Thursday Afternoon Iraq Parliament News Highlights 8-18-22
Allawi’s coalition sends messages of “regret and astonishment” after the national dialogue
Policy 2022-08-18 | 05:58 Source: Alsumaria news 6,987 views Alsumaria News – Baghdad Today, Thursday, the National Coalition criticized the meeting of the presidencies with the leaders of the political forces, which took place yesterday in the government palace.
The coalition said in a statement received by Alsumaria News, “When there is talk of a national dialogue, this dialogue should include all national parties and not be limited to those in power.”
The statement added, “Therefore, we register our regret and astonishment about the absence or absence of important national segments from this dialogue. The presence of trade unions, unions, groups of peaceful demonstrators and the sheikhs of the common clans, in addition to the national political forces and figures who are outside or within the authority in this dialogue, would have given it a greater national character and brought it out.” The results of the disintegration of the contract are working to find solutions to the current crisis.”
And earlier yesterday, a meeting was held at the Government Palace National Dialogue Iraq under the auspices of the Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi
With the participation of leaders and leaders of political forces in Iraq In the presence of the President of the Republic, the heads of the legislative and judicial authorities, and the United Nations envoy in Iraq. LINK
The Sadrist Movement Criticizes The Outcomes Of The National Dialogue Meeting
Today, Thursday, Minister of Salih Muhammad al-Iraqi Muqtada al-Sadr described the outcomes of the Iraqi National Dialogue meeting as being neither fat nor hungry.
Al-Iraqi said in a statement that the news agency received a copy of it, that “your secret session does not accuse us of anything,” noting that “most of the attendees tried to minimize the revolution and stay away from its legitimate demands.”
He added, “What do the people benefit from closed and secret sessions in which they do not take into account their legitimate desires to achieve security and safety that you took from them until you sold a third of Iraq?”
Al-Iraqi continued to, “Your meeting should have been public and in a live broadcast to inform the people of what is going on behind the scenes of conspiracies, intrigues and leaks.”
Muqtada al-Sadr boycotted the attendance of the national dialogue meeting, which was held yesterday, under the auspices of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi. https://n.annabaa.org/iraq/78886
Video: US Officials Reveal The End Of The Political System In Iraq
Sumerian special 2022-08-18 | 08:05 Source: Sumerian 2,296 views Clear-cut American confessions, which were announced by former officials, related to the current political crisis in Baghdad, describing it as the beginning of the end of the political system in Iraq, which was established under the umbrella of the United States in the period from 2-3 to 2000.
These confessions came from the researcher at the Middle East Institute in Washington, Robert Ford, who pointed out that the Americans put pressure on Nuri al-Maliki to take over the position of Prime Minister in the year 2006 and then again in the year 2000 and committed two major strategic mistakes. The first is to deal naively about the problem of the armed factions, and the other lies By giving these factions and their allies from the political parties more resources, he said.
Ford added that the Americans focused their efforts on completely eradicating al-Qaeda from Iraq, not completely eliminating the factions, as the Americans sought after the destruction of ISIS only and accepted tactical alliances with militias in the cause of destroying this organization.
The American official concluded by saying that the rampant corruption in the Iraqi state and the resulting failure to rebuild infrastructure such as electricity and water networks, and the existence of the political system itself threaten the Iraqis, expressing his hope that they will find a peaceful way out of the current crisis for which the Americans have no answer. LINK
An American Official Talks About The Beginning Of The End Of The Political System In Iraq: This Is Our Fault
Shafaq News / The former US ambassador to Syria and Algeria, researcher at the Middle East Institute in Washington, Robert Ford, said on Wednesday that the current political crisis in Baghdad constitutes “the beginning of the end of the Iraqi political system”, which was established under the umbrella of the United States in the period 2003 – 2011.
