Iran pledges $1 bln loan, security help to Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23550883.htm

TEHRAN, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Iran has pledged to give Iraq a $1 billion loan and help with tackling insecurity, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said at the end of a ground-breaking visit to the Islamic state.

Talabani's three-day visit, the first by an Iraqi leader to Iran for nearly four decades, followed heightened accusations by Western and some Iraqi officials that Shi'ite Muslim Iran was linked to insurgent attacks in Iraq. Iran denies the charges.

Talabani, as he did in his public comments throughout his stay in Iran, stressed the improving political and commercial ties between two countries which fought a bitter 1980-1988 war in which hundreds of thousands died.

"All the officials I met said there are no limits to Iran's support for the Iraqi nation," he told reporters.

[MrTriumph]

1. Does Iraq have GOP legislators to make that a "grant" instead of loan?

Hey, CNN! Where are the 2 yr old clips of GOP lawmakers blathering about how the US shouldn't loan Iraq money for reconstruction, but should instead just make a gift of it. Remember their comments about what a tiny part of the overall US economy the funds would be (the ol' "reduce to the ridiculous" gambit).

Anyway, CNN, pull out those clips so the Iranians can see how to help Iraq the GOP way. Oh, and while you are at it how about airing them to remind Americans how our treasury was again plundered by the GOP.