Sadr's visit to Saudi Arabia will reduce the role of Iran in Iraq

[yota691]

Al-Sadr is in a way to rebuild Saddam Hussein and achieve a miracle in the Middle East

Policy     Access_time 2017/08/06 22:59 Number of Views: 2127

 

 

Baghdad today - follow-up

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has been in a way to achieve what has not been in place for 27 years, helping to restore Iraq-Gulf ties back to normal.

"After years of tense and disjointed relations between Riyadh and Baghdad and not trying to find ways to deal with each other and after a short period of" diplomatic "from reaching the peak of the decline after Baghdad's request from Riyadh to withdraw its ambassador Thamer al-Sobhan in protest against statements described as unacceptable, Sadr to Saudi Arabia to try to heal the rift and end the divisions. "

The writer continued to visit Mr. Sadr's visit after historic visits by officials from both sides - from Adel al-Jubair's historic visit to Baghdad, culminating in the visit of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to Riyadh in May. These visits alone will not be able to heal the deep divisions between the two countries. But there is new and unprecedented momentum and needs to be strengthened. "

"Sadr can do what is really surprising if he succeeds in finding an alliance between those who want to reduce Iranian military influence in Iraq and create a framework for salvation from sectarianism in the region, which could allow for a very important development that could positively affect the Middle East," she says. Whole "

"The best way to end the state of uncertainty between the two countries since the break-up of bilateral relations 27 years ago after the invasion of Saddam Hussein's regime is to build mutually beneficial relations to ensure long-term stability that does not shake up events and statements," she said.

"There are strategic interests between the two countries based on trade exchange and the necessity of security cooperation to repel terrorist risks, especially since the two countries share a long border of 800 km, as well as being key members of OPEC and coordination between them will contribute to the stability of the oil market which has been fluctuating for more than three years.

[Officiallytook]

 

[yota691]

First Published: 2017-08-07

Sadr's visit to Saudi Arabia raises Iran's concerns about the future of the popular rally

Tehran considers that Sadr's calls for the disbanding of the militias came as a result of his visit to Riyadh in a move to bring them closer to the Iranian presence in Iraq.

Middle East Online

A confusing visit TEHRAN: The visit of Sadr's Iraqi leader Moqtada al-Sadr to Saudi Arabia continues to cast a shadow over Iran, which expressed its suspicions and fears of the visit in the first stage. A report published by the website "Namna News" Iranian that the visit of Muqtada al-Sadr to Riyadh came after a period of confrontation with Saudi Arabia and that the statement in his office on this trip, and the subsequent positions of the Iraqi leader indicates that a new chapter of the relationship between some Shiite figures In Iraq and Saudi Arabia has begun. He said removing the anti-Semitic slogans from the Iraqi streets and calling for the dissolution of Iranian-backed popular militia militias was only one of the results of Muqtada al-Sadr's recent visit to the kingdom. On Friday, Muqtada al-Sadr called on Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to dismantle the Hezbollah militia and hand over weapons to the army. The latter responded by rejecting his request, saying that the popular mobilization would not be solved and that it would remain a force subject to reference and statehood. The report commented on some of the scenes of the meeting between Sadr and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, pointing out that they embraced each other regardless of the past differences and talked about the future of relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, saying that this scene translates that Moqtada al-Sadr and some opponents of the Iranian presence in Iraq, Iyad Allawi are pushing for Iraq to turn to Saudi Arabia, a turning point for rapprochement with Riyadh in order to counter Iranian influence in the region, especially in Iraq and "is a target that can be called Saudi Arabia Iraq." It should be noted that the relationship between Riyadh and Baghdad has been strained during the last period after Baghdad submitted a request in August to Riyadh to replace the Saudi ambassador Thamer al-Sabhan after accusing him of "interfering in Iraq's internal affairs," preceded by another period in which Iraq away from its Arab surroundings succeeded Iran To employ them by penetrating the country at all levels, especially the military, produced by the rogue militias in the country owes them allegiance to the task of guarding reconciliation in Iraq. After decades of tension between Riyadh and Baghdad, relations began to improve dramatically after Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir's visit to Baghdad on Feb. 25, the first of a senior Saudi official since 1990.

[yota691]

Jordanian writer: A novel issued in 1949 predicted Moqtada al-Sadr's visit to Saudi Arabia

 

Policy     access_time 2017/08/11 11:41 Number of readings: 1079

 

 

Baghdad today - follow-up

Ayman al-Akrabawi wrote an article on the Arabic website of Huffington Post that suggested he had seen details of George Orwell's 1984 novel that appeared to predict Sadr's recent visit to Saudi Arabia.

The writer says in the text of his article:

I do not know why the nature of Saudi Arabia's relations with neighboring countries reminded me of the great writer George Orwell's 1984 book, which he had written in 1949 to predict the future of the world after decades of dictatorial rule that took over the country and the people, Language and strict laws to prevent mere thinking, questioning the decisions of the party leader (Big Brother). "

The story of the truth is very frightening, showing how the ruling regime manipulates the minds of the people and the details of its life to the extent that it installs giant screens in each street and every alley and even inside the bedrooms; so that they can watch the citizens closely and round the clock. The achievements of the ruling party false and fabricated that the citizens immediately after hearing stand up and applause.

