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Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article3478353.ece
Iraq Ripe for Iranian Domination
[Times-UK] Richard Beeston - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was right to look smug at the end of his two-day state visit to Iraq, the first Iranian president to visit Baghdad. Twenty years ago the two countries fought to a standstill after the deaths of one million people over eight years of combat. Yet Iraq today is now ripe for Iranian domination. Apart from his familiar anti-American rhetoric, Ahmadinejad also announced several new initiatives aimed at binding Iraq ever closer to Iran. These include loans, customs agreements, joint oil ventures, and a free-trade zone, in addition to the construction of an airport for pilgrims near the holy city of Najaf and the possible supply of electricity to the southern city of Basra. Without the need to fire a shot, Iran is becoming Iraq's indispensable political ally and trading partner.