Vacuum Is Feared as U.S. Quits Iraq, but Iran’s Deep Influence May Not Fill It
NY Times / Tim Arango
08-Oct-2011

NAJAF, Iraq — As the United States draws down its forces in Iraq, fears abound that Iran will simply move into the vacuum and extend its already substantial political influence more deeply through the soft powers of culture and commerce. But here, in this region that is a center of Shiite Islam, some officials say that Iran wore out its welcome long ago.

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