Iranian Iraq

     With all the flap about our incredibly messed up presidential campaign, the recent natural disasters (wild fires and flooding), and the most recent reports about Great Britain exiting the European Union, there is very little news coming out of Iraq or Syria.  But then, we know that the news media will report basically what it wants us to read, hear, and see on TV, not necessarily what really is taking place.  Our domestic politics, presidential elections, etc., have been essentially "controlled" by the news media since the days of the Vietnam War.  That was when the media discovered what a powerful weapon it had in TV reporting.  It could manipulate the outcome of events by selective reporting and slanting news stories, which it did.
     Today, one often hears the refrain that you shouldn't believe everything that you read on the internet.  This is the age of instant communication with smart phones and computers, and internet has become a most used resource for information.  Unfortunately, although some do say that we shouldn't believe everything we see or hear on TV, the vast majority of the public does "believe" what it sees and hears on TV!  Therefore, the TV reporting has remained the number one influencing factor in American lives, although the internet has become a strong number two!  With that said, let's look at what is happening in Iraq.
     In some of my earlier blogs I mentioned that we have more or less turned over Iraq to Iran.  That has happened in more ways than just the Iran's presence on the battle field against ISIS.  Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, a powerful Iranian cleric, has become a very influential figure in Iraqi politics.  He has embedded himself in the Iraqi domestic politics to a point that now he calls some of the shots in Iraq's decision making.  Amazingly, although he is a cleric with no military experience, he has also inserted himself into a position where he is making some military decisions as well!  The so-called Shia Militia, PMU (Popular Mobilisation Units) in Iraq is predominantly Iranian!  It is heavily made up of Iranian Special Operations (Quds) and other Iranian "volunteers," and sprinkled with Iraqi volunteers.  Besides PMU, there is another Iranian proxy, the Hezbollah.  Yes, that Lebanese terrorist organization that is supported by Iran first made its appearance in Syria.  Now, without any fanfare, elements of Hezbollah have joined with PMU in Iraq.  Strange that the news media never made much of the fact that Iranian backed PMU and Hezbollah are so prominent in the war against ISIS in Iraq.  Could it be that they don't want us to know that Iraq is for all practical purposes, under Iranian control?
     General Petraeus, the former Commander in Chief of US Forces in Iraq may be disgraced for his indiscretion and security violation (sharing classified material with his mistress), but he was and is a superb military commander.  During his tenure in Iraq Petraeus flatly stated that: "US must not become Shia Militia's air force!"  This, we have become!  We are providing air support to PMU!  The former Commander of Central Command, General Austin stated as recently as March 26, 2016 that:  "I will not, and I hope we never, coordinate or cooperate with Shia Militia."  Guess what Generals Petraeus and Austin, you obviously don't know better, because we are doing exactly what you said we mustn't!
     To give you some perspective, the New Iraqi Army is made up of about 50,000 men.  Of that number, only about half are actual combat troops.  Considering the billions of dollars that we spent thus far building Iraq's army, it is truly amazing how few troops have been raised and trained for all that money!  In the current battle against ISIS, in Fallujah, the only Iraqi forces participating in the campaign are the Iraqi Special Forces, those trained and led by our Special Forces!  There are some support artillery and armor units, but as far as real fighting is concerned, it is that small number of Iraqi Special Forces, led by US Special Forces, and the proxy Iranian forces - PMU and Hezbollah!  So, the majority of the fighting force on the ground is Iranian supported or Iranian!
     The Kurds have a much larger and better fighting force, but no air force or other heavy support units.  There are about 100,000 Peshmergas and another 100,000 KDP fighters is Kurdistan.  But, they are Sunni, not Shia, and cannot be put on the same battlefield on the same side!  It is ironic that the Kurds have a larger and much better fighting force than Iraqis, yet receive a fraction of the support and aid that we give to Iraq!
     Regardless of the outcome of the battle for Fallujah and other battles that may follow to oust ISIS from Iraq, it is a foregone conclusion that we have lost control of Iraq.  We have lost control of Iraq after spending all that money and losing and destroying thousands of American lives.  We have lost Iraq through sheer stupidity and arrogance.  Obama is known for his arrogance.  That is one of the reasons he has alienated so many foreign leaders.  His rift with Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu occurred on their first meeting, when Obama proceeded to lecture Netanyahu on Middle East politics! Yes, Obama lectured Netanyahu on Middle East!  ISIS may not gain control of Iraq, but neither will we.  Iraq is now firmly in Iranian hands! 
     Just how much in control is Iran in Iraq?  When the fight against ISIS stalled recently and rumors began to circulate that US might send in the Marines to break the stalemate, the leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, the Iranian led Shia Militia announced that they would turn their fight against the US Marines if the Marines set foot in Iraq!  Now do you wonder why we don't put boots on the ground except for small number of trainers and advisors!  When John Kerry was recently asked about the situation in Iraq, about Iran's seeming total control, Kerry refused to say anything.  After all, what can he say, he was the chief engineer in that wonderful Iran Nuclear Deal!
     Yes, Iraq is lost, one way or another.  It will either fall to ISIS or be under Iranian control.  More than likely it will be the latter.  Ironically, it is because of us that Iran will gain control of Iraq.  We gave Iraq to Iran in the Iran Nuclear Deal, that was one of the fringe benefits!  American tax payers should be furious about this!  We have been engaged in Iraq for over a decade, lost thousands of lives and thousands more maimed.  American lives have suffered and have been destroyed in more ways than can be counted.  But I guess owing to lack of reporting by news media, nobody really cares as long as gas prices and taxes don't rise!  Our politicians, most especially the White House, don't care.