Syrian President Arrives in China on First Visit since the Beginning of War in Syria

When the United States invaded Iraq, the Arabs were surprised and worried and chose to stay out of the Iraqi scene to avoid being accused of supporting the occupation.

Iran took advantage of this Arab absence and launched a massive operation to prevent the establishment of a pro-Western Iraqi regime.

Tehran facilitated the invasion but was quick to shake the stability the Americans had staked on to build what they called a new democratic Iraq. Iran has also benefited from dangerous decisions made by Washington, including the disbanding of the Iraqi army, de-Baathification and the illusion that it can rebuild Iraq from scratch after the collapse of the state.

I once asked President Jalal Talabani, who was returning from a trip to Tehran, what Iran really wanted from America. He said he has come to the conclusion that he is willing to negotiate with Washington on files ranging from Afghanistan to Lebanon.

He explained: “Iran is not saying it wants a share, but rather that it is seeking normal relations with the US, an end to hostilities and the seizure of Iranian assets in America.”

Talabani was more realistic than former prime minister Iyad Allawi. He realized that the connection with Washington was not enough and had to go through Tehran.

In 2007, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Baghdad, which was under American occupation.

As US checkpoints eased the convoy of visitors through, it soon became clear that the Iranian president’s visit represented a message that the US military would one day leave, but that Iran, by virtue of geography, would remain close to and inside Iraq. This actually happened, especially when the slain IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani began to destabilize Iraqi land under the feet of the US military.

Iyad Allawi was not pro-American. It does not recognize their right to adjust the new Iraqi political scene as they wish. Moreover, his meetings with a number of American officials were not fruitful. In parallel, no language of understanding was found with Tehran. He did not accept his terms, and the Iranian capital failed to tolerate his approach.

On March 7, 2010, general elections were held in Iraq. The Iraq List, led by Allawi, won 91 seats, while the State of Law coalition, led by Nouri al-Maliki, won 89 seats.

According to the applicable interpretation of the constitution, Allawi should have been entrusted with the task of forming the new government. Al-Maliki managed to obtain from the Federal Supreme Court another interpretation of the article, which speaks of the largest block. A severe political crisis erupted that lasted for about nine months and ended in favor of Al-Maliki.

I asked Allawi about the parties that prevented him from forming a government, he replied: “We won the election despite everything we were exposed to. Five hundred people were subjected to procedures under the pretext of “debaathification”. A number of our candidates were among them. They killed nine people. They shut down entire regions to prevent our supporters from voting, but we beat them by three seats. I was actually surprised by what happened. I did not expect the American and Iranian positions to go this far. America and Iran prevented me from forming a government. They worked together.

Allawi continued: “During this period, then US Vice President Joe Biden visited Baghdad about three times a month. His worries were that I would drop out in favor of Al-Maliki. He asked me to assume the presidency of the republic and I told him that the people elected us to form the government, so how could I become the president of the republic without a job or a job (the nature of the position is quasi-protocol) … Biden repeated his request, and I replied: “For God’s sake, if you don’t allow me to become Prime Minister, terrorism will increase… and so will hatred of the regime…”

“During this period, American-Iranian negotiations were taking place in Muscat. The US delegation was led by Ben Rhodes, then-President Barack Obama’s deputy national security adviser. The Iranian side conveyed a threat to the Americans, saying that Iran would stop negotiations and cause trouble in Iraq if Iyad Allawi becomes prime minister.

“The truth is, I met with Biden about 20 times. I’ve known him since he chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His personality is unstable and he is a liar and a hypocrite,” Allawi said.

I asked the former prime minister if the US destroyed Iraq, he replied: “Yes, America destroyed Iraq.”

On whether Washington has partners, he said: “Yes, Iran. Starting with the disbandment of the Iraqi army, to the Popular Mobilization Forces, armed militias and terrorism, the death of democracy and the spread of political sectarianism…”

I am Major General Qassem Soleimani

After the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, a prominent player appeared on the Iraqi scene: General Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Quds Force. His role was not limited to draining the US military, but went beyond that to impose his decision on electing presidents, forming governments, and charting paths. He took on a similar role in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.

I asked Allawi about his relationship with Soleimani, he said: “I met General Soleimani at the house of Adel Abdul Mahdi (later Prime Minister). Adel invited me to dinner, but did not tell me who would be attending… Half an hour later, two men arrived at the scene… The first approached me and said: “I am Major General Qassem Soleimani.” During the meeting, Soleimani told me: “We have been working against you all along.” I replied, “And I was against you all along.”

Allawi recounted his conversation with the Iranian commander.

“I said to him: Why did you work against us? I included you in the meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh against international will. I opened all the roads for you. We stopped the activities of the Khalq Mujahideen and confiscated their heavy weapons. I sent you the strongest economic delegation, based on improving the position of the Iraqi neighborhood. He replied, “We have made a mistake and now I am in the presence of a senior commander.” I told him, “I am neither a great leader nor a watermelon. Don’t interfere in Iraq’s internal affairs and things will go back to normal.

Putin: Why don’t you go to Iran?

I asked Allawi to recall the most important advice he was given to visit Iran, and I’ll let him share.

“In the seventh month of 2010, I visited Moscow, but I did not have any official status. President Vladimir Putin invited me to a dinner in the Kremlin, where only the translator was present. Putin asked me why I didn’t go to Iran, and I answered him: “Would you, for example, go to Finland to become the president of the Republic of Russia? He said, “No.” I said, “Why do you want me to go to Iran to become their follower? I don’t want either a prime minister or a president. I am a servant of the Iraqi people and the Arab nation and I am honored to do so and I am not ready to ask Iran or others for a position. He asked me, “Do you mind if I send my adviser to them?” I said, “No, but on the condition that I meet them here in Egypt or in Baghdad, but I will not go to Iran.”

Allawi continued: “The truth is that Putin is a nice, important and knowledgeable person. My personal opinion is that Russian morality is closer to Arab than American. They are more serious, frank and direct than Americans.

Bush does not deserve to be president

I asked Allawi about his impression of his meeting with President George W. Bush. He replied: “He does not deserve to be the president of America. I did not see him unwavering in clarity or ideas. They had no politics after the fall of the regime… Disbanding the army, debaathification and all these arbitrary practices. I explained this to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and asked him to talk to him more about the Iraq file.