Posted on 05/17/2018 12:01:38 PM PDT by Texas Fossil
Shia populist cleric and Iraqi nationalist Moqtada al Sadr won the May 12 Iraqi elections to the surprise of Iran, Turkey, the United States and many Iraq experts. Sadr is against Israel, the United States and Iran, and also opposes the presence of Turkish troops on Iraqi territory. Now he is the kingmaker of Iraq’s elections, winning 54 out of 329 seats in the Iraqi parliament.
Washington was hoping Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al Abadi would win as a result of his defeat of Islamic State (ISIS), while Iran backed the Conquest alliance headed by the leader of the paramilitary Badr organisation, Hadi Al Ameri. But Abadi was not able to win the confidence of the majority of Iraqis, although he did win in the Sunni Arab province of Mosul, which would limit Turkish influence in the future.
“The U.S. will view this result as a middling outcome: not the worst result of Conquest coming out on top, nor the best result of a resounding Nasr [Abadi list] endorsement,” Michael Knights, a Middle East analyst at the Washington Institute told Ahval.
“We are very well aware of Moqtada al-Sadr and his background and his positions now, yes,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters on Tuesday.
For Turkey, any win by majority Sunni Arab or Turkmen lists would be a win, but Sunni Arab majority parties did not do well, including the Turkmen in Kirkuk.
“Turkey has no role. Sunni political parties that were backed by Turkey were destroyed after ISIS. It’s difficult for them to play any big role in Iraqi politics for the next coming four years,” Dr. Nahro Zagros, the vice president of Soran University told Ahval.
(Excerpt) Read more at ahvalnews.com ...
I wished I shared his confidence in Sadr's Populism. I remember when his Militia opposed the US in Iraq.
Iranian Influence in Iraq has grown a lot. Especially when Obama pulled all of our troops out just prior to the buildup of ISIS.
After Sadr won the election, it is still unsure of what coalition of groups will run the nation. And who they will ally with.
So, Brett McGurk (US State Dept) and Iranian Gen. Soleimani (Quds Commander who basically ran the anti ISIS forces in Iraq) are both in Iraq now.
Fine. Bring all our troops home and no more military or financial aid then.
Ron Paul was right again.
IIRC, Sadr is a butcher.
Hope he goes to war with Turkey.
LOTS of popcorn...
A couple of things....first al-Sadr himself didn’t run for any office, members of his party won the most seats and get to form a coalition government. Al-Sadr is a force to be reckoned with but he won’t be the next Iraqi president.
Second, al-Sadr is not friendly with either the mullahs in Iran or their Shiite proxies in Iraq. He’s a nationalist wild card. This might actually be a good thing for those concerned about Iran’s expanding influence.
Of course al-Sadr is no Western puppet either, something that will make the western interventionists unhappy. Sounds like the people of Iraq want to chart their own course.
What exactly were the last words Saddam Hussein ever heard?
We should have put a .50 sniper round in his head like a watermelon.
Sadr is a populist. The name Sadr is beloved by the poor Shia, because of his saintly father, brutally tortured and murdered by Saddam’s regime.
This Sadr was thrust into prominence because of his family history. Many have said that he was forced in over his head, beyond his capabilities at the time. He was dependent on Iran, and often bullied by Iran, but he did participate in/lead lots of bloody attacks on Americans. Lots.
But he is Iraqi, not Iranian; and he is Arab, not Persian. These seem to be a big thing to him, and this Nationalistic opposition to foreign influence in general is popular with his base. He is growing older and more experienced. He might like to be free of Iranian overlordship.
There is actually quite a bit of Iraqi patriotism and suspicion of Iranian motives among Iraqi Shi’ites. Mixed feelings, as they are grateful for support under Saddam, and feel religious fraternity. They just know the regime enough to be wary of them.
Another tidbit from the article, Turkey was a loser:
“Turkey has no role. Sunni political parties that were backed by Turkey were destroyed after ISIS. It’s difficult for them to play any big role in Iraqi politics for the next coming four years,”
Sadr is still sucking O2.
I’m impressed.
5.56mm
He was a trouble maker a few years back. Seems like I recall him being involved in eliminating ISIS at some point. Might have been after Obozo pulled all our troops out of Iraq and the Quds Commander took charge of taking out ISIS.
I don’t trust him, but there are few in the ME that are worthy of trust. I know exceptions to that statement.
Thanks for that information. Several points I was not aware of.
I wish them the best. This has to be getting very old.
“I wish them the best. This has to be getting very old.”
I wanted so much better for Iraqis, after throwing off Saddam. Perhaps their day will come soon, God willing.
If that is all true, I have no issue with it.
I have no trust with Iranian Quds commander General Soleimani. (It’s not been a good week for him this week.)
Newsweak? Trust??
Not on you life.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Execution_of_Saddam_Hussein
After the rope was secured, guards shouted various rebukes including “Muqtada! Muqtada! Muqtada!” as reference to Muqtada al-Sadr; Saddam repeated the name mockingly and rebuked the shouts stating, “Do you consider this bravery?” A Shi’a version of an Islamic prayer was recited by some of those present in the room. One observer told Saddam:
“Go to hell!”
Saddam replied,
“The hell that is Iraq?”
Another man asked for quiet, saying,
“Please, stop. The man is facing an execution.”
—
My take on this, the last thing he heard was the trap door drop and slam.
May he and the Sadr army remember the boots that kicked their teeth in.
From my lips to Jehovah’s ears.
Eagles Up!
I guess we will soon see if he has changed.
China’s view (yeah, I’m the only one who thinks China matters in M.E.)
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-05/16/c_137184232.htm
Figured this is why we didn’t kill him. Hope it turns out for the best.
Thank you for the link. I hope the article is correct.
Far too much blood has already been spilled in the Region. A return to living life would be a welcome outcome.
May it be so.
Sadr is against Israel, the United States and Iran …Sure he’s against Iran. So against them that he took refuge there a decade ago. And now Iranian general Suleimani is in Baghdad helping him get his new government going.
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