Iraq Rebukes Saudi Arabia and Qatar for Supporting Terrorism in Iraq and Syria
Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker
Modern Tokyo Times
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki made it abundantly clear that Saudi Arabia is sponsoring terrorism and likewise he highlighted the role of Qatar and other ratlines in the Gulf. In the past many officials in Iraq have pointed the finger at major feudal kingdoms throughout the Gulf region. Indeed, Gulf petrodollars are sponsoring terrorism in several nations, spreading sectarianism throughout the Middle East and parts of Southeast Asia – and funding radicalism throughout Western Europe and North America. However, in terms of loss of life then the intrigues of Saudi Arabia and Qatar are responsible for untold numbers of deaths when it comes to Iraq, Libya and Syria.
In another significant development, military helicopters from the armed forces of Iraq destroyed fuel tankers within Syria. This took place in the border area between both nations. However, unlike NATO Turkey, that openly supports terrorists, mercenaries, sectarians and Takfiris; the government of Iraq is opposed to the spread of terrorism.
Indeed, Maliki reported to the BBC that “it was Iraq’s “national, human duty” to “fight al-Qaeda in Syria” and rejected the idea that there was popular opposition to President Bashar al-Assad.”
Maliki continued, “The alternative to the regime in Syria is… terrorism and slaughter.”
It is hoped that America, France and the United Kingdom will finally wake up from their folly aimed at the government of Syria. Likewise, it is time for leading Western powers to finally turn the “terrorist and sectarian clock off.” After all, September 11, London, Madrid, Bali, and other international terrorist attacks, all have links with past misdeeds. This notably applies to supporting Islamist Takfiri fanatics in Afghanistan in the 1980s and early 1990s and adopting the same policy against the Bosnian Serbs during the Bosnian conflict.
Iraq and Syria are both threatened by Gulf petrodollars and Western intrigues. It is fair to say that the alliance between major Western powers and Gulf monarchies doesn’t hold much collective water when it comes to Iraq. This is based on Saudi Arabia and Qatar destabilizing both Iraq and Syria whereas America, France and the United Kingdom seek to destabilize Syria. However, while Gulf petrodollars is consistent in spreading terrorism and sectarianism to both Iraq and Syria, major Western powers somehow believe that their policies are not directly infringing on Iraq, despite sponsoring terrorism and sectarianism against Syria.
Of course, this is absurd because sectarian forces, al-Qaeda affiliates and a plethora of jihadist terrorist groups were all gradually being contained in Iraq. Yes, the death toll was still extremely high but signs were improving in this nation. Therefore, the number of deaths and terrorist attacks prior to the destabilization of Syria were on the wane.
Religious minorities in Syria, notably the Alawites, Christians, the Shia and Druze, all have much to fear from Takfiri Islamists that kill for fun and persecute based on their barbaric worldview. These religious minorities know full well what happened to the Christian population in Iraq and the same applies to other religious minorities in this country like the Mandaeans. Similarly, the people of Syria fully understand the terrible consequences of Gulf petrodollars that have fuelled anti-Shia terrorist and sectarian groups.
Internally, traditional Sunni Muslim clerics based on Levant Islam are also under threat from Salafi indoctrination because they can see their flock being enticed to vile sectarian hatred. Indeed, so-called jihadists have also killed Sunni clerics based on their rabid indoctrination and deeming all and sundry to be apostates. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are undermining Sunni Levant Islam and in this sense Gulf petrodollars are fueling “year zero Salafi and Takfiri militancy” that seeks to destroy Syrian civilization. This insidious force is being aided and abetted in Syria by America, France, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Therefore, Iraq and Syria are being destabilized by the intrigues of intended (Gulf petrodollars) geopolitical ambitions – and unintended (NATO powers) blowback infringing on Iraq based on their intended (NATO powers) policies aimed at Syria.
The BBC reports: “Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has told the BBC that Saudi Arabia has “clearly interfered” in Syria and in Iraqi internal affairs…He said he believed Saudi Arabia was facilitating the entry of foreign “mercenaries” into Iraq, worsening the sectarian violence.”
Interestingly, and Nigeria and the Central African Republic should take heed, Maliki says “Whilst it’s true that Saudi Arabia prohibited Saudi nationals from entering Iraq, it is possible to send non-Saudis. There are many Nigerian and Chadian mercenaries who are paid money to enter Iraq.”
In Syria they are not spared Saudi jihadists because like sectarian killers emanating from Chechnya, Dagestan, Libya, and other nations, vast numbers of Saudi fanatics have gone to Syria in order to kill and behead. The destruction of Christian churches, Shia mosques and shrines naturally follows the path of Gulf petrodollars. Also, the sectarian angle emanating from the Erdogan government in Turkey and the usage of NATO Turkey for international jihadists is also a cause of major concern for Syria. Of course, like the leader of Iraq is stating, the terrorist and military ratlines aimed at Syria is also threatening the nation state of Iraq.
Overall, the current conditions in Iraq and Syria should lead to greater cooperation between these two nations in the filed of combating terrorism, attacking jihadist lines of logistics, providing intelligence information and condemning Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey from the same sheet. The West meanwhile is shaming itself by siding with forces that seek to crush the mosaic of the Levant.