This ruling party is also manipulating the history of the state and the people. The promises made by officials and unable to achieve them are the best solution to eradicate these promises from newspapers, reports and then from the minds of the people.

The most important point in the novel, which is linked to Moqtada al-Sadr's visit to Saudi Arabia at the official invitation of the Saudi government, is that the world in Orwell's novel is divided into three giant empires: Oceania, Eurasia, Estasia.

At the beginning of the story, the protagonist's state of Oceania was engaged in a fierce war with Eurasia, broadcasting the battle reports, national songs and enemy death figures, programs highlighting the brutality of Eurasia citizens and the Eurasian government against the people of Oceania. Reports The citizens of Oceania are terrified by the mere mention of Eurasia, so much so that during the war a group of enemy prisoners were taken to the capital of Oceania to be executed in public.

The days are different, the alliances are different and the Eurasian state becomes an ally of Oceania. The Big Brother declares that the true enemy of the citizens of Oceania is not the Eurasians but the Estación.

The citizens of Oceania wake up in the morning to discover that their enemy has changed his name, but they do not dare to ask. Even the older brother is the leader who is not wrong and does not make the mistake of making a decision.

The hero of the novel is like this ongoing war with the neighboring countries with two raging revolutions that continue to run without harming each other. It is just a war that drains the resources of the two countries and ensures a suitable psychological environment to control the minds of the citizens.

The war fought by these dictatorships is not to open countries, occupy land or control resources, but to preserve the structure of the society and to keep the citizen afraid of a terrifying enemy whose images are constantly shown on the screens everywhere.

At the end of the novel the protagonist is arrested; he is interrogated after a series of multiple and horrific torture stages, and in the end he is released only after the hero admits that 2 plus 2 equals 5.

[yota691]

Iran turns on "Moqtada al-Sadr" and "Ammar al-Hakim" and attack them !!

14-08-2017 02:56 PM

Readers

 

Baghdad News -

 

 

A report published by the site of the 'triangle' Iran, the moves' surprise 'of political parties and blocs, said that it' turned 'back to Iran, while he pointed out that the leader of the Sadrist movement Moqtada al-Sadr after his visit to Saudi Arabia' 'Step young Ammar al-Hakim was bad and have great risks will know in the next stage'. 

The site said in a report that 'Ammar al-Hakim and Sadr rebellion against Iran and brought Iraq into a new policy', unlikely that 'the process of movement of political groups, ethnic and religious in Iraq, aimed at advancing the political process in the long term'. 

The Iranian report, that 'although the Sunni political groups are still affected by the issue of Mosul and its organization in the upcoming elections, but it takes a little time,' noting that ' "The quick return of some Shiite and Kurdish political parties to Iran was very sudden." 

The report said that 'the departure of Hakim from the circle of the Islamic Supreme Council, which has been associated with a long history of the family of the wise, does not mean that the Supreme Council has become outside the political game,' noting that 'the step of young Ammar al-Hakim was bad and has great risks will know in the next phase' . 

The Iranian report poured anger on the movements of Muqtada al-Sadr and his orientation towards the Gulf and Arab and the return of Iraq to the Arab incubator, pointing out that 'Sadr after his visit to Saudi Arabia is no longer Sadr before visiting the Kingdom.' 

"Some explain Sadr's approach to the Gulf as an attempt to get Iraq out of the political chaos in the region, including tensions between Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar," the report said. 

The Iranian report was based on the fact that ' Based on the statements made by Sadr, one of the reasons for his trip to Saudi Arabia, may be an attempt to avoid sectarian and ethnic conflicts after the defeat of a pro-Iraqi organization. 

"It is not unlikely that the Shiite parties in Iraq will go to Saudi Arabia in the future after more communication with them in order for the Kingdom to be able to influence the Iraqi political scene."

[Wiljor]

 

Shiite Iraq Cleric Key Player in Sunni Attempts to Curb Iran

By 

Donna Abu-Nasr

August 14, 2017, 4:32 AM EST August 14, 2017, 9:02 AM EST

• Moqtada al-Sadr visiting U.A.E. after Saudi trip in July
• U.A.E. official says Sadr trip part of outreach to Iraq

Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

 Saudi Press Agency via AP

Moqtada al-Sadr, a prominent Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader, is emerging as a key player in efforts by Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Gulf states to weaken the influence of regional rival Iran.

The United Arab Emirates flew in Sadr for talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan late Sunday. That followed a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the desert kingdom last month, another rare face-to-face visit with a senior Gulf official, in which financial aid and deeper ties were discussed, according to Sadr’s website.

Moqtada al-Sadr

Photographer: Haidar Hamdani/AFP via Getty Images

“Our ambition is to see an Arab, stable and prosperous Iraq,” the Emirates’ Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said in a Twitter post on Monday, adding that Sadr’s meeting with the Sheikh is “part of the Gulf communication with Iraq.”

“The promising move toward Iraq led by Prince Mohammed bin Salman with the participation of the U.A.E. and Bahrain is an example of the influence of the Gulf states once the vision and objectives are united,” he said.

Later Monday, Saudi Arabia’s cabinet, chaired by Prince Mohammed, approved the creation of a Saudi-Iraq coordination council that will be led, on the Saudi side, by the kingdom’s trade and investment minister, state-run SPA news agency said. It didn’t provide details.

