A Blatant Violation of Iraq’s Sovereignty

Parliamentarians call emergency session “to discuss blatant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and to stop these aggressive actions by Trump”

Iraqi politicians criticise Donald Trump’s visit to country | The National UAE |

President Donald Trump’s surprise visit to American troops in Iraq was criticised by political and militia leaders as a violation of the country’s sovereignty.

Iraqi parliamentarians also revealed that a meeting between the US president and Iraqi prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi had to be cancelled due to a disagreement over venue.

Sabah al Saadi, the leader of the Islah parliamentary bloc, called for an emergency session of parliament “to discuss this blatant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and to stop these aggressive actions by Trump who should know his limits: the US occupation of Iraq is over.”

Continued below the fold …

Prime minister Abdul Mahdi’s office said in a statement that he had been informed about the visit. The statement said the Iraqi prime minister and US president talked by telephone due to a “disagreement over how to conduct the meeting.”

Iraqi lawmakers told Reuters that the pair had disagreed over where their planned meeting should take place: Mr Trump had asked to meet at the Ain al-Asad military base, an offer which Mr Abdul Mahdi declined.

[…]

Qais Al Khazali, the leader of the powerful Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia said on Twitter, “Iraqis will respond with a parliamentary decision to oust your (US) military forces. And if they do not leave, we have the experience and the ability to remove them by other means that your forces are familiar with.”

Some Iraqis, however, were less concerned with the US president’s visit.

“We won’t get anything from America,” said Baghdad resident Mohammad Abdullah. “They’ve been in Iraq 16 years, and they haven’t given anything to the country except destruction and devastation.”

The US legacy in Iraq: violence, sectarianism – and elections | Al Jazeera – Qatar |

Of course UANI is quite active on social media with all frustrations about decision to pull out of Syria while antagonizing the Iranian people hit by US sanctions.

○ In recording, Netanyahu boasts Israel convinced Trump to quit Iran nuclear deal | Times of Israel |
○ Trump Touts Arms Sales To Saudi Crown Prince, Discusses Iran | RFERL |

○ Trump: We give Israel billions, it can defend itself in Syria
○ Israeli official confirms Syria airstrikes, says Iran was the target | Ynet News |
○ Russia’s MFA press briefing on Syria
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Iraq Elections: How Iran won a face-off with the US in Iraq

Following Iraq’s “inconclusive” national election on May 12, the United States tried hard to guarantee a second term for former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Washington’s special envoy Brett McGurk spent months talking Iraqi politicians into following the American blueprint aimed at isolating Tehran and “keeping anyone friendly to Iran out of power.” But it was all in vain. The US failed to place its desired candidates in the important positions of prime minister, president and speaker of the parliament. Instead, Iran’s Iraqi allies got their way. All three positions were filled with new faces who would not allow Iraq to turn its back to Iran.

Iran needed to make sure that Iraq’s new government would not tilt towards Washington, and support the renewed US sanctions – the way Abadi did. Abadi had adopted the new set of US sanctions against Iran in August, in an attempt to countervail the electoral setback he faced in May and ensure a second term.

Exposing identity of US Navy Seals in Baghdad …