The US. State Department issued a statement on the referendum of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (KRG), stating that it does not recognize the referendum (unilateral) and that the vote and the results lack legitimacy, pointing to its support for a unified federal, democratic and prosperous Iraq.
The Iraqi government called on to prevent threats, use of force and demand from Iran and Turkey, and waving to the use of force.
The follower of the policy of the United States in the Middle East and places that witness ethnic and sectarian conflicts and differences in political visions and field dealing to dismantle these crises we see it goes to determine its interests and strategic objectives that ensure a lot of reaping the fruits that serve and achieve its purpose and deal with the crisis in the Kurdistan region , indicates to the fact of the political approach followed by ignoring the differences between the partners of the political process in Iraq until it reaches the extent it wants to reap other gains that pave the way for a new stage.
We can define the next US strategy in Iraq according to the field data drawn by this administration as follows:
1. The United States seeks to establish clearly defined military political objectives in order to achieve complete victory over the organization ISIS and completion of military operations and providing the necessary intelligence and logistical resources to assist the security and military forces to achieve their objectives and to bring back all the territories controlled by ISIS fighters and to show the world that it was the most powerful tool in defeating terrorism in Iraq and Syria and pursuing its elements and fighters in other Arab countries.
2 – Strengthening the US military presence in Iraq by maintaining a number of US combat and special forces under the pretext of protecting the lands in which ISIS elements have been expelled from it and continue to pursue this organization and its leaders in Iraq and monitor the movements of sleeping cells and thwart his plans to return again and work to strengthen support and international support for this direction and the supervision on all international assistance provided in the fight against terrorism and its tools in Iraq.
3 – To give the goal (contain Iran) of utmost importance in the new strategy of the United States of America and to strengthen this goal by encircling the influence and expansion of Iran in Iraq and try to exclude the Iraqi government to be in accordance with the ambitions and objectives of Iranian policy in the Middle East and its extensions to other Arab countries, a policy that has long been warned by the US administration and has sought by all its means to reduce it.
4 – To support the government of Abadi and provide all kinds of support and active participation in strengthening its role in the follow-up combat missions against the Da’ash fighters in Iraq and to start reconstruction and building of affected areas and the return of displaced persons to their doors and to strengthen international support through donor conferences, including the next conference in Kuwait in early 2017.
5. Maintain a distinguished relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government and strengthen the American political role in this important region and the US administration seeks to deepen the historical ties with the Kurdish people in the region, as stated by the spokeswoman of the White House a few days ago, and this does not mean to encourage (Independence and separation) from Iraq.
6 – keep field and air surveillance and the continuation of security and intelligence reconnaissance to undermine the Iranian expansionist project in Iraq and prevent it from finding alternative corridors and other land routes to maintain contact between Tehran and Damascus through Baghdad to reach the Mediterranean Sea through the Lebanese territory within the axis of the Shiite Crescent, which is always announced by Iran in accordance with its security and strategic perspective in the control and influence on these Arab countries.
7. Preserving a clear policy that its features are defined by American objectives in adhering to the principle of preserving the supreme interests of the United States in the Middle East and identifying commitments that can gain the support of the US people and the Congress, taking into consideration that it does not cost the American economy with any financial implications ,ie, adopting the principle of ( achieving interests , taking into account the economy of spending ) taking advantage of its influence, its great diplomatic role and the decisive military superiority of its military forces.
Iraqi Studies Unit
Rawabet Center for Research and Strategic Studies