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US, KSA ignite sectarian violence in Iraq Sun Jan 8, 2012 4:50PM GMT
The US has given Saudi Arabia a green light to meddle in Iraq and ignite sectarian violence in the country, a Middle East expert tells Press TV.
One of the most controversial wars in history has come to an end, with the last batch of US troops leaving Iraq after 9 years. The war may have ended for the US but what state has it left Iraq in.
Many analysts believe that the Americans have destroyed Iraq and left it without rebuilding it. It remains one of the most unstable countries, where sectarian violence and corruption are rife.
Press TV has interviewed Middle East expert and commentator, Zeyd Al-Isa to discuss the current state of Iraq.What follows is an approximate transcription of the interview:
Press TV: Zeyd, when the Americans left Iraq were they pushed out or did they jump?
Al-Isa: I think they were definitely pushed out. The Americans particularly Obama, I know he pledged during his elections that he will end this war. He called it a 'dumb war' and he said that his priority would be withdrawing the American forces from Iraq.
But that changed for two main reasons. The first of them was the political earthquake that happened in the Middle East that is the toppling of the Zein Al-Abbedin and the more massive event, which is the toppling of Mubarak.
But more importantly the move of these popular uprisings to more delicate and sensitive areas, to the major allies of America which is Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Yemen.
And the other reason [US President] Obama was warned by Gates, who was a Republican kept by Obama that this would be used, the withdrawal, by the Republicans against him as a sign of weakness and as a sign of a huge defeat by the Americans, a strategic defeat.
And that's why he changed his mind and actually fought very hard to keep his forces by putting intense pressure on the Iraqi government and backing that pressure up by visits.
Press TV: What about the sectarian issue, there are those who feel there weren't sectarian issues before the American forces arrived and now that they've left...
Al-Isa: There was sectarian strife also before Saddam Hussein. He used brutal force to put down the majority. Even before Saddam there was minority rule all along.
Press TV: What about sectarian issues were the Sunni and Shia fighting in Iraq?
Al-Isa: Not fighting but there was discrimination against the majority in Iraq. If you look at the military- the commanders of all the military and even the military there was discrimination. There was Shia discrimination against the majority in Iraq. If you look at the military, the commanders of all the military and even the military...
Press TV: So you are saying there are sectarian issues below the surface?
Al-Isa: They were below the surface, they were suppressed. But those sectarian divisions were actually intensified by Saddam Hussein who depended totally on minority rule, who was propped up by the minority.
And by the Arab neighbors, who actually backed him up, stood by him during the Iraqi war waged against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Press TV: What about the accusations that the US has deliberately or otherwise left a sectarian time bomb? The reality is Sunni and Shia in Iraq were marrying. There were mixed marriages and let's not forget the Christians that are in Iraq as well.
Al-Isa: But you are forgetting the meddling and interference by other Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, which actually abides and adheres to the Wahhabi-Salafi ideology which is...
Press TV: So you are saying what are the Saudis are doing in Iraq?
Al-Isa: Definitely, they have been meddling since 2003. They have no reason...
Press TV: With or without US blessing?
Al-Isa: I believe it is with US blessing. They have been given a green light because the US desperately needs them in Afghanistan. Taliban, Afghanistan and Al-Qaida were propped up and financed by the Saudis and the birth place of the Taliban, Al-Qaida were actually the Madrasas which were financed by the Saudis.
Press TV: If you could continue, you were looking at the sectarian divide in Iraq and blamed it on the Saudis?
Al-Isa: The Saudis had no intention of interfering before 2003 but after the toppling of Saddam and the sharing of power and bringing the Shias who actually formed the majority, they had an interest in toppling and overturning that political process.
That's why there were fatwas issued with the blessing and the consent of the king himself and the regime itself. Saudi Arabia is a dictatorship. It is inconceivable for anyone to issue a fatwa without the full backing and the consent of the government.
Saudi Arabia actually interfered by sending fighters. That's according to the NBC [National Broadcasting Company, an American television network]. 55 percent or more of the suicide bombers come from Saudi Arabia and it tightened the noose around the Iraqi economy by actually refusing to cancel the debt.
