Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki is on a three-day tour of the US to seek military assistance to counter the spreading violence in his country. Is this a wise step that will allow Maliki to consolidate his power and bring Iraq out of the current violence?

Seeking support from ally

Speaking to reporters prior to his trip to the US, Maliki said Al Qaeda is conducting a terrorist campaign against the Iraqi people and he doesn’t want Iraq to turn into a terrorist base. So, US military support including warplanes, weapons and other military equipment is needed to help Iraq fight the terrorists. Maliki said he would make a proposal during talks with President Barack Obama.

US Vice President Joe Biden (R) welcomes Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Washington on Oct. 30, 2013- Photo: Cliff Owen / AP

However, Maliki’s plan was immediately opposed by a number of US Senators. Senators John McCain, Carl Levin, Robert Menedez and Lindsey Graham sent a letter to Obama expressing their concern about the worsening situation in Iraq. They blamed Maliki’s government for splitting Iraq and increasing the violence there because the Prime Minister has pursued a dictatorship, ignored the interests of the Sunni people, looked down on the Kurds, and isolated Shiites, who want a democratic Iraq. They said military aid to Iraq is likely to fuel further violence.

Bloody violence is spreading out in Iraq. According to the UN mission there, 6,000 people have died and 14,000 have been injured in armed attacks and suicide bombings since the beginning of this year. These numbers are comparable to casualties in 2006 and 2007 when the Iraq civil war was at its climax. In the last five months, there were at least two attacks a day in Iraq. Bomb attacks have been reported everywhere, at markets, mosques, weddings, and funerals in Baghdad and elsewhere.

Disagreements between Prime Minister Maliki’s government controlled by the Shiite majority, and the minority Sunni people have encouraged many Iraqis to support extremist groups that have connections with Al Qaeda.

Political stability unlikely

Faced with this situation, the Iraqi government has launched operations to wipe out the rebels, increased military recruitment to strengthen its power against Al Qaeda and imposed a curfew.

But, these are short-term measures. To end the escalation of violence, the Iraq government needs to take long-term steps because the root cause of the current violence in Iraq lies in the worsening disputes between ethnic groups following the US military intervention in 2003.

The struggle for power can only be resolved through negotiations. Prime Minister Maliki needs to focus on improving the status of Sunni Muslims and on finding ways to share power between ethnic and religious groups, not on increasing military weapons.

The violence in Iraq is due to political instability and conflicting interests between ethnic groups. Adding more weapons would be a risky remedy for the situation in Iraq and would likely result in even more violence.

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