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Iraq PM: Trump demanded Oil to pay for Reconstruction. Iraq did deal with China instead, from Peter Myers

Iraq PM reveals: Trump refused to complete Iraq's infrastructure & electricity reconstruction unless promised 50% of oil revenue. Mahdi then
 did a deal with China instead. Then furious Trump arranged demonstrations & snipers, forced Mahdi to resign.
(1) Suleimani assassination - for OIL or for ISRAEL?(2) Trump demanded Oil, to pay for Reconstruction. Iraq did deal with China instead.(3) Iraq PM visited China in 2019; China agreed to undertake construction projects instead of US(4) Michael Hudson says Suleimani assassination was for OIL, not for ISRAEL(5) Haaretz: U.S. gives Israel Green Light to Assassinate Soleimani (Jan 2018)(6) Mossad chief says Israeli assassination of Soleimani "not impossible" (Oct 2019)(7) Mossad targeted Soleimani, Trump pulled the trigger(8) Iraq has lodged official complaints with UN & UNSC(9) PM Mahdi: if US troops remain in Iraq, they will be considered an occupying force.(10) Pompeo Goes Full Neocon, turn away from "America First" (Nov 2019)(11) Mission Creep: from fighting Isis to confronting Iran(12) Michael Hudson says Neocons gave the world the Iraq & Syria wars(13) Netanyahu, JINSA and AIPAC welcome killing of Suleimani (Jewish Telegraph Agency)(14) China, Not Iran, Is the Power to Watch in Iraq; Iraq joins Belt & Road (The Diplomat, US State Dept, Oct 2019)(15) China builds Iraq Infrastructure(1) Suleimani assassination - for OIL or for ISRAEL?- by Peter Myers, January 8, 2020Michael Hudson, the Marxist economist, has published an article saying that the Suleimani assassination was for OIL (item 4). The article does not mention Israel or the Neocons, but the implication is that the assassination was for OIL NOT ISRAEL.Pepe Escobar, at Asia Times, quoted from Hudson's article; it is doing the rounds.Yet in an article on his website, dated February 1, 2019, Hudson says that Neocons gave the world the Iraq & Syria wars:https://michael-hudson.com/2019/02/trumps-brilliant-strategy-to-dismember-u-s-dollar-hegemony/Trump’s Brilliant Strategy to Dismember U.S. Dollar HegemonyBy MichaelFriday February 1, 2019(item 12 below)In that article, Hudson clearly implies that Israel was the motive for those wars; they were not FOR OIL.Most 'alternative' commentators are saying that Soleimani was assassinated for Israel. A Haaretz headline of January 1, 2018 reads: "Report: U.S. gives Israel Green Light to Assassinate Soleimani" (item 5).That page of Haaretz is at http://mailstar.net/Haaretz-assass-Soleimani.pngNote the date of the article in the bottom left corner.Mossad had Suleimani in its sights for some years; it had already assassinated at least five Iranian nuclear scientists (items 6 & 7).However, Trump recently demanded 50% of Iraq's Oil revenues, to pay for the continued Reconstruction of Iraq, after the US invasion of 2004 left it in ruins (item 2).But this was part of Trump's economy drive. His refusal to spend Dollars repairing Iraq was the reason he asked for Oil revenues. That does not mean that Soleimani was killed for that reason.Marxists, pushing a materialist line, often push the OIL motive, and deny the role of the Israel Lobby.Ex-Larouche writers, who once wrote for Executive Intelligence Review, such as F. William Engdahl and Webster G. Tarpley, do the same. Pepe Escobar also seems to have a Larouche stripe.(2) Trump demanded Oil, to pay for Reconstruction. Iraq did deal with China instead. Trump furious, staged demonstrations & snipers to force PM to resignhttps://www.moonofalabama.org/2020/01/blowback-from-the-soleimani-assassination-increases-as-iraq-reveals-how-trump-tried-to-steal-its-oil.htmlJanuary 07, 2020Blowback From The Soleimani Assassination Increases As Iraq Reveals How Trump Tried To Steal Its OilThe blowback from Trump's assassination of Major General Qassem Soleimani and PMU leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis is increasing. A scandal is developing as one consequence of Trump's evil deed after Iraq's Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi revealed the gangster methods U.S. President Trump used in his attempts to steal Iraq's oil. Below we follow today's development. [...]Roham Alvandi @RohamAlvandiLSE -10:11 UTC · Jan 5, 2020Ardeshir Zahedi, the foreign minister of Iran from 1966 to 1971 and the former son-in-law of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, describes Soleimani as a "patriotic and honourable soldier who was a son of Iran" and compares him to De Gaulle, Montgomery, MacArthur, and Eisenhower. ...The U.S. has denied Iran's Foreign Minister Jahvad Zarif a visa for a long planned visit to the UN in New York. Zarif responded by saying that he can talk to the U.S. people from Tehran. [...]The leader of a number of Iraqi Popular Militia Forces will meet in the next 48 hours to plan for the eviction of U.S. forces from Iraq should they not leave voluntarily. For security reasons the meeting was moved from Baghdad to Tehran.North-Yemen held a quite large public mourning for Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. A Houthi minister held a speech during which he said:"Soleimani's blood .. will turn into intercontinental missiles .. to destroy US warships and end US regional presence" U.S. war ships will certainly have to avoid Yemen's coast.The removal of U.S. troops from the region was also the theme of Sunday's speech by Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon. It seems clear that the Resistance Axis will work on the project in a coordinated manner.Trump said he would ask Iraq to pay for the bases the U.S. has built should the U.S. troops be kicked out of Iraq. The U.S. already has binding legal agreements with Iraq which stipulate that the bases, and all fixed installations the U.S. has built there, are the property of Iraq.Trump had already asked Iraqi Prime Ministers - twice - if the U.S. could get Iraq's oil as reward for invading and destroying their country. The requests were rejected. Now we learn that Trump also uses gangster methods (ar) to get the oil of Iraq. The talk by the Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi happened during the recent parliament session in Iraq (machine translation):{quote} Al-Halbousi, Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, blocked the speech of Mr. Abdul Mahdi in the scheduled session to discuss the decision to remove American forces from Iraq.At the beginning of the session, Al-Halbousi left the presidential seat and sat next to Mr. Abdul-Mahdi, after his request to cut off the live broadcast of the session, a public conversation took place between the two parties. The voice of Adel Abdul Mahdi was raised.Mr. Abdul Mahdi spoke with an angry tone, saying:"The Americans are the ones who destroyed the country and wreaked havoc on it. They are those who refuse to complete building the electrical system and infrastructure projects. They have bargained for the reconstruction of Iraq in exchange for giving up 50% of Iraqi oil imports, so I refused and decided to go to China and concluded an important and strategic agreement with it, and today Trump is trying to cancel this important agreement."The American President's threatened the Iraqi Prime Minister to liquidate him directly with the Minister of Defense. The Marines are the third party that sniped the demonstrators and the security men:Abdul Mahdi continued:"After my return from China, Trump called me and asked me to cancel the agreement, so I also refused, and he threatened me with massive demonstrations that would topple me. Indeed, the demonstrations started and then Trump called, threatening to escalate in the event of non-cooperation and responding to his wishes, so that the third party (Marines snipers) would target the demonstrators and security forces and kill them from the highest structures and the US embassy in an attempt to pressure me and submit to his wishes and cancel the China agreement, so I did not respond and submitted my resignation and the Americans still insist to this day on canceling the China agreement and when the defense minister said that who kills the demonstrators is a third party, Trump called me immediately and physically threatened me and defense minister in the event of talk about the third party."{endquote}The reliable Based Cat in Iraq seems to confirm the timeline:TØM CLT @TomtheBasedCat - 4:00 UTC · Jan 7, 2020 Yes a 50-person delegation visited China in 2019 and then the protests started on October 1st until the Arbaeen dates, then picked up again on Oct 25th. I'm skeptical about the 3rd party but the timing itself was interesting. The flames were fanned by Gulf media and Al-Hurra. Al-Hurra is a U.S. government financed Arab language TV outlet.Southfront has a similar report, seemingly from a different source, with some additional context.While this talk has not yet been confirmed it does sounds highly plausible.The chicken-hawks of Israel, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who have all lobbied the U.S. for war on Iran, now fear the consequences:Gulf Arab states, potential targets for retaliation after the U.S. assassinated Iran’s top general, are working on multiple tracks to try to keep tensions between Tehran and Washington from building into a military confrontation.Earlier today Russia's President Vladimir Putin arrived in Damascus for talks with the Syria's President Assad. Could there also be a meeting between Putin and Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah? Putin will next go to Turkey to inaugurate the gas pipeline between Russia and Turkey.Posted by b on January 7, 2020 at 17:40 UTChttps://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1214408047302520832.htmlIbn Riad - @IbnRiad[Thread] A translation of the below thread by Ahmad Khazraji on Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, in which he reveals the reasons he held his silence and resigned.(Most significantly, he reveals that US Marine snipers fired at Iraqi protestors.) Unroll available on Thread Reader6:28 AM - Jan 7, 2020 The first revelation is why Halbousi attended the parliamentary session while almost none of the Sunni members did. This was because the Americans learned Abdul-Mehdi planned to reveal sensitive secrets in the session, and sent Halbousi to prevent this.Halbousi cut Abdul-Mehdi off during the beginning of his speech, then asked for the live airing of the session to be stopped. After this, Halbousi and the other members sat by Abdul-Mehdi and spoke openly with no recording.(Actually unclear to me exactly what happens here, but the important part is that the broadcast is cut off and Abdul-Mehdi keeps talking) This is what was discussed in that session (unbroadcast): Abdul-Mehdi spoke angrily of how the Americans had ruined the country and now refused to complete the infrastructure and electricity grid projects unless they are promised 50% of oil revenues - Which Abdul-Mehdi refused.Abdul-Mehdi: This is why I visited China and signed an important agreement with them to undertake the construction instead. Upon my return, Trump called me to rescind the agreement, and when I refused, he threatened me with huge demonstrations against me that would end my PM-shipAbdul-Mehdi: And so indeed huge demos materialised against me, and Trump calls again and says, if I don’t comply w/ his demands, he will station Marines snipers atop highest buildings, who will target and kill protestors and security forces alike, in an attempt to pressure me.Abdul-Mahdi: Again I refused, & handed in my resignation, and to this day the Americans insist on cancelling our deal with China. Abdul-Mehdi: After this, when our Minister of Defense publicly said that a third side was targeting both protestors and security (just as Trump