So Iraq contracts out to Iran and China...

Kind of makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Well look at the bright side, at least those calling the U.S. an evil hegemony manipulating the world economy, can't really say that anymore.

The expansion of ties between Iraq and Iran comes as the United States and Iran clash on nuclear issues and about what American officials have repeatedly said is Iranian support for armed groups in Iraq. American officials have charged that Iranians, through the international military wing known as the Quds Force, are particularly active in support of elite elements of the Mahdi Army, a militia largely controlled by Mr. Sadr.

An American military official in Baghdad said that while he had no specific knowledge of the power plant contracts, any expansion of Iranian interests was a concern for the military here.

“We are of course carefully watching Iran’s overall presence here in Iraq,” the military official said. “As you know, it’s not always as it appears. Their Quds Force routinely uses the cover of a business to mask their real purpose as an intelligence operative.”

I'm a libertarian until its dogma crosses into the suicidal. Not even Ron Paul would accept a bid on our military computer contracts from China, so why, if we have to stay there for security, do we have Iraq bidding out over a billion in contracts to our enemies? Because they're sovereign? If that's the case we need to leave, because then they're obviously safe enough to handle spitting on us, while we handle their security.