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The Pentagon: We Have No Intention Of Withdrawing From Iraq, And Our Aim Is To Remain In The Middle East !


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The White House: Trump will discuss with President Saleh the issue of withdrawing his forces from Iraq

 

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18th January, 2020


The White House announced on Saturday that US President Donald Trump will discuss with his Iraqi counterpart, Barham Salih, the issue of withdrawing his forces from Iraq.

And sources in the White House said, according to the American "CBS" channel, that "Trump will discuss with Saleh at the World Economic Forum, which will be held from January 21 to January 24 in Davos, the issue of his forces leaving Iraq."

The attacks of the American army since last December 29 on the Iraqi popular crowd, and the assassination of its deputy commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and the Iranian general Qassem Soleimani near the Baghdad airport, have provoked a wide response from the Iraqi authorities, which criticized the actions of the Americans. On January 5, the Iraqi parliament adopted a resolution demanding the full withdrawal of all foreign forces from the country. But Trump refused to heed this demand, and threatened Baghdad with "unprecedented sanctions."

The Davos Forum is an annual meeting of representatives of global political and commercial elites. It has been taking place since the eighties. This event constitutes one of the major international events annually relative to politicians, businessmen, representatives of public organizations, academia, cultural figures and media leaders who participate in the discussions of this World Economic Forum.

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Iran Decides To Send The Black Box Of The Ill-Fated Plane To Ukraine


January 18, 2020

 

(Independent) ... The Iranian Aviation Organization announced, on Saturday, that the black box of the stricken Ukrainian plane, which was accidentally shot down by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, will be delivered to Kiev for analysis of its information.


"The black box of the stricken Ukrainian plane will be transferred to the Ukrainian side to analyze its information," Tasnim news agency quoted the director of the Disaster Division of the Iranian Aviation Organization, Hassan Rezaei Fer, as saying.

Rezaiyi explained that “more than one meeting was held with Ukrainian investigators in Tehran, and we have concluded that the black box cannot be analyzed in Iran, so the fund will be transferred to the Ukrainian side for analysis.”

He stressed that "French, Canadian and Ukrainian experiences will be utilized to analyze the black box in Kiev."

Ridai said, "If the French, Ukrainian and Canadian experts cannot analyze the fund in Kiev, then it will be transferred to France for analysis." (The end)

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4 hours ago, DinarThug said:

The White House: Trump will discuss with President Saleh the issue of withdrawing his forces from Iraq

 

image.jpeg.3cd147497402d901f09e216ff5fed0f1.jpeg

 

18th January, 2020


The White House announced on Saturday that US President Donald Trump will discuss with his Iraqi counterpart, Barham Salih, the issue of withdrawing his forces from Iraq.

And sources in the White House said, according to the American "CBS" channel, that "Trump will discuss with Saleh at the World Economic Forum, which will be held from January 21 to January 24 in Davos, the issue of his forces leaving Iraq."

The attacks of the American army since last December 29 on the Iraqi popular crowd, and the assassination of its deputy commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and the Iranian general Qassem Soleimani near the Baghdad airport, have provoked a wide response from the Iraqi authorities, which criticized the actions of the Americans. On January 5, the Iraqi parliament adopted a resolution demanding the full withdrawal of all foreign forces from the country. But Trump refused to heed this demand, and threatened Baghdad with "unprecedented sanctions."

The Davos Forum is an annual meeting of representatives of global political and commercial elites. It has been taking place since the eighties. This event constitutes one of the major international events annually relative to politicians, businessmen, representatives of public organizations, academia, cultural figures and media leaders who participate in the discussions of this World Economic Forum.

 

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At the Davos Economic Forum ... Trump intends to discuss the issue of withdrawing his forces from Iraq

 

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18th January, 2020
 
 
US President Donald Trump plans to speak with Iraqi President Barham Salih at the World Economic Forum, which is taking place from January 21 to 24 in Davos, about the exit of his forces from Iraq.


"CBS" television, in a report quoting its sources in the American administration, and his "news" follow-up, said that "consultations are underway on the details of the agenda of the two countries' heads of state meeting, and the White House is optimistic about the possibility of such negotiations."

He added, "Trump refused to comply with this request, and threatened Baghdad" with imposing unprecedented sanctions."

Earlier, President of the US Congress Nancy Pelosi said that "the American administration should reduce the escalation with Iran, while noting that it is still searching for answers about the killing of Soleimani."

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Tension situations in the pretending squares in Baghdad,
Najaf and Dhi Qar

 

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19th January, 2020
 
 
The protest plazas in the capital, Baghdad, and Najaf and Dhi Qar governorates have witnessed security tensions in the past few hours.

A security source told "Al-Ikhbaria" that "the conditions were tense within the aviation square and were closed by the demonstrators after they were exposed to tear gas and 6 minor cases of suffocation were recorded."


He explained that "the demonstrators burned a number of tires within the areas of the Technical Institute and the Rizvi Bridge, near the Ibn Bilal Hospital, and cut off roads in Najaf."

The source added, "Nasiriyah witnessed the cutting of a number of bridges and burning tires within the squares of the sit-in."

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Continued tension and the closure of all roads leading to Aviation Square in central Baghdad

 

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19th January, 2020
 
 
A security source said, on Sunday, that tension continues and all roads leading to Al-Tayaran Square in the center of the capital, Baghdad, have been closed.

 

The source told "Al-Ikhbaria," that "tensions continue within the aviation square and the closure of all roads leading to it by the demonstrators, with intermittent releases of sound and tear grenades."

He indicated that "simple cases of suffocation were recorded, which deal with the same moment by the paramedics."

Regarding the other squares in the center of the capital, the source explained, "The security situation is good within Tahrir Square, Al-Khulani, Al-Jumhuriya Bridge and Al-Sanak."

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President Barzani to meet US President Trump at Davos summit


15 hours ago
 


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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani has announced he will meet US President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, which begins on Tuesday.

Barzani announced his attendance at the forum in Davos, Switzerland in a statement released on Sunday.

“On the sidelines of the summit, President Nechirvan Barzani will hold meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and the United Nations’ Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The President is also expected to meet with a number of other world leaders, ministers and high ranking officials.,” the statement said.

