US troops are operating within Iraq with a legal mandate from the Iraqi government. That’s something officials like to point out often. Yet on Thursday, the US attacked the Baghdad Airport and killing members of the Iraqi government’s paramilitary forces. The Iraqi military says that plainly falls outside of the mandate.
Since that mandate was centered almost entirely of fighting ISIS, many Iraqi MPs had suggested it was time for the US to leave anyhow. Following the attack, Iraq’s parliament will hold an emergency session Sunday.
Hadi al-Amiri, the head of the Badr Brigade and the second largest bloc’s leader in parliament, called on Iraq to unite and expel the US and other foreign troops. The only bigger bloc leader, Moqtada al-Sadr, has long wanted the US out of Iraq, and while he and Amiri are not always on the same page, they almost certainly are in this case.
Anger at the US over the killings is likely at a high point and parliamentary motions to get the US out of Iraq are likely to be supported. The US response remains anyone’s guess, but the US has long operated under the assumption they will remain in Iraq going forward.
If they vote for the US to leave and we don’t. Then I suppose it is clear that we have invaded them.
Interesting… if Iran is smart they will hold off until this plays out in Iraq. If parliament doesn’t kick US forces out, expect the Iraqi people to create a new govt from scratch, soon.
They’ve been wanting to even before Soleimani’s death. The assassination was undoubtably made easier by all the unrest, normaliziing the presence of U.S. drones and helicopters.
The Iranians and U.S. played on Iraqi corruption for influence and it grew out of control.
Since the Iraqi government is Shia, a violent remaking would come at their expense, which is to U.S. benefit, not Iran’s.
And after they approve and uncle Sham still gives those guys the finger, maybe, they’ll finally understand they are a vassal state.
There’s little chance Iraqis will agree to expel the U.S., though they both need it.
They fully understand and agree with vassal state status as long as the generous bribes and kickbacks keep coming.
But one can hope.
[Edit: 1/5/2020: Gosh, they did vote to expel us forces… We’ll see how far this gets.]
IF—-Iraq orders the US out, and Trump complies,
that would be three dimensional chess.
The MIC could never tolerate a decision to leave on our own
but if Iraq makes the decision for them,
the president has achieved a campaign goal while neutralizing Iranian capability.
Like a boxer striking from a distance, hit, but don’t get hit.
Lol, more like Inspector Cleuseau from the “Pink Panther”…3d chess..haw haw, good one. spanky thinks 3d chess is a small bra size…
Trump obviously works for Israel’s interests. When will you figure that out?
Obviously, you are brainwashed.
You’re obviously a moron
I think this is a big reason to hope for improvement. If America leaves Iraq, it’ll probably have to also leave Syria, and that could spur a reconciliation with Iran and Syria.
I don’t trust that Iraqi toad Al Mahdi.