Ford said, in an article published by the Saudi “Middle East” website, that “the Americans did not write the Iraqi constitution, but the Iraqis themselves, but the Americans insisted that the Iraqis finish drafting the constitution according to a timetable set by the authority of the civil ruler led by Paul Bremer, despite The time was not realistic.
He added that “the Americans also did not allow the formulation of the (quota) system that allows Iraqi political parties to exploit control over ministries for money and jobs, and the Iraqi political parties are the ones who established this system, but the Americans put pressure on those political parties to build coalition governments that encouraged establishing a quota system.
Ford pointed out that “the Americans put pressure on (Nuri al-Maliki) to take over the position of prime minister in 2006, and then again in 2010,” pointing out that the most important thing, is that “the Americans committed two major strategic mistakes in the early years of the new Iraqi regime, The first is to be naive about the militia problem.”
He continued, “In September 2003, when I was representing Paul Bremer in Najaf, he (Badr Corps) arrested me at gunpoint for four hours before releasing me, so when I worked at the US Embassy since 2004, I knew the militias’ danger to security and stability. in Iraq”.
Ford noted, “The Americans focused their efforts on completely eradicating al-Qaeda from Iraq, not completely eliminating the various Iraqi militias, and therefore, while the Americans were fighting (the Mahdi Army) led by Muqtada al-Sadr, they welcomed the militia members, whether from Anbar or Salah al-Din, Hilla, Sadr City, or Basra, to join the political process, and encouraged them to join political parties or form parties and compete in elections.
He added, “Our thinking was naive, as we thought that the militia leaders would give up their weapons and would only work in Parliament and with the Council of Ministers, to secure projects for their communities, but the militias kept their weapons, and the Iraqi government did not make any meaningful effort to disarm them.”
He stressed that “the Americans accepted the matter, because they did not want to face a broader war or a longer period of time,” adding: “After the return of American forces to Iraq in 2014, the Americans sought to destroy (ISIS) only, and accepted tactical alliances with militias loyal to Iran in the issue of destroying ISIS.” this organization.”
He added, “There is no doubt that Iran played a dirty game in those years, but the Americans also bear some responsibility for the spread of militias, which are now working to undermine stability and storm the political process in Iraq.”
Ford indicated, “The second strategic mistake the United States made in Iraq lies in giving the militias and their allies from the political parties more resources. We had a superficial understanding of corruption in the new Iraqi republic, so that the Americans tried to strengthen institutions to combat corruption, such as (the Integrity Commission).” and the creation of general inspectors in the various ministries.
He explained that “the US embassy knew in 2007 that the office of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was interfering with the work of the (Integrity Commission) in relation to the appointment of employees, and also interfering in corruption investigations. Commission of Integrity) to resign in 2007, but despite this, the United States, which was focused entirely on immediate political crises, and not on the growing long-term problem of corruption, did not intervene.
Ford concluded, “Now, in 2022, endemic corruption in the Iraqi state, and the resulting failure to rebuild infrastructure such as electricity and water networks, threatens the very existence of the political system.”
He concluded his speech by noting that “these short-sighted failures regarding militias and corruption in Iraq 10 or 15 years ago are due to those who overestimate the capabilities of the United States, expressing his hope that the Iraqis will find a “peaceful exit from the current crisis, for which the Americans do not have any Answer”. LINK
Leader In The Framework: Al-Hakim’s Visit To Saudi Arabia To Request Intervention In The Iraqi Political Crisis
Shafaq News/ The leader in the coordination framework, Aid Al-Hilali, confirmed today, Thursday, that the visit of the leader of the Al-Hikma Movement, Ammar Al-Hakim, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is related to the current Iraqi political crisis.
Media close to the Al-Hikma stream circulated that Al-Hakim’s visit had nothing to do with the political crisis, and came in accordance with a Saudi invitation to visit the Shiites of Qatif and defend the children of Yemen.
