Iran and Barzani/PKK are making a play to displace the US as the leading power in Iraq. Iran and Barzani are taking power in Iraq by escalating against the US in three areas.

First, Iran is opening a new consulate in Arbil, the Kurdish capital for President Barzani. Iran's new consulate in Arbil constitutes a direct challenge to President Bush's authority in Iraq. Arbil is known as the headquarters for planning Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) operations throughout Iraq, including IRGC attacks on US troops. Earlier this year, US forces raided an Iranian diplomatic office in Arbil and apprehended five IRGC agents. Iran intends to use the Arbil consulate to coordinate joint PKK-IRGC attacks on US forces in Iraq.

Second, Iran has drafted its own national security plan for Iraq. Iran's security plan for Iraq delivers two blows against US policy. Iran calls for the immediate expulsion from Iraq of all private sector security firms like Blackwater. The expulsion of US private sector security contractors will undermine Operation Surge by forcing the US to divert US military forces from stabilization operations to protection of US and Allied diplomatic personnel.

As part of Iran's security plan for Iraq, Iran is proposing to bring all of Iraq's civilian militias under Iraqi Defense and Interior Ministry control. Iran's proposal is aimed at undermining the pro-US Sunni militia of Anbar province. Iran's proposal is also aimed at Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, which is now fighting Iranian efforts to take Basra and its oil away from Iraq. What is noteworthy about Iran's security proposal is Iran's confidence that it now has effective control over Iraq's new Defense and Interior ministries. Is the US aware of Iran's takeover of Iraq's Defense and Interior Ministries? Does the US intend to address this problem?

Third, Iran is making a power play in diplomacy by creating an Iraq-Saudi-Iranian-Syrian committee to resolve the Iraq crisis. Iran intends that the Tehran-sponsored group will displace the US-Turkey-Iraq group that President Bush wants to establish.

In conclusion, the US can assume that Iran would not contemplate for one moment escalating against the US without support from Kurdish president Barzani. President Bush should contemplate Barzani’s treachery before the US offers Barzani any further support against Turkey.