Washington Institute for Studies: Is Iraq still important to Washington?

[size=52]Washington Institute for Studies: Is Iraq still important to Washington?[/size]

[size=45]Translation / Hamed Ahmed[/size]
[size=45]During his meeting Monday with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi in the Oval Office, US President Joe Biden pledged to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, support Iraq in the fight against ISIS, economic cooperation and coordination in the field of clean energy and climate change, and support the upcoming early elections.[/size]
[size=45]Despite the widespread belief that Iraq, and the Middle East in general, is no longer among the foreign policy priorities of the Biden administration, there are clear indications that Iraq is still important to the United States and that Al-Kazemi and his government are partners that the United States can work with and support By maintaining their strategic partnership.[/size]
[size=45]It is Al-Kazemi's second visit to the White House in less than a year, during which he met with Speaker of Parliament, Nancy Pelosi, and other members of Congress. His visit comes after last week's round of the US-Iraq strategic dialogue based on the 2008 Joint Strategic Framework Agreement, as well as to reconfirm their cooperation in several areas, including security, public health, economic cooperation, energy, achieving self-sufficiency, humanitarian aid, and in the field of cultural and educational exchange, among other things. other.[/size]
[size=45]In the fight against ISIS, and because of the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, Iraq will continue to receive military and humanitarian aid from the United States. The Iraqi government has made strides in its war against ISIS and persecuting its sleeper cells, which was represented by the killing of the so-called governor of Iraq and his deputy and the arrest of the governor of Baghdad with the implementation of preemptive military operations and continuing pressure on the organization to prevent its re-emergence. Despite this, ISIS still poses a threat, amid the country’s suffering from a difficult human heritage after the stage of the war against ISIS, where more than a million people are still living in a state of displacement, most of whom belong to ethnic and religious minorities, and these matters need humanitarian treatments, on the Iraqi and American sides to work more towards addressing This is the human side.[/size]
[size=45]Economic challenges and systemic corruption can alone cause instability in Iraq. An increase in Iraq's population by one million people annually would worsen the situation. Al-Kazemi’s government adopted the white economic reform paper and made efforts to increase state imports through better control of border crossings and reduce spending programs, and it also prosecuted officials on corruption charges. However, the results of these procedures may take years for people to feel. The United States can support Iraq through technical programs to implement government anti-corruption reforms. Attracting American companies to work and invest in Iraq is a trend that Al-Kazemi is trying to promote further.[/size]
[size=45]The Biden administration's priorities, such as clean alternative energy and climate change issues, have also been reflected in the discussions and statement of the US-Iraq Joint Strategic Dialogue. Iraq may seek US assistance in ending the process of burning and wasting gas, generating electric power using solar energy, and converting power plants from using oil fuels to using natural gas. These matters may lead to more clean energy production with less pollution and a reduction in negative environmental impacts, as well as achieving economic gains.[/size]
[size=45]In recent years, the United States has put pressure on Iraq to invest in the manufacture of gas emitted and to stop importing it from Iran. While the Iraqis agreed with the economic and environmental value of associated gas manufacturing and took steps in this direction, and with the stations starting to operate during the next two years, they also indicated that most of the emissions come from fields operated by Western companies.[/size]
[size=45]With regard to election support, the United States has pledged various forms of political support and assistance for the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2021. To achieve this goal, the Iraqi government has provided support, among other things, with the formation of a new electoral commission, the introduction of a new election law, and the allocation of a budget Suitable and registration of candidates.[/size]
[size=45]But on the other hand, the elections are facing challenges, with many political parties announcing their non-participation in the upcoming elections. They say that the environment is not suitable for the production of free, fair and reliable elections due to the spread of political money and armed groups and the continued targeting of civilian activists.[/size]
[size=45]The trend towards boycotting the elections began with the civil groups, who were part of the protest movement, declaring their boycott of the elections because of the threats they faced during their electoral campaign. Then the announcement came from a larger party bloc represented by the cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who recently announced that he will not participate in the upcoming elections. Other political parties followed suit.[/size]
[size=45]The Iraqi government and the international community are now facing a problem in this regard, sticking to the date set for early elections or delaying them to their original date in 2022. Both options could have destabilizing effects on the public level. It requires the Iraqi side and the international community to take calm measures and think of plans to avoid this situation.[/size]
[size=45]The United States will provide the support it deems reasonable by virtue of its political, economic and security position. But the United States does not have the enthusiasm or the funds to expand the level of support and provide the resources that Iraq needs to solve its complex problems and its deep and urgent needs related to the political, administrative, economic, health and reconstruction needs. The United States will provide a certain amount of assistance in these areas.[/size]
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