threatened), I receive a new call from Trump who threatened to kill both me and the MoD if we keep talking about this "third side". So to summarise, & to get this straight, the US has:- refused to finish reconstructing the country they destroyed- demanded 50% of all oil revenues from Iraq in exchange for finishing this work (gangster-style)- lost their mind when Iraq looked to China instead(Cont.) - demanded that Iraq rescind the agreement, & upon rejection, fomented mass protests- demanded anew, and this time when rejected again, stationed Marines snipers to take out protestors and security men- threatened to KILL the caretaker PM and the MoD if word of this got out(3) Iraq PM visited China in 2019; China agreed to undertake construction projects instead of UShttps://southfront.org/iraqi-prime-minister-was-forced-to-resign-after-trump-threatened-his-life/#IRAQ#USA 07.01.2020IRAQI PRIME MINISTER WAS FORCED TO RESIGN AFTER TRUMP THREATENED HIS LIFE: REPORTIraqi Prime Minister Was Forced To Resign After Trump Threatened His Life: ReportOn January 5th, the Iraqi parliament voted on a resolution to expel US troops from the country. In attendance was, caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, who, according to reports provided insight into why specifically Iraq was in this situation, and predominantly spoke about threats that came his way from US President Donald Trump and the US policy towards the country.The following is the summary of reports regarding Abdul-Mehdi’s comments during the January 5 vote of the Iraqi Parliament. These reports have been nor officially confirmed nor denied by the Prime Minister office.Abdul-Mehdi adressed the US hostile actions against the country. For example, the politician reportedly said that the US refused to complete the infrastructure and electricity grid projects unless it is promised 50% of oil revenues. The Prime Minister refused to make the concession.@Ahmedzehzeeh2226:28 AM - Jan 7, 2020Then, when the Prime Minister visited China and reached an important agreement to undertake construction of the projects instead of the US, President Donald Trump allegedly called him, telling him to rescind the agreement with China, otherwise there would be massive demonstrations against him, that would force him out of his seat.HINT: A 50-person Iraqi delegation visited China in 2019 and that protests began on October 1st, observed a religious holiday, and then ramped up once again on October 25th. The flames of the protests were further fanned by mainstream media outlets.TØM CLT @TomtheBasedCat Yes a 50-person delegation visited China in 2019 and then the protests started on October 1st until the Arbaeen dates, then picked up again on Oct 25th. I'm skeptical about the 3rd party but the timing itself was interesting. The flames were fanned by Gulf media and Al-Hurra. https://twitter.com/iraqi_agi/status/1214392143005003777 …Ahmed @iraqi_agiIMPORTANT ABOUT THE PROTEST IN IRAQ: Trump called the Iraqi PM and asked him to cancel the agreement Iraq was trying to make with China to improve the Iraqi infrastructure (roads, electrity,water) , Iraqi PM refused, so Trump threatened him with massive demonstrations2:00 PM - Jan 7, 2020Then, when massive demonstrations materialized against Adel Abdul-Mahdi, Trump once again allegedly called him. The US President allegedly threatened to position US marine snipers "atop the highest buildings," who will target and kill protesters and security forces alike in an attempt to pressure the Prime Minister.Instead of complying, Adel Abdul-Mahdi refused and handed in his resignation and the US still attempt to pressure him in cancelling the supposed deal with China.Later on, when the Iraqi Minister of Defense publicly said that a third side was targeting both protesters and security forces alike, Abdul-Mahdi allegedly received a new call from Trump who threatened to kill both him and the Minister of Defense if they kept talking about this "third side".Furthermore, the Iraqi Pirme Minister revealed that Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was invited to Iraq to take part in reconciliation negotiations with Saudi Arabia when he was assassinated by the US. ...Elijah J. Magnier @ejmalraiWe have learned today from #Iraq Prime Minister AdilAbdl Mahdi how @realDonaldTrump uses diplomacy:#US asked #Iraq to mediate with #Iran. Iraq PM asks #QassemSoleimani to come and talk to him and give him the answer of his mediation, Trump &co assassinate an envoy at the airport[...] The US Embassy in New Delhi in India is closed due to mass protests. Protesters burn flags of the USA and Israel.The Prime Minister of Malaysia called on Muslim countries to unite to protect themselves from foreign attacks and killings.Thus, it appears that recent US actions have, once again, undermined its global hegemony and especially may end up reducing its influence in the Middle East, likely counter to its initial plans.(4) Michael Hudson says Suleimani assassination was for OIL, not for ISRAELhttps://www.unz.com/mhudson/america-escalates-its-democratic-oil-war-in-the-near-east/America Escalates Its "Democratic" Oil War in the Near EastMICHAEL HUDSONJANUARY 5, 2020The mainstream media are carefully sidestepping the method behind America’s seeming madness in assassinating Islamic Revolutionary Guard general Qassim Suleimani to start the New Year. The logic behind the assassination this was a long-standing application of U.S. global policy, not just a personality quirk of Donald Trump’s impulsive action. His assassination of Iranian military leader Suleimani was indeed a unilateral act of war in violation of international law, but it was a logical step in a long-standing U.S. strategy. It was explicitly authorized by the Senate in the funding bill for the Pentagon that it passed last year.The assassination was intended to escalate America’s presence in Iraq to keep control the region’s oil reserves, and