An American report: an official Iraqi desire for foreign forces to remain in the country

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[size=52]An American report: an official Iraqi desire for foreign forces to remain in the country[/size]

[size=45]Translated by: Hamed Ahmed[/size]
[size=45]An American report spoke of a clear Iraqi desire to keep foreign forces in the country, stressing that the current government headed by Muhammad Shia'a al-Suadni is keen to maintain relations with the United States.[/size]
[size=45]A report by the American magazine Foreign Policy, translated by (Al-Mada), stated that “Iraq was three years ago on the verge of expelling the American forces and other coalition forces that helped defeat the militants of the terrorist organization ISIS from the country when the Iraqi parliament voted on a resolution that was considered non-binding to the government to demand Foreign forces to leave.”[/size]
[size=45]The report added, "The American presence, which remained suspended by a thread between pre-pandemic Iraq and a weak invitation from the Baghdad government, now seems that it will definitely remain there."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out, “This became clear after the interview that the Prime Minister of the new government, Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani, conducted for the first time with a Western newspaper last week, when he told the Wall Street Journal that he wanted the 2,000 American forces to remain in the country, which are present there.” To train Iraqi forces in their fight against ISIS and to develop their capabilities in the future.” Al-Sudani told the newspaper, "We believe that we need foreign forces. Eradicating ISIS requires more time." The report emphasized, "Al-Sudani, despite his public support for the mission of the American forces, whose movement has been restricted more since Iraq announced the defeat of ISIS in 2017 and the reduction in the size of the combat forces, it appeared as a sudden shift to the direction in Baghdad that reflects a steady movement towards Washington that it witnessed in recent years." Former US officials say that the prime ministers of previous governments dating back to the era of Adel Abdul-Mahdi's rule were affirming their support, in closed meetings, for the survival of the missions of the US forces.[/size]
[size=45]A former senior official in the Trump administration spoke, on condition of anonymity, about the discussions that were taking place behind the scenes between Iraqi and American officials, by saying, “Whenever there was a closed meeting, they used to say, We support you 100%, we need American forces here, to ensure two goals in Enduring defeat of ISIS and limiting Iran's influence as well.[/size]
[size=45]The official added, "But when the meeting becomes public, there are adjustments to those matters in line with the situation." The report noted, "This move came after the Pentagon escalated its military campaign by killing or arresting ISIS leaders and militants in Syria, as reported by the Wall Street Journal in a report in December, as the United States was concerned about the spread of extremism." The terrorist organization of other countries is fragile, as happened with the transition of ISIS from Syria to Iraq in 2014.[/size]
[size=45]Al-Sudani told the American newspaper that he is very worried about the possibility of the terrorist organization penetrating the Iraqi borders again through its cells in Syria.[/size]
[size=45]The report returns to explain to the organization, "There are still fortifications in the western province of Anbar, with indications to show its presence in the north as well, and it had claimed responsibility for recent bombings near Baghdad."[/size]
[size=45]And he added, "Although he is facing pressure from extremist Shiite parties, Al-Sudani, who enjoys the support of the coordination framework in parliament, has begun using elite counter-terrorism forces to eliminate currency smuggling operations to Iran."[/size]
[size=45]And the report believed, "This is another development that would satisfy decision-makers in Washington, as well as US President Joe Biden's special envoy for the Middle East, who was welcomed in Baghdad in the days following his urgent statements regarding the presence of US forces."[/size]
[size=45]And the former official in the Trump administration adds by saying, “The Iraqis must achieve a balance, but at the same time they need constant support from the United States. We are not about to interfere with their political system, we are just there to make them more capable and capable against the common enemy, ISIS, from returning again.” ".[/size]
[size=45]The report talked about "the possibility of obtaining more US aid and supplying more dollar currency to the country, and a more harmonious relationship similar to Washington's relations with the Gulf countries, which was a major catalyst for this transformation in the relationship." He explained, "Even with Al-Sudani's statements indicating the survival of US forces, experts are concerned that the Biden administration's indifference to the Iraqi-American relationship will leave the Pentagon unprepared to take advantage of this opportunity."[/size]
[size=45]The report added, however, that “this may change, as (The Wall Street Journal) indicated that Al-Sudani plans to send a delegation to Washington next February in an attempt to prepare the way for a meeting with Biden later this year.”[/size]
[size=45]And the former official in the Trump administration added, "I think it seems that the biggest problem for the leadership of the coalition forces is that there is absolutely no plan or vision of what it will be or is supposed to be the future relationship between Iraq and the United States."[/size]
[size=45]About: (Foreign Policy) website[/size]
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