Osama Al Sharif

By: Osama Al Sharif

The almost impossible task of salvaging Iraq has begun along two distinct, but interconnected, courses: Political and military. Last week’s decision by former Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki to withdraw his candidacy for a third term as head of the Iraqi government has paved the way for the launching of a fresh political process aimed at national reconciliation. Prime Minister designate Haidar Al-Abadi is about to unveil his program, one that will be scrutinized by Sunnis, moderate Shiites and Kurds among others. The departure of Al-Maliki has been greeted by all political and religious forces inside Iraq in addition to the US, Iran and Saudi Arabia, underlining fears that the country was close to disintegrating.

The second course is military in the shape of American aerial bombardment of Islamic State (IS) targets in areas under its control. Kurdish peshmerga forces have moved on IS strongholds under US air cover, dislodging the militant group from the strategically important Mosul dam on Monday and liberating other areas in Nineveh governorate. The IS forces are said to be retreating to Mosul in preparation for major battles.

The west has been sending arms to Iraqi Kurdistan to boost its forces after IS militants ventured into the autonomous region last week. It was this crucial development that prompted President Barack Obama and his European allies to rally to the aid of the Irbil government.

But is this enough to save Iraq? Al-Abadi belongs to the same party, Al-Dawa, as Al-Maliki and is a member of his State of Law coalition which emerged as winner in the legislative elections held earlier this year. He has little political experience and some Sunni forces doubt that he will be able to entice them to join the political process. Six Sunni governorates have rebelled against the central government in Baghdad and their insurgency has helped the IS forces to take over Mosul and other towns. Under Al-Maliki Iraq’s Sunni minority suffered from exclusion and marginalization. Now they want more autonomy from the central government and a bigger share in the political process.

Al-Abadi will have to mend fences with Iraqi Kurdistan, which has moved closer to independence and is now in control of contested areas such as Kirkuk. It’s a big challenge for the federal government. He must also re-unite the Shiites, who have been divided by Al-Maliki’s self-serving policies during the last eight years. In addition, the new prime minister must take swift action to end the persecution and forced migration of Iraq’s Christians and other religious minorities.

Also on his agenda will be to chart a moderate course that will end the rift with Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia, while maintaining a special relationship with both Iran and the United States.

Osama Al Sharif

But the immediate challenge, if he succeeds in forming a government, will be to rebuild the Iraqi army and expel IS forces from Sunni governorates which represent more than one third of Iraq’s area. To do so he will need to solicit the help of Sunni tribes.

Meanwhile, the current US operation may weaken IS militants and evict them from areas under their control, but it is unlikely to succeed in defeating them. The IS militants control large swaths of land extending from Iraq’s north to Syria’s eastern region. In Syria they have become a formidable power with access to heavy weapons and financial resources. The IS has thousands of fighters under its control and without ground troops it will be impossible to wipe them out.

Ironically, Syrian regime air force has joined efforts to attack IS positions. This will embolden President Bashar Assad who repeatedly warned the west from the threat of foreign militants fighting in Syria. America’s war on the IS in Iraq has raised questions about Washington’s lack of clear policy on Syria. If the IS represents such a grave danger in Iraq, how is this different from Syria? And what will happen if the IS forces are driven back to their strongholds in Syria? Will the US and its allies attack them there?

On the other hand, President Obama will have to decide in the near future if the US aerial bombardment in northern Iraq will be enough to thwart the threat of the IS forces. He has insisted that there will be no boots on the ground, but with the collapse of the Iraqi army and the limited capacity of the peshmerga it will be impossible to deal a fatal blow to the IS in Iraq anytime soon.

One thing is clear now and that is the realization by the US and Europe of the unprecedented threat of the IS not only to Iraq but to the entire region and perhaps to western interests at home. Salvaging Iraq for now means that an inclusive political formula must be reached first to be followed by concerted regional and international efforts to address the increasing threat of the IS. So far both courses are insufficient and may stumble at any moment.

———————————————————————————————
Email: [email protected]

 
 
[wpResize]
 
 

Related articles across the web

• Iraq Updates ( August 16 , 2014 ) — Sunni Tribal Leaders Offer Backing for New Iraqi Govt Urge PM-Designate to Give Sunnis Autonomy ( Soon we find out if Abadi will be different than Maliki ) ……… US Fighter Jets Pound Mosul Area in Heaviest Strik
• Kurds push to drive militants from Mosul Dam with US air support – Reuters
• US air strikes hit Islamic State near Mosul dam
• Obama: Iraqis, Kurds have control of Mosul Dam after US airstrikes
• Sectarian Past and Pluralist Hopes for Iraq’s Likely Leader
• Iraq’s PM Maliki gives up his post, supports his successor Abadi
• Al-Maliki Steps Down: Phase No 1 of Atlantic Council’s Plan for Iraq Achieved
• Political showdown in Iraq as Maliki refuses to go
• Fight for world’s ‘most dangerous’ dam
• What is Iraq?