Saint Barack lectures black men

[rooster59]

U.S. pull diplomats from Iraqi city, citing threats from Iran

By Phil Stewart and Lesley Wroughton

 

A general a view of the city after a week of violent protests in Basra, Iraq September 9, 2018. REUTERS/Essam al-Sudani/Files

 

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States announced on Friday it will effectively close its consulate in the Iraqi city of Basra and relocate diplomatic personnel assigned there following increasing threats from Iran and Iran-backed militia, including rocket fire.

 

The decision adds to mounting tension between the United States and Iran, which is the target of increasing U.S. economic sanctions.

 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as he explained the move, renewed a warning that the United States would hold Iran directly responsible for any attacks on Americans and U.S. diplomatic facilities.

 

It followed recent rocket attacks that Pompeo said were directed at the consulate in Basra. U.S. officials said the rockets, however, had not impacted the consulate, which is located on the Basra airport compound.

 

"I have made clear that Iran should understand that the United States will respond promptly and appropriately to any such attacks," Pompeo said in a statement.

 

Pompeo did not explicitly say whether a U.S. response was imminent, however, and other U.S. officials did not disclose potential response options.

 

Still, Pompeo said the threats against U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq were "increasing and specific" and added that Washington was working with Iraqi forces and U.S. allies to address them.

 

"We look to all international parties interested in peace and stability in Iraq and the region to reinforce our message to Iran regarding the unacceptability of their behavior," he said.

 

'CHAOS, DEATH AND DESTRUCTION'

 

In a statement, the U.S. State Department said the consulate was placed on "ordered departure," which technically involves a drawdown in staff. Although some personnel could remain on the diplomatic compound, the move is believed to effectively close the consulate, at least temporarily.

 

The decision came days after U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani exchanged taunts at the United Nations General Assembly, with Trump vowing more sanctions and accusing Iran's leaders of sowing "chaos, death and destruction."

 

Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, speaking at a nearby event in New York on Tuesday, warned "there will indeed be hell to pay" if Iran crosses the United States, its allies or harms U.S. citizens.

 

In May, Trump withdrew the United States from an international deal to put curbs on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions.

 

France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia have stayed in the pact, vowing to save it despite the restoration of U.S. sanctions. The rial has lost 40 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar since April.

 

Iran has blamed U.S. sanctions for the currency's fall, saying the measures amount to a "political, psychological and economic" war on Tehran, and accused the United States and Israel of involvement in a deadly attack at a military parade in southwestern Iran this month.

 

Basra has already been rocked by violent protests seen by experts as a rejection of the Iraqi political establishment that has held on to power -- with the support of the United States and Iran -- despite failing to improve people's lives there.

 

Protesters in Basra ransacked and torched Iraqi government buildings this month and the Iranian consulate was set alight by demonstrators shouting condemnation of what many see as Iran's sway over Iraq's affairs.

 

For the first time in several years, mortar shells also landed this month inside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses parliament, government buildings and many foreign embassies.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-29

[rickudon]

Any excuse to bash Iran ........ Just being withdrawn because of the civil unrest in Basra. The iraqi Prime Minister is basically a US lapdog. He is tolerated by Iran because he has reasonable relations with other gulf states, and Iran isn't ready for a war yet. The rampant corruption in the Iraqi government and the neglect of the south (Basra) is gradually destroying what little influence the USA has with the people of Iraq.

 

Iran wants to see the remaining US forces withdrawn before it's proteges take over.

[bristolboy]

2 minutes ago, rickudon said:

Any excuse to bash Iran ........ Just being withdrawn because of the civil unrest in Basra. The iraqi Prime Minister is basically a US lapdog. He is tolerated by Iran because he has reasonable relations with other gulf states, and Iran isn't ready for a war yet. The rampant corruption in the Iraqi government and the neglect of the south (Basra) is gradually destroying what little influence the USA has with the people of Iraq.

 

Iran wants to see the remaining US forces withdrawn before it's proteges take over.

In fact, Iran is also very unpopular in Basra. That said, it was locals angry at both the US and Iran who previously did attack the American consulate which had to be protected by Iraqi troops. So the claims by the US that Iran is threatening its consulate are dubious.

As for Al-Abadi, what evidence is there to support your contention that Al-Abadi is basically pro-US?

[rickudon]

I'm not saying Al-Abadi is pro-US, just that he has to bend with the wind ...... and he is probably seen as one of the least worse options by the USA. How unpopular is Iran in Southern iraq? Not particularly, but sure some have their axes to grind, maybe because Iran is supporting the Iraqi government. Their just mad at everybody in Basra, because of the lack of care for the people there.