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This is unacceptably going on in the oil-rich country with the world's fifth largest reserves, its ruling authorities serving privileged interests and themselves exclusively, subjecting ordinary people to neoliberal harshness.
Therein lies the root cause of what's going on. Extreme violence causing thousands of casualties, along with setting dozens of public and private buildings ablaze, storming others, raises red flags a scenario appearing like dirty hands behind it.
Iraq's interior ministry spokesman Saad Maan denied security forces were using live fire on protesters, adding "malicious hands" are targeting ordinary Iraqis, police, and other government forces.
Over the weekend, US-installed prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's cabinet issued a decree, including over a dozen intended reforms, notably land distribution, increased welfare payments for needy families, 100,000 new housing units, and benefits for the unemployed if follow-through actually occurs and makes a difference.
Individuals killed were declared "martyrs," their families granted special benefits.
Iraqi ruling authorities are allied with the US and Iran, its split loyalty riling Trump regime hardliners, wanting Baghdad allied with their war on the Islamic Republic by other means, along with their overall regional agenda.
They're reportedly furious over Mahdi blaming Israel for terror-bombing sites in Iraq, opening the al-Qaem crossing between the country and Syria, along with expressing interest in buying Russian S-400 air defense systems and other military hardware from the country, partnering with China to construct essential infrastructure in exchange for oil, and choosing a German company over a US one for an electricity project.
The Trump regime is especially angry over normalized Iran-Iraq relations. Baghdad is notably dependent on Tehran for natural gas and electricity. Both countries share a common border.
Mahdi has tried to stay neutral to avoid greater regional conflict, rather than ally with the US, Israel and the Saudis against Iran. All of the above leaves him vulnerable to regime change by the US.
Iranian leader Khamenei tweeted the following on Sunday: "Iran and Iraq are two nations whose hearts & souls are tied together through faith in God, love for Imam Hussein and the progeny of the Prophet (PBUH)."
"This bond will grow stronger day by day. Enemies seek to sow discord but they've failed and their conspiracy won't be effective."
Various Arab media sources and independent observers believe the Trump regime is behind days of violent protests in Iraq, internal elements enlisted as proxies to serve its interests by destabilizing the country.
A statement from PM Mahdi's office said the following:
"(D)emonstrations were already planned a couple of months ago. Baghdad was working to try and ease the situation in the country, particularly since the demands of the population are legitimate."
"The prime minister has inherited the corrupt system that has developed since 2003. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been diverted into the pockets of corrupt politicians" and the West not mentioned.
"(T)he (US) war on terror used not only all the country's resources but forced Iraq to borrow billions of dollars for the reconstruction of the security forces and other basic needs."
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