“In the meetings, the President is expected to focus on strengthening Kurdistan Region’s relations with the international community and to convey the policies and position of Kurdistan Region on regional and world affairs.,” the statement continued.

Barzani will be speaking at a panel at Davos titled “An Unsettled Middle East”, the statement further added.

Scheduled for January 21 to January 24, this year’s summit is themed “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World”. It brings the world’s political leaders together with kingmakers of some of the world’s biggest corporations.

According to the WEF, the 2020 meeting is slated to be “among the most sustainable international summits ever held”, with focus on the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Sunday’s announcement sets a time and place for a Barzani-Trump meeting, after the KRG leader told al-Monitor on Thursday that there was a standing invitation to meet the US President with a date not yet set.

US and Kurdish officials have met and spoken frequently in recent weeks as Washington’s tensions verged on breaking point, following the assassination of high-profile Iranian general Qasem Soleimani on January 3. Barzani and other Kurdish leaders have insisted they do not want the Kurdistan Region to become a battleground on which US-Iran tensions play out.

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An upcoming meeting between Trump and Barzani to agree to build the largest American base in Barbell

 

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11:57 - 01/20/2020
 

The military expert, Safaa Al-Aasam, revealed, on Monday, an upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and the President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Massoud Barzani, at the Davos conference to discuss the establishment of the largest American base in Erbil.

"The United States of America does not plan to withdraw from Iraq, but has started establishing two new military bases in the Nineveh and Erbil Plain," Al-Asam told Al-Maalouma. He added, "The President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani, will meet in the coming hours with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Davos conference."

"The meeting will discuss the establishment of the largest American military base in the region and the transfer of the headquarters of the US forces in the Middle East in Erbil, as an escalation step against the Iraqi government and parliament," Al-Aasm said.
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Trump to headline Davos summit as Iran drops out

 

Updated / Friday, 17 Jan 2020 09:27
 
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Donald Trump, pictured at Davos in 2018, is expected to be the star attraction this year
 
 
US President Donald Trump will be the star attraction at this year's Davos forum, which will also focus on the fallout of climate change and a more inclusive model of capitalism, organisers have said.
The annual gathering of global movers and shakers in the village of Davos in the Swiss Alps will draw a total of 53 heads of government and state for four days starting on January 21. 

But Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, who had been due to attend, cancelled his visit amid a spike in global tensions following a US drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani. 

The 50th edition of the Davos Forum will have more than 2,800 participants, including Swedish teenage eco-warrior Greta Thunberg, who will renew her call on attendees to stop subsidising fossil fuels. 

"We demand that leaders play their part in putting an end to this madness," the 17-year-old, who is also due to take part in protests outside the summit, said. 

The World Economic Forum, which organises the summit, said other participants will include Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.


Donald Trump will be accompanied by his daughter Ivanka and her husband and top presidential adviser Jared Kushner, as well as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. 

The situation in the Middle East will be a key focus for the summit. 

Soleimani's killing near Baghdad international airport on January 3 has sparked fears of conflict between Iran and the US.

Iran has also been shaken by demonstrations after admitting it "unintentionally" shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet a few hours after a retaliatory missile strike against US bases in Iraq. 

 

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"I think we have to understand the cancellation from the Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif against the backdrop of the uncertainty in the region and what is unfolding in Iran," WEF president Borge Brende said.

But Brende said other key figures will be present, including Iraqi President Barham Saleh and the president of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani. 

Notable absentees include British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is busy finalising Britain's departure from the European Union at the end of this month after a drawn-out political crisis. 

But Prince Charles, who is trying to mend frayed relations within the royal family over his son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan's shock decision to give up on high-profile royal duties, will be there.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe have also pulled out to concentrate on preparing for the election in February.

The meeting's theme this year is "Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World" and organisers said they would ask participants to sign up to a "Davos Manifesto" for a more inclusive model for capitalism.

"The world is in a state of emergency and the window to act is closing fast," Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman at the World Economic Forum, told reporters. 

 

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Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum

 

"We do not want to face continued political and economic disintegration, we do not want to reach the tipping point of irreversibility on climate change and we do not want that the next generations to inherit a world which becomes ever more hostile and ever less habitable," he said. 

After some criticism last year over the number of private jets ferrying political and business leaders to the summit, organisers were also keen to show off the meeting's environmental credentials. 

For the first time this year, solar panels and geothermal heating have been introduced in the Congress Centre and there will be a temporary railway station to encourage participants to use public transport. 

Ahead of the meeting, the Swiss army has begun deploying in the area around Davos under a security plan that will involve up to 5,000 soldiers. 

Swiss broadcaster SRF estimated the costs of policing the summit at 45 million Swiss francs (€41.7m).

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1 hour ago, DinarThug said:

But Brende said other key figures will be present, including Iraqi President Barham Saleh and the president of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani.


A Good (Though Long) Interview With KRG President Barzani Who Will Be Meeting With Trump This Week In Switzerland ! ;) 

 

 

Just Hit The Highlighted Sections If U Want To Shorten The Read ...


:D  :D  :D 

 

 

 

Iraqi Kurdistan president: 'We are not scared of Iran, but we respect Iran'

 
 
Amberin Zaman January 16, 2020
 
 
 
ARTICLE SUMMARY
Assessing the aftermath of Qasem Soleimani's death, KRG President Nechirvan Barzani, in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, calls for a reasoned, negotiated approach to Iraq's problems and for the Kurdish issue in the region.

 
 REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
 
 
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President of the Kurdistan region in Iraq Nechirvan Barzani sits in a shaft of window light as he greets U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in the VIP terminal at Erbil International Airport in Erbil, Iraq, Nov. 23, 2019.
 
 
 

The assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in a Jan. 3 drone strike carried out by the United States sent shock waves throughout the region. Those who argued that Tehran would take its time to retaliate proved wrong. On the night of Jan. 8, Iran launched more than a dozen missiles on Iraqi bases housing US forces. Several struck the Ain al-Assad base west of Baghdad. Several others landed in an open field near an air base in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. Nobody was killed.