Regional Rivalry

The outreach to Sadr is part of a broader Saudi-led effort to roll back Shiite-led Iran’s expanding sway in the region, including in Iraq, where Shiite parties have dominated politics since the U.S. toppled the secular, Sunni-dominated regime of Saddam Hussein in 2003. As Iran’s reach in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and other countries has grown, the regional heavyweights have found themselves on opposing sides of sectarian conflicts as well as the recent standoff over Qatar.

Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. are attempting to return “Iraq to its Arab cultural, historical and ethnic” identity, said Mohammed Alsulami, head of the Riyadh-based Arabian Gulf Center for Iranian Studies.

There’s a debate about the need to “revive and strengthen the Arab Shiite authority in Najaf and Karbala after years of systematic marginalization by Iran,” said Alsulami, referring to two important Shiite centers in Iraq. Gulf states want to “thwart schemes that deliberately exploit religious sects to achieve political aims and expansionary ambitions. This may take a lot of time and effort,” he said.

Get the latest on global politics in your inbox, every day.

Get our newsletter daily.

Sign Up

 

 

Sadr, who commands a large following among Iraq’s urban poor and is critical of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s government, has denounced Iran’s influence in his country. He’s called for the dissolution of the state-sponsored Hashd al-Shaabi, a coalition of militias dominated by Iranian-backed Shiite fighters, which strengthened their hand in Iraq after its army collapsed confronting an Islamic State onslaught that’s been largely reversed.

‘What Binds Us’

Gulf states “are trying to fend off Iran’s influence in the region and empower Arab Shiite forces because it’s a totally self-defeating strategy to ignore countries under Iranian influence, whether it is in Lebanon or Iraq,” said Sami Nader, head of the Beirut-based Levant Institute for Strategic Affairs.

“They want to show they’re not against Shiites but against non-Arab Iran’s influence in the region,” he added.

Iran says its military involvement in neighboring Iraq was driven by legitimate security concerns, as the Sunni jihadists of Islamic State carved out a self-declared “caliphate.” Since the ouster of Saddam, its bigger role offered an opportunity to influence a country whose forces invaded in 1980 in an attempt to destroy the Islamic revolution, triggering a devastating eight-year war.

Bin Zayed emphasized the importance of Iraq’s stability and prosperity, according to state-run WAM news agency. “Experience has taught us to always call for what binds us as Arabs and Muslims and reject advocates of division,” he added, according to the agency.

Sadr’s office confirmed the visits to the Gulf on his website, and said the Saudi trip resulted in an agreement to study possible investments in predominantly Shiite regions of southern and central Iraq, sending humanitarian aid to internally displaced Iraqis and boosting ties among youths.

The Saudis will also consider opening a consulate in Sadr’s base in the holy city of Najaf, and establishing air and land links between Najaf and Saudi Arabia, the statement said.

 

 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-14/shiite-iraq-leader-key-player-in-sunni-attempts-to-weaken-iran

Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal. Bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-14/shiite-iraq-leader-key-player-in-sunni-attempts-to-weaken-iran
 LEARN MORE

Edited August 14, 2017 by Wiljor

[Boozer]

Rid yourself of Maliki and Iran will fallow 

[ComPLX]

On 8/1/2017 at 4:46 PM, nannab said:

I don't know what it is but this guy he just creeps me out.

 

Right now he's our creepy best friend in the region. Just don't stare at him and he will be alright 

[nannab]

lol  I know and we will take that.  

[yota691]

analysis .. Iran is behind the convergence of the Iraqi - Saudi

 Twilight News    

 

 2 hours ago

 

 

An Iraqi Shiite cleric who defends the United States is sitting in a palace drinking juice at the invitation of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the most important ally of Washington in the Middle East.

Despite all the irrationalities surrounding the meeting, the motives behind the July 30 meeting in Jeddah between cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are strong and based on a common interest in countering Iranian influence in Iraq.

For Sadr, who has a strong base of supporters among the poor in Baghdad and the cities of southern Iraq, the meeting was part of efforts to bolster his Arab and nationalist image ahead of elections in which Shi'ite rivals close to Iran are facing.

As for the Saudi crown prince, the meeting with Sadr and talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abbadi in June were an attempt to build alliances with Iraqi Shi'ite leaders to curtail Iran's influence.

"Sadr's visit to Saudi Arabia represents a bold step in his policy to send a message to influential Sunni regional states that not all Shiite groups are branded in Iran," said Ahmed Yunus, a resident analyst in Baghdad.

The policy gained greater importance after the Islamic state was expelled from northern Iraq, allowing politicians to focus on internal issues ahead of provincial elections in September and parliamentary elections next year.

"This is a tactical and strategic move from Sadr, he wants to put the Saudis in the face of the Iranians ... in an effort to get money and diplomatic protection," said Ali Khadairy, a special aide to five US ambassadors in Iraq.

* "Evil is a must"

Diplomats and analysts say Sadr is ultimately seeking to play a leading role in Iraq that allows him to form events without being a part of running the country on a daily basis, which could undermine his popularity.

Such a role, which combines the religious leader and the maker of political leaders, would be appropriate for the status of Sadr's religious family among many Arab Shiites in Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Days after the Jeddah meeting, Sadr met Abu Dhabi's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who has also taken a firm stand against Iran, the dominant foreign force in Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion that ended minority Sunni rule.

