With Airstrikes in Iraq, Trump Draws America Further into Middle East Conflict

John GlaserThe U.S. airstrike that killed the Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassim Soleimani is a dangerous and reckless act that is almost certain to trigger an escalation of violence in the Middle East, including the possibility of retaliatory Iranian actions against U.S. forces in the region.There is also likely to be backlash from Baghdad. The bombing killed Soleimani as well as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, an important Shia paramilitary leader in Iraq ’s Popular Mobilization Units with close ties to Iran. (Note: Iran’s increased influence in Iraq is a direct consequence of the U.S. invasion in 2003 and the subsequent decisions of the Bush administration.) U.S. forces are in Iraq with the permission of the Iraqi government, which has grown inc reasingly infuriated by repeated U.S. airstrikes on Iraqi territory that lacked the approval of the sovereign government there. Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi has already condemned the attack as a violation of the terms of the agreement authorizing U.S. forces in Iraq. This could make U.S. tr oops and personnel, as well as innocent civilians caught in the cross-fire, even more vulnerable in the potential fallout.Trump came into office with an Iran that was effectively denuclearized, plus a newly opened U.S.-Iran diplomatic channel to continue to improve relations following the JCPOA. Thanks to the president ’swarrantless withdrawal from that deal and the administration ’sincoherent maximum pressure “strategy, ” that diplomatic chan...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs