Ally By Default
"All embassies are welcome, as long as they do not interfere in Iraqi affairs and government formation. Iraq is for Iraqis only.""From now on, arms must be restricted in the hands of the state. The use of weapons shall be prevented outside of the state's framework.""It is time for the people to live in peace, without occupation, terrorism, militias, kidnapping and fear."Muqtada al-Sadr, Iraqi cleric, political leader"No country wants forces that are stronger than its army.""That [2,000 U.S.forces] is labeling or classifying the troops as trainers and not fighters [by mutual agreement with Washington and Baghdad].""The decision should be revisited again and decided by [Iraq's] Parliament and the government."Dhia al-Assadi, al-Sadr aide
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| Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on a billboard in Baghdad's Sadr City district - a stronghold of his movement. June 21, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad |
Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's father lived in Iran for decades, exiled from his native Iraq during the Sunni minority reign of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, when the country's Shiite population was the underdog. His son returned to his native Iraq in opposition to the presence of U.S. and allied troops with the invasion of the country ostensibly for the purpose of neutering it from the 'weapons of mass destruction' amassed by Saddam, threatening regional stability. At a time when the-then U.S. administration contended there were links between Iraq and al-Qaeda.
With that invasion ancient animosities were unleashed, leading to Sunni and Shiite groups launching covert night-time attacks in neghbourhoods specific to each of the major branches of Islam leading to mass slaughters. The Shiite cleric played no part in these sectarian conflicts; instead he launched a militia to target the presence of U.S. troops in the country which often led to deadly clashes. U.S. forces ended up considering the Mahdi Army militia battling them as serious an issue as their clashes with al-Qaeda.
The U.S. forces planned to assassinate the Shiite cleric as a threat to their presence in Iraq, but never managed to succeed. Now that Iraq is finally settling down with a new government, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Iraq is struggling to separate its sovereignty from Iranian interference. Iranian Shiite militias which roamed Iraq as Iranian-backed functionaries like Lebanon's Hezbollah are now non-grata.
As a result of the evolving political situation in Iraq, Muqtada al-Sadr's political aims have been rewarded by an electorate that views him as a trusted Iraqi patriot with no interest in establishing himself as a commanding power, but rather an influence in establishing a working government aspiring toward the country's future prosperity and security. Gaining 73 seats in the national Parliament, the Sadrists have the largest single bloc in the 329-seat Parliament.
In a recent speech he referenced Iranian-backed militias, challenging in power and numbers the country's official security forces, that will be facing disarming any militias not under government control, including his own militia. Iran's proxy militia Hezbollah in Lebanon is more powerful, better armed than Lebanon's national military, answering to no one but Iranian orders. An obvious contraindication to Iraq's plans to stabilize and ensure its future independence and development prospects.
Although initially invited by Baghdad to have its troops remain in Iraq, the U.S. has agreed on withdrawal of all its combat troops by year's end, those currently deployed as trainers to remain for the time being. The former defender of the Shiite majority in Iraq, Mr. al-Sadr now is making his peace with the country's Sunni population who once comprised the elite, the politics, the military in the country, under Saddam Hussein.
Now, Christians, Kurds, Sunnis and other minorities are to be recognized as equal members of Iraqi society. Outreach to other Middle Eastern nations led by Sunni majorities is meant to ultimately result in a change in the country's once-dysfunctional political system which highlighted party loyalty with sectarian divisions reflecting senior government appointments.
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| Sadrists are poised to be the biggest winners in elections to Iraq’s parliament (above) in October. Iraqi Parliament Media Office/Handout via REUTERS |
Labels: Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, Iran Influence, Iraq, Shiite Militias, United States
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, October 26, 2021
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