Iran has increased its regional influence as its forces and allied factions lead the battle against the Islamic state in Iraq and Syria, as well as its influence on Baghdad's governing centers.

For Saudi Arabia, which sees itself as a sponsor of Sunni Islam, curtailing Iran's influence in Iraq would be a major victory in a rivalry that fosters conflicts in the Middle East.

"There are projects to bring peace and renounce sectarianism in the region ... it is necessary to return Iraq to the Arab incubator," Sadr told the Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat last week.

Washington backs the Saudi-Iraqi rapprochement, but Sadr's support raises questions about whether Washington sees a man known to be hostile to the Americans as a trusted figure.

"It may be a necessary evil," a US official said, but said it was "a very uncomfortable situation for us" because of Sadr's hostility to the United States, which led to the deaths of US citizens.

"His visits to the region and more generally high-level visits from Iraq are generally good because they put Iraq face-to-face with the Gulf states and help distract attention from Iran," he said.

A second official said Washington viewed the visits positively, "not because we are Sadr supporters, but because we are pushing Saudi Arabia to repair relations and open doors with Iraq."

Limited influence

A politician close to Sadr said the Jeddah meeting was aimed at building confidence and reducing sectarian rhetoric between the two countries.

Ali Shehabi, executive director of the Washington-based al-Jazeera Institute, said the rapprochement was "a cautious test of the atmosphere with the Abbadi government and some Shiite influence centers like Sadr and the interior minister."

The extent of this rapprochement is unclear: Iran has enormous political, military and economic influence in Iraq. Saudi Arabia is lagging behind in this context, it is no longer open an embassy in Baghdad until 2015 after 25 years of estrangement because of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

"Whatever the Saudis and the Gulf states will do, Iran will remain the main party in Iraq for at least the next 10 years," said Wathiq al-Hashemi, head of the Iraqi Strategic Studies Group.

Khadairy said Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states were not adept at exercising external influence.

"They usually try to solve problems with money and the beneficiaries of this generosity become very rich and that's it." He said the Iranians in Iraq provided intelligence, diplomatic and money support and threatened anyone who went out of line "using force."

However, the Jeddah meeting only yielded practical results.

Sadr's office said an agreement had been reached to study investments in Shi'ite areas in southern Iraq. Riyadh will also study the opening of a consulate in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, the Sadr base.

Sadr said Saudi Arabia would donate 10 million dollars to help Iraqis displaced by the war against the Islamic state in Iraq, while Iraq's oil minister said Riyadh had sought to build hospitals in Basra and Baghdad.

After a visit to Saudi Arabia, Sadr urged the Iraqi government to dismantle the Iranian-backed armed groups that are fighting the Islamic state, a subject that is expected to be a major election issue.

A source from Sadr's armed group told Reuters that orders had been issued after the visit to remove anti-Saudi banners from the group's headquarters, vehicles and streets.

Sadr has called on Saudi Arabia to "stop hostile rhetoric from hardline clerics who describe Shiites as infidels". The cleric, who is close to Sadr, said Crown Prince Mohammed had promised to make efforts.

It is not yet clear how Saudi Arabia could prevent attacks on Shiites in its media or on social media.

But Minister of State for Arab Gulf Affairs Thamir al-Sbahan called for tolerance after receiving Sadr using Twitter to denounce "Sunni extremism and Shiite extremism."

Saudi Arabia this week cracked down on Twitter users, including a hardline Sunni cleric who published insulting comments to the Shi'ites.

* Broader convergence

As part of a broader rapprochement, Iraq and Saudi Arabia announced last month that they were setting up a council to strengthen strategic ties.

The Saudi cabinet approved the establishment of a joint trade committee to discuss investments, while a Saudi newspaper said the two countries planned to reopen a closed border crossing for more than 25 years, a point raised by Sadr in his visit.

Brett McGork, the US Special Envoy for the Anti-Islamic Alliance, said on Twitter that he had visited the Iraqi-Saudi border "closed since 1990. The Islamic state attacked it on 15.20 Today: safe and reopened and packed with up to 1,200 pilgrims a day" .

Another sign of convergence is an agreement to increase direct flights to be on a daily basis. The Iraqi Ministry of Transport said that Iraqi Airways hopes to reopen offices at Saudi airports to help Iraqis travel except the kingdom, especially for pilgrimage.

There is also cooperation on energy policy.

As members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the two countries cooperated in November to support oil prices. Their energy ministers discussed bilateral cooperation and investment last week.

Iran's response to the meetings was limited.

"The Iraqi officials and officials do not need permission to travel outside Iraq or let us know," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasimi was quoted by the semi-official Fars news agency as saying last week.

