Denis Korkodinov – Interview with Adel Mohsin Mousa al-Abboodi
The assassination of Kassem Soleimani caused a new wave of Iraqi protests. Supporters of the “hard line”, among which the leader of the “Mahdi Army”, Sheikh Muktad al-Sadr, plays an active role, demand the complete withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. In response, Washington threatens to divide Iraq into provinces and step up the Islamic State in order to maintain its military presence in the region.
The situation is complicated by the fact that official Baghdad, it would seem, is completely paralyzed, because it is not able to neutralize popular anger and soften the militaristic rhetoric of the United States. Meanwhile, the conflict in Iraq seems to be on the home stretch, because on January 24, 2020 during the “Resistance March” planned on Tahrir Square, it will be finally decided: will the American troops be withdrawn voluntarily or they may be expelled by force.
Especially for World Geostrategic Insights, we talked about this with Iraqi pro-government journalist and writer, Adel Mohsin Mousa al-Abboodi.
1. On January 14, 2020, in the Iranian city of Quma, a meeting of leaders of Iraqi political groups followed the goal of expelling the US armed forces from Iraq. The meeting was attended by the leader of the Mahdi Army, Muktad al-Sadr, as well as representatives of Asaib Ahl al-Haqq, the Sayyid al-Shud Brigade, as well as Saray al-Salam. The participants in the meeting agreed to develop a common plan of action between the Khashd al-Shaabi forces to expel US forces from Iraq. In this regard, is a military action possible between the Iraqi militia and the US military in Iraq? What methods of influence on the US can Hashd al-Shaabi use? Is it likely that Washington will attempt to put pressure on Iraqi President Barham Saleh to block the initiative to withdraw US troops from Iraq?
ADEL MOHSIN MOUSA AL-ABBOODI – The move taken by Sheikh Muktad al-Sadr to participate in an international resistance conference was preceded by an official statement in response to US provocations in Iraq and the assassination of General Kassem Soleimani. For many experts in the United States, such a statement by Muktada al-Sadr was a shock, since Washington proceeded from the view that ordinary Iraqis would not support the initiative to withdraw American troops. Moreover, the White House administration considered supporters of exile agents of Iran, which is completely untrue. The United States was opposed by ordinary citizens who were born and lived all their lives in Iraq. They have never been agents of any country. But they united after the fatwa of the Great Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, in which he called to resist American influence. Sheikh Muktad al-Sadr and his supporters supported this call.
This step gave a massive social impetus, gathering all the colors of the Iraqi spectrum under its banner. In turn, such a move was a definite signal to the White House administration and personally to US President Donald Trump, who was challenged.
Meanwhile, if Washington refuses to leave Iraq, it will be fully responsible for the safety of American troops in Iraq who are likely to return home in coffins, as was the case in 2004, when Muktada al-Sadr organized resistance to the U.S. forces. And this time, after the assassination of Kassem Soleimani and his comrades, Iraqi society is very motivated to expel all Americans from Mesopotamia.
A military option is not ruled out and may be called up in response to the White Hous administration’s refusal to withdraw its forces from Iraq.
According to some media reports, as well as some political and security analyzes, the United States plans to increase pressure on the Iraqi government in various ways: through an economic blockade and intimidation of people by hunger and murder. In addition, Washington is already resorting to direct threats of the assassination of the Acting Prime Minister of Iraq, Adil Abdul-Mahdi.
On January 13, 2020, Iraqi intelligence reports provided information about an impending terrorist attack in Baghdad and other areas of Iraq, including the Al-Karrad area and Al-Firdousi Square. Bombs were being prepared here, which were supposed to lead to the assassination of Adil Abdul-Mahdi. The organizers of this planned terrorist attack were successfully neutralized.
Many media outlets artificially aggravate the situation in Iraq and create the basis for a revolution. Every day they talk about the difficulties Iraq will face if American troops are withdrawn from it. In addition, they provoke unrest, give direct instructions to the participants in the protests, and finance some of them.
2. King Abdullah II of Jordan, in a recent interview with French journalists, explicitly called on the international community to intervene in the internal affairs of Iraq in order to eliminate the resurgent Islamic State. Moreover, the words of the Iranian monarch are quite ambiguous. On the one hand, he actually called on the United States, Israel, Russia, and China, as leading players in the Middle East, to intervene in the internal affairs of Iraq, despite the fact that Baghdad has not formally applied to any of the countries for military assistance. Such words can be described as a direct call for military intervention in Iraq. And given the fact that the daughter of Saddam Hussein Ragad currently lives in Jordan under the protection of the king, the call of Abdullah II about the need for foreign intervention in Iraq is worth considering as a call against the current authorities of official Baghdad. Nevertheless, the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq, as in Syria, is of global importance. Therefore, the international community cannot ignore the words of the Jordanian monarch, who formally advocates the elimination of ISIS. How do you think it is worth interpreting the words of the King of Jordan Abdullah II? Is Abdullah II really aiming to eliminate ISIS in Iraq, or is he interested in reviving the regime of Saddam Hussein? Does official Baghdad agree to the military presence of the countries of the international community in Iraq? What is the difference between the influence of the “Islamic state” in Iraq and the influence of a terrorist group in Syria?
