Iraq and Shia and Sunni political Tensions: Internal Issue or Related to a Bigger Picture? Syria

Iraq and Shia and Sunni political Tensions: Internal Issue or Related to a Bigger Picture? Syria

Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The Prime Minister of Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki, was rebuked strongly by Rafie al-Issawi who is the Finance Minister. Issawi belongs to the Sunni Muslim faith unlike Maliki who follows the Shia Muslim religion. Under Saddam Hussein the Shia suffered terribly alongside the Kurdish community. However, the power mechanisms changed unintentionally after the invasion of Iraq by America and allied forces. Therefore, the Shia elites emerged in a powerful position irrespective if many political leaders don’t adhere to religious affiliated political blocks.

Issawi commented strongly after approximately one-hundred-and-fifty members of staff and personal bodyguards were arrested by Iraqi security forces. Clearly this will lead to tensions with the political block called al-Iraqiyya. This action was taken by Iraqi security forces and Issawi is incensed by this action because he states that “They arrested all the employees and guards… Is this the behavior of a government, or the work of gangs?”

He also clarified that this was “a deliberate and premeditated act” and that it was “an illegal action.” Issawi continued his attack against Maliki by stating that he is a man “who does not believe in partnership and does not respect the law and the constitution.”

After the US led invasion of Iraq it soon became apparent that radical Sunni Islamism entered the vacuum. This would lead to thousands of allied soldiers being killed and enormous numbers of innocent civilians who were either targeted in terrorist attacks, or were caught up in the deadly carnage of the conflict. Therefore, while the death total and carnage isn’t like it was during the height of the crisis, it is still apparent that terrorism is a major issue in Iraq. Likewise, Sunni-Shia tensions remain; ethnic issues related to the Kurds are extremely problematic and delicate; energy issues; and more recently the convulsions in Syria are enabling Islamists, terrorists and powerful forces to once more threaten the central state.

Saban Kardas commented in The Jamestown Foundation that “In the wake of the withdrawal of US forces, Maliki has moved to consolidate his power, threatening to undermine the delicate balance between various sectarian and ethnic groups. Maliki, who assumed his current post following a 2010 power sharing agreement, has failed to work toward national reconciliation. On the contrary, in this already fractured country, he has even undermined the governing coalition and also put Iraq on a collision course. His campaign against Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, who took refuge in Northern Iraq fearing for his life, crystallized the power struggle. The dispute grew into an impasse, with the increasingly harsher tone of the parties, engulfing Turkey (EDM, January 18). After spending some time in Kurdistan, Hashemi visited Saudi Arabia and Doha and later came to Turkey, effectively beginning his days in “exile.” Calling openly for Ankara’s support, Hashimi also furthered its involvement in his country’s affairs (Anadolu Ajansi, April 10).”

The above comment by Saban Kardas appears to be pinning the blame on Maliki but the interesting aspect of this comment is the linkage of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. After all, these three nations are destabilizing Syria and supporting the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and various Islamist terrorist factions in this nation. Therefore, rather than pinning the blame on Maliki, it could be stated that he is alert to the real agenda of Ankara, Doha and Riyadh. Also, this brings into play the covert nature of America, the United Kingdom and France within the internal affairs of Syria.

In the last few months it is clear that more Sunni Islamists are entering Syria from Iraq and this reality spells danger for Baghdad. After all, Pakistan ironically destabilized itself by supporting Islamic terrorism in Afghanistan. Maliki therefore is in full knowledge of the pitfalls of supporting Sunni Islamists in Syria because he knows that blowback is a reality. Given this fact, it could well be stated that the recent spat between Maliki and Issawi is based on a bigger geopolitical issue, which is outside of the internal mechanisms of the political system within Iraq.

It is clear that meddling in Syria related to international terrorism, sectarianism and sedition are being employed against this secular nation. Yet this could back-fire big time? After all, the mosaic of Lebanon is being threatened by sectarianism which is being funded by outside powers in order to support the FSA, Al-Qaeda and various Islamist factions against secular Syria. Meanwhile, major issues persist in Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, and other nations, which have been hit by the so-called “Arab Spring.” However, if Syria unravels then the patchwork of the Levant and the Middle East may suffer from the consequences – and this notably relates to the “failed state domino system” which swallowed up Afghanistan, Iraq and other nations after outside meddling.

Of course, the main political tensions in Iraq may not involve the bigger picture internally. Yet given the strong ripples which infringe on other nations in this part of the world then clearly the danger signs are growing in Iraq.

An official at the US State Department told the New York Times that “We have been actively engaged with Iraqi political leaders on this matter….We have urged the Iraqi government to uphold their commitments to due process and the rule of law as enshrined in their constitution.”

The former Sunni Vice-President, Hashemi, was accused of being involved in death squads related to sectarianism. Hashemi denies these allegations and currently he remains in Turkey to the dismay of Maliki. This relates to the interference of Turkey within the affairs of sovereign Iraq.

In Lebanon some Sunni Muslim political leaders are also implicated in supporting the destabilization of Syria and like usual you have many rat-lines leading to Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Of course, major Western nations like America, the United Kingdom and France are also destabilizing Syria. Therefore, the actions of Maliki are deemed negatively within the many circles which support the destabilization of Syria. However, in the murky world of covert agencies it could also be that negative political forces are being reigned in because of the increasing chaos in Syria.

At the same time, the internal angle also exists within Iraq. This reality means that many political convulsions will continue to hit the region. Of course, some of these convulsions are self-made and this notably relates to outside nations supporting the destabilization of Syria. Yet other factors run very deep internally and this reality means that many nations in the Middle East face ample serious issues.

Therefore, for Syria it is about preserving the independence of this nation and crushing international terrorism and the covert nature of the current crisis. In Iraq, it is based on the fragile nature of this country which is still coming to terms with the forces that were unleashed by the US led invasion. Also, Iraq is also being caught up in powerful geopolitical games which are being unleashed by the same culprits which are creating carnage in Syria.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20808769

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

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