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The White House announces the date of the Iraqi prime minister's visit, amidst political tension and pull in Baghdad


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The White House announces the date of the Iraqi prime minister's visit, amidst political tension and pull in Baghdad

 
Baghdad
Aktham Saifuddin
08 August 2020
Image
Politics / Mustafa Al-Kazemi / (Twitter)
Pressures exerted by some parties on Al-Kazemi in anticipation of the visit (Twitter)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi is scheduled to meet  US President Donald Trump, during a visit to Washington that he will take place in less than two weeks, which includes discussing a number of common files, amid pressure exerted by Iraqi forces close to Iran on Al-Kazemi, to set a date for the exit of US forces from Iraq .

The second round of strategic dialogue between Baghdad and Washington was scheduled to start last month, but it was postponed due to logistical measures and political pressure, as Iraqi parties questioned the intentions of the Al-Kazemi government, accusing it of "evasive" at the expense of the file of removing US forces from Iraq.

According to a statement issued by the White House on Friday, “Al-Kazemi will meet with US President Donald Trump  at the White House, on August 20,” indicating that “the two parties will discuss facing the challenges posed by the new Corona virus, as well as issues related to security, energy and economic developments.” .

The Iraqi government did not officially announce the visit, but sources spoke about the continuing pressures exerted by some parties on Al-Kazemi, in anticipation of the visit and what would result from it, amid tensions.

A government official told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that "attempts are being made to include conditions for Al-Kazemi, to set a date for the removal of US forces, and for Iraq not to conclude any agreement with Washington related to the armed factions, as they are internal files."

He stressed that "Al-Kazemi rejects any pressure and dictations from any party, but the issue is controversial so far, especially since some parties that question the government demand that the agenda of the visit be presented to Parliament."

The pro-Iranian militias, which are active in the Iraqi arena, are afraid of any understandings related to them that Al-Kazemi may reach with the American side, especially as it has recently escalated the operations of targeting US headquarters and interests in Iraq.

The militias and the political parties associated with them objected to the outcomes of the first round of dialogue between Baghdad and Washington, which took place on June 11, saying that it aims to keep US forces in Iraq.

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Statement from the Prime Minister's Office on Al-Kazemi's visit to the White House
 

Baghdad - People   

The office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi announced, on Saturday, details about the upcoming visit to the United States of America.  

A statement by the Prime Minister’s Office, a copy of which was received by Nass (August 8, 2020) stated that “next week, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi begins an official visit to the United States of America, at the head of a government delegation based on an official invitation.”  

The statement added, "Where he will meet US President Donald Trump, on the twentieth of this month."  

The statement added that "the visit will include discussing the files of bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States of America, issues of common interest, joint cooperation in the fields of security, energy, health, economy and investment, and ways to enhance them, in addition to the file to address the Corona pandemic, and bilateral cooperation in a way that serves the common interests of the two countries."  

  

The White House announced the date of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi's visit to Washington.  

The White House said, in a statement, that US President Donald Trump will receive the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, at the White House on August 20.    

The statement stated that the talks between the two parties will include facing the challenges posed by the emerging corona virus, in addition to issues related to security, energy and economic developments.    

  

Earlier, a senior US military official stressed the need for the United States to help Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi in order to maintain US forces in Iraq to confront ISIS.  

General Kenneth McKinsey said in an interview with the "Washington Post" newspaper followed by "People", (July 8, 2020) that the United States "has taken important steps to confront the Iran-related factions that have targeted American forces."      

"We must remain patient while Al-Kazemi challenges the groups with enormous military and political influence," he added.      

On the other hand, Marine General Kenneth F. McKinsey Jr., who heads the US Central Command, commended Al-Kazemi for his order to launch a raid on Al-Dora in late June after repeated missile attacks on American personnel in Iraq.      

He added that "the unusual step against Kataib Hezbollah - which angered its leaders - illustrates the challenges faced by Al-Kazemi, who seeks to rein in the militias without disturbing the fragile balance between the two biggest supporters of Iraq, Washington and Tehran."      

"He is now negotiating a landmine, indicating that US forces will remain," McKinsey said after meeting Al-Kazemi during a visit to Baghdad, "I think we need his help." And he just has to find his way to some extent, which means that we will get less than ideal solutions, which are not new in Iraq. "      

McKinsey’s visit and meeting with Kazemi, the former intelligence chief who became prime minister in May, comes as US President Donald Trump's administration is holding talks with Iraqi leaders aimed in part at determining the future of US forces in Iraq.      

Speaking to reporters on the phone after leaving Iraq, McKinsey "expressed confidence that the Iraqi government will ask American forces to remain in the country despite calls for withdrawal earlier this year from Iraqi lawmakers angry at Washington's decision to launch an air strike in Baghdad that has claimed a life." Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, along with a prominent figure, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis.      

