Iraq seeks regional security agreement
The head of Iraq's armed forces has proposed the creation of a "regional security organisation" that would include neighbouring Iran, as Iraq's own defences are still incomplete and US forces are due to leave at the end of 2011. While Iraq has pursued a general policy of accommodation with its more powerful neighbour, any Iraqi strategic agreement with Iran is expected to alarm the United States and most of the Middle East's governments, which are concerned by the growing regional assertiveness of Shiite Iran[.]
You'd think that with Iraq nervous over the departure of American forces and with the Saudis and other Gulf Arab states nervous about Iran's influence (in Iraq and generally), that the Gulf Cooperation Council would see an opportunity to join forces with Iraq to contain non-Arab Iran.
I know Iraqis may still be a little torqued off at the Gulf Arab states for letting Iraq bleed during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) without contributing more than money to Iraq during that long fight. But that was a while ago. Further, the signal of a prestigious Sunni Arab defense alliance reaching out to Iraq would make up for that past injustice, I'd think.
