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A Biden victory would be a loss for Iraq


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A Biden victory would be a loss for Iraq

BY C. ALEXANDER OHLERS, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR — 11/04/20 06:30 PM EST  297
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY CONTRIBUTORS ARE THEIR OWN AND NOT THE VIEW OF THE HILL
 
 
 
 
A Biden victory would be a loss for Iraq
© Getty Images

U.S. presidential elections have had a significant impact on Iraq, from the 2002 decision to invade Iraq to the 2020 strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Former Vice President Joe Biden has a contentious history in Iraq that may have many Iraqi leaders in fear of a Biden victory. 

Directly after taking office, President Obama appointed Vice President Biden to oversee U.S. operations and diplomacy in Iraq. At that time, Iraq had begun to stabilize. The once-formidable al Qaeda in Iraq had been all but defeated and relegated to the outskirts of Mosul and civilian deaths fell to about one-fourth of what they had been before the “surge.” 

But by the end of the vice president’s first term, civilian casualties in Iraq rose by almost 400 percent to over 20,000, and ISIS (a.k.a. ISIL, IS, Daesh) flew its black flag from Syria through northern Iraq to a point about 60 miles outside of Baghdad. 

 

What happened during the period that Biden oversaw Iraq? In 2009, Iraqiyya, a multi-sectarian and moderate political party founded by Sunni leader Rafe al-Essawi and Shia leader Ayad Allawi, challenged then-Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Coalition in the 2010 national election and won with a narrow victory.  

Iraq’s parliamentary system designates that the winning electoral party has the first shot at forming a coalition government with other parties. Maliki, however, influenced the court and had the interpretation of the law altered that led to a six-month standoff in which Maliki, backed by Iran, retained power but was unable to form a coalition government. 

Joe Biden and the Obama administration faced a decision: to support the democratic results of the election or to back Maliki’s bid to retain power. Against the advice of Ambassador Robert Ford, a six-year diplomatic veteran of Iraq, General Ray Odierno and others, Biden and then-Ambassador Hill decided to backstop Maliki and the State of Law Coalition.

The administration’s reasoning is not entirely clear. Michael R. Gordon and retired Lieutenant General Bernard E. Trainor report in their book, “The Endgame: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Iraq, from George W. Bush to Barack Obama,” that Vice President Biden was convinced that Maliki would deliver a Status of Forces Agreement.

Another interpretation is that the Obama administration, which was in the process of negotiating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) (Iranian Nuclear Deal), succumbed to Iranian interests. In line with this view, Iraqiyya leader Ayad Allawi attested that a senior member of the U.S. administration (possibly Biden) communicated that the U.S. would never back a prime minister from Iraqiyya, “because of Iranian opposition to this notion.” 

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Regardless of the reason, Biden’s fateful decision to support Maliki would seed political turmoil in Iraq that, according to General Petraeus and others, paved the way for the rise of ISIS

Upon securing the premiership, Maliki reneged on several power-sharing agreements with Iraqiyya. Instead, the prime minister moved to consolidate power by exerting control over independent Iraqi institutions and appointing high-level security positions without required constitutional approval that transformed Iraqi security forces into sectarian instruments. The Status of Forces Agreement never materialized, and immediately after the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2011, Maliki placed tanks in front of the homes of Sunni leaders in the Green Zone. 

In 2012, the Iraqi government attempted to intercept and arrest the Iraqiyya leader and then Finance Minister Rafe al-Essawi using a roadblock with two hovering choppers. Essawi and his convoy were tipped-off in advance and escaped to Anbar province in an incident that sparked Sunni protests. Similarly, Sunni Vice President Tareq Al-Hashemi fled to Kurdistan to avoid imminent arrest and was sentenced to death in absentia, and Sunni MP Ahmed al-Alwani was apprehended in a raid that killed his brother and several of his bodyguards. 

Maliki also disbanded the Sons of Iraq (the Awakening movement) that spearheaded the fight against al Qaeda in Iraq during the “surge.” By 2011, al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) was on the rise under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, fueled in part by Sunni and Kurdish discontent, the absence of U.S. forces and the degradation of Iraqi security forces. By 2014, ISIS was recruiting approximately 30,000 fighters from 86 or more countries, expanded through networks across the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and commanded an international propaganda and terror campaign.   

In late 2014, the Obama administration sent troops to Iraq under Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), but much too late to quell the insurgency. Furthermore, counter-ISIS operations relied heavily on Iranian-backed militia groups, or PMF (Popular Mobilization Forces), that are loyal to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and then-General Qassem Soleimani.

 

Although PMF groups, such as the Badr Organization, were active in Iraq before OIR, they proliferated to over 100,000 fighters during Vice President Biden’s tenure. Their expanding influence solidified with Maliki’s creation of the Popular Mobilization Committee (PMC) in 2014, which legitimized PMF militia groups under Iraq’s security framework and funneled Iraqi funds to the Iranian-backed militias.

In 2018, PMF leaders formed political parties under the Fatah Alliance and won the second most seats in the 2018 election, nearly taking control of the government. The PMF remains a powerful political and military proxy for Iran that threatens to render Iraq an Iranian client state.

C. Alexander Ohlers is a former senior analyst for the U.S. Department of State in Iraq and currently serves as a visiting fellow at the University of Tennessee. 

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58 minutes ago, ChuckFinley said:

This is a Global - Free World Loss. We will be sold out to China, in a new war, chipped, and begging our government for food. This is the last stop before the New World Order. This is why those of us and those around the world who can see this are so passionate about Trump. I can tell you I am tired of having my hands tied. These Snow Flakes are about to see what Old School is. 