And while the two governments asserted last month that US forces would not seek permanent bases in Iraq, US military officials say that some kind of continued presence is necessary given the ongoing threat from ISIS militants.      

There are more than 5,000 US troops currently in Iraq. The Trump administration says that the US military presence acts as a deterrent to Iran's influence there, but US forces have come under frequent missile and artillery attacks from Kataib Hezbollah and other militias.      

McKinsey declined to say how many troops he believed would be needed, saying that "it will be up to civilian leaders." While Trump has repeatedly declared his desire to withdraw troops from Syria and Afghanistan, he has spoken less frequently about Iraq.      

Mick Mulroy, who previously served as the Pentagon chief of staff for the Middle East in the Trump administration, said the continued presence of troops would also be beneficial to "the continued development of the Iraqi army to defend itself against Iran's malign activities."      

"Many of these militias look to Iran's interests over the interests of their country," Mulroy, who now works as a national security analyst, told ABC News.      

McKinsey has also spoken, for the first time publicly, of intelligence reports about an alleged Russian program to pay bounties to Taliban-linked militants for attacking US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.      

McKinsey said he was very aware of the reports but was "not convinced" that the Russian payments to the Taliban had led to the deaths of Americans, adding, "I found them extremely disturbing." The general said he asked intelligence officials to continue "looking into these reports," which they do.      

McKinsey noted that the reports have not changed the army’s position in Afghanistan. “We are taking very strong protection measures all the time in Afghanistan because, whether or not the Russians have been paying the Taliban, over the past several years, the Taliban have done their best to carry out operations against us,” he said. Practically nothing has changed on the ground in terms of protecting our forces. "    

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A statement from the Prime Minister's Office about Al-Kazemi's visit to the White House

 

 
 

Baghdad / National News Center - Next week, the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, begins an official visit to the United States of America, at the head of a government delegation, based on an official invitation.

Al-Kazemi will meet US President Donald Trump, on the twentieth of this month.

The visit will include discussing the files of bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States of America, issues of mutual interest, and joint cooperation in the fields of security, energy, health, economy and investment, and ways to enhance them.

In addition to the file to address the Corona pandemic, and bilateral cooperation in a way that serves the common interests of the two countries.

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Parliamentary Security: Prime Minister will discuss important topics in his visit to Washington

الأمن النيابية: رئيس الوزراء سيناقش محاور مهمة في زيارته إلى واشنطن


Saturday 08 August 2020 - 16:21

Parliamentary Security: Prime Minister will discuss important topics in his visit to Washington
Baghdad - Waaa - Nassar al-Hajj
The parliamentary security and defense committee confirmed that Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi will discuss important topics during his visit to Washington next week.
"During his visit to the United States, the prime minister will discuss the strategic framework agreement and the presence of foreign forces," committee member Kataa al-Rikabi told the Iraqi News Agency (AAP) on Saturday.
"The prime minister will also discuss the economic crisis in Iraq as well as the health crisis in relation to the Corona epidemic, as well as the joint cooperation between the two countries at various levels," he said.
Next week, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi will pay an official visit to the United States of America, at the head of a government delegation, at an official invitation.
"Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi will meet with US President Donald Trump on The 20th of This Month," his press office said in a statement.
"The visit will include discussing the issues of bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States of America, issues of common concern, joint cooperation in the fields of security, energy, health, economy and investment, ways to strengthen them, as well as the response to the Corona pandemic, and bilateral cooperation in the common interests of the two countries," the statement added.

https://www.ina.iq/110886/الأمن_النيابية:_رئيس_الوزراء_سيناقش_محاور_مهمة_في_زيارته_إلى_واشنطن

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2 hours ago, yota691 said:

Al-Kazemi will meet with US President Donald Trump  at the White House, on August 20,” indicating that “the two parties will discuss facing the challenges posed by the new Corona virus, as well as issues related to security, energy and economic developments.” .

 

Nice , could some of the well connected on here that are golf buddies with the Donald , 🤣

 make sure the iraq currency is a top priority discussion on the 20th  , it will make a nice stimulus package for iraqis and Americans .

 

cheers yota all the best dv'ers

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From the Iraqi Oil Report

 

 

National News

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is going to Washington. The next phase of a renewed U.S.-Iraq strategic dialogue will take place in person, including a White House meeting with President Donald Trump scheduled for Aug. 20, according one Iraqi and one U.S. government official familiar with the details. The Trump administration has been slow to set a date for the meeting, which many had expected to happen earlier in the summer. One factor that may have contributed to the renewed momentum is a prospective energy deal involving U.S. firm Honeywell.

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The Iraqi Prime Minister meets Trump on August 20

The Iraqi Prime Minister meets Trump on August 20
Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi
 08 August 2020 06:40 PM

Mubasher: The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazimi, begins next week an official visit to the United States of America, at the head of a government delegation, based on an official invitation.