Reuters

[yota691]

20/08/2017 (00:01 pm)   -   Number of readings: 611   -   Issue (4000)

 

 

Guardian: Sadr's visit to Saudi Arabia will reduce the role of Iran in Iraq

 Translation / Hamid Ahmed 
 

Iraq and Saudi Arabia are negotiating a new alliance that would give Riyadh a leading role in the reconstruction of Iraq's war-damaged cities while boosting Iraq's status across the region. 
Meetings between senior officials from both sides over the past six months focused on directing Iraq away from its powerful neighbor and the rival of the old Saudi, Iran, whose involvement in Iraqi affairs has grown dramatically since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003. 
Iraq and Saudi Arabia were feuding, but a visit by Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to Riyadh last week followed by his visit to the United Arab Emirates has boosted ties that had already improved with high-level reciprocal visits between the two countries. 
Sadr's arrival in the Saudi capital highlights a new level of activity in which Riyadh may play an important role in the reconstruction of the mainly Sunni cities of Mosul, Falluja, Ramadi and Tikrit.
"This visit is an important step in ensuring Iraq's return to the Arab class, which is also supported by brotherly partners," said former Saudi minister of state Saad al-Jabri in an interview with the Guardian. 
"An expanded rapprochement between Riyadh and Baghdad allows for stronger regional support for Iraq, especially from the Gulf states," al-Jabri said. 
It is believed that the cost of rebuilding Iraq with its four Sunni provinces is estimated at more than $ 100 billion, the centerpiece of the hopes of a national reconstruction campaign in a country where more than two-thirds of its population is Shiite.
"It is also worth mentioning that Sadr's visit was characterized by my operations and resulted in some urgent benefits ranging from reopening the border crossing between the two countries and supporting the internally displaced to the possible naming of a new ambassador and the opening of a consulate in Najaf. Strategic relationship between the two countries of mutual benefit. " 
In Baghdad, where positions towards Saudi Arabia were openly hostile throughout the war on the duel, on charges of supporting the militants have calmed recently. 
"Relations have now developed more than ever, thanks to the new US administration in helping Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries to rebuild their relations with the rest of the region," said Abdul Bari Zebari, head of the Iraqi parliament's foreign affairs committee. Regional, this may be a smart move indeed on behalf of Arab countries and foreign countries "
Senior officials in Riyadh see an opportunity to rebuild Sunni areas in Iraq as part of broader moves to curb Iran and establish the kingdom as a post-Saddam power. 
"The situation in Iraq concerns the entire region in security, economic and political terms, and for this reason it is natural for the Saudi leadership to look for ways in its foreign policy to support Iraq at this critical time," he said. Moqtada al-Sadr is a respected leader with significant influence, and he understands that the future of Iraq lies within the Arab world and that he has always expressed concern about Iran's growing influence in Iraq. "

[ComPLX]

3 hours ago, yota691 said:

"Relations have now developed more than ever, thanks to the new US administration in helping Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries to rebuild their relations with the rest of the region,"

 

Just as I thought. Trump's visit did did have rhyme and reason. In Chess the usual move is not always the best move. Sometimes you have to switch it up and that's what Trump did. I believe we are on our way

[tigergorzow]

Post-ISIL Iraq: Decoding Muqtada al-Sadr's Gulf visits

By reaching out to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the Shia leader is attempting to counterbalance Iran's influence in Iraq.

20 Aug 2017 13:02 GMT |

 

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Iraqi Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on July 30, 2017 [Reuters]

By

Zaid al-Ali

 

Zaid al-Ali is an Iraqi lawyer who has published widely on Iraq and on constitutional law.

Muqtada al-Sadr is the scion of one of Iraq's most important families of Shia clerics, which has traditionally been associated with the country's poor underclass. Following the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Sadrist movement took up arms against the occupation and quickly spiralled out of control. Members of his Mehdi Army were widely accused of engaging in extortion, kidnappings, and murder. Most famously perhaps, Sadr followers are said to have killed Sayed Abdul Majid al-Khoei, the son of another of Iraq's most prominent Shia scholar, just as he returned to Iraq following more than a decade in exile. 

 

But since then, Sadr is a changed man. He formally dissolved his Mahdi Army in 2008, has moderated his discourse and has focused much of his attention on government corruption and on failing public services. He has grown extremely critical of Iraq's former prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, who he has (rightly) held responsible for the Iraqi army's rout against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group in 2014. In the war against ISIL, his paramilitary group Saraya al-Salam has mainly kept away from the front lines and has not been accused of any major abuses (contrary to many other regular and irregular military units).

He has also called on a number of occasions for all paramilitary groups that were recognised by the Iraqi state to be dissolved after ISIL is completely defeated. His public statements have called for all foreign forces (including Iran) to leave Iraqi territory as soon as ISIL is defeated, and his followers have in their many protests lead chants calling for Iran to stop interfering in Iraqi public affairs.

 

Most recently and perhaps most surprisingly, Sadr has visited the crown princes of both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which many commentators have interpreted as an attempt to counterbalance Iran's influence in Iraq. This has provoked a flurry of speculation by commentators and actors alike, as well as significant criticism from some Iranian circles. 

Sadr's actions may not have been coordinated with the Iraqi government, but their net effect is to push Iraqi policy and state institutions more firmly in favour of the independence camp.

It is impossible to tell whether Muqtada Sadr's about-turn in favour of moderation and political negotiation rather than confrontation and violence is the result of a genuine change of heart, or whether he is merely trying to survive in a challenging environment. Regardless, he has been consistent in his approach over the past few years and it would be safe to assume that he is unlikely to waver in the near future. 

