US forces must leave, one way or another: Iraqi MP to Al Mayadeen
6 Min Read
The head of the Iraqi Rights Movement Hussein Mouanes says there will be no sovereignty in Iraq without the expulsion of US forces.
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The head of the Rights Movement party and member of the Iraqi Parliament Hussein Mouanes during a televised interview for Al Mayadeen channel on Friday, January 26, 2024 (Screengrab from Al Mayadeen broadcast)
Hussein Mouanes, the head of the Rights Movement party and member of the Iraqi Parliament, emphasized the necessity of the United States withdrawing its forces from Iraq so that the country could be liberated from Washington's hegemony.
Mouanes has been at the forefront of voices demanding that all foreign armies withdraw from Iraq, on top of which are the US personnel.
The Iraqi legislator has been recently placed under US Treasury sanctions.
In an exclusive interview for Al Mayadeen, Mouanes said the sanctions are a source of "pride and honor." He also pointed out that the US resorting to imposing sanctions reflects "American arrogance and disregard for Iraq and a violation of its sovereignty."
"قرار الخزانة الأميركية يمسّ السيادة بحيث تطبق أوامر أميركية على أرض العراق"
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) January 26, 2024
النائب في البرلمان العراقي حسين مؤنس لـ #الميادين #العراق #الثورة_الكبرى@HussainMouanes pic.twitter.com/a1crV9cqZw
Mouanes explained that the United States "employs these tactics with the aim of embarrassing the Iraqi government and showcasing its dominance in Iraq" and that Washington is attempting to complicate the Iraqi scene through this policy.
Read more: Iraqi airline fires back at OFAC over lack of evidence for sanctions
He further asserted that Washington's inclination toward imposing sanctions holds "no value in his opinion." Nevertheless, he highlighted that this is a decision that "touches upon the highest legislative authority (given his role as a parliamentary deputy) and encroaches upon the nation's sovereignty, ultimately resulting in the enforcement of American directives within Iraq."
Addressing the US' influence on Iraq's economy, the MP said the United States today has "dominance, control and mandate" over the country. He emphasized his call for the withdrawal of US forces and the liberation of Iraq from economic dominance, stressing that there is "no turning back from this" stance.
The parliamentary member further explained that when US forces occupied Iraq, they established two funds, "Iraq 1" and "Iraq 2", where Iraq's oil revenues were deposited. One of the funds was "spent as being related to Kuwait's debt," while the United States invested used funds from the second deposit to exert economic control over the country, he added.
Read more: US, Iraq to kick off talks on future of unwelcome US forces
Regarding the strategies to counter Washington's mandate, he disclosed that they have demanded and taken "various measures to break free from the dominance of the US dollar, diversify currencies, and strengthen the Iraqi dinar," emphasizing that all the necessary tools are available to implement this decision. He also reiterated that Iraq now possesses regular sources of financial income across all regional countries.
On US forces leaving the country, Mouanes pointed out that there may not necessarily be a consensus on the withdrawal of US forces, but a majority is required. This majority was achieved through a resolution passed by the Iraqi Parliament on January 5, 2020, which directed the government to demand their withdrawal.
"There will be no sovereignty in the country as long as there is power with authority higher than that of the government." He also confirmed that through the Iraqi-American bilateral committee and elsewhere, the US forces must be withdrawn from Iraqi territory one way or another.
"لا سيادة في البلد في ظل وجود سلطات لها قرارات ومواقف فوق سلطة الحكومة".
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) January 26, 2024
النائب في البرلمان العراقي حسين مؤنس لـ #الميادين#العراق#الثورة_الكبرى@HussainMouanes pic.twitter.com/wwpXaf7TUS
"Nothing is difficult if there is a genuine will, and we have faith in the current government's ability to manage this issue, as no rational person would accept this dominance in this manner."
Mouanes pointed out that the United States nurtured and developed terrorist threats and groups such as ISIS, while they were investors in this terrorism. They used the group as a pretext to bring their forces into Iraq so they could safeguard their interests and the security of "Israel", he continued.
"الوجود الأميركي الآن هو وجود تهديدي وليس حافظاً أو مدافعاً عن البلد"
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) January 26, 2024
النائب في البرلمان العراقي حسين مؤنس لـ #الميادين#العراق#الثورة_الكبرى#مقابلة_مع@HussainMouanes pic.twitter.com/p7YVWRsgof
Over the past two months, the United States carried out several strikes against Iraqi factions of the Popular Mobilization Forces PMF - a governmental security apparatus - including one that targeted a site belonging to the Defense Ministry. Several Iraqi citizens were killed in the attacks.
The aggressions came after the Islamic Resistance in Iraq launched a phase of operations against Israeli targets and US forces in Iraq and Syria, in response to the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza and Washington's direct involvement in it.
Commenting on the US attacks, the legislator said the "bombing of a government institution and the killing of government officials in the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) is an act of recklessness, disdain, and aggression."
Read more: Iraqi Resistance: US should withdraw all force, HMC plot to buy time
Regarding the US Embassy in Iraq, he reiterated that it has turned into a military barracks, describing it as the largest embassy and the largest diplomatic mission in the world.
Mouanes pointed out that the embassy, while housing the diplomatic mission, functions as a military barracks and hosts spying and espionage devices.
On the proposal for a ceasefire between the US military and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, he said, "The term trice sounds meaningless to me, as there is an occupation and a people who reject it."
In terms of the impact of the US forces' departure on the security aspect, he affirmed that the Iraqi army and the armed forces, as well as the PMF, are in their best condition today.
They have a budget allocated to them, and there is confidence in their capabilities, he added. "There is no justification for the existence of a parallel army to the Iraqi army under any pretext."
Elsewhere in the interview, Mouanes said the Israeli Mossad spy agency has a presence in Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurdistan region, under the cover of civil society organizations, economic and security companies, and embassies.
According to the MP, the next step after "expelling the US" is to call for the formation of an alliance of all countries opposing "Israel" to counteract Mossad infiltration.
In conclusion, he stated that "Iraq is in danger, and [we] are committed to reclaiming sovereignty, regardless of who agrees or disagrees."
"We are moving toward reclaiming the sovereignty of the country, preserving it, and expelling this vile American presence."
Read more: IRGC target Mossad headquarters in the Kurdistan region of Iraq
