Can you understand what the people of Iraq are saying? They want their freedom in all aspects especially financial freedom. What do I mean? We all know that the US is suppressing the dinar and finding every excuse not to allow the reinstatement. They want to keep control over Iraq. They are using the money as power. They are still not allowing Iraq to sell oil in other currencies. They are still holding on to the DFI fund, something even the UN has mandated they turn over to Iraq now that chapter VII sanctions over. They US needs its military bases. Well folks…this has been struggle for Iraq but Iraq will win the battle.)
The relationship between Iraq and the United States faces major challenges in light of regional developments and internal political changes in both countries.
There is an Iraqi trend to present its relationship with Washington in a different way than it was in the past, as Iraq seeks to diversify this relationship away from the military and security dimension that has long dominated bilateral cooperation. Iraq recently submitted an official memorandum of protest to the UN Security Council against Israel, stressing the need to clarify positions and highlight Iraqi grievances before international forums, a step aimed at reformulating Iraq’s foreign policies in a way that enhances its sovereignty and independence.
In this context, the Iraqi government formed a special committee to review the relationship with Washington, based on the Strategic Framework Agreement signed in 2008, which sought to establish a partnership based on cooperation in various fields, not just security affairs.
Sources told Al-Masala that Iraq seeks to achieve a balanced partnership that will allow it to build a strong and sustainable economy, by benefiting from Washington’s expertise in the economic, educational, and health fields, instead of relying excessively on the military aspect. This trend reflects a strong desire to achieve the aspirations of the Iraqi people away from the effects of regional conflicts.
Moreover, Iraq announced earlier this year the end of the international coalition formed in 2014 to fight ISIS, a move aimed at reducing foreign military presence and restoring national control over sovereign decisions.
This announcement comes as part of a plan aimed at changing the pattern of relations with the United States, while seeking to develop new mechanisms for cooperation through a tripartite military committee that includes representatives from both parties.
Analyses indicate that “this committee must establish strong foundations for a real partnership that is far from hegemony and based on mutual interest, so that Iraqis feel the impact of this partnership in their daily lives.”
The shift towards economic partnership has become an increasing demand, as some voices within the Iraqi government stress the need to move from reliance on military support to enhancing cooperation in the areas of infrastructure, technology and energy, which contributes to developing Iraq’s economic capabilities and providing job opportunities for young people.
The Iraqi-American relationship is one of the most complex issues in the Iraqi political scene, and it is a source of disagreement between political forces, as visions differ on how to deal with this relationship and direct it towards a path that serves the country’s interests, far from foreign interference.
Political movements see Washington as a key partner whose cooperation must be maintained, especially in the economic, health and educational fields in which Iraq lacks long-term institutional support.
These forces call for expanding areas of cooperation outside the security framework, noting that the United States can be a strategic ally for Iraq’s development through massive investments, especially in the areas of infrastructure and energy.
Perhaps this trend is expressed by representatives in parliament and officials who believe that building a comprehensive economic partnership with Washington can achieve economic stability away from oil revenues.
On the other hand, there are forces that consider the relationship with the United States to be fraught with sovereignty risks. These parties, which often tend to adopt a nationalist discourse that rejects the American military presence, see American policy in the region as conflicting with Iraq’s interests and regional orientations.
Given the vast regional influence of these powers, the political arena has witnessed calls to re-evaluate the relationship and determine the extent of its need.
This division is clearly evident in the decisions of the Iraqi government, which seeks, on the one hand, to calm internal fears by forming committees to review the strategic framework agreement with the United States, and on the other hand faces pressure to confirm the trend towards new partnerships that are not subject to external pressures.
The joint committee held three meetings in Washington and Baghdad, during which it reached a new mechanism to regulate the relationship between the two parties, which stipulates the withdrawal of the remaining American combat forces in Iraq, and the retention of a number of advisors for the purposes of advice and logistical support, according to the strategic framework agreement signed in 2008 and ratified by the Iraqi parliament.
