Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said his government is “heading towards” ending the presence of international forces in Iraq, which includes about 2,500 US troops, the largest foreign contingent.
Al-Sudani’s comments came after his government strongly condemned several rounds of US airstrikes in Iraq as a violation of sovereignty and a hostile act. In the latest strikes, the US said it targeted the Shia militia Kataib Hezbollah in retaliation for an attack on a US base, but al-Sudani’s government said civilians were also wounded in the US bombing.
“We are in the process of rearranging the relationship with the international coalition, as in light of the presence of capable Iraqi forces, the Iraqi government is moving towards ending the presence of the international coalition forces,” al-Sudani said at a press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Spain has 300 troops stationed in Iraq as part of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition. “My country, always at the request of the Iraqi authorities, will support the unity, sovereignty and stability of Iraq,” Sanchez said at the press conference.
Al-Sudani first came into office at the end of 2022 and made his first public comments on US troops in Iraq in 2023, when he expressed support for the presence of foreign forces. But he’s been under increasing pressure to get them out, especially now as Iraq has become a battleground between Shia militias and the US due to President BIden’s full-throated support for Israel’s Gaza onslaught.
The US has been resisting Iraqi efforts to expel its forces from the country since 2020 when a US drone strike in Baghdad killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. In the wake of the killings, Iraq’s parliament voted to expel foreign forces, but the US refused to leave. The US formally changed its presence in Iraq from a combat role to an advisory one in December 2021, but it did not withdraw any troops at the time.
If al-Sudani tries to expel foreign forces from his country, Washington could make things difficult for him. The US has leverage over Iraq because, since the 2003 invasion, the country’s foreign reserves have been held by the US Federal Reserve, giving Washington control over Baghdad’s dollar supply and the ability to devalue the Iraqi dinar. The US also keeps tight control over Iraq’s ability to pay its neighbor Iran for much-needed electricity.
A toothless country can’t order its occupiers to leave. More of a dog and a pony show.
Soleimani and IMuhandis were the last chance of a real resistance.
It really does not matter what is good for Iraq. That has never come up What matters is what the US wants an needs and that is another occupation of troops and weapons. The government of Iraq has no concrete way of forcing the US out. Even if they did the US would find some other willing country from which to launch strikes. There will be no peace in the MudEast until a world wide war and revolution happens with the US and Israel labelled as pariahs.
Don’t blame Washington for this one. They’re only taking orders from their owner.
Truly healthy (and honest) cynicism.
There are no nations. There are just large corporations and international finance. Been that way for decades. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9nAyrDNj-Q
Nations exist as a subsidiary function of Capital.
Capitalism gets people to save and to work-it can in some ways be good. US capitalism has provided a better life for many people.
If chintzy suburban consumerism in exchange for culture is your idea of a better life.
I blame the people sent to DC to serve as representatives. This includes the White House, the Congress, and the Supreme Court, and everyone appointed by them. These are the shitheads who have failed us, time and time again.
“Toothless”? Wait until the whole region unites against the Western oppressors/occupiers! Those “teeth” will leaves shreds behind it! Your analysis is spotty.
Thanks for including: “Washington control over Baghdad’s dollar supply and the ability to devalue the Iraqi dinar.” That’s why we called it “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” That was the target. …What’s that? …You thought we were “freeing” you from Saddam? LOL. That’s funny.
What nation on this planet would want the DUPLICITOUS USA as a partner? Imagine a “border” situation akin to the USA’s present one then multiply it by a THOUSAND and that’s what the USA brings to Iraq and Gaza in helping Israel with its war crimes. That seems to be what the USA brings to EVERY nation it tries to “modernize and free”.
Israel is avenging Hamas war crimes.
Its time to fully wake up Mr PM…!
ISIS was funded by the Saudis and is no more. It was Iran that defeated ISIS. American troops are there to protect “our” oil. Iraq is friends with Iran.
There are also some 10,000 American contractors in Iraq running the bases and spying on Iraqis. These and American troops in Iraq do serve a purpose as psychopaths like Senator Graham call for bombing Iran. If that happens, our bases there will be destroyed within days leaving thousands of American detainees in Iranian hands. Iraq will invite the Iranians to help expel the Americans as they did with ISIS.
The Iraqi prime minister better watch his back.
Banksters and media moguls manipulate the picture to suck the US dry. Professors in all universities teach student that US debt is not a problem. Eventually the bubble pops. Russia will buy back Alaska. Mexico will buy back Texas. China will swoop in and buy California. Venezuela will buy Florida. Etc
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f1e7ca90e9326635799541a15cdc97b1f982d71f93f2cdcdbd1003b7cad4a421.png
Give the U.S. a few generations and we will look like any Central American country you prefer. The people illegally flooding into the country have big families. It’s the old philosophy we will defeat you through demographics.
Latino immigrants are driven north by US government policies designed to help keep labor costs down. Cut out agricultural dumping and legalize all drugs with medical supervision. (Remove profit).
The solution is easy and not taken because US elites are pushing subsidized grain and still dealing drugs.
Ask yourself why France sold the Louisiana purchase and Russia sold Alaska. The US and Israel will be lucky to last through this generation.
I believe it’s more than just about keeping labor costs down. I believe it’s a deliberate plan to destroy the U.S. by flooding the country with peoples of different cultures who will become compliant voters for the powers that want to control pretty much everything. Getting cheap labor is just one part of the plan.
You are seeing more than I have. Thanks.
There are very many so brainwashed into hating illegals that they turn racist and cannot see the suds.
It’s not about hating illegals it’s just about sending them back to their own countries.
When, how, and why did it become your business where they’re from, where they’re going, or where they are?
When I have to pay for their existence and it changes the culture of the country I grew up in. Unlike yourself, I do respect the sacrifices that were made by people in my family and others during the wars and in building the country. Tell me, pray tell, what connection and sacrifices the invaders have made? I would ask you where do you get off inviting anybody into the country? Unlike this site, you are not the moderator as to who comes into the country. Frankly, I don’t believe you’re qualified to be a moderator of a dog show. When there’s another terrorist attack in this country are you going to take resposibility for it, mister c’mon in everybody, what an idiotic response. If you want to ban me from this site, have at it, as I do believe some of your comments are ridiculous and not worthy of someone acting as a moderator.
I usually like what Knapp has to say, also.
That said, Bill, canned script about Latino people coming across the border is more in tune with election team rhetoric than reality. Latinos mostly come here because the US undermines cultures world-wide for the benefit of the US one percent. This causes decline in Latin American countries and many decide to try working in the north.
Notice that the same financial tricks are used to squeeze US workers. Inflation lowers the relative wage and is a favored method of austerity. Northerners have nowhere to go so they are propagandized into believing everything would be fine with more border enforcement. The idea is so false it is absurd. Politicians then go for dumbing down Americans so they don’t have solid foundations for thinking and can be led by emotion.
Latinos tend to be hardworking seven days a week and avoid registering for government handouts. They also pay into social security. My impression is the average Latino outworks US citizens by quite a large margin.
Sorry, disagree. They indeed work hard but that’s not the point and doesn’t nullify the fact that a large percentage receive welfare benefits as well as others bennies. “As reported, A new study indicates more than half of households headed by a non-citizen are receiving welfare benefits. The Center for Immigration Studies analyzed the 2022 Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation to find the data”. Besides, it’s all irrelevant, illegal means illegal. Regardless of what Knapp says about ANYONE should be able to come into the country regardless of where you come from, yes, if it’s done legally. He doesn’t seem to care less about them taking resources and jobs from Americans. To me, that says more about him that anything else.
Immigrants, including “illegal” [sic] immigrants, pay more per capita in taxes, receive less per capita in government “benefits,” and commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans. They subsidize welfare and “entitlements” for us fat, lazy natives while also making our streets safer — all while taking a ration of shit from many of those they’re subsidizing.
Unfortunately, very true.
By the way, all that’s best to you and yours in the coming year. I wish that it is a better year for the race than the past two have been.
Off the books workers do not contribute to the social security system.Many immigrants demand cash only. Women with 6 small kids and no husband are a HUGE drain. Many criminals are among the decent immigrants.Limited and controlled immigration of carefully vetted citizens could help the US offset an aging demographic,but the mass invasion should be stopped by whatever means are necessary. Their promiscuous population growth in their own countries will now be transported to the US,which will ultimately run out resourcs.
Most “illegal” workers are not “off the books.” They use someone else’s Social Security number and pay into “the system” with no prospect of ever collecting “benefits.”
“Limited and controlled immigration of carefully vetted citizens could help the US become North Korea.”
Fixed, no charge.
Lumping together the people who have come here as refugees is an act of bias.
Of course, there are some who come here who don’t belong here, but I submit that number is microscopic.
In addition, in the case of people coming from Central and South America, it is largely the criminally irresponsible history of US foreign and economic polices aimed at those countries which have contributed enormously to the destabilization of the governments and societies there. And lest we forget our massive drug habit, which is native to the good citizens of these United States, and which contributes to the current chaos here and to the South.
Finally, Knapp is as just and honest and dedicated a moderator I’ve seen on any discussion forum. He’s entitled to say whatever he thinks as a commentator, and I’ve yet to see him violate any of the guidelines he enforces as a moderator. With respect, I think you’re barking up the wrong tree.
Do you have a television in your home? If so, you should turn it on every once in a while and see the reality of what’s actually happening down at the border. Your statement “Of course, there are some who come here who don’t belong here, but I submit that number is microscopic” is absurd. How many of those coming across the border are American citizens? How about none? I can’t understand why people are so willing to give up their country to peoples from other nations who obviously don’t respect our laws. But that’s just me, 30 or so million illegals no problem for you?
Yiu are out of tune, Bill. US laws are a con game designed to comb wealth to the top and overthrow democracies world-wide. NAFTA is just one example of how blind you have decided to be;
“When NAFTA went into effect in 1994, it was argued by some that the deal would actually be a catalyst for positive social development by promoting liberal democratic governance and converging regulatory standards across North America – similar to the 1994 North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation. This assumption stemmed from 20th century development theory, which posited that integration of poor countries into an “open” global market (by opening up their economies to foreign investors) would eventually see convergence of incomes with rich countries. But as Sachs & Warner argued, there was no empirical evidence of this trend forthcoming, even after decades of globalization-led development, and indeed Mexico would not prove to be an exception.7 The one-sided elimination of agricultural subsidies would see Mexican agricultural output devastated and its market captured by US-based exporters, driving up prices and causing significant rural unemployment and displacement in Mexico.
https://coha.org/canadas-steadfast-support-for-big-agricultures-assault-on-mexican-biodiversity/
You have made some good points and I agree that the problem won’t get fixed and most likely the whole thing will continue until there’s little left of the U.S. as we have known it. I have been saying for probably 20 years that I believe the U.S. will break up into several countries and I don’t think it will be very long unless WW3 makes the whole thing pointless. That’s about all I’ve got to say as it’s apparent all of our commentary doesn’t change anything as war is as natural to human nature as eating and reproducing. It’s gotten tedious and for me pointless to continue discussion.
I sympathize with how you feel about the country. I really do. I wish we had real leadership when we really need it, but IMO, we do not and there’s nothing bright on the horizon, AFAICS.
Good luck to you and yours.
If you’re getting your information from TV, you’re totally brainwashed. I suggest you look for real news in places like here, Jimmy Dore, Lee Camp, Glenn Greenwald, Matt Taibbi, Aaron Mate, Abbey Martin, Grayzone, etc. TV is just propaganda, lies, and advertisements, with a few true facts sprinkled in to make you think all that BS is true.
Most peole have their own agendas and prejudices.
True, but so what? Your response is a type of propaganda called deflection, because it’s irrelevant to my point. True and false facts don’t change whether they’re true or false based on prejudices. Outright lies, taking things out of context by not telling the whole story, censorship by not reporting relevant facts, and characterizing facts in favor of advertisers and other rich people, are propaganda.
You’re right. It’s just you. My grandson is half Mexican, so yeah, I have some comprehension of the culture of some of the people who come from the South.
Try getting down on your knees and working at picking fruit off the ground for eight hours a day. I did. I got a third of a basket done before my knees stopped me. A Mexican was working beside us, had two baskets filled in the same time, for the simple reason he actually had to work to make the money (by the basket) he would send a substantial fraction of to his family in Mexico. He was however, nice enough to smile at my effort.
I understand the problem. The problem is that we won’t allocate the resources to exercise proper and fair control over immigration, and I doubt we ever will.
The Europeans will (as will many here in the States) get a load of this big time, once global warming starts up the northward migration engine for real. Then we northerners will be able to complain about migrants from Florida and Louisiana, …
In conclusion, I don’t believe we will ever get a handle on this no matter how much of a sieve it is. The border is immense and there’s money to be made getting people across. In addition, administrating justice so as to be fair to those who legitimately seek safety while finding and catching people who evade the legal means to file for admission is a monumental task which is already breaking the back of the justice system, and I don’t see a way to bring it under control short of a 2000 mile wall of barbed wire backed by an army of border agents.
Perhaps we could afford it if we weren’t pissing away our national wealth on wars of choice backed by 800 military bases scattered around the planet to defend freedom and democracy….
By the way, my wife and I haven’t had a TV in the house since 2006. It rots your brain.
TV is a dead end but some videos are fun;
https://twitter.com/FiorellaIsabelM/status/1739689464497418266
Yeah, just being truthful as well as sarcastic 😉 It’s a long story involving teenagers, but we really left broadcast TV back in 2006. I don’t doubt that there is plenty of quality programming available, though 😉
Wow, someone is upset with the Tom. Why don’t you just ignore his comments and have a good night sleep.
I agree.
You are seeing more than I have. Thanks.
There are very many so brainwashed into hating illegals that they turn racist and cannot see the suds.
Its a globalist plan-break the US, and rebuild the world according to their wise wise plans.
There are no jobs for these Latino immigrants. women with 6 kids can’t work.Meanwhile,we import huge amounts of vegetables and metal from Mexico and Chile. Let Latin America put tarrifs on US grains if thy feel they are a victim of dumping
ain’t for sale.
Imperialists never sleep.
President Obama had to remove all US military and their US support out of Iraq because we would have been at war with Iraq if he had not done so and every US soldier still in Iraq would have become a legal target.
I guess there currently exists a SOFA-Iraq. I do not know how much time Biden has to get our troops out.
Good. Spending money to help Iraq is a waste. Iraq is garbage and will remain that way.
Iraq had one of the highest standards of living in the region before the US made it “garbage”.
Unless you ran afoul of the secret police,or Saddam wanted your womenfolk.
We forced ourselves into Iraq, and now it’s difficult to give it up. Kind of like smoking.