Iraq is a trump card in Russia's Middle East policy
With regard to Iraq, the current president’s rival argued like George W. Bush, who, according to his own assurances, “was commanded by the Lord” to attack this country. But since Bush’s time, much has changed. Obama reminded Romney that now is not 2003, but 2012 a year. is he сказал:
Most interestingly, Romney is not so mistaken. He is generally quite consistent in his foreign policy statements - except for the change of America’s main enemy from Russia to Al-Qaida plus Iran. Vietnamese veteran Senator McCain, who thinks much brighter than Mitt Romney in the categories of the Cold War, not so long ago сказалthat America’s mistake was the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan after the departure of the Soviet contingent:
Mitt Romney admits the same thought regarding Iraq.
A holy place is never empty, and Russia is trying to fill some geopolitical emptiness that has arisen in Baghdad. Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki is contributing to a solid partnership with Moscow.
Until now, the attention of the press is riveted on the arms deal between Iraq and Russia. Two weeks ago, Nuri al-Maliki visited Moscow, and the media learnedthat we are talking about several contracts, the largest of which are contracts for the supply of 30 (or 36) attack helicopters MI-28HE and 42 (or 48) ZRPK 96K6 "Armor-C1". Iraq decided to buy weapons and military equipment from Russia for 4,2 billion dollars (and maybe all 5). The newest contracts can lead Russia to 2-e place in the list of suppliers of weapons to Iraq. The US remains the first: they have 467 contracts worth 12,3 billion dollars.
Analysts commented differently on the situation. There were opinions that Iraq decided to put America in its place and declare an independent policy. Other experts on the Middle East reacted to this more simply: Baghdad, they say, is simply looking for cheaper weapons, the US is too expensive, and the Russian people are more accustomed to the Iraqis.
Al-Maliki decided to clarify the situation. is he saidthat Washington will not be able to block the contract for the purchase of Russian weapons signed by Baghdad:
Washington in the person of vice president and head of the Pentagon made it clear Iraq, which is somehow not human: to re-arm its army without the consent of the Pentagon.
However, Baghdad stepped up military-trade cooperation with Moscow after the head of the Senate’s international affairs committee, J. Kerry said, that it is necessary to stop the supply of American weapons to Iraq - because of the refusal of Baghdad to intercept an Iranian aircraft with military cargo en route to Syria.
That is, the Americans are to some extent to blame. To uphold “American values” is one thing, and doing business is another. If the first interferes with the second, you need to think and make a smart choice. They did it before. And Kerry for some reason blundered: put "values" ahead of profit. First he said, then he thought. And the profit is about to go to Russia.
Of course, there is an opinion that the map of al-Maliki and V. Putin will be beaten.
For example, Orientalist Bulat Nuriev (Echo of Moscow) announces al-Maliki’s short-sighted plans:
It is difficult to agree with this statement: too much evidence to the contrary.
Earlier, a similar Kurdish opinion was expressed in the Iraqi parliament, which, by the way, has not yet approved arms deals. Some members of parliament count them.that, armed to the teeth, al-Maliki will ignite the flames of the internal conflict in Iraq (obviously, will speak out against the Kurds), finally become friends with Iran, help Syria and complicate the country's relations with Turkey.
Iraqi Kurds were excited about the arms contract with Russia. They believe that Russian weapons will be used against them. Attack helicopters, for example. But Iraqi President D. Talabani said that the country is arming itself in case of a possible conflict with the Turks. Of course, the Kurds' personal business is to believe it or not, but al-Maliki would hardly have started two games in the current foreign policy situation: against the Kurds and against the Turks. After all, if so against the Turks, then at the same time with the Kurds. Premier takes into account the balance of power in the region and buys weapons. By the way, in addition to Russia and the United States, he also buys planes from the Czech Republic - for a billion.
But B. Nuriev makes another conclusion:
Atlantic project? Fully dependent? On this thrown out Al-Maliki himself:
For the “patrimony”, the Americans felt hurt, but there was nothing to object to. Didn’t they build democracy in Iraq for eight years?