ADEL MOHSIN MOUSA AL-ABBOODI – Jordanian King Abdullah II’s statement is not without intent to enter and intervene in Iraqi affairs in the sense that Iraq’s stability affects the security of the entire region. Consequently, the situation in Iraq politically serves the interests of Jordan due to its geographical proximity to Iraq.
It is worth noting that Jordan refused to resettle the Palestinians in the Jordan Valley, which angered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and also served as the basis for Tel Aviv’s demand for the inclusion of the Jordan Valley in Israel. This was part of the “deal of the century”, which requires the removal of land from Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and other countries.
The truth is that Abdullah II does not directly call on the international community, especially Israel and the United States, to destroy ISIS. The call of the Jordanian king was most likely addressed exclusively to Russia and China, which have their own interests in Iraq.
Meanwhile, in Iraqi society, any attempts of foreign interference in the affairs of Baghdad are categorically rejected, because, using the example of the USA and Israel, we have repeatedly been convinced of what results this can lead to. For this reason, the call of the King of Jordan is unlikely to find followers among ordinary Iraqis.
Similar scenarios of international intervention are being implemented in the Iraqi and Syrian fields. However, the situation is distinguished by the fact that if it were not for the participation of Russia and Iran in Syria, this country would have ceased to exist and would have disappeared from the world map forever. The situation in Iraq is the opposite: thanks to the intervention of Washington and Tel Aviv, our state will become a part of history. And in order to avoid this, we pray that Russia, Iran and China will save us and our country.
The role of terrorist groups and ISIS, in particular in Syria and Iraq, is a functional role in the fourth generation wars, mobile armies, which create the basis for an alternative political reality based on mass terror. However, the situation in the region has changed dramatically. And now ISIS is going through the last days of its existence. However, some international players are trying to revive the Islamic State in order to put pressure on existing political regimes.
3. Washington is preparing a possible reduction in military assistance to Iraq by $ 250 million if the government expels US troops. In addition, the White House administration intends to block all of Iraq’s bank accounts with US banks totaling more than $ 500 billion. How will this affect the Iraqi economy? Does Iraq have alternative sources of investment if the US implements a set of sanctions? Which countries are currently helping Iraq, given that Iran’s capabilities are limited after the crash of the Ukrainian airliner and intensified protest movement?
ADEL MOHSIN MOUSA AL-ABBOODI – International reports indicate that the Iraqi economy will not be significantly affected if Washington imposes economic sanctions, especially in light of the willingness of Russia and China to support the Iraqi market.
There is also the misconception that if the United States imposes sanctions on the Iraq Development Fund, where Baghdad directs its money from oil sales, international lenders will reset the balance. It is not true. Iraq, like any other country, is a member of the deposit insurance program. Iraqi money held in foreign banks cannot just be blocked. And if suddenly problems arise with some accounts, then the money is not lost, but transferred to the insurance fund, from where the payments are made.
Russia and China will be present not only in the economic, but also in the military dimension of Iraq. And we believe Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia is not afraid of any U.S. sanctions in connection with the supply of S-300 missile system to Iraq. As for China, we have a Chinese agreement that was activated a few days before the protests. The first batch of Iraqi oil in the amount of 100,000 barrels has already been delivered to China. And we continue successful cooperation.
The agreement with Beijing is currently valued at $ 500 billion for a period of 20 years. This will inevitably be a serious and loud blow to the United States in the Middle East.
Russia will play a major role in Iraq and Syria, along with China, which has become a complex figure in the equation of the global economy.
4. The protests in Iraq received an additional impetus after the killing of Kassem Soleimani and the crash of the Ukrainian airliner. This indicates that the protest movement will develop over a long period of time. Is there a chance that protests in Iraq could lead to a revolution? How fair is it now to claim that the Iraqi leadership controls the situation in the country?
ADEL MOHSIN MOUSA AL-ABBOODI – Protests in Iraq will begin to fade, according to new foreign intelligence, especially after the assassination of Kassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
At present, the entire structure of the protest movement has been established by Iraqi intelligence agencies and work is underway to neutralize all the leaders and investors of the protest. In addition, Iraqi intelligence agencies have many questions for the President of the Royal Group in the United Arab Emirates, the head of the Abu Dhabi Investment Fund, Sheikh Tahnun bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who provided financial support to the organizers of the protests in Iraq.
Talking about the Iraq revolution is no longer necessary, especially since we live in a world in which there will no longer be American domination and where the peoples choose the right to self-determination. In the end, the American occupation of our land will unite us to stand up for state interests.
Image Credit: AP