tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post3599880525363696077..comments2024-02-29T12:38:32.191-08:00Comments on MUSINGS ON IRAQ: What Will Iraq Be Like For The Remaining U.S. Troops?Joel Winghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-4461805382651160432010-08-23T18:39:04.482-07:002010-08-23T18:39:04.482-07:00Aymenn,
I actually read your article before you m...Aymenn,<br /><br />I actually read your article before you mentioned it. A couple points.<br /><br />1) Pipes' theory about revolutionary and status quo powers doesn't work in Iraq. Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey for example all support Allawi, while the U.S. and Iran back Maliki to be premier.<br /><br />2) The Saudis have very little influence in Iraq. Initially they supported the insurgency and gave a cold shoulder to the governments in Baghdad. Recently they backed Allawi, but that may pay off. They simply can't accept the fact that Shiites are going to run Iraq. <br /><br />3) Iran obviously has a lot of pull in Iraq, but the election has shown their limits. Despite a ton of pressure, they weren't able to get Maliki to run with the National Alliance before the vote, and since then they haven't gotten those two to reconcile either.<br /><br />4) Iraqi politicians are caught up in their own personal power struggle right now, which trumps whatever pressure the US, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, or Syria may be applying right now.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-4217563350735357962010-08-23T15:58:30.315-07:002010-08-23T15:58:30.315-07:00Thank you for posting this Joel. Incidentally, wou...Thank you for posting this Joel. Incidentally, would you be interested in reading this article I wrote on a similar subject (http://www.meforum.org/2726/iraq-middle-eastern-cold-war)? I would be grateful for feedback.Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamiminoreply@blogger.com