The Situation at the US Embassy in Iraq

[InTheLight]

BAGHDAD (AP) — Dozens of Iraqi Shiite militiamen and their supporters broke into the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday, smashing a main door and setting fire to a reception area, angered over deadly U.S. airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed militia. U.S. guards fired tear gas and palls of smoke rose over the grounds.

There were no reports of casualties, but the unprecedented breach was one of the worst attacks on the embassy in recent memory. It followed deadly U.S. airstrikes on Sunday that killed 25 fighters of the Iran-backed militia in Iraq, the Kataeb Hezbollah. The U.S. military said the airstrikes were in retaliation for last week’s killing of an American contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that it had blamed on the militia.

President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the embassy breach and called on Iraq to protect the diplomatic mission.

“Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!” he tweeted from his estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

The U.S. military said “precision defensive strikes” were conducted against five sites of Kataeb Hezbollah, or Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq and Syria. The group, which is a separate force from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, operates under the umbrella of the state-sanctioned militias known collectively as the Popular Mobilization Forces. Many of them are supported by Iran.

Militiamen breach US Embassy in Baghdad; Trump blames Iran
------

Can someone, maybe someone that has served in the US military in the Middle East explain why Iraq has militias that are supported by Iran? And why Iraq would seemingly defend these Iranian backed militias by allowing Iraqis to storm the US embassy?

 

[Revmitchell]

Iraq is in turmoil. Never has been any other way. Saddam kept Iran at bay but now that he is gone amd we have pulled out Iran has been free to do what it wants there. Irans goal is to take over as much middle east as it can. You need to remember that the sunnis and shiites and whatever else is there do not get along. Iran just works to stir up those festering hostilities

 

[InTheLight]

Iraq is in turmoil. Never has been any other way. Saddam kept Iran at bay but now that he is gone amd we have pulled out Iran has been free to do what it wants there. Irans goal is to take over as much middle east as it can. You need to remember that the sunnis and shiites and whatever else is there do not get along. Iran just works to stir up those festering hostilities

I understand all of that. What I don't understand is why Iraq allows Iranian backed militias to operate in their country? Yes, there are Sunni and Shiite areas of Iraq. But to allow another nation to operate a militia within your borders? Insane.

 

[just-want-peace]

I understand all of that. What I don't understand is why Iraq allows Iranian backed militias to operate in their country? Yes, there are Sunni and Shiite areas of Iraq. But to allow another nation to operate a militia within your borders? Insane.

Methinks that you have just described very succinctly the modern mid-east!!

 

[MartyF]

Bush’s War! Yeeeah!

Bush was such a great president.

 

[church mouse guy]

I think that Iraq cooperates because the alternative is for them to suffer attack. They have the same type of Islam as Iran. Iran has all that money Obama gave them with which to buy weapons and wage war. Time to evacuate the embassy in my book.

 

[Adonia]

I understand all of that. What I don't understand is why Iraq allows Iranian backed militias to operate in their country? Yes, there are Sunni and Shiite areas of Iraq. But to allow another nation to operate a militia within your borders? Insane.

The Iraqi government is weak and Iran is exploiting this weakness.

 

[George Antonios]

I understand all of that. What I don't understand is why Iraq allows Iranian backed militias to operate in their country? Yes, there are Sunni and Shiite areas of Iraq. But to allow another nation to operate a militia within your borders? Insane.

I'm Lebanese and my wife Iraqi. I know that it seems insane to an American, and I understand the feeling, but in our part of the world, religion trumps statehood. Also, Iraq [as also Jordan and Syria] was artificially created via the then-secret Sykes-Picot accord at the close of WWI. Churchill would boast in his later years that he had created the British protectorate of, in this instance, Transjordan in 1921 "with the stroke of a pen, one Sunday afternoon in Cairo". Such strictly political and therefore unnatural maps circumscribed and forced into statehood divers peoples whose sense of identity derives first from their religion and ethnicity, not from a political identity, especially one foisted on them by others. So, what I'm saying is, many Iraqis don't even recognize Iraq. Futhermore, "Iraq" was conquered by Arabians coming out of the Arabian peninsula. Iran [Persia's] contention is that at least part of Iraq had ever been the dominion of Persia.