The attack was seen, however, as a clear message from Tehran about the potential punishment Iraqis would face if they pursue their relations with the United States. Baghdad’s immediate reaction already had been to ask US forces to leave. Iraq’s caretaker prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, joined the chorus of Shiite Iraqis saying it was time for the Americans to depart. Meanwhile, Iraq’s Kurds see US forces as protection as much against the Islamic State as they do against Baghdad and Iran and other potential foes. 

The Kurds are in a bind as they face pressure from Tehran and Washington to pick sides. But while Baghdad has played lip service to Iran, the central government is just as loathe as the Kurds to get caught in the middle.

Abdul Mahdi was in Erbil last week to enlist Kurdish support for his tottering government, which has been hit by a wave of massive street protests followed by the deaths of Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units who was also targeted in the drone attack. Abdul Mahdi met with Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), who took the lead role in recent negotiations with Baghdad to resolve a long-running dispute over sharing revenues from oil and the Iraqi budget. Barzani has also been invited to Washington and Tehran.

Al-Monitor sat down with him today at his office in the sprawling Barzani family compound atop a mountain outside Erbil known as Sari Rash to discuss the impact of Soleimani’s death and other regional developments affecting the Iraqi Kurds.

The following is the transcript of the interview, lightly edited for clarity.

Al-Monitor:  It's been a pretty explosive start to the new year with the killing of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a US drone strike. How has this event affected the balance of power in Iraq in general and in Iraqi Kurdistan in particular? The Iraqi parliament has called on the government to kick out US troops from Iraq. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi asked the US to formulate a mechanism for their withdrawal. What happens if US troops do leave and then Washington asks the KRG to redeploy here?

Barzani:  This event triggered a flood of emotions in Iraq and the United States. The initial reaction and response from all sides was informed by these emotions. And that includes the reaction of the Iraqi parliament and the Iraqi prime minister. By the same token, the response from Washington to the effect that US troops will remain in Iraq regardless of what the parliament or government has to say and the like was also in my view articulated in the heat of the moment. The priority all around should be for emotions to be set aside and for reason to prevail. We now need to contain the situation, to bring it under control.

Our view is that the decision taken by the Iraqi parliament was not a good one and the Kurds and the Sunnis did not take part in that decision. Moreover, it set a bad precedent. The decision was taken by the Shia bloc without consulting either of the key components of this country, the Kurds or the Sunni [Arabs]. It was a very critical step that was taken without seeking consensus and as such violates the spirit of the Iraqi Constitution. This is not good for Iraq, either now or for the future.

Al-Monitor:  Why did you abstain from the vote?

Barzani:  The question that first needs to be addressed is the following: Why are US troops here to begin with? They are here upon the invitation in 2014 of the Iraqi government and in consultation with the United Nations Security Council when the Islamic State was on the outskirts of Baghdad. The second: Does the current situation in Iraq justify the withdrawal of US and coalition forces given their mission, which is to help defeat the Islamic State? As far as we, the KRG, is concerned the answer is plainly “No.” All the intelligence indicates that the Islamic State has regrouped itself and that they are carrying out attacks against Iraqi targets on a daily basis. Hence, it's as much in the interest of Iraqi Kurdistan as it is for the whole of Iraq that US forces remain for the time being.

Al-Monitor:  But it seems the government in Baghdad is under immense pressure from Iran to get the American forces out. At the same time President [Donald] Trump is pushing the Europeans to scotch the nuclear deal with Iran. So things could escalate again and where does that leave the KRG?

Barzani:  During Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s visit here a few days ago, the impression we got was that he was looking to resolve this issue through dialogue rather than confrontation. The idea would be to come up with a new formula, reconfiguration if you will, for the future presence of US and coalition forces in Iraq.

Al-Monitor:  Meaning they would stay?

Barzani:  Yes. We strongly believe the presence of US and coalition forces is a must for all of Iraq.

Al-Monitor:  And the Iraqi prime minister agrees with that?

Barzani:  Yes. He is concerned by the situation, obviously, but he is a pragmatic man and he is looking to reformulate, redefine the future presence of these forces in Iraq. I don’t think relations between Iraq and the United States should be legislated via the media. This is unhelpful.

Al-Monitor:  But the Iraqi prime minister himself made it clear early on that he believed US forces should leave. Do you think he was acting under pressure from Iran? 

Barzani:  I think as the prime minister of Iraq he is entitled to his grievances and the fact that such a major operation was conducted on Iraqi soil near the airport without his knowledge was bound to trigger a negative reaction from Baghdad.

Al-Monitor:  Are you saying that neither he nor any member of the Iraqi government, or the KRG had prior knowledge of this operation?

Barzani:  That is what I am saying. No knowledge. No cooperation. I don’t think so. What is best now is for a serious engagement and dialogue between Iraq and the United States on the future format for US deployment. It should be low profile. No hand grenades lobbed via the media. 

Al-Monitor:  But clearly Iran will be pulling Baghdad in the opposite direction. What is your assessment of Iran’s retaliatory missile attack on the Americans, which also targeted Erbil? Was there a message there for the Iraqi Kurds as well?

Barzani:  The Iraqi leadership has to hold the interests, the security and the stability of the country, of the Iraqi people, above all else. The launching of the missiles was a very clear message to everybody that Iran has the will and the capacity to strike inside any part of Iraq.

Al-Monitor:  But we also heard some diplomatic shots fired with the Iranian consul general in Erbil complaining that the KRG response to the killing of Qasem Soleimani was inadequate. They obviously have their expectations from you but then so do the Americans. They were unhappy with the statement you put out following the attack on the embassy in Baghdad. You must be feeling pretty squeezed.

Barzani:  In Kurdistan we do not wish Iraq to become a battleground where Iran and the United States settle their scores. Iraq’s relations with the United States are very important. But Iran is our longstanding neighbor. Since assuming office Prime Minister Mahdi has set out to avoid being dragged into the conflict between Iran and the United States.

Al-Monitor:  But he has.

Barzani:  Yes. 

Al-Monitor:  Are you scared of Iran?

Barzani:  No, we are not scared of Iran, but we respect Iran.