Didn’t they stuffed Iraq with lead in such a way that now almost all of the newly born children are incurably sick, and for decades will be born boys and girls with congenital heart defects, with functional disorders of brain activity, with disfigured limbs? Isn’t the American military responsible for the misfortune of the Iraqi people because of air pollution from lead and mercury vapor? Scientists have proved a direct link between such anomalies as mass miscarriages and congenital malformations, and the intervention of coalition forces led by the United States to Iraq. The results of the investigations agree on one thing - the detrimental effect on human health. rendered the use of American weapons:
During pregnancy, lead, deposited in the mother's body, enters the infant's bone tissue. There is exactly the same level of lead in the blood of an embryo as in the blood of a woman in labor ...
The impact of mercury affects the brain, kidneys, detrimental effect on the development of the embryo. In Iraq, air, water and land are supersaturated with mercury and lead vapors - the consequences of a military invasion using modern weapons technology. ”
The war almost destroyed the Iraqi nation. It is not surprising that Comrade Al-Maliki, as soon as such an opportunity presented itself, as soon as the Russians showed proper interest, turned away from the American path.
According to Mr. Nuriev, Moscow is short-sighted, but the neo-osmanist R. T. Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister, “is achieving yet another success.” The orientalist believes that Turkish Kurds not only do not see the former threat in Ankara’s face, but the prime minister even enlisted their support - and therefore “feels confident in the international arena.” So confidently that "neo-Ottomanism as a new Turkish ideology has its own perspectives".
What are these prospects? The unification of the Kurdish Workers Party with the Kurdish army in Syria, the creation of which President Assad recently gave the go-ahead — what nearly shocked Erdogan? .. Turkey, despite the policy of “zero problems with its neighbors” long ago proclaimed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs A. Davutoglu, has no neighbors with which there would be no problems now.
The course of neo-Ottomanism, which the “moderate Islamist” R. T. Erdogan adheres to, cannot be realized by Turkey. So считает the chief editor of Russia in Global Politics, Fedor Lukyanov, who recently visited Istanbul at a congress dedicated to the security issues of the Black Sea and Caucasus regions, where, in addition to the main topic, they also spoke about Syria. He said:
There is no Turkish government and former authority inside the country. Neither Erdogan nor Davutoglu supports the people.
October 21 in Hatay Province, Syria Passed action "No to imperialist interference in the affairs of Syria." On the eve, October 20, the united Turkish public organizations - the Confederation of Labor Unions of Revolutionary Workers, the Confederation of Civil Service Workers' Unions, the Federation of Engineers and Architects of Turkey, the Federation of Turkish Doctors - also held a protest in Ankara. They opposed the Justice and Development Party, led by Erdogan, the policy towards Syria, as well as its economic consequences. The Secretary General of the Confederation of Civil Service Unions of Turkey, Ismail Hakki Tombul, read an appeal to the press:
Erdogan is not independent in foreign policy, he relies on the United States, NATO, the UN Security Council in everything. Only an insult to the leisurely "allies" can explain the recent statements R.T. Erdogan at the World Istanbul Forum - about the necessary UN reform, where "what the five permanent members of the Security Council say is happening", and that, they say, Western countries are no longer the only center in the modern world. True, it is not clear why this lord neo-osmanist Erdogan periodically calls on Western countries to help the Syrian democracy - despite the apparent shift of the center of the world towards the Turkic peoples?
There are no prospects for "neo-Ottomanism."
Ankara, which is clearly not supported by either NATO or the United States, who refuse to openly intervene in the border conflict between Turkey and Syria, will probably soon have to abandon ambitious claims to regional hegemony. Prime Minister Erdogan not only failed to achieve success in neo-Ottomanism, but rather lost a political face on his aspirations. By encouraging “opposition” in Syria, he kindles the flames of war there - which has a devastating effect on the Turkish economy. One hundred thousand Syrian refugees who crossed the border of Turkey are a serious burden for the Turkish budget.
