Schenker calls for pressure on Iraq amid PMF institutionalization

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Washington Institute
Today 13:18

Former US official David Schenker warns against Iraq's PMF legislation, urging punitive US action as Baghdad moves to assert sovereignty and restructure its security forces.

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David Schenker, then-US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, in Beirut, Lebanon, on September 9, 2019. (AP)

David Schenker has expressed deep concern over Iraq’s moves to formalize the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) within the Iraqi state structure, calling for a “harsh” and “coordinated” response from Washington and its regional allies.

Schenker, who previously served as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs under the first Trump administration, is known for his consistent advocacy of US military presence and influence in the Middle East, opposition to groups such as Hezbollah and the PMF, and support for normalization between Arab states and "Israel", often portraying US-aligned governments and policies as stabilizing forces, while depicting resistance movements and sovereign defense forces as threats to regional order.

In a piece written for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a think tank widely recognized for its pro-"Israel" and pro-US foreign policy stances, Schenker characterized the legislation, currently advancing in Iraq’s parliament, as a significant threat to US interests and a consolidation of what he described as "Iranian-backed militias" within Iraq's governing institutions.

The article reflects mounting unease within US policy circles over Baghdad’s increasing assertion of sovereignty and rejection of foreign interference.

Schenker urged Washington to take punitive steps, including accelerating troop withdrawal, freezing investment cooperation, and even considering classifying Iraq as a "state sponsor of terrorism" if the PMF law is enacted.

Iraqi sovereignty under scrutiny

According to Schenker, the proposed PMF law, which passed its second reading in parliament on July 16, would permanently embed the PMF as a formal component of the Iraqi state, elevating its commander to ministerial rank and placing the organization on equal footing with the Ministries of Defense and Interior. The law also outlines a clear chain of command, benefits structure, and plans for a dedicated military academy.

While Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, view the legislation as part of broader security reforms, Schenker portrays it as an institutional entrenchment of “terrorist factions loyal to Iran.”

He further alleges that factions within the PMF have committed acts of violence against US personnel and Iraqis alike, including politicians, journalists, and minority communities, claims often cited by US officials to justify continued intervention in Iraqi affairs.

Schenker takes particular aim at PM Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, whom he claims is politically beholden to the PMF-aligned Coordination Framework. He criticizes Sudani’s view that the law will bring accountability, arguing instead that it will legitimize groups the US has long sought to marginalize.

Policy recommendations reflect escalatory tone

In his piece, Schenker outlines several recommendations aimed at pressuring Baghdad:

Accelerate troop withdrawal ahead of agreed deadlines and allow Iraq to “defend itself by itself.”
Expose alleged PMF actions in drone strikes on the Kurdistan Region by releasing US intelligence.
Deny diplomatic recognition by canceling al-Sudani’s anticipated visit to Washington.
Discourage US economic investment by issuing State Department warnings about doing business in Iraq.
Sanction PMF-affiliated companies, particularly the Muhandis General Company.
Pressure Kurdish political parties to vote against the PMF legislation.
Coordinate with Arab states to isolate Iraq diplomatically if the law passes.
Although Schenker acknowledges that designating Iraq a state sponsor of terrorism would be an extreme step, he does not rule it out, suggesting it could be used as leverage.

Reinforcing the narrative of foreign control

Schenker’s commentary echoes long-standing US narratives that seek to delegitimize independent resistance movements and national defense forces in the region, particularly those aligned with the Axis of Resistance.

His framing of the PMF as a threat, despite its integration into the state and critical role in the defeat of ISIS, underscores Washington’s discomfort with any shift in Iraq away from the orbit of US influence.

While the PMF continues to enjoy widespread support among Iraqis, particularly for its sacrifices in defending the country from terrorism, voices like Schenker’s reveal a deeper anxiety within the US establishment: that Iraq is reclaiming its right to determine its own political and security future, free from foreign dictates.