The Prime Minister’s Media Office said in a statement published on the official Facebook page today, Saturday, that “Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will meet with US President Donald Trump on the twentieth of this month.”

The statement added that "the visit will include discussing the files of bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States of America, issues of common interest, joint cooperation in the fields of security, energy, health, economy and investment, and ways to enhance them, in addition to the file to address the Corona pandemic, and bilateral cooperation in a way that serves the common interests of the two countries."

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Kurdistan Democrat: Al-Kazemi's visit to Washington signals an improvement in relations between the two countries

Baghdad - conscious - Nassar Hajj
The head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) bloc, MP Vian Sabri, confirmed that the visit of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi is necessary in expanding cooperation relations between the two countries, while noting that it signals an improvement in relations between the two countries.
Sabri told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), today, Saturday, that "this visit is an indication of an improvement in relations between Iraq and the United States, especially since Al-Kazemi emphasized in his government program the importance of foreign relations with countries of the world," noting that "relations are based on Sovereignty, balance and cooperation. "
She added, "The visit is necessary to discuss bilateral files, enhance coordination and security cooperation in the face of terrorism, and health cooperation in facing Corona, in addition to economic cooperation in the fields of investment and energy."
Next week, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will visit the United States of America at the head of a government delegation, based on an official invitation.
His media office said in a statement received by (INA), today, Saturday, that "Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will meet US President Donald Trump on the twentieth of this month."
The statement added, "The visit will include discussing the files of bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States of America, issues of common interest, cooperation in the fields of security, energy, health, economy and investment, and ways to enhance them, in addition to the file to address the Corona pandemic, and bilateral cooperation in a way that serves the common interests of the two countries."
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Parliamentary Security: The Prime Minister will discuss important topics on his visit to Washington

Baghdad - conscious - Nassar Hajj
The Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee confirmed that Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will discuss important topics in his visit to Washington next week.
A member of the committee, Kata Al-Rikabi, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), today, Saturday, that "the prime minister will discuss, during his visit to the United States, the strategic framework agreement and the presence of foreign forces."
He added, "The prime minister will also discuss the economic crisis that Iraq is going through, as well as the health crisis in relation to the Corona epidemic, in addition to joint cooperation between the two countries at multiple levels."
Next week, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will pay an official visit to the United States of America, heading a government delegation, upon an official invitation.
His media office said in a statement received by (INA), today, Saturday, that "Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will meet US President Donald Trump on the twentieth of this month."
The statement added, "The visit will include discussing the files of bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States of America, issues of common interest, joint cooperation in the fields of security, energy, health, economy and investment, and ways to enhance them, in addition to the file to address the Corona pandemic, and bilateral cooperation in a way that serves the common interests of the two countries."
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Parliamentary Foreign Affairs: Al-Kazemi's visit to Washington will achieve a kind of international balance

 Baghdad - conscious - Nassar Hajj 

Today, Sunday, the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee confirmed that Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi's visit to the United States of America will achieve a kind of international balance.  
Rami al-Skini, a member of the committee for the Saeron Alliance, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "Al-Kazemi's visit to Washington is one of the important visits on the international side to achieve a kind of balance in performance, and to support and strengthen the Iraqi interest." 
He added that "the visit will address many of the economic and political axes and security dimensions that can be achieved on the Iraqi arena."
 He pointed out that "there is a performance that must be different for the prime minister, and this can only be achieved with a balance in the performance of the Iraqi government, and the lack of tendency for one axis without another," pointing out that "there are international axes that are reflected on the Iraqi arena, so it is necessary to find a balance and calm in The square, internally and externally. "
Next week, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will visit the United States of America at the head of a government delegation, based on an official invitation.
His media office stated, in a statement received by (INA), that "Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will meet US President Donald Trump on the twentieth of this month."
The statement added that "the visit will include discussing the files of bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States of America, issues of common interest, cooperation in the fields of security, energy, health, economy and investment, and ways to enhance them, in addition to the file to address the Corona pandemic, and bilateral cooperation to serve the common interests of the two countries."
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Editing date: 9/8/2020 13:25 • 97 times read
Deputy in Law: Al-Kazemi's visit is a continuation of the second round of the strategic dialogue with Washington
[Baghdad-Where]
Representative for State of Law, Kata Al-Rikabi, said on Sunday that Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi's visit to America continues the second round of the strategic dialogue with Washington.
Al-Rikabi said, "The visit is a continuation of the discussions that took place between the Iraqi delegation and the American delegation more than a month ago, and there was an agreement to resume a second round of dialogue in Washington."
He added, "The visit comes in the light of discussions that took place in June with the American delegation and the starting point was (the Strategic Framework Agreement)," indicating that "several changes have occurred since the signing of the agreement in 2008, most notably the Parliament's decision to expel foreign forces, including the US, from Iraq, which is the main and important axis. Which will be discussed between the Iraqi and American delegations. "
Al-Rikabi pointed out that "the conflict between states on the land of Iraq is responsible for Iraq, which must not allow others to override its sovereignty and security, stressing that fortifying the internal situation will restrain all those who violate Iraqi sovereignty."
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Editing date: 12/8/2020 12:47 • 68 times read
Parliamentary: Three Goals of Al-Kazemi's Visit to Washington
[Baghdad-Where]
Independent MP Nada Shaker Jawdat spoke on Wednesday about three goals for Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi's upcoming visit to Washington.
Jawdat said, "We are looking, through the prime minister's visit to Washington, for the economic file to be presented, because it is the first pressing file that must be worked on by securing the investment side. Therefore, we hope that the prime minister will work to open the horizon for mutual cooperation and build economic relations that support and revive the economic side." in Iraq".
Jawdat added, "The aim of the visit is to restore Iraq's regional status, keep it away from political and military conflicts between the countries of the region, and preserve its national sovereignty."
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Iraqi Kurdistan: Priority Issues for International Mediation

