When the Bush administration decided to invade Iraq two years ago, it envisioned a quick handover to handpicked allies in a secular government that would be the antithesis of Iran's theocracy -- potentially even a foil to Tehran's regional ambitions.
But, in one of the greatest ironies of the U.S. intervention, Iraqis instead went to the polls and elected a government with a strong religious base -- and very close ties to the Islamic republic next door. It is the last thing the administration expected from its costly Iraq policy -- $300 billion and counting, U.S. and regional analysts say.
Ouch, those people who won seem to be wearing headgear very similar to the Ayatollahs in Iran. Boy, that's a funny coincidence, isn't it?
Yesterday, the White House heralded the election and credited the U.S. role. In a statement, President Bush praised Iraqis "for defying terrorist threats and setting their country on the path of democracy and freedom. And I congratulate every candidate who stood for election and those who will take office once the results are certified."
Bush congratulated the Iran-lovers, and even the Communists, who got three seats, even more than about a dozen other parties.
Bush congratulating Communists for winning seats in an election. Boy, that hurts. Should Bush be congratulating Communists? Too late, he already did it. Scott McLellan should backpedal from that tomorrow.
Iran is a winner, and Israel is a loser (see here: " But at all the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution rallies and Friday prayers services, crowds chant "Death to Israel!"' Remember when the neocon fantasy included an Iraqi government that was pro-Israeli? Yet another fantasy down the drain.
And, "Since the United Iraq Alliance received nearly half of the votes over-all, then 205,000 or so of the votes would be awarded to it after the fact, or 2.4 percent. Presto, the religious Shiites have 51 percent."
The Iranian Ayatollahs should be very happy today. I'm not.
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