Al-Hilali told Shafaq News Agency, “The leader of the Wisdom Movement, Ammar al-Hakim, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is related to the current Iraqi political crisis, and perhaps during this visit, a Saudi mediation will be requested to resolve the dispute between the framework and al-Sadr, especially since Saudi Arabia has a good relationship with the Sadrist movement and it is possible To play a role in resolving differences and bringing points of view closer.”
Earlier on Thursday, Saleh Muhammad al-Iraqi, the so-called “minister of the leader” who is close to the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, harshly criticized al-Hakim’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
Al-Iraqi pointed out that “it is remarkable that one of them went to (the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) a few hours after the end of the dialogue session.
And Ayed Al-Hilali told Shafak News Agency; That “Saudi Arabia, today, is different from Saudi Arabia in the past, and therefore it is possible to have a positive role in resolving the political crisis in Iraq, and to be a guarantor for the implementation of any political agreement between the leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada al-Sadr and the forces of the coordination framework, and the next few days, will reveal The results of al-Hakim’s visit to Saudi Arabia, through the developments of the Iraqi scene.
The leader of the Wisdom Movement, Ammar al-Hakim, one of the poles of the coordination framework, arrived early Thursday in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi media reported that Deputy Foreign Minister Walid bin Abdul Karim Al-Khuraiji received Al-Hakim at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
And private political sources told Shafak News Agency; Yesterday, Al-Hakim will visit Saudi Arabia, to hold talks with the Kingdom’s leaders.
In response to this, a diplomatic source at the Saudi Embassy in Iraq said in an interview with Shafaq News Agency; The reason for the visit is the desire of the coordinating framework to enter the Kingdom as a mediator between him and Muqtada al-Sadr.
The Saudi diplomat, who asked not to be mentioned because he was not authorized to make a statement, suggested that the political leadership in the kingdom will not involve itself in the internal Iraqi affairs and will not support one party against another, but it will not object to any Iraqi delegation visiting the kingdom.
And about the beginning of Al-Hakim’s communication with Saudi Arabia and expressing his desire to visit; The Saudi diplomat said; Al-Hakim communicated 10 days ago with a Saudi diplomat in Erbil, and informed him that he intends to visit Riyadh regarding the political crisis and Sadr’s recent moves. LINK
America Appoints A New Consul In The Kurdistan Region Of Iraq
Shafaq News/ The Consulate General of the United States in Erbil Governorate, the capital of Kurdistan Region, announced on Thursday the appointment of Ervin Hicks Jr. as a new consul, to succeed Robert Palladino, whose duties ended last July.
The embassy said in a statement today, that Hicks Jr. will join the US Consulate General Erbil, Iraq in August 2022.
The new Consul served as Senior Adviser to the Bureau of International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Affairs, Chief Negotiator with the Office of Political and Military Affairs for Security Negotiations and Agreements, and Foreign Policy Adviser to the Djibouti-based Joint Task Force on the Horn of Africa.
A second-generation professional member of the Senior Diplomatic Corps, Mr. Hicks also served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
His assignments in Washington, D.C. include the Office of Management Policy, Scaling and Innovation and an itinerant management advisor where he supported US missions in West Africa involved in the fight against the Ebola pandemic.
Prior to joining the State Department, Hicks worked for several nongovernmental agencies including the African American Institute, Entrepreneurs International, and the US-South African Leadership Exchange Program.
He was also CEO of General Motors’ Africa and Middle East operations. Additional assignments with the State Department include Guinea, Nigeria, Brazil, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Mauritius and Burundi.
Hicks earned his undergraduate degree from George Washington University, majoring in international affairs and African studies. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and a Master of Arts degree in National Security Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
Hicks is fluent in French, and has also studied Portuguese, German, Arabic, Chinese and Amharic. He is the first recipient of the Department’s 2021 Edward J. Perkins Award for Senior Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion. He is also the recipient of two Meritorious Service Increases, two Senior Honors Awards, the ICASS Distinguished Management Award for Leadership and several awards of merit.