Michael Knights

Middle East Research Institute

July 10, 2020

 

Baghdad, Erbil, and their foreign partners should focus on mending harmful intra-Kurdish rifts, forging a multiyear budget deal, and reactivating elite counterterrorism coordination, among other initiatives.

In the last decade, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) has seen many moments of crisis—budget cuts, Daesh’s assault on Erbil, the halving of oil prices (twice!) and armed conflict with the Iraqi government over Kirkuk. Today’s situation feels different and arguably worse than these episodes: there’s COVID, a deep oil recession in Baghdad and Kurdistan, intensifying tensions with Turkey and Iran, and an unpleasant undercurrent of resentment against the Kurds among many of the MPs in the Baghdad parliament.

What makes this moment uniquely dangerous, however, is the near-breakdown of cooperation between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Iraq’s Kurds have shown that they can weather any storm when they pull together as a people. The KRI’s international partners tend to support the Iraqi Kurds more effectively when the two parties work in harmony, but often back away when they cannot identify a cohesive counterparty to deal with in the KRI. International memories of the intra-Kurdish civil war in the 1990s undermined the Kurdish cause in Iraq in the 2000s, when the Kurds’ greatest opportunity for self-governance lay before them.

Looking forward, it is clear that the futures of Iraq and the KRI are linked. If Baghdad’s economy and currency collapses, so does Kurdistan’s. If the Kurdish people starve, the blame will fall on Baghdad. If the Islamic State returns, it will emerge first in the strip of disputed territories between federal Iraq and the KRI. The success of U.S. policy in Iraq is the success of both the fifteen provinces of federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, not one or the other.

The U.S.-Iraq strategic dialogue will continue in the late summer, hopefully including a visit of the Iraqi leadership to Washington DC. This presents an opportunity to re-energize the role of the U.S. and international partners in the issues facing the KRI. It is important to stress the importance of a multilateral mission to support intra-KRI cohesion and Baghdad-KRI relations because America does not have all the answers on Kurdistan, nor does it tend to focus enough attention there. U.S. power and leadership are most effective when combined with the perceptive insights and good instincts of many other partners on Kurdistan, such as the French, British, and Canadians, to name just a few.

There is an argument that the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement should either have a specific working group or committee on KRI issues (or on decentralization more generally), or a cross-cutting mechanism that ensures the KRI is worked into each of the security, political, economic and energy working groups. The list of topics that require persistent attention is quite long.

Most important, the KDP and PUK need to be led towards a de-escalation that will allow the region to speak with one cohesive voice in Baghdad and with international partners. This is a foundational issue that affects all the other issues the KRI faces. An adversarial relationship between the two parties undermines everything that is attempted in the KRI and is deeply off-putting for international partners and potential investors. It can result in armed standoffs, affecting key industries like LPG trucking, or in security crises such as the Zina Warte armed confrontation between KDP and PUK Peshmerga in mid-March 2020.

Almost nothing—from oil and gas investment to counter-terrorism to fighting COVID to negotiations with Baghdad—works as well as it should due to the KDP-PUK schism. It would be magical thinking to imagine that the two parties can easily reconcile. Even so, the U.S. and its various partners should prioritize efforts to get the powerful leaders in the same room to hammer out a minimal level of cooperation and start a dialogue, however stilted or tense at the outset.

The U.S. and other internationals also need to help Baghdad and the KRI complete the promising steps that have been taken on political, security and economic cooperation. The Kurds worked well with former premier Adel Abdul-Mahdi’s government in Baghdad, and they have overcome their initial caution towards a change in Baghdad to support the new Prime Minister Mustapha al-Kadhimi, another old friend. For the Kurds, however, the relationship will be almost solely judged on what it delivers in terms of budget support.

