Quote:
Originally Posted by Undertoad
Bush destroyed the Sunni government of 90% Iraq and worked with the nation to replace it with a representative government. Because it is representative, it is majority Shiite.
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What happened was well documented. Even George Jr's top people said his chosen Prime Minister (Maliki?) was incompetent. But George Jr said he had already made a decision ("right guy for Iraq"). And then spent two hours daily via video conference teaching him politics.
To understand Shia influence is to understand Sadr - a most powerful Shia leader. Sadr is an Iraqi nationalist. He had to flee to Iran for four years when Americans had targeted him. I believe Maliki was instrumental in protecting Sadr as best he could. Because Sadr (quite accurately) described constant incompetence by Americans. He even criticized America for interfering in Iraqi elections after ISIS was expelled.
Sadr has not been a close friend of Iran. He has been also critical of oversized influence by Iran in Iraq. Unfortunately, that is due in part to repeated American interference that only help firm a closer relationship between Iraq and Iran.
The Don's recent and unjustified attack in Baghdad further entrenched Iran in Iraq. Sadr is unhappy about that. Extremist Americans do not understand. Because Sadr is also critical of how America has so messed up Iraq. These extremist Americans only see that criticism and not the more complex picture of how Iranian and Iraqi Shia are not that friendly.