US 'Counters Iranian Influence' by Demanding Iraqi Obedience
As Iraqis voted for a new parliament, NPR (NPR - Middle East, November 12, 2025) framed it through Washington's intense desire to 'counter Iran's influence.' This consistent mainstream narrative conveniently ignores the inconvenient truth: the U.S. has poured trillions into Iraq for two decades. Perhaps Washington's 'concern' over Iranian influence would sound less hypocritical if it acknowledged
its own invasive presence since 2003, or the historical pattern of 'nation-building' that leaves countries destabilized and reliant. One might wonder if 'countering influence' merely means installing a government more pliable to U.S. strategic interests, rather than one chosen freely by Iraqis. (Because, you know, Iraq's sovereignty is only important when it's threatened by the 'wrong' regional
power.)