Mustafa Khadimi, Iraq’s latest prime minister, sought to establish himself by moving against Shi’ite militias, something that was a top priority for the US. Detention of members of Ketaib Hezbollah was a big challenge to a big group.
It did not go well. Iraq has such a limited independent security mechanism that detained Ketaib Hezbollah members were being held by their own militia during the detention. Finally they made a non-specific deal and let them go.
It was a lesson learned though. Khadimi may have the support of the US, but his power as premier has some clear limits in moving domestically against Shi’ite groups that are large political forces, and entrenched in the nation’s military security.
This has been a hassle for Iraqi PMs for awhile, as they are meant to gear up for new elections, but need to keep things more or less stable while that happens. Trying to become another strongman in the vein of Maliki simply isn’t an option with the militias as they are.
This appears to be a show for US benefit. There is nothing this Prime Minister should or would do against militias that defeated ISIS.
Regular Iraqi forces were too weak and worse, dependent on US military — not giving them room to tackle ISIS the way they needed to.
Now those militias are part of armed forces, paid by armed forces. Arrests were made, US happy, arrests undone.
In a country where Shia are a majority population, US us trying to act as mother protector of Sunnis.
Been there — done that. Petreaus did just that — incubated ISIS, Saudi former Crown Prince was the Godfather and financier. It all came to an end with royal coup in June 2017, and MBS came to power. And he came to power JUST because his predecessor bet the Kingdom on US supporting ISIS territory, as a Sunni land carved out of Syria and Iraq.
But Trump saw the imminent demise of Mosul, and wanted to PREEMPT Iraqi and Syrian successes by declaring HE was going to slay ISIS, and be the winner. But by torpedoing ISIS, the Sunni area broke up back to Iraqi and Syrian territories respectfully.
And the great hope of Kurds holding lands on both sides collapsed, and now nobody is clamoring for another Sunniland!. So what is the point in being all tied up in panties over Shia units?
Could it be that with such organized militia using Iraq for attacking Iran could be dangerous. Yes, but not ONLY because of Shia!
We are constantly having new solutions in search of a problem. How about identifying problem first?
Let’s hope that the Iraqis have the good sense to elect somebody who is loyal to Iraq, not the Americans.