to back Saudi Arabia’s Wahabi troops (Isis, Al Quaeda in Iraq, Al Nusra and other divisions of what are actually America’s foreign legion) to support U.S. control o Near Eastern oil as a buttress o the U.S. dollar. That remains the key to understanding this policy, and why it is in the process of escalating, not dying down. [...](5) Haaretz: U.S. gives Israel Green Light to Assassinate Soleimani (Jan 2018)https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/u-s-gives-israel-green-light-to-assassinate-iran-s-general-soleimani-1.5630156Report: U.S. Gives Israel Green Light to Assassinate Iranian General SoleimaniAl Jarida, a Kuwaiti newspaper which in recent years had broken exclusive stories from Israel, says Israel was 'on the verge' of assassinating Soleimani, but the U.S. warned Tehran and thwarted the operationHaaretz Jan 01, 2018 1:30 PMNote: This article was published in January 2018Washington gave Israel a green light to assassinate Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force, the overseas arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida reported on Monday.Al-Jarida, which in recent years had broken exclusive stories from Israel, quoted a source in Jerusalem as saying that "there is an American-Israeli agreement" that Soleimani is a "threat to the two countries' interests in the region." It is generally assumed in the Arab world that the paper is used as an Israeli platform for conveying messages to other countries in the Middle East.The agreement between Israel and the United States, according to the report, comes three years after Washington thwarted an Israeli attempt to kill the general.The report says Israel was "on the verge" of assassinating Soleimani three years ago, near Damascus, but the United States warned the Iranian leadership of the plan, revealing that Israel was closely tracking the Iranian general.The incident, the report said, "sparked a sharp disagreement between the Israeli and American security and intelligence apparatuses regarding the issue."The Kuwaiti report also identified Iran's second in command in Syria, known as "Abu Baker," as Mohammad Reda Falah Zadeh. It said he also "might be a target" for Israel, as well as other actors in the region.(6) Mossad chief says Israeli assassination of Soleimani "not impossible" (Oct 2019)https://deepstateblog.org/2019/10/24/is-israel-targeting-irans-top-general-for-assassination/EFFERSON MORLEYOCTOBER 24, 2019Is Israel Targeting Iran’s Top General For Assassination?That’s the question circulating both in Arab and Israeli media.Israel’s Mossad is the world’s foremost practitioner of assassination. General Qasem Soleimani is commander of the Qods Force, the special operations command of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Israel is worried about Iran’s growing influence in the Middle East. Soleimani is Iran’s most effective general.In an interview published Thursday, Mossad chief Yossi Cohen said a potential Israeli assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, the head of the elite Quds Force in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was "not impossible."In recent years, Soleimani has led two successful Iranian military operations: the campaign to drive ISIS out of Iraq in 2015 and the campaign to crush the jihadist forces opposed to Syria’s Bashar al-Assad.In the same period, Israel assassinated at least five Iranian nuclear scientists, according to Israeli journalist Ronen Bergman, in an effort to thwart Iran’s nuclear program.In a profile piece for ultra-Orthodox newspaper Mishpacha, Cohen was asked about Soleimani’s claim that Israeli aircraft targeted him and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut during the Second Lebanon War in 2006.(7) Mossad targeted Soleimani, Trump pulled the triggerFrom: Sadanand, Nanjundiah (Physics and Engineering Physics) [mailto:sadanand@ccsu.edu]Sent: Mon, 6 Jan 2020 17:42:30 +0000JANUARY 3, 2020by JEFFERSON MORLEYAfter Mossad Targeted Soleimani, Trump Pulled the Triggerhttps://deepstateblog.org/2019/10/24/is-israel-targeting-irans-top-general-for-assassination/https://deepstateblog.org/2020/01/03/after-Mossad-targeted-Soleimani-trump-pulled-the-trigger/[Jefferson Morley, author of The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA Spymaster James Jesus Angleton, is the editor of The Deep State blog. He is a member of the Truth & Reconciliation Committee, founded to reopen the investigations of the assassination of JFK, MLK, RFK, and Malcolm X.]Last October Yossi Cohen, head of Israel’s Mossad, spoke openly about assassinating Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, the head of the elite Quds Force in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps."He knows very well that his assassination is not impossible," Cohen said in an interview. Soleimani had boasted that the Israel’s tried to assassinate him in 2006 and failed."Is Israel Targeting Iran’s Top General for Assassination?" I asked on October 24. On Thursday, Soleimani was killed in an air strike ordered by President Trump.Soleimani’s convoy was struck by U.S. missiles as he left a meeting at Baghdad’s airport amid anti-Iranian and anti-American demonstrations in Iraq. Supporters of an Iranian-backed militia had agreed to withdraw from the U.S. diplomatic compound in return for a promise that the government would allow a parliamentary vote on expelling 5,000 U.S. troops from the country.The Pentagon confirmed the military operation, which came "at the direction of the president" and was "aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans." The Pentagon claimed in a statement that Gen. Soleimani was "actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region."Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, under indictment for criminal charges, was the first and only national leader to support Trump’s action, while claiming that that Trump acted entirely on his own."Just as Israel has the right to self-defense, the United States has exactly the same right," Netanyahu told reporters in Greece. "Qassem Soleimani is responsible for the deaths of American citizens and other innocents, and he was planning more attacks."In recent years, Soleimani led two successful Iranian military operations: the campaign to drive ISIS out of western Iraq in 2015 and the campaign to crush the jihadist forces opposed to Syria’s Bashar al-Assad. The United States and Israel denounced Iran’s role in both operations but could not prevent Iran from claiming victory.Soleimani had assumed a leading role in Iraqi politics in the past year. The anti-ISIS campaign relied on Iraqi militias, which the Iranians supported with money, weapons, and training. After ISIS was defeated, these militia maintained a prominent role in Iraq that many resented, leading to demonstrations and rioting. Soleimani was seeking to stabilize the government and channel the protests against the United States when he was killed.In the same period, Israel pursued its program of targeted assassination. In the past decade Mossad assassinated < https: www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/03/05/israel-assassination-iranian-scientists-217223="> at least five Iranian nuclear scientists, according to Israeli journalist Ronen Bergman, in an effort to thwart Iran’s nuclear program. Yossi Melman, another Israeli journalist, says that Mossad has assassinated 60-70 enemies outside of its borders since its founding in 1947, though none as prominent as Soleimani.In the same period, Israel assassinated at least five Iranian nuclear scientists, according to Israeli journalist Ronen Bergman, in an effort to thwart Iran’s nuclear program.In a profile piece for ultra-Orthodox newspaper Mishpacha, Cohen was asked about Soleimani’s claim that Israeli aircraft targeted him and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut during the Second Lebanon War in 2006."With all due respect to his bluster, he hasn’t necessarily committed the mistake yet that would place him on the prestigious list of Mossad’s assassination targets," Cohen said.Jack Khoury, a reporter for Ha’aretz, the leftist Israeli daily, recently reported:In January, Washington gave Israel the green light to assassinate Soleimani, according to Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida.Al-Jarida, which in recent years had broken exclusive stories from Israel, quoted a source in Jerusalem as saying that "there is an American-Israeli agreement" that Soleimani is a "threat to the two countries’ interests in the region." It is generally assumed in the Arab world that the paper is used as an Israeli platform for conveying messages to other countries in the Middle East.An October 6 report from the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center in Israel highlighted Soleimani’s emergence as a political figure in Iran. (The Center, named after a Mossad chief in the 1960s, reliably reflects the views of Israeli intelligence.)Recently, the official website of the Supreme Leader of Iran uncharacteristically published photos documenting a meeting of the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, and the Commander of the Qods Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Qasem Soleimani. It is unclear when the meeting was held. The photographs were published alongside a wide-ranging interview with Secretary General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, published on the website of the Supreme Leader. In the interview, Nasrallah detailed the development of relations between Iran and Hezbollah since the 1980s. In addition, a rare interview with Qasem Soleimani was aired on Iranian TV concerning the 2006 Lebanon War. It is possible that these media appearances, alongside the threats recently made toward Israel by senior IRGC commanders, are intended to send a deterrent message to Israel to dissuade it from continuing to act against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, Lebanon and western Iraq.[emphasis added]By elevating Soleimani’s prominence, the Israelis suggest, the Iranians are sending a message that his assassination would be regarded as causus belli, justification for war.The "assassination squad prepared between 350 and 500 kilograms of explosive material" to use against Soleimani during the holy month of Muharram, which began this year in early September, possibly in the Iranian city of Kerman, Taeb added.Assassinating Soleimani would be consistent with Israeli doctrine. It would also suck the United States into a war with Iran, at a time when President Trump is loudly proclaiming his intention to end America’s "stupid endless wars."Israel also began striking at the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq last year. The United States did the same on December 29, killing 19 fighters and prompting anti-American demonstrations as big as the anti-Iranian demonstrations of a month ago.Now the killing of Soleimani promises more unrest, if not open war. The idea that it will deter Iranian attacks is foolish."This doesn’t mean war," wrote former Defense Department official Andrew Exum, "It will not lead to war, and it doesn’t risk war. None of that. ...The Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida reported a year ago that Washington had given Israel the green light to assassinate Soleimani. Al-Jarida, which in recent years has broken exclusive stories from Israel, quoted a source in Jerusalem as saying that "there is an American-Israeli agreement" that Soleimani is a "threat to the two countries’ interests in the region." It is generally assumed in the Arab world that the paper is used as an Israeli platform for conveying messages to other countries in the Middle East.Trump has now fulfilled the wishes of Mossad. After proclaiming his intention to end America’s "stupid endless wars," the president has effectively declared war on the largest country in the region in solidarity with Israel, the most unpopular country in the Middle East.