U.S. Is Not At All a Friend of Iraq

We learned that on Tuesday and before Iraqi Prime Minister Seyed Mustafa Al Kadhimi’s visit to Washington, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein was in Washington to prepare the climate for Al-Kadhimi’s visit which was aimed at renewal of political and economic relations with the U.S., and to avoid any misunderstanding, Hussein underlined that his country’s relation with Iran is based on common interests like cultural, political and economic interests.

IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

Hussein who was in Washington for holding the second round of talks between Iraq and the U.S., in a joint press conference with his American counterpart Mike Pompeo said, “Iraq sees the United States of America as his strong and will continue to protect that alliance.”

The news website “Baghdad Today” in its report says Hussein has considered Iraq’s foreign policy based on national interests and he has said, “Iraq’s relation with Iran is based on the common interests like cultural, political and economic interests.”

After this presser, Pompeo on Wednesday met Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi. After this meeting, Pompeo in his twitter account wrote, “Had a productive meeting with Prime Minister @MAKadhimi today to reaffirm our partnership and discuss the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Dialogue. The U.S. will continue to work with Iraq on ways to address their economic challenges in light of COVID-19 and decline in oil prices.”

In this visit, a high-ranking political and economic delegation, comprised of ministers of foreign affairs, oil, electricity defense, migration, accompanying the Iraqi Prime Minister. These meetings were being held while Iraqi media published different analyses on the meetings.

Decision on revival of ties between the U.S. and Iraq happens while at the top of all issues and Iraq’s priorities is talks on legal case of ending foreign forces’ presence especially American troops in Iraq.

Meanwhile Iraqi newspaper Al Sabaah in an article two days before al-Khadhimi’s visit to Washington quoted an Iraqi official as saying, “One of the main topics of the strategic talks between Iraq and the U.S. is Iraq’s request for the U.S. government’s military support from Baghdad in war with Daesh forces and undertaking for protecting the active foreign installations in the country.” Meanwhile due to the outbreak of Coronavirus and its danger and fragility of the current condition in Iraq, the country was eager to take advantage of the U.S. health support in the future.

Iraq today is totally different from the one in Saddam Hussein’s era. High-ranking officials of Iraq cannot both have the law for expulsion of the American troops in their pockets and at the same time give their hearts to the U.S. Disclosure of this double-standard approach undoubtedly vexes Iraqi people.

The pleasant color of Iraq’s independence which is covered with the blood of Martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis demands transparency in Iraq’s foreign policy although maneuver of the media backing the U.S. influence in Iraq have made the climate dusty as they are trying to distract the public attention to the insignificant and marginal issues by publishing rumors and news aimed at instigating the infiltrated groups who are like jokers. But such actions cannot stop Iraqi people from not showing interest to the process and contents of the talks as they do not want once again to hand over the fate of Iraq to the groups and currents which are against the national interests of Iraqi people.

Iraqi government even with prevarication to the Americans will lose the color of transparency and it may soon be accused of hypocrisy and charges and it may make its political life fragile. Experience has shown that the U.S. has not been a good friend to any country in the region especially in Iraq.  Still clips of the savage behaviors of the U.S. troops with Iraqi people go viral. Without getting a lesson from this disgraceful background of the Americans’ behaviors towards Iraqis, Iraq’s foreign policy will face confusion.

 By: Hamid Reza Naghashian