Al-Monitor:  When Vice President Mike Pence came here in November, he conveyed an invitation to you from President Trump for a meeting at the White House. My understanding was that you were expecting to travel to Washington either in December or January. What happened? Has the invitation somehow become contingent on you taking sides with Washington against Tehran? Are there strings attached?

Barzani:  No. There is a standing invitation but no date has been fixed yet. The invitation was extended before any of this happened [the Soleimani killing as well as Abdul Mahdi’s Nov. 29 resignation]. The United States sees [us] as part of Iraq and they deal with us as such.

Al-Monitor:  True, but there was a lot of speculation that the reason you were invited was to calm congressional fury over Trump’s decision to pull US troops out of the path of Turkish forces when they attacked the Syrian Kurds in October. They wanted to invite the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] commander Mazlum Kobane but Turkey pushed back so fiercely, you emerged as a consensus figure. 

Barzani:  Well, everybody looks out for their own interests. Their [US] interests might have called for that and we have our own interests.

Al-Monitor:  So, will you be seeing President Trump in Davos? 

Barzani:  I have to ask my foreign minister. It's not clear if he [Trump] is even coming to Davos but I will be seeing Vice President Pence in Davos.

Al-Monitor:  Would you say the aftermath of Qasem Soleimani’s death has forced Washington to reevaluate its relations with the KRG and elevated your importance as a strategic partner?

Barzani:  The KRG with its legal and constitutional status has its own singular importance within the Iraqi equation. But as things currently stand the US policy on Iraq is a united Iraq, a one Iraq policy.

Al-Monitor:  Is that your policy as well?

Barzani:  Yes.

Al-Monitor:  OK. But do you see yourself as a potential mediator between Washington and Baghdad?

Barzani:  Sure. We do and we will fulfill our role in that respect. And our view is that it's really in Iraq’s interests that we do so and that relations between Washington and Baghdad remain stable.

Al-Monitor:  How about mediating between Washington and Tehran? 

Barzani:  We are prepared to do our utmost within our humble means to contribute to stability and peace in this region. 

Al-Monitor:  Are you going to Tehran any time soon?

Barzani:  I have a standing invitation. But no date has been set yet.

Al-Monitor:  Moving on to Russia’s role in this region. President Putin is extraordinarily active, in Syria, now in Libya. What role is there for Russia in Iraq?

Barzani:  It's clear that Russia has an important role in this region. We see it in Syria, in Libya. And it has has good relations with Iraq.

Al-Monitor:  And?

Barzani:  That’s it.

Al-Monitor:  The last time we met, back in March last year, you said the SDF should make a deal with the Syrian regime as soon as possible. The SDF has been talking to the Syrian government but the Syrian government is showing absolutely no signs of wanting to give the Kurds anything in terms of political rights, a political status with constitutional guarantees. What is your advice to them now?

Barzani:  It's still the same. 

Al-Monitor:  So they should agree to full capitulation?

Barzani:  As a matter of principle we believe that the question of the Kurds in Syria should be resolved within the boundaries of Syria. And yes, of course I believe the regime in Damascus should be more forthcoming than it is now. The Kurds of Syria are part of Syria. Unfortunately, the Baath mentality is a block. The Russians can make a difference, however. When I met [Russian Foreign Minister Sergey] Lavrov a while back, I specifically asked him to help advance a deal between the Kurds and the regime. I believe that President Putin should put more effort into this.

Al-Monitor:  But at the same time we see the Russians engaged with the Turks in ways that have been working in direct opposition to Kurdish interests in Syria. 

Barzani:  Our advice in the past, present and in the future is for the Syrian Kurds to find a way to reach an agreement with the regime. I also told them repeatedly to cut their ties with the PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party] in Qandil. 

Al-Monitor:  But is that even possible?

Barzani:  I always said they did everything to provoke Turkey. Putting up PKK flags and huge portraits of [imprisoned PKK leader] Abdullah Ocalan immediately on the Turkish border. 

Al-Monitor:  But before Oct. 9, when Turkey launched its invasion in northeast Syria, the SDF was making many concessions to Turkey, agreeing to joint Turkish-US patrols and pulling back forces from the border. That hardly qualifies as “provoking.” Quite the opposite.

Barzani:  Well, it was probably too late by then. We had been telling them for years to disassociate themselves from the PKK and try to understand Turkey’s concerns so as to avert this result we have today.

Al-Monitor:  What does cutting links with Qandil actually mean? Many of these people currently running the Syrian Kurdish administration were part of that movement and view Ocalan as their symbolic leader.

Barzani:  It's a well-established fact that they were taking all their orders from the PKK. 

Al-Monitor:  Are they still?

Barzani:  Yes, but to a lesser extent. In any case, what they need to do is to convince Turkey and the international community that they are not part of the PKK’s broader agenda. And if this proves impossible I see little chance of the situation getting any better.

Al-Monitor:  So, what of your own relations with Turkey? How have they been affected by recent events?

Barzani:  Our relations with Turkey have always been important. Our relations with Turkey are good. The KRG prime minister [Masrour Barzani] had a very good meeting with [Turkish] President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan. We will continue on this path.

Al-Monitor:  But you said you don’t want Iraq to be a battleground for the United States and Iran. But Iraqi Kurdistan is already a battleground for Turkey and the PKK. Any hope for a resumption of the peace process between Turkey and its Kurds?

Barzani:  We can’t allow Iraqi Kurdistan to become a launching pad for attacks against any of our neighbors. In the final analysis this problem in Turkey has to be resolved through peaceful means. Whenever I meet with Turkish officials I remind them of this, that this problem needs to be solved through dialogue, not military means. This is in the interest of both sides.

Al-Monitor:  And that means talking to the PKK and to Ocalan?

Barzani:  Yes, to the PKK, to Ocalan.

Al-Monitor:  But the Turkish government and President Erdogan seem to not have any interest in resuming dialogue with the PKK or Ocalan. Quite the opposite. Do you see a role for the imprisoned pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party [HDP] former co-chair Selahattin Demirtas in helping resume peace talks?

Barzani:  I definitely do and I definitely believe that he should be freed from prison and allowed to play this role. He should be free. 

