Iraq's divide could strain anti-IS coalition: US
By [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Published: 13:30 EST, 9 March 2015
The international coalition fighting Islamic State extremists could be jeopardised if the Baghdad government fails to bridge Iraq's sectarian divide, the US military's top officer warned Monday.
Iraq's political leaders have yet to deliver on promises to reach out to the Sunni population and have raised concerns in the region by forging closer ties to Shiite-led Iran, General Martin Dempsey said after spending several hours in Baghdad.
For the longer term, the solidarity of the anti-IS coalition -- which includes Sunni Arab states -- could be put at risk, Dempsey told reporters in Manama.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
An Iraqi Shiite fighter and member of the Popular Mobilisation units supporting government forces in the battle against Islamic State, sits in a vehicle in the village of Albu Ajil, east of the city of Tikrit, on March 8, 2015 ©Ahmad Al-Rubaye (AFP)
In Cairo, Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi called on Monday for the creation of a unified Arab force to battle Islamic extremist groups.
"There is an urgent need for the creation of a multi-purpose common Arab military force... able to intervene rapidly to fight terrorism and the activities of terrorist groups," he said.
Dempsey, for his part, said: "I come away a bit concerned that it's going to be difficult to sustain the coalition for the rest of the challenge -- which is trans-regional –- unless the government of Iraq can actually form that national unity platform to which they committed."
With the IS group "under pressure in almost every corner of Iraq," the "military aspect" of the campaign is on course and "going fine," said the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.
But an overriding goal for Washington and other coalition members was to ensure that Iraq's Shiite-led authorities also upheld the rights of its Sunni Arab and Kurdish communities, he said.
Flying over Baghdad by helicopter earlier, Dempsey noted Shiite militia banners flying over many buildings, describing "the plethora of flags, only one of which happens to be the Iraqi flag."
He said Sunni Arab countries in the region, several of which are taking part in air strikes in Syria, were anxious over Iran's influence in Iraq.
- No apologies -
Iran's role has taken on new importance in recent days as Shiite militia armed and trained by Tehran are playing a high-profile role in a major offensive on the IS group in Tikrit, north of the Iraqi capital.
In a joint press conference with Dempsey in Baghdad, Iraqi Defence Minister Khaled al-Obaidi made no apologies for enlisting military aid from Iran.
"We are in a state of war and we look to our friends to help us in this confrontation," Obaidi said.
But he said Iraq's approach was "balanced" and added: "I want to assure you that Iraq does not want to enter into any conflicts with any of the countries around us."
In his talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Obaidi, Dempsey said he acknowledged their "instinct" to look for assistance from any country ready to provide it.
But he also stressed that "they should also be aware of the challenge of holding together the ... coalition," Dempsey said.
The IS group has sought to exploit the grievances of alienated Sunnis in Iraq, and Dempsey has urged Baghdad to tackle what he calls the "underlying" sectarian issue.
The general, who spent several tours in Iraq during the 2003-2011 US occupation, said it was unclear whether Iraq's links to Iran were only about battling the IS or part of a broader agenda.
“What I'm trying to sort out is the degree to which the near term embrace of the assistance they're receiving from Iran is a reaction to the existential threat (from IS) or whether it's something longer-term," he said.
"And by the way, it could be longer-term and not necessarily negative."
Throughout his trip to the region, which included talks with leaders in Bahrain and with his French counterpart aboard an aircraft carrier in the Gulf, Dempsey said he stressed the importance of maintaining the global coalition arrayed against the IS militants.
"I reminded everyone -- the Bahrainis, the French and the Iraqis -- that fundamental to the success of the campaign is the solidarity of the coalition, and anything that could threaten that solidarity we really need to be alert to," he said.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, flew over Baghdad by helicopter noting Shiite militia banners are over many buildings, describing "the plethora of flags, only one of which happens to be the Iraqi flag" ©T.J. Kirkpatrick (Getty/AFP/File)
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
A displaced Iraqi Sunni woman who fled from a village near the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit due to fighting between IS group militants and government forces receives medical treatment at an army camp in Samarra on March 8, 2015 ©Ahmad Al-Rubaye (AFP)
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
A flag of the Shiite Hezbollah militant group flutters over a mural depicting the emblem of the Islamic State (IS) group in Al-Alam village, northeast of the multi-ethnic Iraqi city of Tikrit in northern Iraq, on March 9, 2015 ©Younis al-Bayati (AFP/File)
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
By [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Published: 13:30 EST, 9 March 2015
The international coalition fighting Islamic State extremists could be jeopardised if the Baghdad government fails to bridge Iraq's sectarian divide, the US military's top officer warned Monday.
