Former spokesman: When does Iran recognize Iraq's independence?

Former spokesman: When does Iran recognize Iraq's independence?

BAGHDAD, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Al-Hayat newspaper published an article by the Iraqi writer and former spokesman for the Iraqi government, Hamid al-Kafa'i, in which he posed a question titled "When does Iran recognize the independence of Iraq? "He pointed out that the new US administration, represented by President Donald Trump, has a historic opportunity to prove that it is smarter than its predecessor by exploiting Arab victories and openness to rid Baghdad of Iranian influence.
"Iraq and Iran have not had friendly relations since the dawn of history, as the two countries were either at war or subject to one another, and the situation has remained so far, but for how long? Is it not possible for countries to establish normal relations on the basis of common interests rather than dependency or war? The establishment of normal relations is possible, provided that the thinking of the political elites that govern the two countries changes.
"The Iranians must respect Iraq as an independent state that sets its policies on the basis of its national interests. The Iraqis must know that hostility or dependence on Iran is not inevitable, and balanced natural relations can be established," he said.
"There is a prevailing feeling among the successive Iranian elites is not to deal with Iraq as an independent state, and that this country must be subject to its eastern neighbor! Iranians continue to treat Iraq as part of the Persian Empire. Because Iraq includes the mausoleums of six Shiite imams, Iran believes that it should at least control, at least morally, these important shrines and religious schools in Najaf, Karbala, Kadhimiya and Samarra, and dominate Iraq's political and religious decision, .
"Since Iran's conversion to Shiism five centuries ago, it has not stopped using religion and doctrine to weaken Iraq and divide Iraqis. The Arabic-speaking Iranian radio stations (Tehran, Ahwaz, Abadan and Shirin Palace) used to dedicate Iraq-oriented programs to Iraq. Because of the irony of Saddam's regime, its lack of acceptance of criticism, the stupidity of its political and media apparatus, and its excessive brutality in dealing with opponents and its tyrannical racism, Iranian propaganda has been heard in Iraq, especially with some Arabs reacting to Saddam's regime. But the power of the shah to influence the Iraqi Shiites was limited, because it was also a nationalist regime that repelled the Arabs, but it benefited from Saddam's cruelty with his people. He supported the Kurdish armed opposition until Saddam Hussein surrendered and relinquished Iraq's sovereignty over the Shatt al-Arab in the 1975 Algiers agreement. For the Kurds. "
The most spectacular victory of the Iranian revolution in 1979 continues to be the majority of the Shiites of Iraq, and intensive Iranian propaganda to provoke religious and sectarian fanaticism has served to reinforce that fascination. But what helped the success of Iran - the media revolution in Iraq is the cruelty of the Iraqi regime and the taste of his opponents and critics and his power to take over the members of the family of Saddam taking over the country and their disregard for the laws and their exploitation in violation of human rights, did not find opponents or critics breathing except to go to Iran and engage in fighting the regime Despite their national and political incompatibility with the Iranian regime. These conditions forced them to adapt to the theocratic regime, especially because their choices were lacking or limited. "
"In the 1980s, Iran, along with its ally Syria, was the only country in the world that sympathized with the Iraqi people politically and media, and the only one that provided financial, military and logistical assistance to the Iraqi Islamic opposition that enabled it to stand up, organize and then control power. The Iraqi opposition forces suffered greatly as a result of their relationship with Iran and bore the harshest accusations that they were aligned with the enemies of Iraq. There was widespread Iraqi dissatisfaction with Iran because of the continuation of the war in Iraq, especially after the Iranian missiles began falling on the heads of civilians Iraqis in Basra and Baghdad. The Iraqis were convinced that the Iranian propaganda, which claims that Iran is continuing the war "to rid the Iraqi people of Saddam's infidel regime," is not credible, because the first victim was the Iraqi people. Eight years later, more than 1.5 million Iraqis and Iranians were killed, displaced, and wounded. Millions of others were stopped. Iranian propaganda suddenly stopped and the world was surprised by Iran's agreement to stop the war, accept international resolutions that it had previously rejected and establish normal relations with Saddam's regime.
He adds to his historical talk, "The reason for Iran's quitting of peace after a devastating war for both peoples and the two countries is that the theocratic regime found itself weak internally, after the war had exhausted its forces and consumed its financial resources. The Iranians resented the continuation of futile futile war for an internationally isolated regime because most countries of the world stand with Iraq. For one reason or another, while Saddam's regime remained strong and cohesive thanks to global support, and after the fall of Saddam's regime, Iran's Islamist forces dominated a quarter of a century of power in Iraq. The absence of a deep American understanding of politics and culture in both Iraq and Iran, coupled with the mismanagement of US officials in the Iraq file, and the inability of the Bush administration to understand and coordinate with the US administration. Iraqi political forces not linked to Iran, changed the balance of power entirely for the benefit of Iran, which increased its interaction with the Iraqi forces and support for the factions that were operating on its territory, but it established new armed factions supporting them with money and weapons.
"The decline in American influence in Iraq has made the withdrawal from the Iraqi issue an official American policy under the Obama administration. This decline has been linked to the Iranian political, military, economic and religious influence. Iran has improved its relations even with the forces. Iraq, which criticizes it, Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish. But the continued Iranian support for the forces that have armed militias has greatly damaged the reputation of Iran among the Iraqis who have blamed it on the crimes committed by the forces supported by the crimes and corruption and thefts and attacks on public freedoms.
"As the Iraqi religious authority closed its doors to politicians because of its discontent with corruption and failure in state administration, the Iranian theocracy continued to support corrupt politicians and armed militias at the expense of Iraq's stability and the interests of its people. But the situation in Iraq is now heading towards the final decision after the change of the American position under the new Republican administration, the Arab openness to Iraq, and the emergence of new Iraqi forces.

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