Having watched six Iraqi prime ministers negotiate and renegotiate budget deals with the Kurds every year for over a decade, the U.S. is intimately familiar with every possible configuration of give and take—more so than the Iraqi and Kurdish leaders themselves. What has always been clear is that politics trump economics in such discussions: typically, the solution is political and the numbers and formulas get fudged to fit the required compromise. This is why, for the remainder of 2020, Kurdistan will probably keep selling its oil and gathering customs revenue while Baghdad will provide a reduced top-up to the Kurdish exchequer each month, which is basically what has been happening for the last two years. A lot of discussion tends to end up right back where the parties began.

This pattern of recurrent budget crises is not sustainable for two reasons. First, the annual showdown complicates an already fraught budgeting process and Iraqi MPs are becoming more hostile to the KRI economy every time the cycle is undertaken. Second, the KDP and PUK are increasingly fighting over the revenue-sharing mechanism, with Sulaymaniyah seeking more direct transfers from Baghdad or other guarantees of a fair share.

The U.S. and its international partners need to back a multi-year arrangement that has buy-in at the highest levels: the Iraqi Prime Minister, speaking for a sizable bloc in Iraq’s body politic, and key leaders within the KDP and PUK. This is yet another reason why the two parties must be able to sit down together at the highest political levels. The sweet spot for a Baghdad-KRI budget deal would seem to be about $800mn per month, requiring the KDP and PUK to agree on a no-blame, non-politicized and permanent reduction of KRI obligations (salaries, social services and allowances) by about 30%. The U.S. and other internationals need to put strong and well-intentioned pressure on the KRI to appoint an empowered and dedicated Minister of Natural Resources to salvage investor confidence in the energy sector, which will serve as a signpost for the KRI’s future non-oil investors.

A quick win for Baghdad-KDP-PUK cooperation may be possible in the realm of counter-terrorism. The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service, the KDP-led Counterterrorism Department (CTD) and the PUK-led Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG) are three highly professional services that work closely with the international Coalition against Daesh. They have worked together before and can work in the disputed areas with relative ease now. The creation of joint counter-terrorism coordination centers should initially focus on these elite units and their related intelligence arms, not necessarily the “big military” units like the Iraqi Army, Federal Police and Peshmerga.

One important symbol for Baghdad-KRI cooperation could be an investment in the deployment, for short periods, of some Iraqi Air Force F-16 aircraft to the airports in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. These fighter-bombers were notoriously viewed as a stick that Baghdad might use against the Kurds, but today the F-16 fleet and its American technicians are struggling to stay in service as Iran-backed militias surround their operating base at Balad. Perhaps an out-of-the-box idea might be to cycle a fragment of the F-16 fleet through the safe operating environments of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, as the Italian Air Force did with a small complement of Eurofighters during the war against Daesh.

The common thread in all these options is a desire to “go big” in the Baghdad-KDP-PUK relationship, and for international players to encourage and support new thinking. The Kurdistan Region is currently cycling downwards, with less stability and less attractiveness as an investment environment, largely because Kurdish leaders are allowing themselves to be divided by personality politics. The U.S. intervention in Iraq in 1991 helped to free the Iraqi Kurds and the intervention in 2003 saw the U.S. ask those same Kurds to rejoin Iraq on the basis of U.S. guarantees. It is time to begin to make good on those guarantees. U.S. intervention transformed Iraq from a dictatorship to a democracy (imperfect, like all democracies), but an equally great transformation would be to help create an Iraqi state at peace with all of its components, first and foremost its Kurdish population. That moment can and should start in earnest now.

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Daoud: Al-Kazemi's visit to Washington will bring many benefits to Iraq

Daoud: Al-Kazemi's visit to Washington will bring many benefits to Iraq
Last updated: August 12, 2020 - 11:43 a.m.

 Baghdad / Iraq News Network - Hisham Daoud, advisor to the prime minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, spoke today, Wednesday, about the circumstances and files of Al-Kazemi's upcoming visit to the United States, while revealing close negotiations with oil companies operating in the country. “Al-Kazemi’s visit to the United States will take 3-4 days, and it is an important visit,” noting that “there are essential stations for dialogue, not only the security and military aspect that will receive the greatest attention, but also the scientific, economic and agricultural aspects.” Daoud added, “The finance and oil ministers and the ministers The security forces will accompany Al-Kazemi, as well as the interlocutor delegation that started the strategic dialogue with the American side, and Al-Kazemi will defend Iraq's interests during the visit.Regarding the file of the military presence in the country, Hisham Daoud said that "there is a need to maintain American assistance in the sides of arming and training, and Iraq needs to strengthen its relations with the American side," noting that "the existing American forces came at the invitation of the Iraqi government in 2014 and the current government wants to withdraw the relationship." Regarding early elections, Al-Kazemi’s advisor confirmed, “Al-Kazemi has worked to build bridges with the protesting Iraqi youth, and there is good progress in implementing the ministerial program that culminated a few days ago with the call for early elections in June 2021, stressing the need for“ political blocs to move to accomplish With regard to the current year’s fiscal budget, Daoud said that “the current government has not been able to complete the budget for the year 2020 due to urgent files, and it is imperative to find solutions to complete the 2021 budget,” indicating that “successive governments in Iraq end their tasks in a worse situation than before. Which increased poverty rates. "He added that "the government is obligated to provide more than 6.5 billion dollars a month to pay the salaries of employees and retirees, while the monthly income does not exceed 2 billion," noting that "the government is considering opening negotiations with oil companies, and agreements that have been in place for several years cannot be fully reconsidered."

