Iraqi Parliament Convenes, to Take Decision on US Presence

Arab World

January 5th, 9:58am

Baghdad- Hamza Mustafa

Iraqi lawmakers are seen before opening session of the new Iraqi parliament in Baghdad, Iraq, September 3, 2018 in this still image taken from a video. IRAQIYA TV POOL/REUTERS TV/via REUTERS

Iraq's parliament is set to convene an extraordinary session on Sunday where lawmakers will push for a vote on a resolution requiring the government to request the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. This discussion was triggered by the Operation Blue Lightning that killed Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandes, the deputy chairman of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), on Friday near Baghdad International Airport. Some political observers and a number of parliamentarians from Kurdish and Sunnite blocs say it is unlikely to pass the decision of expelling the US forces at the current time for many reasons – the first reason is the nature of disputes among political blocs and the second one is that the current government is a caretaker government and can’t take such sovereignty decisions. While the Shiite majority rejects the US presence, the Sunnites and Kurds see it as a guarantee preserving national balance that would be shaken in case of US withdrawal from Iraq. Head of the “Political Thinking Center” Dr. Ihsan al-Shammari told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the death of Soleimani and Muhandes would have consequences at all levels not only in Iraqi territories but in the whole region. Shammari added that among these consequences is moving forward with a comprehensive and conventional war, which might lead to ousting the regime in Iran because of its inability to handle this open war, unlike the US and its allies. Further, Head of Iraq Institute for Strategic and Security Studies Moataz Mohieddin told Asharq Al-Awsat that several key repercussions would surface in the coming period especially after the US reinforced its troops to protect its interests in the country. Mohieddin continued that the new US force would have specific missions, including targeting leaders from the Popular Mobilization Forces – he noted that the armed factions’ leaders will target the US bases and interests. A vote to expel US troops would need parliament to pass a law obliging the Iraqi government to ask US troops to leave. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who is now caretaker prime minister after resigning in November under pressure from street protests, on Friday called for parliament to convene an extraordinary session to take legislative steps to protect Iraq's sovereignty.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2067411/iraqi-parliament-convenes-take-decision-us-presence