If Iran gets nuclear weapons will the US give this technology to Iraq? Since the revolution in Iran and before that there was a balance of power between the two countries, but now this balance is no more. India is siding with Iran because Pakistan is a nuclear power, and Iran can claim that they need nuclear weapons because Pakistan is a US ally. If Iraq were a stable country maybe we would give Iraq nuclear weapons. Of course Israel would have a problem, but they would also have a problem with Baghdad as part of Iran. Is this a choice the US will have to face?

Well, that's the way that those who seem to wind up in the Executive Branch would probably look at it. (Has anyone checked the water that's being piped into the White House?) I don't understand the thinking, but they seem to see Armageddon everywhere and respond in ways that tend to bring on...Armageddon!

I think it's relevant to point out that Iran is majority Shiite. So, is Iraq and, whatever we do, the country will be run by its Shiite majority. So, the two countries may be more prone to being allies than adversaries.

We create a lot of problems for ourselves by trying to balance countries against each other. Then, something changes -- a shah falls, for instance -- and the armaments that were previously pointed at a disfavored nation are now pointed at us. Devising these schemes probably amuses the Georgetown crowd, but the results aren't that impressive.

Both countries have a majority of Shiites, but Iran has a different language and cultural. I don't think they would be natural allies.

I dunno. But I'm certain that, if the presumption is that they will be rivals -- and they are armed and politically "positioned" to be rivals -- then they will be.

From what I've read there is an Arab-Persian rivalry going on as well. Iraq's Shi'ites are historically older and have more authority. (Something like that) That doesn't mean the Shi'ites don't have a natural kinship though.