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Al-Kazemi and the impact of the absence of the American cat

Al-Kazemi and the impact of the absence of the American cat
Last updated: August 12, 2020 - 12:00 pm

 

Written by: Khalil Al-Zubaidi

There is no doubt that the exceptional circumstances that Iraq is going through, as well as the health and economic crises that the region and the world are experiencing, have given the character of an exceptional event to the upcoming visit of the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi to Washington and his meeting with the President of the US Administration Donald Trump on the twentieth of this month. The visit is the culmination of the Iraqi-American dialogue about the future and the form of the relationship that binds the two countries in light of the challenges that Iraq is experiencing locally and regionally. Here, some questions jump in front of our minds that only Mr. Al-Kazemi has answers to, who is definitely preparing to stuff his suitcase with all the files, propositions and ideas that will be put on the dialogue table.

Undoubtedly, these talks will make a major and future turning point in the form of the relationship between Baghdad and Washington due to the intensification of competition for American-Iranian influence and its reaching the stage of "breaking the bone" due to the maximum pressure policy pursued by the Trump administration on Iran and the latter threatening to use the capabilities it has. To respond to those pressures, including the use of its Shiite militias in Iraq to strike US forces and interests there.

It is certain that Al-Kazemi's visit to the United States completely intersects with the nature of the relationship that Tehran wants between Baghdad and Washington, as the Iranians do not want more cooperation and coordination between the two parties in a way that narrows the area of their influence and interference in Iraqi affairs, but what they fear most is that Al-Kazemi will join the axis Pressure on Iran by adhering to US sanctions. Therefore, Iran is concerned that the visit will lead to understandings on how Iraq will get rid of the restrictions of the dependence on Iranian gas and electricity, which will facilitate the implementation of sanctions, and other concerns about armed militias, controlling their weapons, and strengthening the official security services through the use of US expertise and technical assistance.

In light of this background, it is expected that Al-Kazemi will be subjected to severe pressure before and after the visit from Iran's followers inside Iraq, with the aim of blocking any deep understandings that he might make with the United States, or to conclude agreements to liquidate the armed loyalist factions or limit their capabilities through Allowing its headquarters and leadership to be targeted, as the Iraqi government’s permission for the United States to install a missile interceptor system inside the US embassy compound in Baghdad was a clear message indicating Iraq's willingness to facilitate the process of intercepting any Iranian plans in the region, and the US system has already contributed to intercepting two missile attacks on the US embassy They were carried out by Iraqi militias affiliated with Iran, which means that these factions lose the privilege of attacking their targets at any time they choose.

Until the upcoming visit, we have to extrapolate what is involved in the basket of ideas that the Iraqi prime minister will carry with him to the White House, if he wants to play some role in smoothing the atmosphere between the two parties to the conflict and seeks to ensure that a confrontation does not erupt between the two parties, especially with the increasing suffering Tehran is deeply rooted in the effects of Washington’s sanctions against it in the economic field and the approaching date of the US elections. Then the compass of his calculations will be in the wrong direction due to a lack of realistic understanding of the nature of this neighborhood imposed by foolish geography.History has told us and continues to tell us about a huge number of events and confrontations that took many forms of conflict between the Persians and those who inhabited Mesopotamia, starting with Sumerian Iraq and ending with Arab Iraq. Those who follow history will find that the relationship between the two neighbors was characterized by hostility more than friendship, and the domination of the strong at the expense of the weak. Therefore, Mr. Al-Kazemi must understand the depth of the tense historical ties with this neighborhood, up to the fact that it is not possible to coexist with a strong Iran and a weak Iraq. The Iranian thorn in front of the strength and steadfastness of the peoples of Mesopotamia has always been broken through the stages of history, but the weak and lean Iraq that was born in 2003 was Unfortunately, it is an up for grabs, the Persian saliva has been shed, and as a result of this weakness, the pain and tribulations we have been living in for 17 years, from clear and tangible Iranian hegemony in the political and economic fields, the decision-making that relates to Iraq, its future and its sovereignty is now counted in the kitchens of Tehran.Based on the above, I hope that Mr. Al-Kazemi will not play the role of a dove of peace between Tehran and Washington and that he is well aware of history. He has no choice (if his intentions are true) except for him to proceed towards imposing and consolidating Iraqi sovereignty, taking advantage of what remains of the good relationship with Washington, which the pro-state parties are trying to do. By various means, he made it tense. I also hope that he will arm himself with clarity and boldness in all the thorny files that will be put on the dialogue table related to the future of Iraq that has reached the crossroads between being or being lost and torn apart, as I believe it is the last opportunity in front of the political system of post-2003 Iraq as a whole. It is not in front of Al-Kazemi alone.I also hope that he will arm himself with clarity and boldness in all the thorny files that will be put on the dialogue table related to the future of Iraq, which has reached the crossroads between being or being lost and torn apart, as it is, I believe, the last opportunity in front of the political system of post-2003 Iraq as a whole and not for Al-Kazemi alone.I also hope that he will arm himself with clarity and boldness in all the thorny files that will be put on the dialogue table related to the future of Iraq, which has reached the crossroads between being or being lost and torn apart, as it is, I believe, the last opportunity in front of the political system of post-2003 Iraq as a whole and not for Al-Kazemi alone.

