I then asked my CBI contact about the issue of the Hezbollah bombings of American bases in Iraq. I was referred to the GOI for policy related to this issue.
My contact did not feel the US forces would be leaving Iraq anytime soon and that they are working on a timetable to remove all combat forces in the future, but this is not the time.
Iraq still needs American protection. Either way the forces will probably then operate out of Kuwaiti bases anyhow and have no intention of leaving the tense “hot spot” of the middle east right now.
Speaking of U.S. military forces in Iraq: The U.S. and Iraq began a process of starting talks aimed at ending the U.S.-led military coalition’s mission in Iraq and how to replace it with bilateral ties. Two sources said the United States conveyed its readiness to start talks to the Iraqi government in a letter handed over by US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanoski to Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein last Wednesday.
This came after US Army drones launched strikes on two headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Babil and Anbar governorates, killing two members and wounding four. These strikes targeted the headquarters of the Hezbollah Brigades, warehouses, missile training sites, and unilateral attack drones.
From Reuters: The process of ending the US military presence in Iraq may take from several months to years. Let’s all pray the RV happens prior this draw down of troops. We all know what happened in 2011 when President Obama withdrew the US military. We can all see that with the Iranian militia still in place, should a full withdrawal occur, it would be detrimental to Iraq’s security and sovereignty. It may be a repeat of 2014.
The renewed attacks on coalition forces in Iraq coinciding with the Gaza War prompted the US Embassy in Baghdad to significantly reduce its staff, which led to a delay and then a halt to the visa issuance procedures, according to a diplomatic source who confirmed that his country does not currently grant entry permits except to government delegations. “High-level”.
Still the hot topic in the CBI, as my contact told me yesterday during my call to Iraq, is that the CBI is working towards getting the parallel black market rate in check with the “official” CBI rate of the dinar.
I asked my contact why the past plan to end this crisis has not yet ended it?
I was told it is taking more than expected for the measures underway to take hold, but that they will eventually end the crisis and the rate will come down. I then asked about the “basket of currencies” we been hearing about to re-peg the dinar. I was told this is coming but they can’t peg the current in-country rate until they resolve the parallel market crisis and move to FOREX.
This is exactly what I wanted and needed to hear. This falls directly in-line with the 2011 Dr. Shabibi plan I have talked so much about already. So all is very good in my eyes as far as this process goes.
Today, Thursday, the US Central Command revealed the details of the negotiations between the United States and the Iraqi government regarding ending the military presence of the international coalition in Iraq.
The leadership stated in a statement received by Earth News Agency, “The United States and the Iraqi government will begin meetings of the working group of the US-Iraqi Supreme Military Committee (HMC) in the coming days, to begin a process that both sides committed to during the US-Iraq Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue (JSCD) in Washington, DC, from August 7 to 8, 2023.
She added, “The start of the joint committee process reflects the United States’ deep commitment to regional stability and Iraqi sovereignty.”
She noted, “The US-Iraqi Supreme Military Committee will enable the transition to a permanent bilateral security partnership between the United States and Iraq, based on the successes achieved by the campaign to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria in partnership with the Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent.”
She noted, “The committee relies on the inaugural meeting of the Joint Military Committee between the United States and Iraq, which was held on August 7 and 8, 2023. During this meeting, the United States and Iraq committed to starting a high-level military committee to discuss how to transition the coalition’s mission to defeat ISIS according to a timetable that takes into account “There are three main factors to consider: the threat posed by ISIS, operational and environmental requirements, and the capacity levels of the Iraqi Security Forces.”
She continued, “Expert working groups of military and defense specialists will study these three factors and advise the committee on the most effective development of the coalition’s mission against ISIS, ensuring that ISIS does not emerge again, in consultation with coalition partners at all stages of the operation.”
She stated, “American military personnel are present in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government, as part of the mission of Operation Inherent Resolve to provide advice, assistance, and empowerment to the Iraqi security forces in their ongoing fight against ISIS,” noting that “the United States remains committed to a safe, stable, and sovereign Iraq.” “.
She stressed, “The United States and Iraq have enjoyed a deep and fruitful partnership on security matters over the past ten years since the Iraqi government called on the United States and the coalition to fight ISIS, including the seven years following the territorial defeat of ISIS in Iraq.”
She concluded by saying: “The start of the negotiation process reflects the development of the bilateral relationship between the United States and Iraq under the Strategic Framework Agreement, and confirms our commitment to deepening our security cooperation to enhance stability within Iraq and the region.”
