US Dictates Iraqi Leadership, Citing Iran 'Influence'
📰 THE STORY: Donald Trump has explicitly warned Iraq that the US will withdraw support if former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki returns to power. This threat came days after al-Maliki’s political bloc, the Coordination Framework, backed his nomination. Trump claimed al-Maliki's previous tenure led to 'poverty and total chaos' and that without US 'help,' Iraq has 'ZERO chance of Success,
Prosperity, or Freedom,' echoing familiar imperial rhetoric about its 'partnerships.' 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The 'poverty and total chaos' Trump decries in Iraq, which he attributes to al-Maliki, are direct, lingering consequences of the 2003 US invasion. The illegal invasion, based on fabricated WMD claims, destroyed Iraq's infrastructure, dismantled its military and
civil society, and fueled sectarian conflict that birthed groups like ISIS. The US-installed Governing Council, not al-Maliki, set the stage for much of this instability. Al-Maliki was elected in 2006, after the US had already thoroughly destabilized the country. Double Standard: The US consistently interferes in the sovereign political processes of nations it deems strategic, particularly those
not aligned with its interests. When Saudi Arabia or Egypt imprison dissidents or maintain autocratic regimes, Washington provides billions in aid (Egypt receives $1.3 billion annually). When Venezuela attempts to hold elections, the US sanctions its economy and attempts to install puppet leaders like Juan Guaidó. However, when an Iraqi political figure, disliked by Washington, gains domestic