Friday, March 16, 2018

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis: Iran 'Mucking Around' In Iraq Elections

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis lands in Kabul on March 13, 2018 on an unannounced trip to Afghanistan. REUTERS/Phil Stewart

Reuters: U.S. accuses Iran of trying to influence Iraq's election

WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis accused Iran on Thursday of “mucking around” in Iraq’s May parliamentary election, in which Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is seeking another term after a successful, U.S.-backed war against Islamic State militants.

The ballot will decide Iraq’s leader for the next four years, when Baghdad will be faced with rebuilding cities and towns seized from Islamic State, preventing the militants’ return and addressing the sectarian and economic divisions that fueled the conflict.

Among Abadi’s challengers are former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Hadi al-Amiri, a former transportation minister – both of whom are among Iran’s closest allies in neighboring Iraq.

Read more ....

Update #1: Mattis accuses Iran of meddling in Iraq's elections (National Post/AP)
Update #2: Iran 'mucking around' in Iraq elections: Mattis (AFP)

WNU Editor: Everyone is trying to influence Iraq's elections .... World's Biggest Football Stadium Set to Be Built 'For Free' in Iraq With Reported 135000 Capacity (Sports Illustrated).

2 comments:

Hans Persson said...

Haha wasting money on some stadium when they dont have the money to rebuild the country? While providing a prime target for suicide bombers.

Bob Huntley said...

You beat me to it Hans.