US agencies: The Biden administration stood helpless in the face of the violence in Baghdad

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[size=52]US agencies: The Biden administration stood helpless in the face of the violence in Baghdad[/size]

[size=45]Translation: Hamed Ahmed[/size]
[size=45]A report stated that the US administration stood helpless in the face of the violence that Baghdad witnessed this week, stressing that it did not participate in the negotiations to form the government and left the arena to the Iranian side, and attributed this to its lack of a good relationship with the two parties to the political conflict, namely the Sadrist movement and the coordination framework.[/size]
[size=45]A report for the website, (The National), translated by (Al-Mada), stated that “the administration of US President Joe Biden found its hands largely tied up in the face of the violence that erupted in Baghdad this week due to the impasse in forming the government, which left at least 30 people dead and hundreds of others wounded.” .[/size]
[size=45]The report added, "Several US agencies were following the violence at a time when fears of a return to armed internal fighting in Iraq increased."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out, "there is no clear strategy from Washington in how to deal with the situation to prevent this fighting from happening."[/size]
[size=45]The report stressed, "The United States, over a period of nine months, has called on the Iraqi parties and parties to break the political deadlock, form a government, and protect state institutions."[/size]
[size=45]However, "American officials refrained from participating directly in the negotiations to form the government."[/size]
[size=45]Barbara Leaf, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, told Congress this month that "Iraqi leaders had worked to urge Washington to enter into the midst of this problem and share its influence in resolving this deadlock over government formation."[/size]
[size=45]“But we have no intention of getting involved in such matters,” Lev added.[/size]
[size=45]The report stated, "The followers of the Sadrist movement's leader Muqtada al-Sadr left on Tuesday the fortified Green Zone in which they were camping, after he called on them to withdraw, thus ending the violent incidents for the time being at least."[/size]
[size=45]And he indicated, "The formation of a new Iraqi government has reached a dead end, since the Sadrist movement won the largest number of seats in the parliamentary elections last October, but not a sufficient number to secure a quorum for forming a government within Parliament."[/size]
[size=45]The report stressed that "the deputy spokesman of the US State Department, Vidant Patel, said on Monday that there were no calls from the Biden administration to Baghdad that could be talked about, even when the fired missiles were falling near the US embassy in the government complex inside the Green Zone."[/size]
[size=45]The report continues, "While Patel denied the authenticity of reports that indicated the evacuation of the US embassy in Baghdad, he said: The reports received about the turbulence of the situation in Iraq today are cause for concern at a time that prevents government institutions from being able to perform their duties."[/size]
[size=45]Patel pointed out that "this, in turn, increases the risk of violence, and this requires not endangering the security, stability and sovereignty of Iraq." Now is the time for dialogue, and we urge all parties concerned to maintain calm and look for peaceful ways of understanding.”[/size]
[size=45]On the other hand, Sarhang Hama Saeed, a researcher specializing in Iraqi affairs and director of Middle East programs at the United States Institute of Peace, expected "a diminishing American influence in shaping the political situation in Baghdad."[/size]
[size=45]Saeed added, "While the United States' interest lies in a stable and democratic Iraq, its influence is very diminished, and it has no desire to interfere in the political issues of Iraq these days."[/size]
[size=45]Saeed pointed out that "Washington's options are still limited, because none of the main parties concerned with the current escalation will listen to its advice, and it does not have the power of influence to pressure them."[/size]
[size=45]And the report added, "The United States does not have a strong harmony with the two main players in the problems in Baghdad, especially the followers of al-Sadr and the other party close to Iran."[/size]
[size=45]Saeed returns, to say, that "working with the United Nations and the Iraqi authorities may be the maximum extent of Washington's efforts to help protect state institutions and calm the situation," stressing, "Avoiding it to be a party to the conflict and preventing the return of ISIS threats by exploiting the vacuum is what sets priorities." Washington policy now.[/size]
[size=45]In addition, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and former assistant to the US Secretary of State, David Schenker, says, "The US government was behind the scenes and is now facing a highly volatile situation."[/size]
[size=45]Schenker added, "The Biden administration was not seen as playing any role during the government formation process last year, and other than its call for calm only, it is unclear that the United States can do anything at the present time to calm the crisis."[/size]
[size=45]Schenker pointed out that "the current volatile situation would strengthen Iran's hand, even though its proxies lost in the 2021 elections to al-Sadr."[/size]
[size=45]Schenker added, "Despite their loss in the previous elections, it is possible that Iran and its allies will emerge from this crisis with a dominant position."[/size]
[size=45]And the report went on, "The two experts said that Baghdad's descent into a complete cycle of violence would be harmful to the interests of the United States, especially if the vacuum and political obstruction and the weakening of state institutions continue."[/size]
[size=45]About: The National News website[/size]
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