Reaching out to Saudi Arabia and the UAE

What is Sadr hoping to achieve through these openings to Saudi Arabia and the UAE? Some have speculated that he is trying to secure funding before the 2018 parliamentary elections (reference has been made to a Saudi commitment to provide $10 million in funding), but that is an unlikely proposition. Sadr's is one of the country's only genuine grassroots movements, which attracts a very solid amount of support in each round of elections. He requires very little funding, and whatever funding he does need, he can easily secure from within Iraq. 

Others have argued that the trips burnish Sadr's credentials as a national and regional leader, but that is equally unconvincing. Sadr has been an international figure since 2003, and his followers hold him in great esteem. While the overtures are unlikely to affect his position within Iraq, if anything they are more likely to damage his standing with some of the more hardline elements within his community, particularly those who accuse Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries of supporting terrorism in Iraq since 2003. 

 

Some have even reported that Sadr's actions are part of an effort to mediate and lessen tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. While some attempt may be made in that direction, in current circumstances, very little progress can be achieved. Iranian institutions are not in agreement on Saudi, and many of its more hardline elements operate outside civilian oversight or control. Saudi Arabia also appears to be drifting in favour of a more erratic and aggressive foreign policy. Considering the regional context, which has been worsening steadily over the past few decades, the most any mediation effort can hope to achieve is to moderate some of the worst consequences of an already deteriorating relationship. 

 

Another possibility is that al-Sadr is aiming to influence shifting grounds within Iraq's political circles. A rift has opened between Shia parties and movements who aim to establish a more independent Iraqi state and those who aim to bring Iraq more firmly within Iran's resistance camp. By reaching out to Iraq's Gulf neighbours, Sadr is providing explicit support to the Iraqi government's own policies, which are to maintain good relations with all neighbouring countries, including Saudi Arabia. 

Sadr's visit may have been far more high profile, but the Iraqi government has been reaching out to Saudi for some time. Most recently, a decision to establish a joint trade commission and to reopen a border crossing that had been closed back in 1990 was taken. Other efforts are also in the pipeline. 

Sadr's actions may not have been coordinated with the Iraqi government, but their net effect is to push Iraqi policy and state institutions more firmly in favour of the independence camp. The next elections and the government formation process that will follow will play a determinant role in Iraq's future, and Sadr's actions will play a larger role in shaping developments than most observers appear to appreciate. 

 

Zaid al-Ali is an Iraqi lawyer. He has law degrees from Harvard Law School, the Universite de Paris I (Sorbonne), and King's College London. From 2005 to 2010, he was a legal adviser to the United Nations, focusing on constitutional, parliamentary and judicial reform in Iraq. Since the beginning of 2011, he has been working on constitutional reform throughout the Arab region, in particular in Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. He has published widely on Iraq and on constitutional law.

The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/08/post-isil-iraq-decoding-muqtada-al-sadr-gulf-visits-170820062418256.html

Edited August 21, 2017 by tigergorzow

[danielchu]

this was the SNAKE in the sand in 2007 .. Suddenly hes a good guy?

[ComPLX]

7 hours ago, danielchu said:

this was the SNAKE in the sand in 2007 .. Suddenly hes a good guy?

 

If you understood the rift between Shia and Shiite along with the implications of Saudi Arabia playing nice with Iraq, you would understand Sadr is our best friend right now. 

Edited August 21, 2017 by ComPLX

[Synopsis]

9 hours ago, tigergorzow said:

He has also called on a number of occasions for all paramilitary groups that were recognised by the Iraqi state to be dissolved after ISIL is completely defeated. His public statements have called for all foreign forces (including Iran) to leave Iraqi territory as soon as ISIL is defeated, and his followers have in their many protests lead chants calling for Iran to stop interfering in Iraqi public affairs.

 

Well this is good news. Hopefully, ISIS will be completely smashed soon in Iraq and Iran (IMIS, Quds, INRG, etc.) will immediately be evacuated. Maybe things are heating up regionally and internationally to make this happen.

 

Pretty sure ole Mattis has something to say about all this while in Kurdistan................................................

 

9 hours ago, tigergorzow said:

Another possibility is that al-Sadr is aiming to influence shifting grounds within Iraq's political circles. A rift has opened between Shia parties and movements who aim to establish a more independent Iraqi state and those who aim to bring Iraq more firmly within Iran's resistance camp. By reaching out to Iraq's Gulf neighbours, Sadr is providing explicit support system" rel="">support to the Iraqi government's own policies, which are to maintain good relations with all neighbouring countries, including Saudi Arabia. 

 

Yep, more good news from the article. Hopefully, the rift in the Shia parties will greatly favor Iraqi independence from Iranian influences apart from any violence. Having other regional and international countries in favor of Iraq's independence from Iranian influence may favor a quick and reasonably peaceful expulsion of Iran from Iraq.

 

Here is hopin'!!!

 

Go Moola Nova!

[yota691]

Iranian agency: Saudi supported Nujaifi billion dollars and plans to open consulates in Iraq through "Sadr"

Aljournal August 26, 2017

 

 

 

Baghdad - Agencies

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Riyadh is exploiting ties with the Sadrist movement as a platform to find a new consulate in Najaf to hold centers in northern, central and southern Iraq, the official Tansim news agency reported Saturday.

