Iraqi MP Calls For Iraq To Be An Ally Of The West

Memri has the translation and video of an Al-Salam TV interview of Iraqi parlimentarian Mithal al-Alousi. I do not know much about Mr. Alousi, but if he is indicative of his brethern in the Iraqi Parliament, then it is good news. He is very clear eyed about the threat posed to Iraq by its expansionist neighbors - and in particular, Iran. He also calls for Iraq to have strong ties to the West.
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This from Memri:

Mithal Al-Alousi: "Some people want to keep Iraq weak. They do not want Iraq to have powerful friends. They do not want Iraq to have room to operate on the international level. They do not want Iraq to receive economic support, or to be able to operate through international banks. They don't want Iraq to be able to send its sons to international universities - that new generation that will return with knowledge, and bring prosperity to our society. They do not want this for Iraq.

"Kuwait wants the great Iraq to have the same power as 'beautiful' Kuwait - I don't want to call it a 'beggar' country today... They want the Iraqi army to be less powerful than a military brigade, so they can always overcome it. Iran does not want Iraq to have any [regional] standing. It says that the Arab Gulf is Persian. Even in sports - if the term 'pan-Arab games' is used, Iran objects and withdraws from the games. Iran has clear national expansionist ambitions. Iran's expansion can only be at the expense of Iraq. Iraq must fade away so they can control it.

Our neighbor Turkey - that Muslim neighbor, which is now ruled by an Islamic party and not by the army - cuts off the water supply to the Iraqis, knowing this spells drought for the fields, and harms the Iraqi citizens and their economy. The king of Saudi Arabia is the Guardian of the Two Holy Places, in Mecca and Al-Madina, but this does not prevent some [Saudis] from sponsoring terrorists, killers, and criminals. The Syrian regime, which heralds pan-Arabism, does not dare to fire a single bullet in the Golan Heights, or even mention the word 'Golan,' yet it has the audacity to kill Iraqis. . . ."

"If we do not have international commitments and agreements, with which we can force the international community and that strong country, America, to defend the Iraqi borders and sovereignty - who will defend Iraq's borders in the east, the west, or even Basra?

. . . "The Arab regimes want to replace the Palestinian-Israeli problem, which has lasted for the past 60 years, with the problem of Iraq... They want a victim, and Iraq is that victim.

. . . "I want a strategic agreement [with the U.S.], which would guarantee the building of an army, as well as Iraqi universities, which would guarantee that American universities be open to Iraqis, and which would guarantee financial ties between Iraqi and American banks. . . .

"By Allah, we will build a strong Iraq, which will be an ally of the West. Let Iran and all those foolish Arab countries listen carefully. Iraq will be the ally of the West, and will progress more than the Emirates and Singapore, and all the rest will come looking for work in Iraq."

Read the entire article.