Bachmann clarifies comments about Iran

Michele  Bachmann
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.
MPR Photo/Tim Pugmire

(AP) - Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann caused a stir when she told the St. Cloud Times that Iran has a plan to partition Iraq and turn half of the country into a "terrorist haven."

Now she says she meant that Iran and other enemies of the United States want a divided Iraq, but that she knows of no actual plan.

Bachmann, a Republican representing Minnesota's 6th District, made her latest comments in an op-ed piece posted on the Star Tribune of Minneapolis' Web site.

Bachmann says she meant that America's adversaries are in agreement that a divided Iraq benefits their objective to expel America from the region, resulting in Iraq being a safe haven for terrorists.

Bachmann told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that she had not meant to suggest in her initial comments that a written agreement was in place for the partition of Iraq. She conceded that she could have been more precise.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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