Iraqi Puppet Government Will Not Oppose US Attack On Neighbors

Islam Online | July 5 2004

Iraq might not oppose attacks by US troops based in Iraq on neighboring states if they were backing "terrorists" and "insurgents", Iraq’s interim Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told a leading British newspaper Sunday, July 4 .

"Foreign support for terrorists is ongoing, very risky and very dangerous. But it will backfire on those governments. A stable and peaceful Iraq is a better neighbor for them," Zebari told the Sunday Telegraph.

He said the interim government had gathered intelligence detailing the support provided to "insurgent groups" by some neighboring nations.

He said "insurgents" had benefited from financial support, logistical assistance and training from neighboring governments.

Although he did not name the countries, senior Iraqi officials told the paper that he pointed fingers at Iran and Syria.

Evidence

Zebari further said that the provisional government of Iyad Allawi will publish concrete evidence this week on the involvement of foreign governments in assisting "insurgency".

"Since we started to look at the security situation, we have seen how foreign governments have been helping terrorists," stressed Zebari.

He continued: "Why they are doing it we cannot say, but we know where the support is coming from. We have plans to put this before the public within days and it will have substantial impact."

Both Syria and Iran have been accused by the United States of supporting anti-occupation operations inside Iraq.

US President George W. Bush imposed sanctions on Syria on May11 , accusing Damascus of supporting terrorism and failing to close its borders to "insurgents" looking to fight US forces in Iraq.

Some Senators feared the law "could later be used to build a case for a military intervention against Syria".