Iraq, Iran, Shiite Militias, the Sunnis, and America

The Iraq government is calling for volunteers to fight ISIS and help retake Ramadi. The al-Abadi cabinet issued an announcement of a voluntary recruitment drive, calling it necessary to fill shortages in squads in western Anbar province. Retaking Ramadi is a huge challenge for the Iraq government, which has had to appeal to shiite militias for help, risking a sectarian backlash by sending them into the sunni heartland. In Tikrit, for example, shiite militias had a major role in winning back control from ISIS but were also accused of targeting sunnis and their property, allegations the militias deny. Now, at Habbaniyah military camp, 12 miles (20 km) east of Ramadi, there are 3,000 shiite militiamen said to be "on standby" in preparation for an attempt to recapture the city. ~~~~~ Who are the shiite militia already on frontlines at Habbaniyah near Fallujah, east of of Ramadi, who were deployed to protect Baghdad and other towns still under government control? They are large, formally organized Iran-developed and backed groups : (1). According to Wameedh Zangana of the Badr Corps : "Hadi al-Ameri, the chief, took large forces toward Anbar province. He arrived at Habbaniyah military base, he is waiting for the other groups to start the operation of liberation of the whole province of Anbar." The Badr Brigades or Badr Corps, is now an Iraqi political party headed by al-Amiri. The Badr Brigade was the Iran-officered military wing of the Iran-based Shia Islamic party, Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), formed in 1982. Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, most of Badr's fighters have entered the new Iraqi army and police force. Politically, Badr Corps and SCIRI were considered to be one party since 2003, but have now unofficially separated, with the Badr Organization now an official Iraqi political party. Badr Corps forces, and their Iranian commanders, have been prominent in the current fighting against ISIS in Iraq. The Badr Corps has infantry, armor, artillery, anti-aircraft, and commando units with an estimated strength of 10,000 to 50,000 men, according to the Badr Organization. (2). Naeem al Aboudi, spokesman for the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq group, says : "We are ready to send in thousands of our mujahedin (holy warriors) to fight. We are ready, just awaiting a sign from our leader, we expect that to happen in hours." Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, "League of the Righteous" is an Iraqi shiite paramilitary group active in the Iraqi insurgency and Syrian Civil War. During the Iraq War, it was known as Iraq's largest "Special Group," the American military's term for Iran-backed shiite paramilitaries in Iraq. It claimed responsibility for over 6,000 attacks on American, Coalition, and Iraqi forces. According to the UK's Guardian, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq is controlled by Iran and operates under the patronage of the powerful General Qassem Suleimani of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Quds Force. Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq allegedly receives training and weapons from Iran's Quds Force, as well as from the Iranian-proxy Lebanese Hezbollah. Expert estimates suggest that by March 2007, Iran was providing Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq between $750,000 and $3 million in arms and financial support each month. Abu Mustafa al-Sheibani, a former Badr Corps member who ran an important smuggling network played a key role in supplying the group. (3). And, Kata'ib Hezbollah militia has announced that its members are on highest alert and all leaves have been cancelled. Kata'ib Hezbollah is an Iraqi shiite paramilitary group that was active in the Iraqi insurgency and now in the Syrian Civil War and the fight against ISIS. It was originally an Iran-backed insurgent group that fought against American and Coalition Forces during the Iraq War. In 2013, Kata'ib Hezbollah and other Iraqi shiite militias acknowledged sending fighters to Syria to fight alongside forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, against the sunni rebels seeking to overthrow him in the Syrian Civil War. In 2014, Kata'ib Hezbollah began taking a prominent role in the fight against ISIS in Iraq, and it was reported that it had received close air support from the US Air Force during the Iranian-led intervention in Iraq. ~~~~~ These anti-American Iran-backed militias are the proxy fighter groups that the supposedly national unity al-Abadi Iraqi government is dependant on to save the government and the country from an ISIS takeover that would lead to Iraq's disintegration into a no-mans-land of lawlessness. But, a shiite militia victory over ISIS is not at all sure because even at Tikrit, ISIS held the shiite militias and it was the Iraqi Army supported by US air strikes that finally drove off ISIS And shiite militia just lost Ramadi to ISIS. Even if ISIS is defeated, if the shiite militia gain control of Baghdad, Iraq will almost inevitably become an Iran client state. ~~~~~ It is understandable that thousands fled Ramadi both before and since its capture by ISIS on Sunday. The UN says 40,000 people have fled the area in recent days, with many having to sleep in the open. Streets in Ramadi are deserted, but some shops have been forced to open by ISIS fighters, who reportedly went door-to-door looking for government sympathizers and throwing bodies in the Euphrates river, as reported by residents. ~~~~~ It must have been cold comfort for these refugees to hear the US National Security Council say it is considering "how best to support local ground forces." Spokesman Alistair Baskey told AFP that some of the measures may include "accelerating the training and equipping of local tribes and supporting an Iraqi-led operation to retake Ramadi." President Obama was briefed and "reaffirmed the strong US support" for Iraqi Prime Minister al-Abadi. And, Al-Abadi said the Iraqi people need to "stand unified" and called for volunteers for the army. He once again also promised to arm and support sunni tribal militias. Iraqi troops in the area are expected to launch an attack on ISIS soon and they could be joined by about 3,000 shiite militia fighters. But it will be without the aid of US ground troops -- BBC's Gary O'Donoghue in Washington says the US insists it will only provide air cover to fighters under the control of the Iraqi government - reflecting concerns that some of the groups are controlled by Iran. Late today, it was also suggested that the US will supply Iraq with missiles for use against large ISIS suicide-bomb vehicles. Meanwhile, al-Abadi flew to Russia today, seeking closer military co-operation. Al-Abadi, who is travelling with a large number of ministers and advisors, is due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. ~~~~~ Dear readers, it is tempting to argue that the United States has a moral obligation to save Iraq, since today's Iraq is the creature of our making -- in a sense our Frankenstein -- in the most emotional scene of the original film, Frankenstein sits alone in tears, despised and feared by those he would befriend. That is the sentimental argument. But, the world of real politik offers an even stronger argument for saving Iraq. Its position -- separating Saudi Arabia and Iran, that is, the sunnis and the shiites. Supported by America, Iraq serves as a meaningful buffer zone in the Middle East. But, as an Iran client state, Iraq becomes the frontline in the Iran thrust to take the Saudi oil fields, return Egypt to the Moslem Brotherhood and Hamas, and destroy Israel. The role of the shiite militias imbedded in Iraq enhances Iranian political and religious influence there and adds greatly to Iran’s regional proxy strategy. They also threaten any US presence in Iraq today, including its diplomatic presence. That is the real politik reasoning -- it is necessary for the United States to assert and increase its military presence and influence in Iraq in order to protect Israel and the Arab states, including the Saudi petroleum reserves, from a terrorist Iranian hegemony that would destabilize the Middle East and the world.