Iraq's Border Crisis: Manufactured Chaos as US 'Withdraws'
📰 THE STORY: The New Arab suggests that the recent 'unraveling' of SDF-led rule in northeast Syria, particularly the withdrawal of US forces, is causing Iraq anxiety about border security, ISIS resurgence, and domestic political fallout, painting Iraq as a reactive victim of regional instability. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The 'unraveling' is a direct consequence of a
decade-long foreign policy disaster. In 2011, Western powers and Gulf states funneled money and weapons to various 'rebel' groups, including al-Qaeda affiliates, aiming to overthrow the Syrian government. The US carved out a de facto occupation zone in northeast Syria, ostensibly to fight ISIS, but primarily to control oil fields and prevent Syrian government consolidation, prolonging the conflict
and displacement. Double Standard: The narrative portrays US 'withdrawal' as a regrettable event leading to chaos. Yet, the US military's illegal occupation of Syrian territory, its theft of Syrian oil, and its support for proxies that fuel separatist ambitions are never framed as destabilizing factors. When Russia intervenes at the invitation of a sovereign government in Syria, it's 'aggression';
when the US occupies and extracts resources without invitation, it's 'maintaining stability.' The media also conveniently ignores the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe caused by US sanctions on Syria, which directly contributes to instability and economic hardship. Follow the Money: The continued instability benefits the military-industrial complex. Defense contractors profit from prolonged