Iraq’s rejected bid to join the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

[detroitjazzman]

Reading news papers in the morning has become a habit for me. I came across this article and found it somewhat intersting. Perhaps a subtitle for Maliki wanting to keep US in Iraq longer. Rejection from membership in GCC, effectively means that Iraq cannot benefit from defense assistance from Mid East members in the event of attack. Iraq in these times, seems to be their onw worse enemy.

LINK: http://aknews.com/en/aknews/4/239955/

[lancer22]

This is a significant development for the region, Iraq & our troops. This could easily, IMO, extend our stay in Iraq. 2 steps forward, one step back seems to be the norm....

[Markinsa]

Omani minister: Iraq's “unwise” political approach behind GCC rejection

16/05/2011 12:03

Cairo, May 16 (AKnews) – Iraq’s rejected bid to join the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was due to its “unwise” political approach, said the Omani minister of foreign affairs on Sunday.

Speaking at a joint press conference with the Secretary-General of the Arab League following a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, Yusuf bin Alawi told AKnews that Iraq’s Arab identity was not in question, but its inappropriate policies were behind the GCC rejection.

Although Bin Alawi did not disclose exact details of Iraq’s “unwise” political approach, it is believed that the stance taken by Iraq’s Shia political blocs over the public protests in Bahrain over recent months underlies the GCC’s decision.

Although the Iraqi government has not taken an official stance on the issue, Scores of Iraqi Shia leaders and deputies have condemned the Sunni-dominated Bahraini government’s crackdown on the Shia-majority opposition who are demanding greater Shia representation and political reform.

A number of Iraqi parliamentarians have also sharply criticized the deployment of thousands of GCC troops in Bahrain and formed a pressure group to support the Bahraini opposition.

The controversial Shia Iraqi backing of the Bahraini opposition underlines Iraq's emerging role as a prominent Shia Arab power.

Iraq’s rejection from the GCC runs the risk of deepening the growing sectarian divide in the region.

It could also pose a threat to ongoing reconciliatory efforts between Iraq and neighboring Kuwait, a prominent GCC member, to reinforce bilateral relations after the Saddam Hussein-led Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was formed in 1981 to collectively confront the security challenges to the Gulf States. Their immediate objective was to protect themselves from the threat posed by the Iran-Iraq War and Iranian-inspired activist Islamism.

Beginning with a force of about 5,000 predominantly Saudi troops, the GCC steadily grew and embraced additional countries as its mission became more defined. Egypt and Syria joined the GCC in 1991.

Following the signing of the peace treaty in 2000, the GCC included 18 states and today has a force of around 30,000 troops, including 21,000 combat soldiers.

Iraq's rejection, despite its close geographical proximity to the Gulf States, coincides with the announcement that Jordan and Morocco have been integrated into the Council.

By Karl Allen (AKnews) - Sara Ali contributed to this report

[freaky frank]

Reading news papers in the morning has become a habit for me. I came across this article and found it somewhat intersting. Perhaps a subtitle for Maliki wanting to keep US in Iraq longer. Rejection from membership in GCC, effectively means that Iraq cannot benefit from defense assistance from Mid East members in the event of attack. Iraq in these times, seems to be their onw worse enemy.

LINK: http://aknews.com/en/aknews/4/239955/

Thanks for the post.....very interesting.... +1

[powerpager]

No No No Not That , Anything But That !!!