As for the intra-Iraqi Kurdish question, B. Nuriev could answer it. Iraqi Kurdistan’s head Masud Barzani, who - just like al-Maliki - strongly condemns Turkey’s economic and political plans in the region.
However, the in the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet Daily News expressed by opposite opinion:
From here, the journalist concludes: in Iraq there will be a power struggle.
The Kurdish question, according to the author, can change the map of the Middle East. If relations between Turks and Kurds become complicated, if the conflict spills over the country's borders, and Kurds from Syria and Iraq take part in it, then Kurdistan can stretch to the Mediterranean - through Iraq and Syria. Here the author is careful and writes that, probably, Russia, Iran and Iraq will try to prevent this.
Resource Analyst News Al-Iraq Ayad al-Samarrai считает that Iraqi leaders, along with Russians and Iranians, are going to help Syria. It was for the aid of Syria that the contract for the supply of arms was concluded in Moscow. Thus, the journalist believes, we observe emerging alliance: Russia + Iran + Iraq + Syria and even + Lebanese Hezbollah. Al-Maliki’s visit to Moscow is called “historical” by the author of the article.
Why is this happening? The analyst points out: Al-Assad's “regime” in Syria is “on the verge of collapse,” the Iranian economy is “lurching under the weight of sanctions,” which causes inflation, and therefore Moscow and Tehran are thinking about a plan to save Syria and Iran. Their joint idea is to use Iraq for this. For this Moscow
All this became clear to the author after a series of visits. First, high-ranking Iranian security officers recently visited Iraq. Secondly, Prime Minister al-Maliki flew to Russia (“in search of a new formula for security cooperation”). Third, Al-Maliki’s Moscow visit was preceded by a visit to Iraqi Kurdistan by Commander Qods (special forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps), Brigadier General Kassem Suleymani, during which he met with President Talabani and his assistants - in order to understand whether they agree they cooperate with Tehran to preserve the Assad government in Syria. Earlier, Suleymani visited Ankara and Damascus. And after him, Iran’s Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi arrived in Baghdad. Finally, there is evidence that Iranian President Ahmadinejad plans to visit Baghdad.
Hence the conclusion: given that the United States is seeking to overthrow all the allies of al-Maliki, they will soon abandon him. Iraq, which has made friends with America’s “traditional” enemy, Russia, will again become one of America’s opponents. There is a high probability that Washington will take steps to replace al-Maliki in the very near future. Probably internal Iraqi levers will be used for this, since the prime minister is an undesirable figure for many local political blocs.
It has been argued that during the six years of Al-Maliki’s rule, he did not improve security in the country, that when it spread corruption. It is also bad that he does not approve of Turkey’s policy, and because of this “the drums of war are rattling louder and louder”. As a result, Iraq "may again become a victim."
The journalist advises the prime minister to first make peace with his own people, and then be friends with "outsiders."
Iraqi Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr also subjected to harsh criticism of the Russian-Iraqi arms supply treaties to Iraq. Al-Sadr said that this is contrary to the national aspirations of the Iraqi people and in general waste of money. According to Muqtada al-Sadr, the agreements on the supply of Russian weapons to Iraq will exacerbate contradictions within the country.
Meanwhile, many Iraqi Kurds (see edition "The Kurdish Globe", the author notes - Salih Valadbadzhi) have a different opinion. Hassan Jihad, a member of the Kurdish Defense and Security Committee of the Iraqi National Assembly, told the Kurdish media that The agreement between the Ministry of Peshmarga of Kurdistan and the Iraqi Ministry of Defense will benefit the Kurds: they will be given a share of the armaments from the supplies that the Iraqi central government plans to acquire under agreements with Russia and the Czech Republic.
Thus, let us add on our own, as if the Turks did not want to see Barzani from al-Maliki separately, in this case the principle of “divide and rule” does not work.
According to Comrade Jihad, the main motive for purchasing weapons is equipping the Iraqi army and improving security in the country. The only intelligible argument that some Kurds object to al-Maliki is that such an urgent deal to acquire heavy weapons is not justified. It is here that other political commentators see a threat to the Kurds of Iraq.