We also hope that the economic storm hitting Iraq will be at the forefront of the files that will capture the interest of the two parties to the dialogue and that it will result in real American help for Iraq in overcoming its severe financial crisis resulting from the coincidence of the Corona pandemic and the crisis of the collapse of oil prices. Because of the despair and frustration that the Iraqi people live, crowned by the October Revolution and the facts it produced, we can only be optimistic about Al-Kazemi's ability to negotiate with the American side on all security, political and economic files as one package, and that his presence at the head of the executive authority was a fruit of the great October revolution. And that the pursuit of solutions that secure a well-off life and a promising future for the people is a large part of the loyalty that he made in front of the people.

On the other side of the two sides of the dialogue, I expect that President Trump's administration, in order to tempt Baghdad to move away from Tehran, will provide it with remunerative financial alternatives, especially with the intensification of the financial crisis that Iraq is going through and the possibility of it resorting to external borrowing, which is something the United States can play a role in. By mediating with lenders, whether it is related to friendly countries or the International Monetary Fund, where it has strong influence, and perhaps there will be great support for the energy sector in Iraq and encouraging major American companies to work directly in the field, and this is what we are looking for in order to cross the suffocating crises that it suffers. Iraq.Therefore, Mr. Al-Kazemi is facing a difficult test, and he must prove his skill by passing this test and heading to the American axis, from which we have no choice, and focus on dragging Iraq into being part of the national and strategic security of the United States of America and a sincere ally, and that the geography of American national security in the Middle East It is not represented by Israel and the Arab Gulf states only, but also includes Iraq, which we hope to see as a strong partner and an influential pole in the region, by concluding agreements that protect its existence and sovereignty and enhance its economic and political standing with all the actors in the Middle East, otherwise, and in the absence of the American cat, Iraq will remain A playground and fertile breeding ground for the Iranian rat, who will spare no effort in tearing it apart and weakening it.

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Parliamentary support for Al-Kazemi on his upcoming visit to Washington