Mawazine News – Baghdad Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani succeeded in defusing the crisis without dragging the country into conflict with the intensification of regional tension after the war on Gaza, where the American, Iranian and Turkish missiles that recently bombed Erbil, Bablobgdad and Anbar and the reaction by Iraqi forces against American headquarters was a clear signal of the country’s involvement and transformation into the arena of the next conflict. But the government managed to dismanger by persuading America to withdraw from Iraq by scheduling the exit of its forces amid unprecedented Iraqi popular support.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that the Supreme Military Committee with Iraq will launch within days, to start a process committed by the two sides during the U.S.-Iraq Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue. In a statement on the start of the working group meeting, Austin said, “The United States and the Iraqi government will begin the meetings of the U.S.-Iraqi Supreme Military Committee (HMC) Working Group in the coming days, to begin a process committed to by both sides during the U.S.-Iraq Security Cooperation Dialogue (JSCD) in 2018. Washington, D.C., August 7-8, 2023. The start of an operation of the U.S.-Iraqi Supreme Military Commission (HMC) reflects the United States’ deep commitment to regional stability and Iraqi sovereignty.”
He continued: “It will enable the U.S.-Iraqi Supreme Military Commission (HMC) to transition to a permanent bilateral security partnership between the United States and Iraq, based on the successes of the campaign to defeat ISIS in Iraq in partnership with the Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. dissolved as part of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.”
The State Department announced the agreement with the United States to draft a timetable for the presence of international coalition advisers. The Ministry said in a statement received by Mawazine News, “In order to fulfill its national obligations and in line with the growing capacity and efficiency of the Iraqi forces, the Iraqi government announces, in agreement with the Government of the United States of America, the success of the ongoing negotiation rounds between the two sides that began in August 2023 and ends with the need to launch the Supreme Military Committee (HMC) at the level of work groups to assess the threat of ISIS and its danger, situational and operational requirements and strengthen the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces, in order to formulate a specific and clear timetable that determines the duration of the presence of the international coalition advisers in Iraq and to initiate the deliberate gradual reduction of its advisers on Iraqi soil and end the military mission of the coalition against ISIS.”
She added, “The agreement includes the transition to comprehensive bilateral relations with the coalition countries, political, economic, cultural, security and military, consistent with the vision of the Iraqi government. In particular, the Strategic Framework Agreement, which regulates comprehensive relations between Iraq and the United States of America and reflects the common desire for cooperation between the two sides in a way that achieves the interests of the two countries and contributes to strengthening Iraq’s regional and international role befits its historical status and building the best relations with the international community to serve the interests and aspirations of the Iraqi people.”
Political forces are fingerprinting the Sudanese with ten
The State Administration Coalition, which includes the vast majority of political forces that heads the current government, affirmed its support for the government’s position to regulate the relationship with the international coalition.
A statement of the coalition received by Mawazine News said that “the State Administration Coalition announces its support for the government’s position and support for the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in which it announced the start of dialogue between Iraq and the international coalition led by the United States of America on organizing the relationship bilaterally with the parties to the coalition, ending the combat mission and setting a timetable to reduce the number of advisers.” The statement added that “the coalition reiterates its support for the government’s measures included in the ministerial curriculum, including dialogue with the international coalition and the recharacterization of its existence and the relationship with its parties.”
For his part, the coordination framework on Thursday praised the joint statement in order to start the dialogue that leads to the withdrawal of the international coalition after the end of its mission and helped Iraq in the war on ISIS.
The framework said in a statement received by Mawazine News, that “While the coordinating framework appreciates the support of the international community for Iraq in its war against terrorism, it congratulates the great efforts made by all national forces, led by the government throughout the past period in order to start negotiations with the international coalition to redraw the relationship with it, and to preserve Iraq’s rights, sovereignty, security and stability.” The framework stressed “the importance of formulating a specific and clear timetable for the duration of the presence of the international coalition advisers in Iraq, and to proceed with reducing the number of advisers on Iraqi soil.”'
The coordination stressed “its full support for the transition to comprehensive bilateral relations with the coalition countries in the political, economic, cultural, security and military fields in line with the vision of the Iraqi government and contribute to strengthening internal stability and maintaining the security of the country.” He praised “the government’s commitment to what is stated in its platform, which included dialogue with the international coalition and the recharacterization of its existence and need for it.”
In turn, the National Resolvement Alliance affirmed the support of the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani in stacking the sovereignty of Iraq and organizing a sustainable relationship with the countries of the international coalition. The head of the Progress Party, Mohammed Al-Halbousi, indicated his support for the government’s steps and its agreement with the United States to find a bilateral path for cooperation.
