It’s unfair and ignorant of history and culture to see Iraqi Shi’ites as Fifth Columnists for Iran but, perhaps it’s time to excuse the Iraqis for increasingly seeing Iran as their benefactor. After all, the Iranians have become masters of the information operation.
Earlier this month, Iraqi forces reportedly killed Saddam Hussein’s former deputy Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri. His death reinforces the reality that there is not much space between the Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) and the Baath Party. The ideological patina to both might differ, but their common core is tyranny, sectarian (anti-Shi’ite) hatred, and ethnic chauvinism.
Indeed, not only have American efforts to force reconciliation with the Baath been ham-fisted, but they have also played into Iranian propaganda, enabling the Iranian government to argue that only Tehran can protect the Iraqis from terrorist entities like the Islamic State, whereas the United State seeks to cut deals with such agents of tyranny. Indeed, this is a constant theme of the Supreme Leader.
Well, here’s an example of how Iran wins the propaganda war. There were few figures more hated in Iraq than Izzat al-Duri. So what do the Iranians do after his death? They have an Iranian general pose with the body. Here’s the picture. The Iranian brigadier general (shown with the green scarf) is Revolutionary Guards Brigadier-General Mirfaysal Baqerzadeh. With such images broadcast, perhaps both the Iranian public and Iraqi Shi’ites can be excused for thinking the Iranians are a force for good.
But then again, why should the Obama administration worry? At least they have their priorities straight: the installation of a lacrosse field at the multi-billion dollar U.S. embassy compound has been a success.
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