Mission Accomplished ... The President of Iran visits Iraq

[Botany]

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h31_GwM3c5meeqcMQdVPWBdWarsA

Iranian President in landmark trip to Iraq

BAGHDAD (AFP) — Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday as he began a two-day visit to Iraq that his trip opened a new page in relations between the two former foes that fought a vicious war in the 1980s.

The fiery Shiite leader also used his historic trip to fire a fresh salvo at US President George W. Bush by saying the "Iraqi nation does not want the US."

The first visit by an Iranian president to Iraq aims to boost relations between the two Muslim countries which lost an estimated one million people in their 1980-1988 conflict during the iron-fisted regime of Saddam Hussein.

It comes at a time when the US military is occupying Iraq and the main powerbroker Washington is keen to curb the influence of Shiite Iran on Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shiite-dominated government.

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So how are "they" gonna spin this one?

[speedoo]

1. WTF????

This is kind of unbelievable. Is this a serious story or some kind of parody?

[Hydra]

2. Think they'll nuke Baghdad while he's there?

"Iran launched a first strike against Baghdad while their president was visiting, according to the CIA..."

[housewolf]

3. And they greeted him with flowers!

Iran leader's Iraq visit eclipses US, Arab ties

BAGHDAD, March 2 (Reuters) - Pomp and ceremony greeted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his arrival in Iraq on Sunday, the fanfare a stark contrast to the rushed and secretive visits of his bitter rival U.S. President George W. Bush.

Ahmadinejad held hands with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani as they walked down a red carpet to the tune of their countries' national anthems, his visit the first by an Iranian president since the two neighbours fought a ruinous war in the 1980s.

His warm reception, in which he was hugged and kissed by Iraqi officials and presented with flowers by children, was Iraq's first full state welcome for any leader since the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein in 2003.

His visit not only marks the cementing in ties between the neighbours, both run by Shi'ite majorities, but is seen as a show of support for the Iraqi government and an act of defiance against Iran's longtime enemy, the United States, which has over 150,000 troops Iraq.

more...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/03/iran_leaders_iraq_visit_eclips.php