Al-Monitor:  Quite a few Syrian and Turkish Kurds seem to believe that the Iraqi Kurdish leadership fails to fully grasp that if the autonomy project in Rojava or Syrian Kurdistan fails, that Iraqi Kurdistan will in their words “be next.” That Turkey and Iran will go after Iraqi Kurdistan next and destroy your autonomy. And that their fierce reaction to the 2017 Kurdistan independence referendum was an unequivocal portent of this. Do you agree with this take?

Barzani:  It's a bit of an apples and oranges situation. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq has a legal, constitutional status within Iraq. Within Iraq and internationally this is a recognized fact. Therefore in this regard it makes no sense to draw parallels between Iraqi Kurdistan and Rojava. For us in Iraqi Kurdistan, whenever we sense an opportunity to help our brothers and sisters in Rojava and fellow Kurds elsewhere resolve their problems peacefully within the countries they live in, we are always happy to do so. I would also like to take this opportunity to hail my brothers and sisters in Rojava for their great sacrifices on the front line in the war against the Islamic state, for their bravery and their dedication. The high number of casualties they took was not just to defend themselves and Syria but to defend humanity and for that we owe them big thanks.

Al-Monitor:  Do you, therefore, believe, as the SDF does, that they should be rewarded and recognized for their deeds and that the Kurds in Syria deserve to be accorded a formal status as full and equal partners in a new Syria?

Barzani:  Definitely. Of course they should be. There should be constitutional protection of their rights all within the framework of a united Syria. They should be equal citizens and to be able to express themselves freely as Kurds. 

Al-Monitor:  Before the Soleimani affair you had aired confidence about reaching a deal with Baghdad on the budget, revenue sharing, oil, etc. Has it all been upended by the prime minister’s resignation plus Soleimani’s death? Are you concerned that Iran may pressure Baghdad to stop paying salaries to the KRG once again by way of increasing pressure on you? 

Barzani:  After long discussions and many journeys to Baghdad we had indeed reached an agreement. We had almost concluded the deal towards the end of September. We were supposed to hand over 250,000 barrels of oil to SOMO [Iraq’s national oil company] at [export terminals in Turkey’s Mediterranean port of] Ceyhan. They would market it and the revenue would go to the Iraqi treasury from which the KRG would get its share. 

Al-Monitor:  So what would happen to Turkey’s share?

Barzani:  They have nothing to do with it. So what would happen basically is that we have to pay transit fees to the Turkish side and this is Iraqi oil, no matter where it's extracted. The remaining 200,000 barrels are ours and that covers payment to the oil companies for their services and some of our debts to them. But this deal is now in limbo and this uncertainty is obviously not good. That said, as you mentioned, since March of last year, a portion of public workers’ salaries has been paid by the central government in Baghdad on a regular basis. Around 55%. We are talking about $380 million a month. That’s it. It doesn't cover all the salaries. Our total outlay for government workers’ salaries, social security is $700 million a month; 1.2 million people receive government salaries, of which 700,000 are directly employed by the government, the peshmerga, civil servants, etc. As for your question about Iranian pressure, I don’t think Iran will interfere because we are all Iraqis. The arrangement that was struck was a national one that was reached after a lot of discussions.

Al-Monitor:  How do you rate the performance of the new [KRG] prime minister and his Cabinet? And he is your paternal cousin, so perhaps you may not be too impartial, but try.

Barzani:  If you look at the performance of the previous government we were often in crisis management mode, with the budget dispute with Baghdad, then the Islamic State. A lot good was achieved in the past 10 years but mistakes were made as well. The new government has gotten off on a sounder footing with a better relationship with Baghdad and the territorial defeat of the Islamic State. It has vigorously embraced the reform process and implementing reforms and is trying to do better. And I think the prime minister is doing a good job. He has struck a good balance in the Cabinet. Honestly, he is doing a good job.

Al-Monitor:  But there is still no oil minister.

Barzani:  We will have one soon. Don’t worry.

Al-Monitor:  Who?

Barzani:  I honestly don’t know but for now the prime minister is doubling up as oil minister.

Al-Monitor:  Final question. One of the big challenges often mentioned by your party, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, is the lack of leadership in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan [PUK] with whom you share power. Who is in charge of the PUK?

Barzani:  They just had a party congress and it was a successful one despite all the speculation. They have set up a committee to solve all their internal issues. Until now it remains unclear who will actually head the party. 

Al-Monitor:  Who?

Barzani:  I think [Iraqi President] Barham [Salih].

 
AmberinZamanBW.jpg
 
Amberin Zaman is a senior correspondent reporting from the Middle East, North Africa and Europe exclusively for Al-Monitor. Zaman has been a columnist for Al-Monitor for the past five years, examining the politics of Turkey, Iraq and Syria and writing the daily Briefly Turkey newsletter.  Prior to Al-Monitor, Zaman covered Turkey, the Kurds and conflicts in the region for The Washington Post, The Daily Telegraph, The Los Angeles Times and the Voice of America. She served as The Economist's Turkey correspondent between 1999 and 2016, and has worked as a columnist for several Turkish language outlets. On Twitter: @amberinzaman

Read more: https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/01/iraq-kurdistan-region-president-nechirvan-barzani-iran.html#ixzz6BYr23IKU

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The Hill determines two factors in the path of the US-Iraqi relationship: the import of gas and electricity from Iran and the lack of commitment by Abdul-Mahdi to neutralize the crowd because he needed his influence
 
 
1/19/2020 1:53:56 PM  
 
 
 

Baghdad / Obelisk: 

 

American writer James Dorso points out in an article published by "The Hill" newspaper that two things will affect the US-Iraqi negotiations, namely: the end of the amnesty granted to Iraq to import natural gas and electricity from Iran next month, and the law that subjects the crowd crowd factions Under government supervision, which Abdul Mahdi did not implement because he needed the influence of the factions.

American journalist writers fear that the US exit from Iraq makes the latter part of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, warning Baghdad that Beijing "does not tolerate dissident friends."

