It’s difficult to tell whether this is meant to smooth over American-Iranian relations or just serve as a little diplomatic trash talk.
Iran and the United States have a common enemy in the al-Qaida terrorist network and shared interests in Iraq, former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said in an interview published Monday.
Rafsanjani, one of Iran’s most powerful leaders, said in the interview with USA Today in Tehran on Sunday that Iraq’s Jan 30 national elections went “well” and that al-Qaida terrorists “are our enemies, too. You are aware of what al-Qaida has done to our fellow Shiites in Iraq.”
He characterized as “nonsense” statements by U.S. President George W Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Iran’s “cleric-run government” and human rights record. “We say the United States wouldn’t dare to attack us, and they have tested it once (the failed hostage rescue in 1980),” he added.
“The United States is a big country, but unfortunately it seems it has the brain of a little bird not befitting the greatness of the country,” Rafsanjani said.
I especially enjoy the bluster about the abortion that was the Operation Eagle Claw rescue attempt. I assure you that Rafsanjani understands that today’s American military is not the charlie foxtrot of the post-Viet Nam hangover.