the irony. Republicans and even Democrats mocked him for his stance that we needed to work and talk to Iran. Now we find ourselves here.

Besides the merits it's a change to see the US acknowledge Iran as a stake holder in the part of the world and voice to at least listen to.

The middle east in a few years seems like its going to be a completly different place.

 

[cartoon_soldier]

He's only asking so that if it happens he can then criticize Obama for working with Iran

 

[Thequietone]

And when Obama does work with Iran then he'll say see? He's working with the enemy, proof that he is a secret Muslim.

 

[Rebel Leader]

This is the proof he needs to prove obama is a muslim

 

[PopeReal]

USA and Iran working together would certainly be a strange turn of events, but I think at this point it is the best option to bring stability to the region. I am less concerned about the politics here in the states and more about getting rid of ISIS.

 

[Mii]

This is exactly the right call by Graham.

Saudi Arabia needs to be brought to the table as well though, not only Turkey.

 

[Joni]

I think that would be a valid solution that is acceptable to both Iran and the USA, but I doubt the Iraqi are going to like it.

 

[gogosox82]

Its actually not a bad idea, it just makes him look like a hypocrite since Graham was always calling for tough sanctions on Iran in the first place.

 

[TheLostBigBoss]

So what happens when Iran helps drive out ISIS. What's the possibility they don't leave in some territories?

 

[Archer]

Its actually not a bad idea, it just makes him look like a hypocrite since Graham was always calling for tough sanctions on Iran in the first place.

Swap one problem now for a bigger one in the future. No deal.

 

[hoos30]

Biden was right.

 

[speculawyer]

This is exactly the right call by Graham.

Saudi Arabia needs to be brought to the table as well though, not only Turkey.

This. It is awkward to be on the same side of Lindsay but I agree.


And working together with them may help break the logjam of the nuclear negotiations.

 

[speculawyer]

So what happens when Iran helps drive out ISIS. What's the possibility they don't leave in some territories?

They already have spies & special forces all over Iraq. They don't have any interest in taking territory and calling it Iran.

 

[PhoenixDark]

Biden was right.

About splitting Iraq based on Shia/Sunni? I remember him getting lampooed for that. Dunno whether it would have worked given the political complications but we might end up with something like that anyway, just with far more bloodshed.

 

[SyNapSe]

This is exactly the right call by Graham.

Saudi Arabia needs to be brought to the table as well though, not only Turkey.

I'm pretty sure Saudi Arabia is happy with what's occurring so I don't know how bringing them to the table would help.

 

[ISOM]

Obama has worked with Iran before congress even knew about it. I'm sure he doesn't have a problem doing it now that they have a common enemy in the middle east. This is obviously graham trying to grab the headlines.

 

[Scott32020]

WASHINGTON—The Obama administration is preparing to open a direct dialogue with Iran on the security situation in Iraq and ways to push back the radical Sunni militia that has gained control of vast territories in western Iraq, said senior U.S. officials.

The dialogue, which is expected to begin this week, will mark the latest in a rapid move toward rapprochement between Washington and Tehran over the past year. It also comes as the U.S. and other world powers try to reach an agreement with Iran by late July to curb its nuclear program.

The U.S. and Iran have both publicly committed in recent days to provide military support if requested to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and help his government repel an offensive the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or ISIS, has launched against Baghdad and other major Iraqi cities over the past week.

With reports that ISIS is getting even closer to Baghdad and that an Iraqi army base that serves as Iraq's primary military supply depot has been seized, it is probably going to require even more force than expected to be effective.

 

[akira28]

So what happens when Iran helps drive out ISIS. What's the possibility they don't leave in some territories?

'Good neighbor' policy.

 

[Jak140]

More diplomacy in the Middle East is a good thing. Regardless of other questionable stances he's taken, it's nice to see someone on the right willing to foster that rather than use it as a disingenuous talking point to hammer the left.