The once and future king?: Is Nouri al-Maliki a stalking horse for

Iran? And will a second term for Maliki signal Iranian dominance

and the reemergence of the Baath Party and Sunni-Shiite strife?

 

Iraq News Agency, Iraq

Are Americans Conspiring with Iran, or are they Simply Fools?

 

"Accepting a new term for Nouri al-Maliki means the demolition of Iraq's already-fragile political system. This will be a mistake so great that it's superseded only by the occupation. If the U.S. accepts the formation of a Tehran-approved Iraqi government, whether it's run by Maliki or one of his allies, it will mean no stability for Iraq, and we will be on the verge of a bitter new sectarian conflict in our region."

 

By Tariq Hameed

 

Translated By James Jacobson

 

October 6, 2010

 

Iraq - Iraq News Agency - Original Article (Arabic)

Among much of the Iraqi and Arab political, intellectual and media elite, there is a conviction that America is conspiring with Iran against Iraq, and that there is a plot to divide the region. The theory about U.S. thinking goes that a truce would help persuade Tehran to cooperate with America and the West regarding its nuclear program. And this is precisely what the Iranians have suggested to the West, and in particular, Washington. According to those skeptical of U.S. intentions, this is said to be why Washington sees no harm in allowing Nouri al-Maliki a second term at the expense of the other Iraqi blocs. The danger of these suspicions is that they incite conflict among political elites who don't generally believe in conspiracy theories and who, for the most part, are rational and call for sound and moderate relations with the West.

 

One Iraqi who resides in Washington and moves within decision-making circles there tells me that those most intimately involved in the Iraqi issue, specifically Kurds in the group surrounding Vice President Joe Biden, don’t know the area. So what are they doing there?

 

Moreover, and this isn't something being said by those who hold to the Iran-U.S. conspiracy theory, the perception is growing that the Americans are considering handing Iraq over to the Iranians, because the U.S. doesn’t want Iraq to regain its rightful place culturally, politically and economically. They prefer an Iraq that is weak and subject to the will of others. As one senior Arab official told me: “Can one believe what they say and ignore the reality on the ground?”

 

It's unfortunate that one is so easily lulled into conspiracy theories. But it is a result of the conviction that what is happening in Iraq will lead to the marginalization and exodus of half of Iraq’s population, leaving it as a plaything in Iranian hands and allowing Tehran to fashion a government after its own desires. Even if one assumes there is no U.S-Iranian plot, allowing Iran to take a dominant role would be a fatal American mistake. Accepting Iranian interference ignores reality and de-facto legitimizes the sectarian conflict in the region. If tiny Lebanon is such a huge headache for the region and the West, including America, how much worse would things be if the same happened in a major nation like Iraq, with its huge land area, its role in the region and its potential?

 

Shiite cleric and political leader Moqtada al-Sadr, right welcomes the

Ayad Allawi, winner of Iraq's election seven months ago, to a meeting

in Syria on July 19. Syria called the meeting to try and bridge the

gap between Sunni Allawi and Shiite al-Sadr. Since Allawi is seen as

less sensitive to Iranian influence, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon,

Jordan and Egypt all favor him over Prime Minister Maliki.

[WATCH AL-JAZEERA VIDEO ON MEETING]

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:

Iraqi News Agency, Iraq: Maliki Coalition with al-Sadr 'Angers Americans'

Iraqi News Agency, Iraq: Al-Sadr and al-Maliki: More Shiite or Iraqi?

Financial Times, U.K.: Maliki Gives Iran and U.S Joint Cause

Kitabat, Iraq: Letting Iraq Collapse Will Spell Disaster for U.S.

Kitabat, Iraq: 'Render Unto Caesar What is Caesar's'

Azzaman, Iraq: Iraqi Democracy Has Been 'Assassinated'

Kitabat, Iraq: Iraqis Need Patriotism, Not Americans Troops!

La Stampa, Italy: The War in Iraq: America's 'Seven Inglorious Years'

Kitabat, Iraq: Iraqis Must 'Take to Streets' to Demand a Presidential System

El Pais, Spain: U.S. Ends War it Couldn't Win; Leaves Behind Ruined Nation

Kitabat, Iraq: Iraq is Our Country!!!

The Telegraph, U.K.: Top Army Officer Warns Iraq Not Ready Until 2020

The Independent, U.K.: U.S. Troops Say Goodbye to Iraq

Guardian Unlimited, U.K.: Iraq is 'Half Built with the Roof Off'

Guardian Unlimited, U.K.: Fears Rise as U.S.-Backed Fighters Defect to al-Qaeda

Debka File, Iraq: U.S. Ends Iraq War, Leaves Two Civil Wars 'On the Boil'

Debka File, Israel: Combat Between U.S. and Iran Looms in Iraq
Kitabat, Iraq: America's 'Promise': To Leave Iraq in a State of Civil War
Kitabat, Iraq: Wake Up Iraqis!: The Americans Never Intend to Withdraw!

Kitabat, Iraq: America's War: From One Dictatorship to Another
Iraq News Agency, Iraq: Details on Scientist's Death Expose 'Zionist Jail' in Iraq

Iraq News Agency: Chalabi Tells General Odierno: 'Mind Your Business'

Iraq News Agency: U.S. 'Pullout' Resembles Israeli Retreats from Gaza

 

 

Accepting a new term for Nouri al-Maliki means the demolition of Iraq's already-fragile political system and the end of confidence in the entire political process. It also means that every sect in Iraq will scramble to protect its own influence. But the most serious danger of all is that affairs would again fall into the hands of the Iraqi Baath Party. The Americans forgot that Saddam Hussein’s army had more than half a million fighters. Where are they now? Who can guarantee that they won’t return?    

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

Which leads me to this conviction: the matter has to do with nothing but America's ignorance of the consequences of things. And these are not small things - but matters that will set the table for the entire region. This will be a mistake so great that it's superseded only by its occupation of Iraq. If America accepts the formation of a Tehran-approved Iraqi government, whether it's run by Prime Minister Maliki or one of his allies, it will mean no stability for Iraq, and we will be on the verge of a bitter new sectarian conflict in our region.

 

Thus, whoever America’s regional consultants are, whether they be a new Chalabi or others, the question is: Do you accept a plan that includes Washington's backing of a plan to export the Khomeini's revolution in our region?

 

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