The Iraqi government establishes anti-aircraft missile and radar systems in order to effectively combat the Turkish violators of Iraq’s air border - just against the Kurds, including those in the Kurdish Workers Party, which in Turkey is considered a terrorist organization.
Some Kurds, who wished to remain anonymous, say that the country's current armament reminds them of the time of Saddam’s rule.
An unnamed Iraqi source also reported that It is planned to send about 12000 American soldiers to Iraq. These military personnel will join roughly 4000 soldiers still serving in Iraq after the withdrawal of US troops in 2011.
88-year-old Jimmy Carter, former US president, recently visited Iraq. Today notes that in connection with this, Pentagon’s press secretary George Little said: During his visit, Carter emphasized the role of Iraq in ensuring regional stability.
Maybe “stability” J. Little saw in Iraq’s desire to acquire F-16 from America and Tanks.
Other columnists see in this purchase the observance of the defense interests of Shiite Iraq: eighteen US F-16, purchased in an expedited manner, will be the "Shiite shield" of Iraq. Posted by in Townhall Finance believes that these planes will help create a "shield of Shiite Islam" in Iraq.
As for Moscow, it is trying to regain its traditional strong role in the Middle East. So says journalist Anna Nemtsova ("The Daily Beast", source of abbreviated translation - "Inopressa").
In her opinion to restore its influence in the Middle East, the Kremlin resorts to traditional means: contracts for the purchase of oil and the supply of arms. Anna Nemtsova writes:
Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Moscow Center for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, says:
Thus, it is a convenient time for the return of influence in Baghdad. A holy place is really never empty.
Iraq, the journalist writes, needs Russian investments: after all, the damage caused to the Iraqi infrastructure during the war is estimated at 800 billion dollars.
And for Russia, it is important not only military-trade cooperation, but also the development of Iraqi oil fields: this is a sure way to secure its industrial future in Iraq.
Two Russian oil companies are currently working in Iraq. Perhaps one of them, LUKoil, will acquire from the American Exxon its West Qurna-1 project.
On the Iraqi oil issue had to speak and such a connoisseur of the resource issue, as Hillary Clinton. Speaking at Georgetown University, US Secretary of State saidthat she is not worried about Russia becoming the largest oil producer in Iraq, because ultimately oil produced by Russian companies is supplied to the world market and becomes available to all participants.
Well, well ... When there is nothing to say, a trump card of universal love comes out of the sleeve. Russian companies? That is the will of the Iraqi people, consecrated by the American values of fraternity and democracy.
In fact, Hillary bites her elbows. In America, firstly, scary puzzled by the fact that the current government of Iraq is doing the same thing that the “regime” of Saddam was doing — that is, buying weapons from Russia. Secondly, the State Department must be very angry because of the fact that Iraq since May delivers Syria’s oil and petroleum products are not only against US and EU pressure, but also on preferential terms. And in Syria, the State Department in the face of Hillary Clinton is in one position: "Assad must leave." But the cooperation of Iraq, Iran, Russia and Syria — along with the international stubbornness of Comrades Lavrov and Churkin — makes this departure an almost fantastic prospect.
Former Senior Pentagon Security Analyst Michael Maloof rights: Hussein was overthrown, but Baghdad turned to face Moscow.
We see another example of how the American boomerang hits its senders on the forehead. For eight years, Washington’s envoys fought for Iraq, stuffed Iraq with Iraq, and air and water for mercury. More 800 billion dollars was spent on this war. Four and a half thousand soldiers who fought under the star-striped flag, found their death here. And all this in order for al-Maliki to decide that LUKoil and Gazpromneft are preferable to Exxon? Then, so that Baghdad bluntly declares the inadmissibility of the “patrimony” overseas owner? Then, that Iraq began to buy weapons from Russia - as in the time of Saddam Hussein? Finally, then, in the Middle East, an invincible Shiite trio from Iraq, Iran and Syria? Truly, Barak Huseynovich Obamkin - an agent of the Kremlin. And the agent is brilliant.
- especially for topwar.ru
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