In Perspective: Cheney warns Iran not to 'meddle' in Iraq

Vice President Dick Cheney’s (whose name I always seem to misspell) comments warning Iran not to “meddle” in Iraq can be taken as a realistic warning to Iran, Cheney wanting to keep Iraq stable in secure, but it is unlikely that is the only message given off — or intended to be perceived — in this latest string of accusations by the White House against Iran. His comments only show further the inability of the Bush administration to work with others, especially Iran and Syria. In building Middle East peace and stability — which this administration has only made less of —, working with countries actually in the Mid-East is a step forward. Namely, the decision to go to war with Iraq and the numerous policy blunders following the invasion have made the Middle East much worse, thanks to America.

BBC News:

US Vice President Dick Cheney has warned Iran not to interfere in Iraq.

His comments come after US forces detained several Iranians in northern Iraq on suspicion of aiding insurgents, accusations rejected by Tehran.

Mr Cheney is the latest member of the Bush administration to warn that the US will take steps against those trying to destabilise the situation in Iraq.

Washington has often accused Iran, or factions within the Iranian government, of aiding Shia groups in Iraq militarily and politically, but has offered little proof of Tehran's alleged activities.

President George W Bush on Wednesday warned that the US would take a tough stance towards Iran and Syria, which he accused of destabilising Iraq.

Mr Cheney told Fox News that Iran was "fishing in troubled waters" by aiding attacks on US forces and backing Shia militias involved in sectarian violence.

"I think the message that the president sent clearly is that we do not want (Iran) doing what they can to try to destabilise the situation inside Iraq.

"We think it's very important that they keep their folks at home" he said, adding that the Iranian threat was growing, multi-dimensional and of concern to everybody in the region.

Mr Cheney's television interview formed part of attempts by the Bush administration to promote the new drive to improve security in Iraq, which involves sending an extra 21,500 US troops.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates is in the UK for a brief visit, meeting Prime Minister Tony Blair and Defence Secretary Des Browne.

"My first priority is making sure that we preserve the gains that we've achieved in Afghanistan and then talking about the way forward in Iraq," Mr Gates told reporters on his flight to London.

Earlier there were tough words from the US National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley, who told ABC Television that the US had the authority to pursue Iranians in Iraq who "put our people at risk".

He did not elaborate on whether this could mean sending US troops across the border into Iran if necessary.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking before she embarked on her current Middle East tour, insisted that the US was not going to let either Iran or Syria continue activities that endangered American soldiers in Iraq.

The Iraq Study Group report — among other major proposed plans on Iraq — have all been shot down by the White House; the president seems to want to listen to himself and his closest advisors (i.e. the people who got the US into the Iraqi mess and have only exasperated it). The United States needs to work with Iran and Syria.

No matter how devious these two nations may seem, putting them on the “axis of evil” sure didn’t help things either. Neither have the suggestions of the use of military force against Iran and the lack of mention of continuing the Syria-Israel peace process talks over the Golan Heights (land belonging to Syria, occupied by Israel). I had delved into Syria, on multiple levels, in this post.