Wed Sep 18 00:39:42 UTC 2024: ## Brzezinski Warns of Iran Conflict as US Remains Bogged Down in Iraq
**WASHINGTON** – Former National Security Advisor Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski warned the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on February 1, 2007, that the US’s prolonged involvement in Iraq could lead to a direct conflict with Iran, potentially dragging the US into a wider war in the region.
“If the United States continues to be bogged down in protracted, bloody involvement in Iraq,” Brzezinski stated, “the final destination on this downhill track is likely to be a head-on conflict with Iran, and with much of the world of Islam at large.”
Brzezinski outlined a scenario in which Iraq’s failure to meet benchmarks, followed by accusations of Iranian interference and potential provocations, could culminate in a “defensive” US military action against Iran, leading to a regional quagmire. He further criticized the administration’s “mythical historical narrative” justifying the war on Iraq, arguing that it paints a simplistic and inaccurate picture of the threat posed by Islamic extremism.
“Al Qaeda is an isolated fundamentalist, Islamist aberration,” he emphasized, while highlighting the political division and economic weakness of Iran.
Instead of escalating the conflict, Brzezinski urged the administration to adopt a political strategy that prioritizes a US withdrawal from Iraq and the initiation of a regional security dialogue. He suggested a four-step plan involving:
1. **A clear US commitment to leaving Iraq in a reasonable timeframe**.
2. **Jointly setting a date for US military disengagement with Iraqi leaders**.
3. **Initiating a regional dialogue with Iraq’s neighbors**.
4. **Activating efforts for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement**.
Brzezinski pointed to the administration’s “Manichean delusions” and its failure to engage in constructive diplomacy, leading to growing international isolation and antagonism towards the US. He argued that the administration’s emphasis on “extortion” rather than diplomacy, and its portrayal of Iraq as the central front in the “war on terror” are detrimental to finding a peaceful resolution.
His testimony sparked concerns about the administration’s potential to provoke a conflict with Iran. Brzezinski cited a New York Times report detailing a private meeting between President Bush and Prime Minister Blair two months before the invasion of Iraq, where the president reportedly discussed ways to provoke a confrontation.
“I’m afraid if the situation in Iraq continues deteriorating, and if Iran is perceived as in some fashion involved or responsible — or the potential beneficiary thereof — that temptation could arise,” he warned.
The hearing concluded with senators expressing agreement with Brzezinski’s assessment of the current situation and his call for a change in course. The committee intends to hold further hearings on Iran in the future, and Senator Biden asked Brzezinski to consider participating in those discussions.
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