Asharq Alowsat – In a few weeks time, it will be the fourth anniversary since American military action began in Iraq, which gradually transformed into occupation and the deployment of multinational forces and units in different parts of the country. And here is America drowning in the problems of Iraq and its sects, continuing its political and administrative failures in running the war and in the post-war stage. The US administration is bearing the brunt of public anger in America and is facing the increasing demands for immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Furthermore, the American administration has supported the governments of Jaafari and al Maliki without confronting the misuse of power on both their parts and this has undoubtedly contributed to the fuelling of the sectarian crisis.
All the evidence is clear regarding the US administration; the area of influence is clear and is open to discussion in this case. The media, public demonstrations and congressional sessions still take a sharp and serious stand against it. However, there is one question that must be put forward; is America the only occupier on the Iraqi scene? What about the Iranian occupation of Iraq? Many would consider it strange to describe the Iranian presence in Iraq as occupation, however all characteristics of both conventional and non-conventional occupation apply to the Iranian situation in Iraq.
There are over 30,000 Iranians that belong to the Revolutionary Guards and intelligence services on the ground, not including those that are present under the umbrella of aid organizations or scientific hawzas as well as the thousands of Iranians who were given Iraqi citizenship and “placed” in sensitive, effective and influential positions. There are entire geographic regions in Iraq that are under complete Iranian influence, where Iran is the decision-maker. A number of political and strategic decisions are made only by Iranian coordination and instruction. There is, of course, the equipment, weapons and money coming from Iran to support the death-squads, which were established by prominent Iraqi government members and which were born from Iranian intelligence services.
To say that the US represents the only form of occupation in Iraq is a ridiculous simplification of matters and the denying of facts and reality. There is an occupation of free Iraqi will, brazen and tyrannical interference in private internal affairs and a clear inflaming of the conflict by giving absolute support to some parties at the expense of others.
The disaster that is taking place in Iraq today is the result of a “foolish” decision to go to war and “ignorant” decisions regarding how to manage the post-war stage. Yet there is a collection of “malicious” policies that have exploited the situation, increased the number of conflicts, contributed to the multiplication of negative outcomes, and torn the situation apart in a bloody, tyrannical manner which is paid by the blood of the Iraqis and the entire region.
Iran is exactly the same as the US with its occupying presence in Iraq, and the request that it ends the occupation must also affect it. The region can no longer bear the state of denial and the overlooking of what is happening in Iraq, nor can it endure compliments in the way that it has been. Yes, there is a deliberate Iranian occupation of Iraq and what is left to be done now is direct action and confrontation to put an end to this matter launched by an honest patriot to put a stop to the inevitable division of Iraq that is on its way.
* A Businessman and prominent columnist. Mr. Shobokshi hosts the weekly current affairs program Al Takreer on Al Arabiya, and in 1995, he was chosen as one of the "Global Leaders for Tomorrow" by the World Economic Forum. He received his B.A. in Political Science and Management from the University of Tulsa.