Iraq's former ambassador to Washington: Trump's visit to Baghdad instead of Riyadh

Iraq's former ambassador to Washington: Trump's visit to Baghdad instead of Riyadh


Given the current US involvement in the Middle East, you can not but notice the apparent contradiction between the strong rhetoric to manage the new Trump and quiet echoes of the Obama administration. One of the positive things to pay attention Trump administration in the Middle East.
But President Trump 's decision to visit Saudi Arabia, not Iraq, sent the wrong signals to the Iraqi side about its priorities in the region. If the first in the region , the US priority is to defeat Daesh, it must be a priority of his visit to Iraq. We did not sacrifice any country in the world more than Iraq in fighting Daesh.
Even from the military point of view, the Iraqi forces are so far the most experienced and the ability to defeat them - than any other regional country. Iraqi security forces did not lose the battle against Daesh two years ago and any real international commitment to defeating the global threat of terrorism , another international must include a firm focused on eradicating remnants Daesh in Iraq and Syria, while ensuring that security in Iraq is always strong.
Here, the United States needs, detailed in consultation with the Iraqi government to take a firm decision on the extent of the political and military involvement in the future of Iraq. It must guide a clear message to the Iraqi counterparts on this commitment.
We noted the participation of President Trump in Makarim festivals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Israel, from the other side we see the challenges of Iraq and the sacrifices seem like a later stage. Not only that President Trump has not made a surprise visit traditional country during his trip to the region, but his message from Riyadh - which cast violence in Iraq and the region sectarian - it seems like it ignores the underlying causes of the suffering of the Iraqis, which is not an expansionist Iranian but Salafi jihadist violent.
Whether consciously or not, President Trump appeared to strengthen Saudi Arabia 's narrative that the region is in the midst of a sectarian conflict of the good year for Shiites evil. However, the Iraqi Shiites , who make up the majority of the country 's armed forces and the forces of the popular crowd of volunteers, have fought valiantly against Daesh. No one should doubt the commitment or loyalty to the Iraqi state by defending it.
The Iraqi government led by Prime Minister (Shiite) Haider al - Abadi was an important ally of the United States and Iran in the war , which the two countries are involved in the same goal: to remove and expel Daesh and defeat international jihadist Salafist.
Let 's not forget here that the Saudis are not a neutral party, nor the Israelis. Both are working in a regional power struggle, along with Turkey and Iran.
The greatest contribution to peace in Washington would encourage dialogue between all parties and lays the seeds for a regional security framework that can manage the conflict, not fuel them.
The stability of Iraq is in the US national security interest for many reasons, not the least of geopolitical importance to Iraq because of its location. And it will continue to regional powers such as Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and competition in order to confirm their positions in the Middle East and the establishment of areas of influence, noting that Iraq 's position with regard to these rivalries can balance volatility.
As Iraq 's natural resources and existing capacity on the export of oil also allow him to be an important factor in the stability of the flow of oil to various international markets. At the level of security cooperation, Iraq is at the forefront of the fight against terrorism carried out by non - governmental actors, in particular Daesh, and the threat that continues to threaten international security.
The Daesh not only a threat to the countries of the region, as described in the terrorist bombing in Manchester, it is a threat to the world. The Iraqis are fully aware of the threat of violent extremism, we have experienced hundreds of attacks of the type of Manchester over the past 14 years, which claimed the lives of thousands, including women and children.
A factor of another president puts Iraq in a unique position, not the focus of the West, which is the important influence of the holy city of Najaf - which is currently prominent Shiite jurisprudence - within the Shiite world school. With the continuation of Najaf in the competition for religious influence in the Middle East, Iraq has the ability to influence increasingly on the future of the religious authority of Shiite Muslims all over the world.
Finally , let us not forget that Iraq, demographically, a young state where reconstruction rate of less than 20 years. The empowerment of young people currently do not have enough attention from the Iraqi government. International programs aimed at empowering young people will ensure the continuation of the battle of ideas against an ideology Daesh aimed at a stable Iraq in which young people play a positive role. The existence of a strong and stable Iraq is the basis for the head of a stable Middle East, so let us work together for a democratic Iraq represents all our common interests.
If Washington is seeking to achieve long - term security as it should, the economic and political partnership with Iraq, should President Trump to visit our country. Impressions (optics) means everything in the Middle East. This was a missed opportunity.
* The Iraqi ambassador in Washington between 2013 - 2016 article published in Newsweek


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