Maliki's Return: The Enduring Legacy of US Occupation's Puppet Politics in Iraq
📰 THE STORY: ABC News reports that Iraq’s dominant political bloc has nominated former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate for the premiership, positioning him for a potential return to lead the country. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: Nouri al-Maliki first rose to power in 2006, not through organic Iraqi democracy, but directly within the sectarian governance
structure imposed by the US occupation after its illegal 2003 invasion. The US-designed 'de-Ba'athification' process and the 'governing council' explicitly fostered sectarian divisions (Shia, Sunni, Kurd) that continue to plague Iraq, creating the very political environment from which figures like Maliki emerged. His previous tenure (2006-2014) was heavily criticized for rampant corruption and
contributing to the rise of ISIS due to the systematic alienation of Sunni communities—a direct outcome of the new political order. Double Standard: Western media routinely frames elections and political maneuvers in countries like Iraq as inherent dysfunction, while conveniently overlooking the foundational violence and systemic corruption introduced by their own governments. Imagine if US media
discussed the return of a coup leader funded by a foreign power as mere 'political maneuvering.' Yet, when the architects of sectarian strife in Iraq, established by a US-led invasion, resurface, it's presented as an internal Iraqi affair, devoid of its violent colonial genesis. Follow the Money: The US has spent an estimated $8 trillion on post-9/11 wars, including Iraq, much of it flowing into