To address this, these writers suggest to the United States that the presence of NATO in Iraq should be increased, because NATO prefers the independence of Iraq and ensuring the defeat of ISIS. There is also an Iraqi wary of Turkish interference

The book suggests that the United States may impose sanctions on Baghdad if Iraq buys Russian weapons, such as the S-400 air defense system

The writer Dorso says that Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi wants to maintain a site that mediates Iran on the one hand, and the United States on the other

And Dorso finds, "Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi wants the presence of American forces in Iraq, because their departure means the departure of investors and the return of ISIS, while Iran, Russia and China will put their money in the country"

On January 5, the Shiite blocs supported a decision to cancel the government's request for help from the US-led coalition in Iraq and to remove US forces from the country

And if negotiations are held between Iraq and NATO to amend the way foreign forces operate in Iraq, then NATO and the United States must realize that their forces will not be welcomed by Iranian-backed groups, inside Iraq

The most important thing, according to Dorso, is that preserving the sovereignty of Iraq is among the goals, and the United States must not ignore Israel's actions in the sky of Iraq. From Lebanon and Syria

Source: The Hill

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Negotiations to choose the successor of the "engineer" as president without a deputy ... Iran hands over the crowd to "al-Sadr" in exchange for its approach

 

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21st January, 2020
 
 

Informed political sources revealed, today, Tuesday, that there are intense negotiations to choose a person to replace the deputy head of the crowd, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed by an American bombing on January 3, noting that the negotiations centered around the amendment of the position from one deputy to one president without a deputy.


The sources told Al-Ikhbaria: that negotiations took place during the past few days, which resulted in the amendment of the position to which the leader of the Alliance of the Hadi al-Amiri was nominated from the vice-president of the authority to its president, noting that "the results of these negotiations will not be announced before the street that has escalated From his protests again over the past 48 hours."

She emphasized: "Three of the most prominent Iraqi militia leaders are competing for the role of the second man in the popular crowd, which was played by the engineer. They are the leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement, Qais Khazali, the leader of the Nujaba movement, Akram al-Kaabi, and the leader of the Imam Ali Brigades, Ali Shibl al-Zaidi."

The sources pointed out that "the competition between the three personalities is embodied in the extent of adherence to the Iranian decision on the one hand and the level of escalation against the United States in Iraq on the other hand," explaining that Tehran left the three leaders in the current state of competition, because it included their constant preparedness to face any emergency in At any time, including attacks on the interests of the United States or its forces in Iraq.

And she stated, "The biggest challenge comes from the leader of the Sadrist movement and the alliance of other leaders, Muqtada al-Sadr, who leads a broad popular movement, and heads militias that include thousands of individuals previously known as the" Mahdi Army ", and now it is known as" the Peace Brigades", stressing that it is "If the indications of Sadr's approach to the Iranian camp are confirmed after a years of estrangement between the two sides, the leaders of the "Peace Brigades" may play a pivotal role in reshaping the leadership of the PMF."

The sources concluded to "Al-Ikhbaria": "Iran has already offered a major role to one of Sadr's followers in leading the PMF, in case he becomes involved in the pro-US camp against the United States in Iraq."

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Politician: America has a moral responsibility to demand the removal of pro-Iranian militias from Iraq

 

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21st January, 2020
 
 
The political expert, Mustafa Salem, confirmed on Tuesday that the United States has a moral responsibility and a demand to remove pro-Iranian militias from Iraq.


Salem told Al-Akhbariya that "Muqtada will enter the Green Zone as a militia and as a threat, to impose who will be prime minister, before his message constitutes any value for Washington and the situation after his entry is not in favor of the project we want a homeland."

He explained that "the American administration has a moral responsibility, and it also allowed the emergence of the militias of Iran (Muqtada of them) in our lives, to kick them out of Iraq and criminalize them internationally."

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1 hour ago, DinarThug said:

Iran hands over the crowd to "al-Sadr" in exchange for its approach


 

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Newspaper: Al-Sistani directed his followers, maklids, and offices to avoid participating in the upcoming Sadrist demonstrations

 

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21st January, 2020
 
 
The British Independent newspaper revealed today, Tuesday, a directive issued by the office of the Supreme Religious Reference, Mr. Ali Sistani, in Najaf, to his followers, followers and offices, to avoid participating in the upcoming Sadrist demonstrations.


The newspaper, quoting its political sources, said, "The office of the Supreme Shiite cleric in Iraq, Ali Sistani, directed followers and imitators to avoid participating in the demonstration called by the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, in Baghdad on Friday, January 24 (January)."

She added: "Sistani is following the new Iranian escalation against the United States with concern, and is afraid that it will lead to a disturbance of the balance that contributes to preserving the country's fragile stability."

She explained: "Al-Sistani's office asked the branch offices in Baghdad and the provinces to avoid promoting the demonstration called by Al-Sadr, given the latter's approach to Iran's circle of allies, despite his continuous emphasis on the independence of his political decision."

It is noteworthy that the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr, had called in a tweet a few days ago for millions of demonstrations in Baghdad condemning the American presence in Iraq.

The newspaper concluded, according to its sources: "Sistani did not stop at this point. Rather, he directed one of his main offices in Karbala to support the escalation chosen by the Iraqi protesters since the beginning of the week, after their deadline set by the political parties to form the new government ended."

 

Edited by DinarThug
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The demonstrations committee warns of the "Sadrists" threats to kill and kidnap the rebels in Tahrir Square


Sunday, January 19, 2020
 
 

Baghdad - Writings

 

 

The General Committee organizing the demonstrations of the October Revolution issued a statement on Sunday, January 19, 2020, warning of threats by groups affiliated to the Sadrist movement led by Muqtada al-Sadr to storm the demonstration areas on Friday, January 24, and to disperse the sit-in by force.

The committee said in its statement: After Muqtada al-Sadr announced his invitation to demonstrate on January 24 and the militias accused of crimes and violations against the demonstrators responded to him, a group claiming to be affiliated with the Sadrist movement entered the tents of the protesters and activists in Tahrir Square and threatened them with killing, kidnapping and burning tents, and informed them that January 24 It is their last day and they have to leave the scene.

This prompted the committee to stress that these threats will not dissuade the young revolutionaries against injustice, corruption and criminality from moving forward with the achievement of their legitimate goals and regaining the homeland from the corrupt.

