Syria Caesar’s Law: After Syria, How Will it Affect Iraq? 2/3

The enactment of “Caesar’s Law” – the new US sanctions designed to “pursue individuals, groups, companies, and countries that deal with the Damascus government” – is apparently directed against Syria but in reality, aims to kill many birds with one stone. This “law” aims to damage Iran, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, united under one front: the “Axis of the Resistance”.

The EU-US sanctions on Syria under Caesar’s Law aim to cut the connection which exists between Tehran and Lebanon via Iraq and Syria. The growing power of the “Axis of the Resistance” following its victories in Syria (by preventing the regime change) and in Iraq (by recovering the territories occupied by ISIS) cannot be allowed to proliferate since it represents a threat to both Israel and the US. And we have not even mentioned Yemen and Palestine!

The Marjaiya believes Hashd al-Shaabi “should remain, and is necessary to confront ISIS but also to question the Peshmerga status.” According to the Marjaiya: “No east or west, Iraq first but that applies to all forces and not only Hashd al-Shaabi. All forces should be under the command of the Prime Minister. The Iranian and the US influence should end” said the source in Najaf.

The Marjaiya would like to see all named distinctions within the Hashd al-Shaabi ended so that it becomes a real force within the security forces with an Iraqi agenda. The Iraqi agenda includes the withdrawal of the US forces as well and the end of Iran’s influence over Iraqi organisations and groups.

“The Shia political parties like Al-Fateh, Sa’yroon (Moqtada al-Sadr), Nuri al-Maliki, Haidar Abadi, Sayyed Ammar al-Hakim, Sheikh Qais al-Khaz’ali, all have seats in parliament and are therefore stronger than the Marjaiya when it comes to voting any resolution. Najaf is limited in its influence at the end of the day and can only shuffle certain cards. In fact, we don’t have a road map”, said the source in Najaf.

The US is holding the cash that Iraq needs, including World Bank deposits. It can state its will but it cannot impose it on Iraq. The US would like to know exactly how many

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Syria Caesar’s Law: After Syria, How Will it Affect Iraq? 2/3