VG/JR
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The US has given Saudi Arabia a green light to meddle in Iraq and ignite sectarian violence in the country, a Middle East expert tells Press TV.
One of the most controversial wars in history has come to an end, with the last batch of US troops leaving Iraq after 9 years. The war may have ended for the US but what state has it left Iraq in.
Many analysts believe that the Americans have destroyed Iraq and left it without rebuilding it. It remains one of the most unstable countries, where sectarian violence and corruption are rife.
Press TV has interviewed Middle East expert and commentator, Zeyd Al-Isa to discuss the current state of Iraq.What follows is an approximate transcription of the interview:
Press TV: Zeyd, when the Americans left Iraq were they pushed out or did they jump?
Al-Isa: I think they were definitely pushed out. The Americans particularly Obama, I know he pledged during his elections that he will end this war. He called it a 'dumb war' and he said that his priority would be withdrawing the American forces from Iraq.
But that changed for two main reasons. The first of them was the political earthquake that happened in the Middle East that is the toppling of the Zein Al-Abbedin and the more massive event, which is the toppling of Mubarak.
But more importantly the move of these popular uprisings to more delicate and sensitive areas, to the major allies of America which is Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Yemen.
And the other reason [US President] Obama was warned by Gates, who was a Republican kept by Obama that this would be used, the withdrawal, by the Republicans against him as a sign of weakness and as a sign of a huge defeat by the Americans, a strategic defeat.
And that's why he changed his mind and actually fought very hard to keep his forces by putting intense pressure on the Iraqi government and backing that pressure up by visits.
Press TV: What about the sectarian issue, there are those who feel there weren't sectarian issues before the American forces arrived and now that they've left...
Al-Isa: There was sectarian strife also before Saddam Hussein. He used brutal force to put down the majority. Even before Saddam there was minority rule all along.
Press TV: What about sectarian issues were the Sunni and Shia fighting in Iraq?
Al-Isa: Not fighting but there was discrimination against the majority in Iraq. If you look at the military- the commanders of all the military and even the military there was discrimination. There was Shia discrimination against the majority in Iraq. If you look at the military, the commanders of all the military and even the military...
Press TV: So you are saying there are sectarian issues below the surface?
Al-Isa: They were below the surface, they were suppressed. But those sectarian divisions were actually intensified by Saddam Hussein who depended totally on minority rule, who was propped up by the minority.
And by the Arab neighbors, who actually backed him up, stood by him during the Iraqi war waged against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Press TV: What about the accusations that the US has deliberately or otherwise left a sectarian time bomb? The reality is Sunni and Shia in Iraq were marrying. There were mixed marriages and let's not forget the Christians that are in Iraq as well.
Al-Isa: But you are forgetting the meddling and interference by other Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, which actually abides and adheres to the Wahhabi-Salafi ideology which is...
Press TV: So you are saying what are the Saudis are doing in Iraq?
Al-Isa: Definitely, they have been meddling since 2003. They have no reason...
Press TV: With or without US blessing?
Al-Isa: I believe it is with US blessing. They have been given a green light because the US desperately needs them in Afghanistan. Taliban, Afghanistan and Al-Qaida were propped up and financed by the Saudis and the birth place of the Taliban, Al-Qaida were actually the Madrasas which were financed by the Saudis.
Press TV: If you could continue, you were looking at the sectarian divide in Iraq and blamed it on the Saudis?
Al-Isa: The Saudis had no intention of interfering before 2003 but after the toppling of Saddam and the sharing of power and bringing the Shias who actually formed the majority, they had an interest in toppling and overturning that political process.
That's why there were fatwas issued with the blessing and the consent of the king himself and the regime itself. Saudi Arabia is a dictatorship. It is inconceivable for anyone to issue a fatwa without the full backing and the consent of the government.
Saudi Arabia actually interfered by sending fighters. That's according to the NBC [National Broadcasting Company, an American television network]. 55 percent or more of the suicide bombers come from Saudi Arabia and it tightened the noose around the Iraqi economy by actually refusing to cancel the debt.
VG/JR
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