What they see is a President who prefers to lead from behind. What they see is a president who’s willing to abandon Iraq and cede it to Iran. That’s why the Shia in Iraq are now going after the Sunni vice president.
Granted, I do not think the Sunni vice president, Tariq al-Hashemi, is a nice guy. But, it is unlikely that there are any nice guys in power in Iraq. However, Shia domination in Iraq by way of elimination of opponents by force is not an outcome that is good for the people of Iraq, the people of Iran, the people of the Middle East, the people of Europe, and America.
U.S. interests lie in free and open trade in oil which is a precious commodity not just for Americans but for everyone in the world. The Iranian strategy is to threaten crucial sources not just in Iran and Iraq but also in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the region. So far, the mullahs are succeeding in placing their pieces in key locations on the board.
The day they credibly demonstrate a nuclear capability will be the beginning of the end.
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This article first appeared in blog.qtau.com
