Pushing Iran Away
John R. Bolton, American Enterprise Institute | February 3, 2009
The success of the election in Iraq last Saturday rewards American efforts. ++ But it also weakens “Tehran’s hand” in Iraq as voter turnout was composed of a healthy mixture of Shiite and Sunni Iraqis, making way for the possibility of creating a balanced Iraqi Parliament and creating hope that Shiites will start looking to Baghdad rather than Tehran for political cues. ++ Although community violence is likely to continue, the democratic election will attract Iraqi citizens and Iranian intellectuals, proving that the “surge” has been successful.