Iraq's political leaders have yet to deliver on promises to reach out to the Sunni population and have raised concerns in the region by forging closer ties to Shiite-led Iran, General Martin Dempsey said after spending several hours in Baghdad.
For the longer term, the solidarity of the anti-IS coalition -- which includes Sunni Arab states -- could be put at risk, Dempsey told reporters in Manama.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
An Iraqi Shiite fighter and member of the Popular Mobilisation units supporting government forces in the battle against Islamic State, sits in a vehicle in the village of Albu Ajil, east of the city of Tikrit, on March 8, 2015 ©Ahmad Al-Rubaye (AFP)
In Cairo, Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi called on Monday for the creation of a unified Arab force to battle Islamic extremist groups.
"There is an urgent need for the creation of a multi-purpose common Arab military force... able to intervene rapidly to fight terrorism and the activities of terrorist groups," he said.
Dempsey, for his part, said: "I come away a bit concerned that it's going to be difficult to sustain the coalition for the rest of the challenge -- which is trans-regional –- unless the government of Iraq can actually form that national unity platform to which they committed."
With the IS group "under pressure in almost every corner of Iraq," the "military aspect" of the campaign is on course and "going fine," said the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.
But an overriding goal for Washington and other coalition members was to ensure that Iraq's Shiite-led authorities also upheld the rights of its Sunni Arab and Kurdish communities, he said.
Flying over Baghdad by helicopter earlier, Dempsey noted Shiite militia banners flying over many buildings, describing "the plethora of flags, only one of which happens to be the Iraqi flag."
He said Sunni Arab countries in the region, several of which are taking part in air strikes in Syria, were anxious over Iran's influence in Iraq.
- No apologies -
Iran's role has taken on new importance in recent days as Shiite militia armed and trained by Tehran are playing a high-profile role in a major offensive on the IS group in Tikrit, north of the Iraqi capital.
In a joint press conference with Dempsey in Baghdad, Iraqi Defence Minister Khaled al-Obaidi made no apologies for enlisting military aid from Iran.
"We are in a state of war and we look to our friends to help us in this confrontation," Obaidi said.
But he said Iraq's approach was "balanced" and added: "I want to assure you that Iraq does not want to enter into any conflicts with any of the countries around us."
In his talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Obaidi, Dempsey said he acknowledged their "instinct" to look for assistance from any country ready to provide it.
But he also stressed that "they should also be aware of the challenge of holding together the ... coalition," Dempsey said.
The IS group has sought to exploit the grievances of alienated Sunnis in Iraq, and Dempsey has urged Baghdad to tackle what he calls the "underlying" sectarian issue.
The general, who spent several tours in Iraq during the 2003-2011 US occupation, said it was unclear whether Iraq's links to Iran were only about battling the IS or part of a broader agenda.
“What I'm trying to sort out is the degree to which the near term embrace of the assistance they're receiving from Iran is a reaction to the existential threat (from IS) or whether it's something longer-term," he said.
"And by the way, it could be longer-term and not necessarily negative."
Throughout his trip to the region, which included talks with leaders in Bahrain and with his French counterpart aboard an aircraft carrier in the Gulf, Dempsey said he stressed the importance of maintaining the global coalition arrayed against the IS militants.