He has also received Department of Defense awards that include the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the Joint Civil Service Award and the Joint Civil Service Commendation Award. LINK
Saleh: The Continuation Of The Status Quo In Iraq Is Unacceptable
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, the President of the Iraqi Republic, Barham Salih, considered the continuation of the current political crisis that the country is going through as “unacceptable”, stressing the need to develop a road map to overcome this crisis.
This came during his meeting at the Peace Palace in Baghdad, a group of heads and representatives of Iraqi unions and federations, where they discussed the developments of the situation in the country, according to a presidential statement.
Saleh stressed the need to rely on dialogue and convergence for a quick solution to the existing political crisis, and that the dialogue should be based on the priority of securing the rights of citizens to a free and dignified life, moving towards political reform and protecting civil peace, and setting a clear roadmap and solutions that protect the supreme national interest, reassure citizens and meet their needs.
The statement quoted the President of the Republic as saying that the continuation of the status quo is unacceptable, and failures must be overcome and the popular will and democracy respected, noting that respecting the will of the Iraqis is the basis for getting out of the crisis and overcoming the political blockage. LINK
Allawi’s Coalition “Surprised” By Al-Kazemi’s Meeting: He Missed An Opportunity To Get Out Of The Crisis
Shafaq News/ The “Nationalism” coalition led by Iyad Allawi expressed, on Thursday, his regret for not inviting him and other political forces to the national dialogue meeting sponsored by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi yesterday, and said that he was “surprised” about that, while noting that the meeting did not come out with practical results at the level of The seriousness of the stage did not miss an “opportunity to get out of the crisis.”
This came in a statement issued by the National Coalition, today, on the results of the national dialogue, which was reported to Shafak News Agency, explaining that its leader, Iyad Allawi, “has proposed, since the beginning of the political and constitutional crisis and the escalation of differences between the parties to the political process, which resulted from the unfavorable early elections, an integrated initiative. For a comprehensive national dialogue, it calls on all political, social, professional, youth and Tishreen revolutionaries to come out with a unified national vision to avoid the Iraqi people from the dangers they face internally and externally.
He added, “With the increase in the pace of conflicts and the division that reached the mobilization of the street and the disruption of the work of the three authorities, the National Coalition was surprised to hold a limited political meeting quickly at the invitation of the Prime Minister, which was limited to some blocs represented in the House of Representatives and the government,” pointing out that this meeting “” He excluded the majority of the national political, social and professional parties and representatives of the demonstrations from the Tishreen revolutionaries.
He explained that “at the forefront of those parties that were not invited to the meeting is the National Coalition, which was the first to call for dialogue, as well as the Iraqi Communist Party, independent parliamentary blocs, most patriotic and democratic figures, unions, unions, clan elders and university professors,”
stressing that this matter “had direct effects on The fragile results that came out of the meeting, which was devoid of any practical decisions affecting the course of the current escalating crisis, were only theoretical statements that did not touch the root of the problem and the solutions that should be the goal of every true national dialogue.
He continued, “It is an expected result given the limited parties to the dialogue and the urgency to hold it without adequate preparation, which affected the parties’ ability to take decisive and responsible decisions and make mutual concessions on common national ground imposed by the gravity of the stage and the reasons for preserving national unity.”
According to the statement, the National Coalition “regrets that yesterday’s meeting did not come out with practical results at the level of the seriousness of the stage, which missed an opportunity to get out of the crisis,” and regrets “for not inviting it and the other national and popular forces to meet.”
He stressed that the coalition “reiterates its call for a comprehensive national dialogue that does not exclude or exclude anyone,” stressing that it is “the only peaceful way left to get out of the political and constitutional crisis and the impasse of the continued failure to resolve it, and the dangers of this on the lives of citizens and their decent livelihoods, and the proper functioning of the administration and services of the Iraqi state.” which has reached the level of a failed state. LINK