 

[agedman]

Bush’s War! Yeeeah!

Bush was such a great president.

Both were exceptional leaders, and truly loved/ love God.
41 had the most outstanding credentials of any previous and even those after (so far).
43 is a remarkable man of character.

Even the most liberal of the media folks generally still remark even in criticism them with respect.

Can you imagine after serving in the Barbara Bush security detail having to endure Hilary Clinton and her foul mouth?

 

[agedman]

I'm Lebanese and my wife Iraqi. I know that it seems insane to an American, and I understand the feeling, but in our part of the world, religion trumps statehood. Also, Iraq [as also Jordan and Syria] was artificially created via the then-secret Sykes-Picot accord at the close of WWI. Churchill would boast in his later years that he had created the British protectorate of, in this instance, Transjordan in 1921 "with the stroke of a pen, one Sunday afternoon in Cairo". Such strictly political and therefore unnatural maps circumscribed and forced into statehood divers peoples whose sense of identity derives first from their religion and ethnicity, not from a political identity, especially one foisted on them by others. So, what I'm saying is, many Iraqis don't even recognize Iraq. Futhermore, "Iraq" was conquered by Arabians coming out of the Arabian peninsula. Iran [Persia's] contention is that at least part of Iraq had ever been the dominion of Persia.

You are referring to history that few in this U.S. have knowledge and far less understanding.

As I look through the history of the last 1000 years, the hand of God can be seen moving directly and purposefully to steer the world leaders.

The tensions we all face this last two centuries were purposed by God for His glory.

 

[Rob_BW]

I understand all of that. What I don't understand is why Iraq allows Iranian backed militias to operate in their country? Yes, there are Sunni and Shiite areas of Iraq. But to allow another nation to operate a militia within your borders? Insane.

Because the majority of Iraqis are Shiite, and welcome anything that will help them establish dominance over the Sunnis and Kurds. They're the Yugoslavia of the Middle East. Ethnic and religious differences are more important than any feelings of love for country.

Edited to add: Looks like George covered it.

 

[Reynolds]

Iraq is in turmoil. Never has been any other way. Saddam kept Iran at bay but now that he is gone amd we have pulled out Iran has been free to do what it wants there. Irans goal is to take over as much middle east as it can. You need to remember that the sunnis and shiites and whatever else is there do not get along. Iran just works to stir up those festering hostilities

Yep. Thats why I say 43 was an idiot for his nation building nonsense.

 

[church mouse guy]

Yep. Thats why I say 43 was an idiot for his nation building nonsense.

Don't forget that Obama effectively armed Iran by shipping them all that cash for their military budget. Biden is going to get Obama out of the way by putting him on the Supreme Court when an opening is available.

 

[Revmitchell]

Yep. Thats why I say 43 was an idiot for his nation building nonsense.

Nation building was about what should be done after we went in it was not the reason for going in

 

[church mouse guy]

Nation building was about what should be done after we went in it was not the reason for going in

Unfortunately, in 1400 years Islam has never built a peaceful nation and we cannot impose one on them because the nature of Islam is perpetual warfare in order to conquer the world for Allah. That is the reason that Europe and the Americans cannot assimilate Muslims. Even the Chinese are putting Muslims in concentration camps so there is no one in the world who can assimilate Muslims. They must be contained in their own rotten countries.

 

[Reynolds]

Nation building was about what should be done after we went in it was not the reason for going in

I didnt say it was.

 

[Rob_BW]

Nation building was about what should be done after we went in it was not the reason for going in

Yes, but you can't rebuild if the foundation is rotten. If only Iraq had a little more coast to go around, a 3 state solution might have been viable.

 

[Revmitchell]

Yes, but you can't rebuild if the foundation is rotten. If only Iraq had a little more coast to go around, a 3 state solution might have been viable.

I don't disagree. When no one wants to get along then everything else is a non starter.

 

[church mouse guy]

Islam cannot be reformed. It is a nazi system seeking world domination. The best thing is to leave them to their own unending civil wars and forget any idea that they are moderate in any sense.

 

[Rob_BW]

I don't disagree. When no one wants to get along then everything else is a non starter.

The fun of discussing a topc with no good/right answer.