 
 Baghdad / Muhannad Abdul-Wahhab 
 
With the close of the important visit that Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will make to the American capital, Washington, on August 20, to meet with officials there; Parliamentarians from various political blocs expressed their support and support for this visit, expressing their hope that the meeting of Al-Kazemi would contribute to the officials of the American administration to raise important files, on top of which is the presence of the American forces in the country's territory, and to draw the features of the relationship between the two sides, and to keep Iraq away from regional and international conflicts and respect its sovereignty, As well as discussing the economic file to serve the interests of the Iraqi people.
A member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s parliamentary bloc, Bashar al-Kiki, said in an interview with Al-Sabah that “Prime Minister Al-Kazemi’s visit to the United States is very important, to redraw the position of Iraq in the international community, as well as for Iraq to take its active role in the process of balancing the regional powers in Region".
He added, "The importance of the visit lies in achieving its goals, by keeping Iraq away from foreign conflicts, and convincing America that Iraq will be able to preserve its free and sovereign decision and will not be affected regionally, and the decision will be an Iraqi based on the interest of Iraq and its people." He indicated that "the visit is very important from both sides." Objectivity and formalism, which is a positive step for moving the level of Iraqi foreign relations in the international community, because America is a very important international factor. 
He pointed out that "one of the important aspects of the visit; lies in putting Washington in the correct way in terms of the American and foreign military presence in Iraq, and to come up with an outcome through negotiations," noting that "it is necessary for an Iraqi consensus to contain the issue in a way that is in the interest of The Iraqi people in all respects. " 
He pointed out that "the most important files that the prime minister could raise is the American military presence, and work to sign an agreement that draws the features of the military presence and the mechanisms of dealing between the two sides in this regard." 
Al-Kiki pointed out that "there are economic files that will be raised during the visit, because there are interests between Iraq and the United States of America, and there are companies operating in Iraq in the field of energy, and there is an urgent need for the American side's contribution in the investment field in Iraq," indicating that "the prime minister "Al-Kazemi assures the American side that Iraq is an attractive environment for investment." 
As for the independent representative, Nada Shaker Jawdat, during her speech to Al-Sabah, she indicated, "We are looking, through the prime minister's visit to Washington, for the economic file to be raised, because it is the first pressing file that must be worked on by securing the investment side, so we hope that a president will work." The ministers are to open the horizons of mutual cooperation and build economic relations that support and revitalize the economic aspect in Iraq. " 
Jawdat added, "The aim of the visit is to restore Iraq's regional status, keep it away from political and military conflicts between the countries of the region, and preserve its national sovereignty," noting "the need to raise the outstanding issues, and to invest this visit in laying the foundations for relations based on the common interests of peoples." . 
The deputy of the Saeron coalition, Saad Mane, confirmed in an interview with Al-Sabah, that "there are many thorny files with the American side, and the prime minister must put Iraq first, and among these problems is scheduling the withdrawal of the American side and respecting the sovereignty of Iraq and keeping it away from it."
 Conflicts. "
He added, "The United States of America must abide by the decision of the House of Representatives recently voted by the departure of foreign forces from Iraq and respect for its national sovereignty," noting that "there are many files that will be presented by Prime Minister Al-Kazimi, including the economic and security."
He continued: "The visit must ensure the building of solid reciprocal relations based on the interest of the two peoples, especially the interest of the Iraqi people, which must be at the forefront of interests."
In turn, Representative Mansour Al-Baiji said: "The prime minister should be strong by putting all files on the table for dialogue, and the issue of removing foreign forces should be the first."
He added in a statement, "We will support Al-Kazemi in Parliament during his visit to the United States of America on the condition that he raises the important files, the first of which is the removal of foreign forces, and dealing with Iraq as an independent and sovereign country, and that they do not interfere with our internal affairs at all."
He continued: "The next stage requires building international relations that take into account sovereignty and the non-interference of other countries in our internal affairs. Therefore, Al-Kazemi must be strong during his upcoming visit to America and deal with them firmly during the presentation of any file, and to present the interest of our country and our people during this visit, through which we hope that Mr. Kazemi puts dots on the letters. "
On the other hand, the deputy of the Al-Fateh Alliance, Muhammad Al-Baldawi, said: "Al-Kazemi promised upon assuming the functions of prime minister to communicate with Parliament and sit with him to clarify the important files and the government's actions."
He added that "Al-Kazemi's visit to Washington must be discussed in Parliament, so that everyone is aware of the files and the contents of the visit that he will undertake on the 20th of this August."
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%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7698-

Information / Special ...

The deputy of the Al-Fateh Alliance, Fadel Al-Fatlawi, confirmed, Thursday, that the seriousness of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi in preserving sovereignty and expelling US forces from the country will be clear during his visit to the White House next week.

Al-Fatlawi said in a statement to "the information", "Most of the political forces are optimistic about Al-Kazemi's visit to America and are looking at it with interest to end the American presence," noting that "the visit to Washington is important in arranging the relationship between America and Iraq."

He added that "the seriousness of Al-Kazemi and his government to end the American presence and preserve the country's sovereignty will be clear during the upcoming visit," indicating that "the House of Representatives will follow up on the agreements that will take place during the visit."

And political analyst Haider Al-Mousawi said yesterday, Wednesday, that the visit of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi to the United States of America will be the decisive factor in his political future and his remaining in the position of prime minister. Ended 25 T.

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1 hour ago, yota691 said:
  
%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7698-

Information / Special ...

The deputy of the Al-Fateh Alliance, Fadel Al-Fatlawi, confirmed, Thursday, that the seriousness of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi in preserving sovereignty and expelling US forces from the country will be clear during his visit to the White House next week.

Al-Fatlawi said in a statement to "the information", "Most of the political forces are optimistic about Al-Kazemi's visit to America and are looking at it with interest to end the American presence," noting that "the visit to Washington is important in arranging the relationship between America and Iraq."

He added that "the seriousness of Al-Kazemi and his government to end the American presence and preserve the country's sovereignty will be clear during the upcoming visit," indicating that "the House of Representatives will follow up on the agreements that will take place during the visit."

And political analyst Haider Al-Mousawi said yesterday, Wednesday, that the visit of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi to the United States of America will be the decisive factor in his political future and his remaining in the position of prime minister. Ended 25 T.

Thanks for the update Yota...

Sovereignty sounds like a new rate to me.......

After that......no worries......the US can leave them dangling in the breeze....if that's their desire.....😮   CL

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