The committee affirmed that the Iraqi people are the incubators of this revolution, and that it is behind their revolutionary children who are demanding the restoration of Iraq.

While the committee called on Muqtada al-Sadr to clearly state his position on these groups that threaten the protesters in his name, because he will be responsible for all the violations that the demonstrators are exposed to.

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The Sunnis of Iraq are most concerned about the possibility of American forces withdrawing from the country

 

- 3 Hours Ago
 

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After being at the forefront of "resistance" against the American occupation of the country after the 2003 invasion, the Sunnis of Iraq today are more concerned and opposed to the withdrawal of Americans from the country, who are seen as a balance in the face of the growing Iranian influence.
Political analyst Hisham Al Hashemi told AFP that the fears of the Sunnis today are part of "their lack of confidence in the Shiite political partner, who tends to meet Iran's agenda in Iraq at the expense of the interests of the rest of the components, even at the expense of the Arab Shiite opposition."
Tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated recently on Iraqi soil, as the United States assassinated the influential Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, which required a response from Iran, which bombed ballistic missiles, an Iraqi military base hosting American soldiers.
In an angry response to the American strike, the Iraqi parliament held a session on January 5 in which it voted on the government's mandate to end the presence of foreign forces in the country, including about 5,200 American soldiers.
The Kurdish representatives and the majority of Sunni representatives boycotted the session, despite the fact that the Shiite factions considered at the time that those who are absent are a "traitor" that supports the American presence.
Ahead of the vote, parliament speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi, a Sunni and former governor of the western province of Anbar, issued an enthusiastic appeal to lawmakers to reconsider the decision.
He said, "The decision we make now, we may not be able to change it an hour from now. The United States does not interest me. Iran does not interest me, nothing concerns me as much as Iraq. ”

Both the United States and Iran have a long history in Iraq and close ties with the ruling elite. Today, Tehran has wide influence through the PMF, which has been included in the official military forces, and its political wing has become the largest representative in Parliament. While Washington supported the Iraqi forces in their war against the "state" by air operations, training and armament.

“Our friends or our masters?” -
Iran's growing influence came from a balance lost by the United States that led the invasion in 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein's Sunni regime, which suppressed the Shiites during his rule. The invasion invoked the year of the country, which at the time established the "resistance" factions against the American forces, before the outbreak of an Iraqi sectarian war between 2006 and 2007 that killed thousands.

But Sunnis today find themselves on the other side of the equation. Between the expansion of Iranian influence and the survival of the American forces, the second option is the best for them.
The deputy from the northern Nineveh Governorate, Ahmed al-Jarba, raised a set of questions during the parliament's voting session, saying: “After the decision was issued, are our neighbors our friends, not our masters? Or will we hand the country’s decision over to the neighboring countries? ”, Referring to Iran.
Al-Jarba called on the government to withdraw the factions that are trying to "blackmail the Sunni provinces and replace them with military sectors."
After the Iraqi authorities regained control of the Sunni provinces that fell to the hands of the "Islamic State", there were concerns among the Sunnis. These areas have been devastated by the battles against the jihadists, who in 2014 controlled nearly a third of the area of Iraq. The popular crowd and the international coalition led by Washington during those battles were in the same ditch against the "Islamic State".

Thousands of coalition forces remain deployed in about six Iraqi military bases, all in Sunni or Kurdish areas. However, the crowd also sought to reinforce its presence in those areas, which increased the sensitivity of the Sunnis.

- Sunni territory? - A
US military commander in Iraq, says , told AFP on condition of anonymity , said that "our presence works as a deterrent in those areas."
“The smaller our presence, the actors can seek to achieve their own interests… Shi’ite, Sunni, Yazidis, different clans. These units will attack some of them against perceived threats. ”
This lack of confidence comes at a very sensitive time, as the Shiite-majority areas of southern Iraq have been witnessing for months a wave of anti-government protests, and against Iranian influence.
And the Sunni areas remained far from this movement, fearing exposure to criticism on a sectarian basis, which prompted them to remain silent about the American-Iranian tension.
Many Sunni tribal elders who, after confronting the invasion, joined the al-Qaeda fight with US support within the so-called "Awakening Forces" formed in 2006, said they had received threats from armed factions.
One of them told France Press: "They warned us against standing with the occupier again."
Hashemi believes that "the United States in relation to the Sunnis, the Kurds and minorities is an officer in striking balance with the Shiite political party in control of Parliament and the government."
Analysts believe that if the Iraqi government decides to proceed with the decision to end the presence of foreign forces, the Sunnis may seek an autonomous region, similar to the northern Iraqi Kurdistan region.

And a former officer in the Iraqi army sees the floods, "It is clear that there is a Sunni fear of the next, which prompted them to think again about forming the region in order to protect their areas."

Arab Jerusalem

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American soldiers: Washington is considering deploying the Patriot system in Iraq 

 

109376.jpg?watermark=4

 

Politics 01/23/2001 10:01 509 Editor: ha    


Baghdad today - follow up 

 

An American network reported, on Thursday (January 23, 2020), that the Pentagon might deploy the Patriot air defense system in Iraq after the Iranian missile attacks targeting Ein al-Assad and Harir bases in Iraq.

The network quoted US military officials as saying that "the Pentagon may deploy an air defense system in Iraq after the Iranian missile attacks that targeted Ein al-Assad bases in Anbar and Harir in Iraqi Kurdistan." 

News about the deployment of an air defense system comes after several American soldiers were transferred to treatment outside Iraq due to concussion injuries from the impact of Iranian missiles that did not kill any American soldier.

A senior Pentagon official told "Fox News" that they "believed that Iran was unlikely to launch a ballistic missile attack." 

He added, "It is now possible that the US Patriot air defense system be deployed to protect the bases that include American forces in Iraq." 

US President Donald Trump, in a speech Wednesday at the Davos Economic Conference, reduced the severity of the injuries suffered by American soldiers as a result of the Iranian strikes. 

"I heard they (the soldiers) had a headache and some other things. But I can say it is not dangerous," Trump said. 

