Sunday, July 17, 2022

Joe visits Iraq

US President Joe Biden visited Iraq today.  It was semi-historic.  I'll give the press a few more hours to catch up on why.  In the meantime, we'll note that Joe met with the 'caretaker' (outgoing) prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.  Amr Salem (IRAQI NEWS) reports:

 The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, met on Saturday with US President, Joe Biden, on the sidelines of the summit held in Jeddah in which the United States, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iraq, Egypt and Jordan participated, according to a statement issued by the Prime Ministry press office.

Al-Kadhimi and Biden affirmed their mutual commitment to the strong bilateral partnership between Iraq and the United States, in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement for a Relationship of Friendship and Cooperation between the United States of America and the Republic of Iraq.

Both sides also confirmed their determination to proceed with security coordination to ensure that ISIS will never reappear again, according to a joint statement issued by both officials.

Al-Kadhimi discussed with Biden several regional issues, and both sides agreed that the relationship between Iraq and the United States is based on common interests, strengthening Iraq’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and stability.

Both sides stressed the importance of forming a new Iraqi government that responds to the will of the Iraqi people, and respects Iraq’s democracy and independence.


Laurie Mylroie (KURDISTAN 24) adds:


Unlike Obama, under whom Biden served as Vice-President, Biden supported the 2003 war that ousted Saddam Hussein and his regime. Indeed, in late 2002, as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden, along with his Republican colleague, Chuck Hagel, was dispatched by the George W. Bush administration to consult with the Kurdish leadership in preparation for the war coming. 

As Biden noted in comments before his meeting with Kadhimi, he has known the Iraqi leader “for a long time,” and “we want to be as helpful as we can” to help you in building Iraqi democracy.

In a joint statement issued after their meeting, the two leaders “reaffirmed their shared commitment to the strong bilateral partnership between Iraq and the United States under the Strategic Framework Agreement and their determination to continue security coordination to ensure that ISIS can never resurge.”

The Strategic Framework Agreement was concluded in 2008 under the Bush administration as it prepared to leave office and sought to establish the basis for an enduring relationship with Baghdad. 

The two leaders “also reaffirmed the importance of forming a new Iraqi government,” which is “responsive to the will of the Iraqi people” and reflects “Iraq’s democracy and independence,” their joint statement said.


The cholera outbreak continues in Iraq with the Ministry of Health having confirmed 309 cases thus far this summer.  Staying on the topic of drinking water, RUDAW reports:


Three hundred houses in a village in Erbil province’s Shamamk district have not had water for a month. Around fifteen houses are also reportedly listed for sale as residents are fed up of the shortages. 

Kafia Ali, a resident of the village, put a water hose in a 20-liter bottle in an attempt to fill it. She has already filled three liters in two hours and has to buy water every two days. 

Another resident, moved his family to his father’s house because of the water supply shortages.  

“The water should be available for us now, but there is no water,” Ibrahim Yousif, a local resident, told Rudaw’s Farhad Dolamari on Friday.

“It has been three days since I sent my wife and kids to my father’s house because there is no water,” he added.

At the door of almost every house in the village, you see a row of water bottles.



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