"I reminded everyone -- the Bahrainis, the French and the Iraqis -- that fundamental to the success of the campaign is the solidarity of the coalition, and anything that could threaten that solidarity we really need to be alert to," he said.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, flew over Baghdad by helicopter noting Shiite militia banners are over many buildings, describing "the plethora of flags, only one of which happens to be the Iraqi flag" ©T.J. Kirkpatrick (Getty/AFP/File)
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
A displaced Iraqi Sunni woman who fled from a village near the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit due to fighting between IS group militants and government forces receives medical treatment at an army camp in Samarra on March 8, 2015 ©Ahmad Al-Rubaye (AFP)
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
A flag of the Shiite Hezbollah militant group flutters over a mural depicting the emblem of the Islamic State (IS) group in Al-Alam village, northeast of the multi-ethnic Iraqi city of Tikrit in northern Iraq, on March 9, 2015 ©Younis al-Bayati (AFP/File)
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
» utube 12/08/23 Iraqi Dinar Today 2023 / Iraqi Dinar News Today / Iraqi Dinar
» utube 12/08/23 Militia Man & Crew Iraq Dinar International - Gateway - Local Currency - Sustainab
» The Prime Minister blesses the activation of the partnership between the Iraqi and Saudi private sec
» Planning: 11 axes to invest in the population increase and transform it into effective development e
» Advisor Mazhar Saleh: The economic geography of Iraq and Saudi Arabia constitutes an important found
» Al-Maliki: The best way to remove the corrupt is to go to the election ballots
» Al-Sudani: Parliament members have the final say in choosing the president
» The Kurdistan Region warns of a mass migration of Iraqis to other countries in the future
» "Embassy missiles" fall on the National Security headquarters, and the agency threatens the "bombers
» There are more obstacles than solutions.. The housing sector in Iraq: The need for more than 5 milli
» China reduces entry visa fees for Iraqis wishing to enter its territory (table)
» Al-Abadi on the bombing of the American embassy: Security and stability are not a commodity in the m
» Political conflicts and tension between Al-Halbousi and the governor.. What is happening in Anbar?
» Fatah leader: America created Al-Hawl camp to threaten the security of 7 Arab countries
» The Minister of Immigration instructs to solve the problems of returning families in Diyala
» Why was Iraq's "voluntary" reduction the largest in OPEC+?
» Regional Government: January 10th, official working hours in all Kurdistan districts
» Coinciding with International Anti-Corruption Day...the Ministry of Immigration holds a ceremony in
» The Federal Court rules that the instructions for conducting daily business in the Al-Kadhimi govern
» Head of the Kurdistan Council of Ministers: Our talks with the federal government will continue, and
» Three types of water violations were identified... Water Resources announces the introduction of gro
» Australian readiness to consolidate relations with the Kurdistan Region in the fields of investment
» There are more obstacles than solutions.. The housing sector in Iraq: The need for more than 5 milli
» The US Embassy in Baghdad urges the Iraqi government to protect diplomatic personnel
» Sudanese directs the prosecution of the perpetrators of the attack by launching projectiles towards
» Provincial council candidates are competing for two hundred and seventy-five seats
» With a new decision.. How will Iraq lose 6% of its oil exports?
» Georgetown Center for Studies: The killing of Americans in Iraq and the regional war is “a matter of
» Iraq.. Online food delivery will generate $845 million in 2023
» The US embassy in Baghdad confirms that it was hit by two missiles
» Directives from Sudanese regarding the bombing of the American embassy in Baghdad
» “No vacation until the end of the year.” The Minister of Finance issues a directive to the employees
» utube 12/5/23 Militia Man & Crew Iraq Dinar - Reality - Internationalism - Investors - Revaluatio
» The Ministry of Commerce decides to open sales outlets for those covered by social care in installme
» Minister of Oil: Iraq's decision to reduce OPEC Plus to achieve balance and stability in the markets
» Despite sending money from Baghdad.. Politician: The regional government refuses to release employee
» Baghdad is a cash cow...and the regional government steals the camel with what it carries
» Anbar Environment monitors violations of land conversion in Ramadi
» Federation of Arab Stock Exchanges: The Iraqi Stock Exchange accounted for 61% of November trading
» The Minister of Labor reveals a campaign to grant loans and plans to expand the employment process f