Tasnim quoted an expert on Arab affairs Abdul Hadi Digmi as saying that "Riyadh's main objectives of the relationship with the Sadrist movement in Iraq affect the upcoming Iraqi elections."

"Saudi Arabia's first objective is to support the Sadrist movement to pressure the Houthis to accept their requests through Al-Sadr channel," he said, noting that "Saudi Arabia invited Muqtada al-Sadr to Saudi Arabia at the time when it was about to surrender to the Yemenis."

He pointed out that "Riyadh is exploiting the relationship with the Sadrist movement as a ground to find a new consulate in Najaf to have centers in northern and central and southern Iraq and can benefit from them."

He pointed out that Saudi Arabia had given a billion dollars to Nujaifi, the former president of parliament, to be an obstacle to the presence of Shiites in parliament, but ultimately they did not succeed.

"When Sadr returned from Saudi Arabia, he had two main demands from his movement, the first to raise any slogan against Saudi Arabia, and the second to not oppose the Salafist currents," Dingmi said.

On July 30, 2017, the leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada al-Sadr visited Saudi Arabia, where he met with the deputy King Mohammed bin Salman.

[tigergorzow]

Sadr in Europe: Iraq in hot pursuit for independence

August 26 2017 04:06 PM

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/16195/Sadr-in-Europe-Iraq-in-hot-pursuit-for-independence

[Butifldrm]

Al-Sadr warns the Japanese ambassador of the projects carried out by his country, however, corrupt

Political

 Since 2017-08-26 at 12:44 (Baghdad time)

 

 

I love this photograph!  lol

 

Al-Sadr warns the Japanese ambassador of the projects carried out by his country, however, corrupt

Baghdad Mawazine News

The leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada al-Sadr on Saturday, the Japanese ambassador to Baghdad Fumio Iwai of the projects carried out and implemented by his country in Iraq, however, corrupt.

A statement issued by Sadr's office received a copy of the statement, "The leader of the Sadrist movement, Moqtada al-Sadr, received the Japanese ambassador to Baghdad," Fumio Iwai "in his home in Hananah in Najaf.

" The meeting dealt with various issues related to the two countries and the two friendly peoples. The Japanese ambassador gave a detailed presentation on Japan's support for Iraq, especially in the service and humanitarian fields during the previous period."

"The positions of Japan, especially its remarkable record in the humanitarian field and the services it provides to the Iraqi government and people, calling for the follow-up of projects offered to Iraq and warned of the occurrence of corrupt people, while urging them to open more to Iraq and in all areas, especially cultural, intellectual and social as well as support the Iraqi industry. "

The statement added that " during the meeting discussed the situation of Iraq in the post-stage, calling for the restoration of stability to the liberated areas through the rehabilitation of infrastructure and the provision of humanitarian services and work to remove the roots of sectarian tension in general."

 

http://www.mawazin.net/الصدر-يحذر-السفير-الياباني-من-وقوع-المشاريع-التي-تنفذها-بلاده-بيد-الفاسدين/سياسية

[Wiljor]

Riyadh’s soft power could sway Iraq away from Iran

It is an opportunity for Baghdad to chart a new course that is not dependent on Iran and put country's interests first  

30-Aug-17 by Taylor Luck

•  
•  

 

 

 

With the so-called Daesh on the brink of defeat in northern Iraq, the government in Baghdad is set to mark another victory: reconciliation with regional power Saudi Arabia. The oil-rich kingdom and dominant Sunni power has effectively been absent from Iraq since Riyadh cut ties with Baghdad after Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Following the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, the Saudis distanced themselves from their neighbour further, writing Iraq off as a "lost cause" that was hopelessly under the influence of archrival Iran, and working to effectively freeze Baghdad out of Arab regional politics.

Experts say a rapprochement now with Saudi Arabia could have a profound impact on Iraq by encouraging disenfranchised Sunnis to reconnect with the political process, curbing Iran's broad influence over Iraqi affairs, and revitalising hopes for a political settlement to end the sectarian violence that has wracked the country for more than a decade. The Saudi move isolating Iraq was a self-fulfilling prophecy, experts say. Without Saudi Arabia and its Sunni Gulf allies to keep Iraq in the Arab fold, the country and its leaders were forced to increase their reliance on Shia Iran for security, stability, and economic sustainability.

In a flurry of high-profile visits to Riyadh in late July, Saudi Arabia hosted a series of senior Iraqi officials, including the country's interior and oil ministers. But the most groundbreaking, and surprising, visit was that of Moqtada Al Sadr, the firebrand Shia cleric and fervent nationalist who holds deep sway among Iraq's Shias. The visits were followed by a host of goodwill gestures from Saudi Arabia this month, starting with the reopening of the Arar border crossing for the first time in 27 years. Saudi Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Sultan, governor of the northern border region, was present to personally welcome and greet the first batch of Iraqi pilgrims to enter the crossing.

Critically, Saudi Arabia announced that it plans to open consulates in Najaf and Basra, major Shia cities in Iraq with religious and economic importance, and build air and land links with the cities. According to Iraqi officials, the Saudi cabinet also announced the formation of a joint trade council and a committee to oversee a series of projects such as hospitals in Baghdad and Basra and the opening of free trade zones. It is a deployment of soft power with a personal touch that Riyadh hopes will convince Baghdad, and Iraqis, that their years of isolation in the Arab world are over - and that after a long absence, they can rely once again on Saudi Arabia.

