U.S. Secretary John Kerry participates in a press availability at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on March 24, 2013 as U.S. Ambassador to Iraq R. Steve Beecroft and incoming State Department Spokesperson Jennifer Psaki look on. State Department
Kerry Warns Maliki But Iraq Won’t Stop Iran ‘Overflights’ -- Stars and Stripes/L.A. Times
BAGHDAD — U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry pressed Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki on Sunday to stop Iran from flying arms across Iraqi territory to the beleaguered Syrian regime, but found him unwilling to give ground.
In a visit to Baghdad that was not announced in advance, Kerry told Maliki that the almost daily flights have become a lifeline for Syrian President Bashar Assad that is undermining the efforts of the United States and allies to negotiate the departure of Assad and an end to the 2-year-old Syrian civil war. And Kerry warned that many in the United States are wondering how, after Americans “have tried so hard to be helpful” in rebuilding post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, the country could stand in its way.
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My Comment: This was a sad and depressing meeting .... further proof that the U.S. no longer has any influence in Iraq. As to what is my take .... Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post is correct .... this is what happens when one decides to quickly leave a country to it's own fate .... at the time the withdrawal of Iraq suited the U.S. public and political sentiment on the subject and it enjoyed wide support (this blogger included), but (as predicted by many .... including this blogger)) there are long term consequences and we are seeing them right now.
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