» Southern Gas: The agreement with the French company Total includes 4 main projects
» Sudanese directs to suspend working hours on Sunday
» Revealing the latest developments in choosing the new President of Parliament
» Media and Communications signs a contract with Azerbaijan to protect civil aviation radio navigation
» Al-Party accuses “sectarian” parties of delaying sending the $700 billion to the region
» The Kurdistan Oil Industry Association announces the joining of an American company
» A fine of 3 times the price.. Iraq reveals how to deal with goods that “violate specifications”
» Regional Government: Next Sunday, official working hours in all government departments
» A deputy reveals the loss of 35 trillion dinars and determines the extent of smuggling
» Al-Nouri: Most of the Central Bank’s decisions are political and do not have an economic content
» Representatives: The region’s failure to adhere to the decisions of the Baghdad government is causin
» 15 illegal outlets in Kurdistan cost the Iraqi treasury a billion dollars annually
» Naguib Sawiris: We are negotiating with government agencies to build an entire city outside Baghdad
» Commerce decides to open sales outlets for those covered by premium care at cost
» Directed to legislate a law that activates partnership between the public and private sectors
» The management of the North Refineries Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Project sets the date for o
» Problems between the region and foreign companies delay the export of oil through Ceyhan
» Parliamentarian: Baghdad has nothing to do with the salary crisis of the region’s employees
» Prime Minister: The Development Road Project will contribute to achieving economic development for t
» Iraq and 4 Arab countries possess more than one million tons of global gold reserves
» The stock market announces weekly trading indicators
» “Incompetent” figures are removed.. An expert indicates the influence of “tribal and partisan favori
» Al-Sudani: The path of development will contribute to achieving economic development for the region
» The current stability in Iraq is “temporary,” and this is what Al-Sudani succeeded in doing..An anal
» Shipments worth millions of dollars arrive in Iraq
» Government source: New shipments of dollar supplies arrive in Iraq
» In pictures: Iraqi Special Forces achieve first place in a global exercise in Pakistan
» Dismantling international drug networks in southern Iraq
» “Our soldiers are in a trap.” An American report calls for “courage” to withdraw from Iraq and Syria
» Labor launches electronic application to recruit foreign workers
» Audit Bureau: More than 5,000 financial reports will be issued in 2023
» Advisor to the Ministry of Oil: Iraq achieved 4% of its climate commitments this year
» Iraq is at the top of the 5 largest oil deals within a month
» A year later... where did Resolution 320 arrive at converting agricultural land to residential?
» The judiciary orders the Communications and Media Commission to adopt the Internet Services Licensin
» It does not include cuts or imposing a ban. The Commander-in-Chief approves the plan to secure local
» The discovery of about 50 archaeological sites and new heritage buildings in Kirkuk
» Iraq's exports of oil and its products to America exceed 70 million barrels within 7 months
» Salah al-Din Municipalities: A government move to refer cleaning work to the private sector
» The Sudanese government sends 700 billion to the region again
» Integrity: The Authority’s authority will extend to the private sector
» Preliminary designs for the construction of the Vanguard Bridge
» Maritime studies students prepare for the opening of the Grand Al-Faw Port
» Electricity signs a strategic contract with two companies
» Sudanese: We are serious about restoring the business environment and rehabilitating the institution
» The absence of programs and the presence of material temptations in {electoral propaganda}
» Experts: Integrity deals a strong blow to the corrupt
» Audit Bureau: More than 5,000 financial reports will be issued in 2023
» Dhi Qar adopts a plan to zero all requests for land plots and distributes more than 10,000 residenti
» The Kurdistan government demands Baghdad to achieve justice, pay salaries, and amend the budget
» Employees complain about their low salaries: The government does not appreciate our efforts
» OPEC production declined last month to control the oil market
» Al-Sudani and Talabani discuss “national issues and files” and the progress of implementing the gove
» America is pressing to save the normalization of Zionism.. Calls for Al-Halbousi to be tried on char
» Sudanese: $26 billion was not subject to customs duties and taxes
» 9 million Iraqis live in Baghdad
» "Sponsored ads" drained nearly a million dollars from the pockets of candidates in Iraq
» "Comprehensive discussions"... A Kurdish delegation will visit Baghdad soon, and Erbil announces the