The immediate impact of Saudi Arabia's reengagement with Iraq is the bolstering of the country's beleaguered Sunni minority. Since the 2003 invasion, many of Iraq's Sunni leaders have refused to come to the negotiating table to hash out a new political agreement with the country's Shias and Kurds. Sunnis have long believed that Iraq's Shias, thanks to their backing by Iran, hold the upper hand and can dictate their demands on a leaderless and exposed Sunni community. Trust between Sunnis and the Shia-majority government deteriorated further after the perceived targeting of Sunni communities and leaders by former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki.

With Saudi Arabia growing its political and economic influence in the country, experts say Iraq's Sunnis may now feel more confident in granting concessions to Shias and Kurds, and in their ability to gain concessions of their own. Such a development would be critical in efforts to reach a fairer power-sharing agreement that would bring Sunnis into the Iraqi state and quell political and sectarian violence. "In the near-term, this could pave way for a new power-sharing agreement between Sunnis and Shias where Sunnis feel like they are given political power and economic influence in proportion to their demographics," says Kenneth Pollack, an Iraq expert and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

"This would allow Iraqis to address decentralisation, executive power, and the role of security services and other enormous issues in Iraq stemming from gaps and vagueness in parts of the constitution that has led to different interpretations." Sunni tribal leaders stress that although they welcome Saudi Arabia's increased role in Iraq as a long overdue "return" to the Arab fold, they need to see the Iraqi government make a goodwill gesture to allow for negotiations, namely disarming and demobilising Shia militias. "An increased role by Saudi Arabia is positive," says Abdalrazzaq Suleiman, a leader of an Anbar tribe. "But before we can talk about the future of Iraq, we have to see that this government is willing and able to stop these militias from acting outside the law."

Another Anbar tribal leader says, however, that Riyadh may lead the realignment many Sunnis have been waiting for. "The government in Baghdad has tied us to Iran and pitted us against the rest of the world. We want Saudi Arabia to help us rejoin the Arab world, where we belong," says the leader, who requested not to be named. The Saudi outreach comes as a shrewd recognition by Riyadh that not only Sunnis, but Iraq's moderate and nationalist Shias, such as Sadr and Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi, are growing weary of Iran's dominance in Iraqi internal affairs, analysts say.

By building economic, transport, and diplomatic ties with key Shia cities and leaders, Riyadh is emboldening moderate Shia leaders such as Abadi and Ayad Allawi, a vice president and former prime minister, who would like to engage and partner with Sunnis. That is an engagement that Iran and its hardline allies within Iraq have discouraged - and at times torpedoed - over the last decade. With an alternative power such as Riyadh, emboldened Shia political forces may consider moves unpopular in Tehran such as the demobilisation of the Popular Mobilisation Units and other Shia militias influenced by Iran that have sparked a backlash from the Sunni community.

"Abadi is not 100 per cent supportive of Saudi Arabia's policy in the region. But this is an opportunity to chart a new course that is not dependent on Iran and that puts Iraq's national interests first," says Raed Mansour, a fellow at Chatham House. The timing for such a push is not a coincidence. The 2018 parliamentary elections in Iraq are several months away. By encouraging Sunni participation in the polls and offering an olive branch to the Shia community, Riyadh and its allies could help further foster the cross-sectarian, Shia-Sunni coalition building that is vital to Iraq's political and physical stability.

"It would not be unrealistic to see a reemergence of a coalition that includes moderate Sunnis and Shia that can bring stability to Iraq. This is certainly on the minds of Saudi policy-makers," says Firas Maksad, director at The Arabia Foundation in Washington. Saudi Arabia's rapprochement with Iraq can also have an immediate impact on the reconstruction of towns and cities hit by the war against Daesh. News reports, and Saudi insiders, say Riyadh and Baghdad are negotiating a role for Saudi Arabia in rebuilding Iraq's war-torn cities, namely the predominately Sunni cities of Mosul, Tikrit, Falluja, and Ramadi.

The Iraqi government estimates it will cost $100 billion to rebuild the mainly Sunni areas hit by Daesh and coalition airstrikes, while the UN has called for $985 million in humanitarian relief alone. "The post-Daesh reconstruction has provided an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to influence Iraq as well as an opportunity for Iraq, which is desperately looking for investors," says Mansour. But initial signs say Riyadh is not ready to write a blank check to Baghdad just yet. Rather than throwing money at Iraq, Saudi Arabia is likely to select a few, small-scale projects to build the confidence of both the Iraqi government and public, such as the rehabilitation of a strategic oil export pipeline running from Iraq through Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea, and the rehabilitation of the road connecting Baghdad with Amman.

The question remains whether Saudi Arabia has the patience to play the long game. In Iraq there will undoubtedly be setbacks and elements loyal to Iran who will push back, and perhaps even attempt to sabotage their reconciliation with Baghdad, observers say. "The question is: when they meet Iranian resistance, how will they respond?" says Pollack. "But the re-engagement of Iraq by Gulf states opens opportunities to check some of Iran's unwanted influence and that is important in and of itself."

 

http://dailytimes.com.pk/world/30-Aug-17/riyadhs-soft-power-could-sway-iraq-away-from-iran