I am with you son. The thoughts and possibilities of the reign of anarchy domestically, internationally, particularily with our allies is ... well ... depressing . I will always fall back on God no matter what . It's just that I thought I saw God's hand on Trumps 2nd term. I hope this will RV really soon so I can buy my mountain in S.C or MO, or Tx. Then prep for the fight.

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1 hour ago, ChuckFinley said:

This is a Global - Free World Loss. We will be sold out to China, in a new war, chipped, and begging our government for food. This is the last stop before the New World Order. This is why those of us and those around the world who can see this are so passionate about Trump. I can tell you I am tired of having my hands tied. These Snow Flakes are about to see what Old School is. 

Exactly 

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7 hours ago, new york kevin said:

I am with you son. The thoughts and possibilities of the reign of anarchy domestically, internationally, particularily with our allies is ... well ... depressing . I will always fall back on God no matter what . It's just that I thought I saw God's hand on Trumps 2nd term. I hope this will RV really soon so I can buy my mountain in S.C or MO, or Tx. Then prep for the fight.

 

7 hours ago, screwball said:

Exactly 

 

I have a Plan B in case Biden pulled this crap. I do not want to put all Dems in this category as they were just exercising their right to vote. But those like the Clintons, Biden family, Polosi and the Dem Party Heads should all be held accountable. I have not been watching TV in the States since 2008. I checked the results and they showed Biden winning 10 states with over 100% voting participation. They all need to get a recount and that is done regardless of who took the state. This is all BS cheating. This is one case where I believe the people need to get involved. This is why I hate the media not one person called it out. We will be in a shooting war here within a few days to weeks. I for one am not worried about that part as I am ready. Marshal Law will be put in place. I can only hope they get every single person involved in this attempted TAKE OVER and make a public example of them.

 

If some of the videos presented are accurate, such as people bring in wagon load of ballets at 03:30 and telling Republicans monitors to leave then you can beat that this is well organized and at a high level. 

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2 hours ago, rvmydinar said:

so what were you trying to say is if biden wins , then you will directly sell off your dinar and never touch it anymore? omg, this is such a great loss not only for iraq but also for dinar investors.

I will never sell regardless but I can tell you I have covered all bases cash, bank and big time stocks. Mosul fell because of isis or idol, Obama bragged how he set up isil. Government in Iraq controlled by Iran who Obama gave 150 billion too out of us government funding figure that one out who control Iran? Iran controlled Iraq! Who control them? Cia? The head of the cia is a Muslim firgure that one out! 

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1 hour ago, screwball said:

Trump has not shown his hand he will not give this up republicans will not loose. Fact is if he going to Supreme Court and looses he will have a plan this has been planned since 2018!the stupid democrats have played into their hands, expect a recount multiple recounts and legal action across all 6 swing states and eventually all states they will win the senate keep the senate and possibly take back the house they will bring in voterid laws and the will of the people will rule, get ready arm up board up and get ready to defend the constitution this is war against humanity good versus evil 

SB, Well stated as I hope that this will turn out in favor of our President DJT.   We will wait it out for as long as it takes.   GO USA.... GO PRESIDENT DJT..... GO JUSTICE!!!! 

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2 hours ago, NEPatriotsFan1 said:

Just so I am clear, we are supposed to believe the same media that told us Jeffrey Epstein killed himself, that millions would die of Covid, that Joe Biden won the vote after everyone went to bed and Trump was winning by as much as a 500,000 votes in some of the states contested? 

 

UMMMM OK Karen

Are we honestly supposed to believe that Joe Basement Biden received more votes than the beloved a Obama received? And after the Dems disenfranchised all the Bernie Bros! ?? 
 

if so I have oceanfront property in AZ available for sale for the gullible folks out there

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10 hours ago, ChuckFinley said:

 

 

I have a Plan B in case Biden pulled this crap. I do not want to put all Dems in this category as they were just exercising their right to vote. But those like the Clintons, Biden family, Polosi and the Dem Party Heads should all be held accountable. I have not been watching TV in the States since 2008. I checked the results and they showed Biden winning 10 states with over 100% voting participation. They all need to get a recount and that is done regardless of who took the state. This is all BS cheating. This is one case where I believe the people need to get involved. This is why I hate the media not one person called it out. We will be in a shooting war here within a few days to weeks. I for one am not worried about that part as I am ready. Marshal Law will be put in place. I can only hope they get every single person involved in this attempted TAKE OVER and make a public example of them.

 

If some of the videos presented are accurate, such as people bring in wagon load of ballets at 03:30 and telling Republicans monitors to leave then you can beat that this is well organized and at a high level. 

Here in CA they sent out mail in ballots to everyone with a drivers license or ID.  Just not to registered voters. what a sham

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 Don't count Trump out .he won't quit easily and neither will we .   To those that are skeptical that this rv will ever happen , take a look at all the huge international businesses that have spent lots of time and ducats invested in the future of Iraq . Dems can't stop that train now . Worst that can happen if Biden gets in is that the dems would tax the hell out of our profit . As far as I know , we may not be taxed at this point because it may be viewed as an EXCHANGE , not a buy thing .

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Lol. 

 

So Biden's on the take, and y'all talking about burning torches in the streets because he's (almost) won the election.

 

Follow the money, ya dorks.

 

There isn't anyone they (any American political figure besides Trump) wouldn't sell their souls to (think John Kerry). 

 

If there was influence and power to come from Iraq, they'd flip that currency on in a second. 

 

The CBI could care less who's in charge. 

 

 

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