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Iraq
Iraqi MP: "Our Neighboring... Mickey Mouse countries... Should Know That Iraq is a Superpower"
2010-01-15
Link fixed.
Excerpts from an interview with Iraqi MP Mithal Al-Alousi, which aired on Al-Fayhaa TV on December 12, 2009.
"If things are like that, and a certain country is waging a war against us, Iraqi intelligence should respond by the same token, in that very same contemptible capital where they sanction the killing of Iraqis.

"The Iraqi government should talk about Hareth Al-Dhari. How come nobody mentions the 1920 Revolution Brigades, or talks about Hareth Al-Dhari? How come Iraqi intelligence does not carry out preemptive operations, even if it involves stopping that criminal by any possible means, in order to protect our citizens?

"What can the policemen and soldiers out on the streets do? Today, most of the victims are soldiers and policemen, who absorb the first terrorist strike.

"We want to see preemptive operations, stemming from confidence in ourselves and in our state. The politicians and security chiefs should act, and take real preemptive measures. The defense of Baghdad cannot be achieved on the streets of Baghdad itself. Baghdad should be defended from advanced posts, and even in dance clubs, among criminals, and in places of worship..."

Interviewer: "As well as advanced posts in Damascus, in Tehran, and in Riyadh..."

Mithal Al-Alousi: "In Damascus, in Tehran, in the UAE, and everywhere -- even in Washington. We should conduct preemptive operations everywhere, in order to protect the Iraqis.
[...]

"In the work of intelligence agencies, preemptive operations are legitimate. I am not telling you to strike at the intelligence agency of some country. I am saying that you should attack the terrorists coming from there, or the recruiting and training centers, about which our government says it has information." [...]

"I would like to say something to our neighboring countries, and I mean what I say. Iraq has survived six years of terror attacks, car bombs, and bloodshed. By God, we can survive another 60 years of this war. But these Mickey Mouse countries -- even the large ones, which believe they are protected by the cloak of religion -- cannot survive even five terror attacks in their capitals. You will see how their regimes collapse.

"They should know that Iraq is a superpower that cannot be divided into Sunnis and Shiites, into Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen -- all that nonsense. The body of Iraq has taken many blows, while their bodies cannot tolerate even two or three strikes."

"We should use our bargaining chips, and eliminate any Iraqi -- let me repeat -- any Iraqi who plans, from a foreign country, the killing of Iraqis. Let that country get mad and complain to the UN Security Council. Let them do whatever they want. They need us, they need our economy, they need to export their goods to us. They need commercial relations with Iraq.

"I, Mithal Al-Alousi, am willing to give the order to kill a terrorist in Syria, Tehran, or any other city, if he so much as dreams of killing a single Iraqi citizen."
Posted by:Fred

#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  

#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  

#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  

#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  

#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  

#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  

#3  He's right about the "Mickey Mouse countries" part.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2010-01-15 05:28  

#2  Kings.
Posted by: newc   2010-01-15 01:06  

#1  Fred, are you sure the link is right?
Posted by: Penguin   2010-01-15 00:09  

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