Article

2010-01-15 Iraq

Iraqi MP: "Our Neighboring... Mickey Mouse countries... Should Know That Iraq is a Superpower"

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Posted by Fred 2010-01-15 00:00|| || Front Page|| [12 views ] Top

#1 Fred, are you sure the link is right?

Posted by Penguin 2010-01-15 00:09|| 2010-01-15 00:09|| Front Page Top

#2 Kings.

Posted by newc 2010-01-15 01:06|| 2010-01-15 01:06|| Front Page Top

#3 He's right about the "Mickey Mouse countries" part.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2010-01-15 05:28|| 2010-01-15 05:28|| Front Page Top

#4 It won't be long before Iraq is a regional superpower. Syria in particular should be worried. They may find pan-Arab nationalism, which they were once so keen on, comes in the form of an armoured column entering Damascus.

Posted by phil_b 2010-01-15 05:41|| 2010-01-15 05:41|| Front Page Top

#5 Interesting. A national identity surfacing, and willing to defend itself. I sit back and watch.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2010-01-15 06:12|| 2010-01-15 06:12|| Front Page Top

#6 By the time we have finished training and supplying there is no reason why Iraq cant become a regional superpower . They have our support and the wider international community .

Whereas asshats like Iran and Syria dont.

Good point Whisky Mike .

Posted by Oscar 2010-01-15 06:20|| 2010-01-15 06:20|| Front Page Top

#7 Be interesting to see how this squares with the increasing Turkish posing and re-Ottomanization that was in yesterday's news.

Posted by AlanC 2010-01-15 07:24|| 2010-01-15 07:24|| Front Page Top

#8 The US military has built the Iraqi military into a world class organization. Once they can procure the advanced weapons systems and air force, they will be easily on a par with Turkey in many ways. And superior in some others, like combat experience.

But for Iraq to become a superpower, it has to become a "player". This means to have the ability to force project outside of Iraq. Not just during war, but with other missions as well.

Properly, if the opportunity presented itself, Iraq should absorb, or at least direct Syria. This would solve lots of problems in the region in one fell swoop. Lots of possibilities there.

Since the majority of Syrians are Sunni, it could become a "Sunni Homeland" for Iraqi Sunnis who didn't like being ruled by Shiites. The tiny Alawite Shiite minority that now rule would be marginalized.

The Lebanese Shiites could be de-radicalized, since they would be welcome in Iraq, and Hezbollah phased out, eliminating a second proxy for Iran. This would also take much of the pressure off Lebanon.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-01-15 09:31|| 2010-01-15 09:31|| Front Page Top

#9 Interesting geographical and social play Anonymoose

10-15 years down the line with the right use of oil funds and committed personel, Iraq has every chance of living the dream again, and being a regional power

I would love to re-visit and actually enjoy my stay fully, and to stick one in the face of the (gutless) nay-sayers !

Posted by Oscar 2010-01-15 12:58|| 2010-01-15 12:58|| Front Page Top

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