(8) Iraq has lodged official complaints with UN & UNSChttps://www.reuters.com/article/idUSS8N27L04KJANUARY 6, 2020 / 12:26 AMIraq complains to UN over U.S. attacks -foreign ministryBAGHDAD, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Iraq’s foreign ministry has lodged official complaints with the United Nations Secretary-General and Security Council over U.S. air strikes on Iraqi soil that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and several Iraqi militia leaders.The complaint is about "American attacks and aggression on Iraqi military positions and the assassination of Iraqi and allied high level military commanders on Iraqi soil," the ministry said in a statement.It described the attacks as "a dangerous breach of Iraqi sovereignty and of the terms of U.S. presence in Iraq."It called on the Security Council to condemn the attacks. (Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Writing by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Maha El Dahan)(9) PM Mahdi: if US troops remain in Iraq, they will be considered an occupying force.https://www.dw.com/en/iraqi-parliament-votes-to-expel-us-troops-awaits-government-approval/a-51892888Iraqi parliament votes to expel US troops — awaits government approvalParliament has voted to ask the government to end an agreement to host US troops in Iraq. The move would oust all foreign soldiers, including those from Germany. President Trump has threatened Iraq with sanctions.Iraqi parliament on Sunday (Reuters/Iraqi parliament media office) The Iraqi parliament has voted to remove US troops from Iraq. In an extraordinary session, lawmakers backed a resolution to ask the government to end an agreement with Washington to station 5,200 troops in Iraq.Sunday's resolution specifically calls for ending a 2014 agreement that allows Washington to send troops to Iraq to help in the fight against the "Islamic State" group."The government commits to revoke its request for assistance from the international coalition fighting 'Islamic State' due to the end of military operations in Iraq and the achievement of victory," the resolution read."The Iraqi government must work to end the presence of any foreign troops on Iraqi soil and prohibit them from using its land, airspace or water for any reason." [...]The decision to expel forces from the country also includes representations from other nations, among them Germany. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas expressed his concerns over the increasing tensions in the Middle East, but also iterated that the Iraqi government's position must be respected."Our overriding interest is that stability and unity in Iraq is not falling victim to the recent escalation," Maas stressed late Sunday. On the Iraqi government, he added: "We will respect every decision."The German government said late Sunday that its military presence in Iraq would "only remain if the Iraqi government wanted that."Adel Abdul-Mahdi, Iraq's caretaker prime minister, said officials are preparing a memo for legal and procedural steps to implement parliament's resolution. He also said that if US troops remains then they will be considered an occupying force. [...](10) Pompeo Goes Full Neocon, turn away from "America First" (Nov 2019)https://nationalinterest.org/feature/pompeo-goes-full-Neocon-97432Pompeo Goes Full NeoconSecretary of State Mike Pompeo pivots back from America First.by Matthew PettiNovember 18, 2019Secretary of State Mike Pompeo unleashed a litany of Neoconservative talking points at a Monday afternoon press conference, marking a turn away from the Trump administration’s "America First" foreign policy."We are recognizing the reality on the ground," he said when asked about a one-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "When the time is right, our vision will go forward."The speech touched on issues around the world, from condemning China’s crackdown in Hong Kong to condoning the recent military takeover in Bolivia. But it focused the most on the Middle East, where President Donald Trump has promised to end "endless wars."Pompeo began by focusing on Iran, a country the Trump administration has flip-flopped on several times. Pompeo demanded Iran act like a "normal country," echoing a talking point from the days of John Bolton."The United States will terminate the sanctions waiver related to the nuclear facility at Fordow, effective December 15," Pompeo said, driving another nail into the coffin of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six leading world powers. "The right amount of uranium enrichment for the world’s largest state sponsor of terror is zero."The waivers allowed foreign companies to work at the Fordow nuclear enrichment facility, which Iran was converting to a civilian research center under the deal. [...]Pompeo also condemned Iraq’s crackdown on anti-government protests, which has killed hundreds of civilians. He promised to sanction corrupt Iraqi officials.But his most-anticipated bombshell had to do with a conflict that has been frozen in place for decades."The Trump administration is reversing the Obama administration's approach towards Israeli settlements," Pompeo said, in prepared comments that had been leaked a few hours before. "The establishment of Israeli civilian settlements in the West Bank is not per se inconsistent with international law.""There hasn’t been much support for Israel" on the international stage, he added."Pompeo’s statement reversed a U.S. legal position dating back to 1978. U.S. administrations since the Carter administration have held that Israel cannot legally settle its own civilians in the Palestinian territories that Israel captured in its 1967 war against its Arab neighbors.Israel and the Palestinian leadership have worked towards a two-state solution, which would create an independent State of Palestine in the 1967 territories, since the Oslo peace accords of the 1990s. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to annex Israeli settlements in the territories, threatening to create a one-state status quo. [...]Editor's note: the piece has been updated to better reflect the context of Mr. Reis's statement.(11) Mission Creep: from fighting Isis to confronting Iranhttps://nationalinterest.org/blog/paul-pillar/america-wearing-out-its-welcome-iraq-110011America Is Wearing Out Its Welcome In IraqIf there is a parallel with Tehran in 1979, it is to be found primarily in a U.S. failure to anticipate and understand the nature of the anti-U.S. anger so much in evidence.by Paul R. PillarThe scene in the Green Zone in Baghdad easily evokes memories of Tehran forty years ago. A U.S. embassy in the Persian Gulf region is under siege by an angry mob. The protestors, predominantly young, break through the outer walls of the compound as U.S. diplomats take refuge in a safe room. President Donald Trump implicitly extends the parallel by reacting in the narrowly anti-Iran terms that have defined his policies in this part of the world. "Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq," Trump tweeted from Mar-a-Lago. "To those many millions of people in Iraq who want freedom and who don't want to be dominated and controlled by Iran, this is your time!"But a closer look at what has been happening in Iraq suggests that genuine anger had much more to do with events than any orchestration did. The protestors who smashed their way into the embassy compound did so in defiance of appeals from leaders armed with loudspeakers. And the popular anger displayed at the embassy was also quite visible elsewhere in Iraq. If there is a parallel with Tehran in 1979, it is to be found primarily in a U.S. failure to anticipate and understand the nature of the anti-U.S. anger so much in evidence. [...]U.S. military personnel are in Iraq supposedly on an anti-ISIS mission. Under the Trump administration, there appears to have been mission creep, in Iraq as well as Syria, in which somehow confronting Iran has become part of a new mission. That mission has never been justified. No one has explained exactly how the current state of Iraqi-Iranian relations threatens U.S. interests—beyond any threat to the very same U.S. military personnel in Iraq, which brings circular reasoning into play. Seemingly forgotten among all this is how Iran, and the Iraqi elements it supports, also have been performing an anti-ISIS mission.Paul R. Pillar is a contributing editor at the National Interest and the author of Why America Misunderstands the World.(12) Michael Hudson says Neocons gave the world the Iraq & Syria warshttps://michael-hudson.com/2019/02/trumps-brilliant-strategy-to-dismember-u-s-dollar-hegemony/Trump’s Brilliant Strategy to Dismember U.S. Dollar HegemonyBy MichaelFriday February 1, 2019The end of America’s unchallenged global economic dominance has arrived sooner than expected, thanks to the very same Neocons who gave the world the Iraq, Syria and the dirty wars in Latin America. Just as the Vietnam War drove the United States off gold by 1971, its sponsorship and funding of violent regime change wars against Venezuela and Syria – and threatening other countries with sanctions if they do not join this crusade – is now driving European and other nations to create their alternative financial institutions.This break has been building for quite some time, and was bound to occur. But who would have thought that Donald Trump would become the catalytic agent? No left-wing party, no socialist, anarchist or foreign nationalist leader anywhere in the world could have achieved what he is doing to break up the American Empire. The Deep State is reacting with shock at how this right-wing real estate grifter has been able to drive other countries to defend themselves by dismantling the U.S.-centered world order. To rub it in, he is using Bush and Reagan-era Neocon arsonists, John Bolton and now Elliott Abrams, to fan the flames in Venezuela. It is almost like a black political comedy. The world of international diplomacy is being turned inside-out. A world where there is no longer even a pretense that we might adhere to international norms, let alone laws or treaties. [...]The end of our monetary imperialism, about which I first wrote in 1972 in Super Imperialism, stuns even an informed observer like me. It took a colossal level of arrogance, short-sightedness and lawlessness to hasten its decline — something that only crazed Neocons like John Bolton, Elliot Abrams and Mike Pompeo could deliver for Donald Trump.(13) Netanyahu, JINSA and AIPAC welcome killing of Someimani (Jewish Telegraph Agency)https://www.jta.org/2020/01/04/united-states/what-the-killing-of-the-top-iranian-general-qassem-soleimani-means-for-jews-the-us-and-israelWhat the killing of the top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani means for Jews, the US and IsraelBY RON KAMPEASJANUARY 4, 2020 11:48 AMWASHINGTON (JTA) — A U.S. strike on a vehicle near Baghdad airport early Friday morning killed Qassem Soleimani, Iran’s most influential military commander. [...]Eric Edelman, a former undersecretary of defense for policy under George W. Bush, praised the action in a conference call organized by the Jewish Institute for National Institute of America but said Trump should make a long-term policy clear. [...]Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was almost alone among foreign leaders in welcoming the strike. France, Russia and China condemned the attack as destabilizing, and Pompeo spent much of Friday on the phone with regional and world leaders pledging to de-escalate tension in the region."Just as Israel has the right of self-defense, the United States has exactly the same right," Netanyahu said in a statement. "Qassem Soleimani is responsible for the death of American citizens and many other innocent people. He was planning more such attacks. President Trump deserves all the credit for acting swiftly, forcefully and decisively. Israel stands with the United States in its just struggle for peace, security and self-defense."The American Israel Public Affairs Committee also praised the action."The president’s decisive action brought to justice one of the world’s most dangerous terrorists, who was responsible for the deaths of over 600 U.S. servicemen," the pro-Israel lobby stated.(14) China, Not Iran, Is the Power to Watch in Iraq; Iraq joins Belt & Road (The Diplomat, journal of State Dept, Oct 2019)By Daniel J. SametOctober 30, 2019China, Not Iran, Is the Power to Watch in Iraq[...] Analysts are right to worry about foreign influence in Iraq — a weak state racked by sectarian tension and extremism and currently embroiled in mass social unrest. Yet while the United States fixates on Iranian ambitions, a far more formidable power has stepped in. Last month, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi revealed that his country was signing on to China's signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). His announcement coincided with his state visit to Beijing, which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime feted with habitual adulation in state media.Amid the typically tumultuous Middle East news, Abdul-Mahdi's visit and BRI announcement made few headlines. But the United States and others ought to pay attention as China adds another feather to its BRI cap.Iraq and China had quietly begun to deepen their relationship before this year. In 2015, Haider al-Abadi, Abdul-Mahdi's predecessor, took a state visit of his own to China, where the two sides concluded an agreement on a "strategic partnership." Iraqi oil exports to China jumped to approximately $20 billion last year, making Iraq the country's fourth largest supplier.(15) China builds Iraq InfrastructureChinese investments in Iraq are concentrated not just in oil exploration but also in infrastructure such as power plants, cement factories and water treatment facilitieshttps://www.mei.edu/publications/china-iraq-relations-poised-quantum-leapChina-Iraq Relations: Poised for a "Quantum Leap"?October 8, 2019John Calabrese[...] Decades of war, sanctions, and sectarian conflict have not deterred China from pursuing business in Iraq. On the contrary, China has emerged as Iraq’s number one trading partner and Iraq as China’s third-leading source of oil after Saudi Arabia and Russia. As the Da’esh threat has receded, China has sought to expand its footprint in Iraq and has found in Baghdad a partner greatly in need of support for its reconstruction and recovery effort. This past April while in Baghdad, China’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Relations Lee Joon was reported as saying his country was ready to contribute to Iraq’s reconstruction.[1]Upon arriving in Beijing on September 19 at the head of a 55-member delegation, Iraq Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi described the visit to China as heralding a "quantum leap" in bilateral relations.[2] The five-day visit culminated in the signing of eight wide-ranging memoranda of understanding (MoUs), a framework credit agreement, and the announcement of plans for Iraq to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).[3] Since then, however, a wave of angry anti-government protests have swept across much of Iraq, leaving more than 100 dead and thousands wounded — a vivid reminder of the country’s ongoing struggle for stability and of the obstacles to the further consolidation of China-Iraq relations. [...]While the fact that Iraq’s oil production has increased by nearly half despite the turmoil in the country and volatile prices is encouraging, it is important to point out that the oil sector is beset with damaged and outdated infrastructure, as well as a lack of pipeline and export capacity.[21] The country has also been struggling with severe shortfalls in electricity supply and with provision of adequate water supply for oil recovery. In addition, there is an urgent need to repair the Baiji refinery and to overhaul the refining sector as a whole to meet rising domestic demand for refined products.Iraq’s ability to achieve its new oil production targets of 6.2 million barrels per day (bpd) by the end of 2020 and 9 million bpd by the end of 2023[22] and to harness additional associated gas from fields in the oil-rich Basra province depends on securing sufficient water for reinjection into oil reservoirs — hence, Baghdad’s ambitious plans to build out the Southern Iraq Integrated Project (SIIP).[23] However, this critical infrastructure project has faced extensive delays and the scope of the work has been dramatically scaled back. Unable thus far to strike a deal with ExxonMobil, Iraq could cast a wider net, splitting up the mega-project among other foreign companies. Potentially bright prospects for doing so could lie in Asia, the destination for over 60% of its crude oil exports. In fact, Exxon’s project partner, PetroChina, reportedly is seeking to bring in other Chinese companies to participate in the infrastructure work[24] — a plausible scenario given the nature and trajectory of the Sino-Iraqi relationship. [...]However, it is important to note that Chinese investments in Iraq are concentrated not just in oil exploration but also in infrastructure such as power plants, cement factories and water treatment facilities. Numerous Chinese firms are currently engaged in major construction projects in Iraq, including Shanghai Electric, China Building Materials Construction, and China Hydroelectric Power.[51] CITIC Construction Co. is serving as credit provider and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor in the building of a combined cycle power plant in Missan Governorate.[52]