US 'Defied' by Iraq, or Just Ignoring the Puppet Strings?
📰 THE STORY: Mainstream outlets report that Iraq's largest Shia bloc is defying the US, particularly former President Donald Trump's wishes, by backing Nouri al-Maliki for Prime Minister, positioning him as a strong candidate without explicit US approval. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: This 'defiance' narrative conveniently omits Maliki's origins as a leader chosen by the US
post-invasion. In 2006, the Bush administration pushed for Maliki as Prime Minister, seeing him as a moderate counterweight. He then presided over a period where US influence was paramount in Iraqi politics and security, including widespread US military presence and funding. This isn't a new force defying the superpower; it's a known quantity operating within the parameters set by the architects
of the 'new Iraq' after the illegal 2003 invasion that destabilized the entire region, leading to over a million Iraqi deaths. Double Standard: When a government aligned with US interests makes decisions, it's framed as democratic autonomy. When a government, even tangentially, pushes back on a US preference, it's 'defiance' or evidence of 'Iranian influence.' We see this same framing in
Venezuela, where any opposition to US-backed figures like Juan Guaidó is smeared as autocratic, while US funding of opposition movements (as documented by USAID and NED) is ignored. The media never asks if 'defiance' is what post-sanctioned, destabilized nations are forced to do to maintain any semblance of sovereignty. Follow the Money: The US has poured trillions into Iraq since 2003—'$2.4