Everything Suits

Al-Qaida’s occupation of Fallujah is situated within the approach of Iran and the United States.

What is happening now in Fallujah and in the al-Anbar province is not associated with the expansion of al-Qaida and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), but with the game of interests that has been ruling Iraq for 10 years.

To a large extent, the recent approach of Iran and the U.S. explains the events. Both countries shared the same opinion about Iraq in their backroom. Now, Iraq has the chance of making its role as arbitrator valid in front of the international community, in both Iraq and the whole region — something that the U.S. administration needs in order to improve some of its diplomatic and militarily-active fronts. Once again, Iraq has become a bargaining chip in regional geostrategics.

Iran has quickly and publicly supported the U.S. in order to restrain the advancement of Jihadi terrorism in Iraq. However, there are still some doubts about the information on Fallujah’s occupation by jihadists, first of all, because information is being broadcast by al-Maliki’s government, which is both the enemy of Sunni tribes in the region and the unconditional ally of Iran; and second, because this information is fueled by ISIS and its horrifying videos about a new Sunnistan, from Ar-Raqqah to Fallujah. Both the Iraqi government and ISIS are now interested in the region breaking out — even if the uprising of the population in favor of political and economic equality with the rest of the country started over a year ago.

Throughout 2013, al-Maliki has systematically persecuted the Sunni opposition through his policy. Peaceful demonstrations in Dignity Square in Ramadi have been tactlessly suppressed by the Iraqi Army and the Sahwa militia, its allies from local tribes. Violence has reached high levels in the country: According to the United Nations, some 7,818 civilians died in 2013. Legislative elections are to be held in April, and the Islamic Dawa Party, the Shiite party within the government, needs to re-inforce its position. Sunni repression is the base of its strategy, which is in Iran’s interest: the more instability in Iraq, the more instability in Syria, and the more need for Tehran.

Historic U.S. allies may not like its Iranian partner, but it is in Washington’s interest to have Iran as a partner, given the defiant attitude of Riyadh and Tel Aviv. Saudi Arabia, which is increasingly unstable internally, continues its double-dealing externally to support and finance both the Syrian Islamist opposition and jihadists from all types, who are to be fought with later. Israel is making its policy of colonizing Palestine deeper, and it will not be doing anything for the peace process.

Everything suits: At the same time this new occupation of Fallujah is taking place — that of the U.S. took place in 2004 — we have learned that Iran has not been invited to the next Geneva II negotiations on Syria. It would not be strange if the U.N. were to change its decision in the following days, while al-Anbar is burning and the 350,000 inhabitants of Fallujah are reliving a war that is not theirs.