Trump’s leadership threatens to close the U. S. embassy in Iraq and has initiated serious internal discussions about how to move its diplomatic presence from Baghdad to Amman, Jordan, or the Kurdish city of Erbil in northern Iraq. It is also imaginable that some staff members would possibly be transferred to Iraq’s Anbar province.
The risk of abandoning one of the world’s largest and most beloved U. S. diplomatic missions has led U. S. allies to consider that the move could destabilize the young Iraqi government led by new Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
Others are concerned that the United States may create situations for a possible army attack on Shiite militias connected to Iran, supposedly connected to rocket attacks.
The United States does not believe that Iran is seeking a confrontation before the November 3 elections, but the threat of action through its agents remains a constant concern.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has imposed situations on Iraqis that require them to strengthen security around U. S. military and diplomatic facilities and avoid allowing rocket attacks through Shiite defense forces, which threaten the U. S. military and the diplomatic corps of workers in Iraq. America’s allies have been able to do so. But it’s not the first time And Europe has observed that Shiite defence forces are no longer under the same kind of transparent command and disposition that were previously under the command of the Al Quds Qassem Suleimani force, which was in Baghdad in January. who also claimed the life of Iraqi defense force leader Abu Mahdi al Muhandis.
The justification for the risk of withdrawing diplomats leaving a U. S. army footprint of approximately 3,000 U. S. soldiers would be part of the risk posed by rocket attacks through Iranian-linked militias. But the United States and Iran are fighting over their influence in Iraq. and the sudden departure of U. S. diplomats from their posts in Iraq could, at first glance, be perceived as a victory for Tehran.
Unless an immediate risk arises that could cause an emergency exit, such as the death of an American, plans at this level remain initial and will be implemented before the U. S. election. As one U. S. official said, “if we have to leave, we’ll have to pay. “
Two high-level diplomatic resources showed CBS News that express demands come with strengthening security at Baghdad airport and eliminating any Kata’ib Hezbollah affiliates from the Internal Green Zone, the Baghdad Protected Area where the Iraqi government and foreign entities add to the US. But it’s not the first time In addition, the United States needs the thousands of Shiite fighters from the People’s Mobilization Units (MPIs) who stand firm before Iraqi Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani to join the iraqi official army. The first loyalty of these fighters is believed to be in Iraq and not Iran.
The top direct message from the United States is simply that Baghdad would avoid authorizing rocket attacks that could threaten U. S. convoys, bases, and personnel.
Several diplomats told CBS News that the Trump administration’s public threats make it politically complicated for the Iraqi government to meet demands that seem to yield to America’s whims.
In what appears to be a diplomatic “Hail Mary” and an attempt to give Baghdad more freedom to take these measures, the UK ambassador to Iraq today issued one on his Twitter account in which 25 countries and the European Union asked the Prime Minister to take additional steps to improve the situation in Baghdad by strengthening the internal forces of the Green Zone. The statement expressed widespread fear of recent rocket attacks and improvised explosive devices that pose a risk to all countries.