The American army did not drop any of the Iranian missiles that were fired into Iraq because it did not have an air defense system in the region.

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A new charge to arrest protesters in Iran for tearing down Soleimani's photos

 

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23rd January, 2020
 
 
The police chief of the Iranian capital, Tehran, has announced the arrest of an Iranian youth, on charges of tearing down the image of Qasim Soleimani during the protests.


According to the Iranian "ISNA" agency, "The police arrested a young man who tore up Soleimani's image in Iran, and the young man was later released on bail."

Demonstrations erupted in various Iranian cities, protesting the shooting down of the Ukrainian plane with two missiles launched by the Revolutionary Guards, and the demonstrators tore down pictures of Qasim Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The regime tried to silence the demonstrators and prevent them by force, by arresting the protesters for insulting Soleimani's photos.

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The White House: Trump and Saleh secretly agreed to continue the US presence in Iraq


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15:34 - 01/23/2020

 

The White House announced that US President Donald Trump and Iraqi Barham Salih agreed that the US military would remain in that Middle Eastern country after the secret meeting between the two in Switzerland.

"The two leaders agreed on the importance of continuing the security partnership between the United States and Iraq, including the war against ISIS," the French press website quoted in a report translated by the agency, "a statement to the White House, as saying ,"President Trump reaffirmed the United States' firm commitment to an Iraq that enjoys Sovereignty, stability and prosperity.” According to his claim.


He added that before the meeting, Barham Salih said that "Washington and Baghdad have an ongoing relationship and the United States is a partner in Iraq and in the war against ISIS " and then later told Trump that "this mission needs to be accomplished and I believe in you and I share the same mission for a stable, sovereign Iraq that lives In peace with himself and in peace with his neighbors.”

It is reported that "the two presidents met on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos in their first meeting since the United States assassinated General Qasim Soleimani in Baghdad, which angered the Iraqis and led to a call from the country's parliament to expel the American forces."

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Nujaifi considers calls to remove the Americans an attempt to extend "Iranian influence" and denies Washington's threat to Sunni forces

 

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Politics 01/23/220 12:35 136     


Baghdad today - Baghdad 

 

The leader of the Salvation and Development Front, Atheel al-Nujaifi, Thursday (January 23, 2020), commented on the reports that there were American threats to the Sunni and Kurdish political forces, to prevent their deputies from attending the previous parliament session regarding voting to remove foreign forces, as well as standing against this trend.

Al-Nujaifi said in an interview with (Baghdad Today), "The issue of exposure of Sunni and Kurdish political forces to American threats, to prevent them from attending the parliament session to vote on the decision to end the foreign presence, is not worth the response, as it is absolutely not true."

And, "The Sunni and Kurdish political forces have all reasonable, logical justifications for rejecting Iran's unilateral efforts with the Iraqi decision, under the cover of expelling foreign forces from Iraq."

The leadership of the Salvation and Development Front added: "We do not see that the issue is the removal of American forces from Iraq, only, but we look at the matter as the expulsion of each party that could destabilize Iranian influence in Iraq or reduce its ability to control the future of Iraq, its future, and for this we are against This approach is not due to US threats or other lies. "

The pages on social networking sites had circulated, earlier, news that the United States of America threatened Sunni and Kurdish forces to pressure their representatives, about not attending the parliament session to remove foreign forces from Iraq. 

And the House of Representatives voted, on Sunday (January 05, 2020), on the exit of all foreign and American forces from Iraq, and abolishing the role of the international coalition in Iraq. 

After that, the US President, Donald Trump, threatened to impose sanctions on Baghdad after the parliament voted on the decision to remove foreign forces, on condition that Baghdad pay Washington the cost of building its air base.

"If Iraq demands the departure of American forces and this is not done on an amicable basis, we will impose sanctions on them that they have never seen before. Iran's sanctions will be a small thing next door," Trump said.

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Karbouli: America will not withdraw from Iraq .. Any talk otherwise is a waste of time

 

image.php?token=4ab936543dd471a891d01936de023c2d&c=7085968&size=
 
 
23rd January, 2020
 
 
A member of the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, Deputy Muhammad al-Karbouli, affirmed that the American forces will not withdraw from Iraq, noting that any talk other than that is a waste of time.


Al-Karbouli said in a press statement carried by "Al-Sharq Al-Awsat", which was followed by "Al-Akhbariya", that "he excluded the Americans' withdrawal from Iraq," saying that "any talk other than that will only be a waste of time."

"The Americans have made their position clear, which is that they do not intend to withdraw from Iraq. In addition, they are strengthening their presence in the region, not just Iraq," he said.

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11 hours ago, DinarThug said:

American soldiers: Washington is considering deploying the Patriot system in Iraq 

 

109376.jpg?watermark=4

 

Politics 01/23/2001 10:01 509 Editor: ha    


Baghdad today - follow up 

 

An American network reported, on Thursday (January 23, 2020), that the Pentagon might deploy the Patriot air defense system in Iraq after the Iranian missile attacks targeting Ein al-Assad and Harir bases in Iraq.

The network quoted US military officials as saying that "the Pentagon may deploy an air defense system in Iraq after the Iranian missile attacks that targeted Ein al-Assad bases in Anbar and Harir in Iraqi Kurdistan." 

News about the deployment of an air defense system comes after several American soldiers were transferred to treatment outside Iraq due to concussion injuries from the impact of Iranian missiles that did not kill any American soldier.

A senior Pentagon official told "Fox News" that they "believed that Iran was unlikely to launch a ballistic missile attack." 

He added, "It is now possible that the US Patriot air defense system be deployed to protect the bases that include American forces in Iraq." 

US President Donald Trump, in a speech Wednesday at the Davos Economic Conference, reduced the severity of the injuries suffered by American soldiers as a result of the Iranian strikes. 

"I heard they (the soldiers) had a headache and some other things. But I can say it is not dangerous," Trump said. 

The American army did not drop any of the Iranian missiles that were fired into Iraq because it did not have an air defense system in the region.

LINK

 

We'll be sending a lot of arms to Iraq over the next month. We're getting ready to have a party. The honored guests will be Sadr, Hezbollah, maybe even the Quds. 

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