Pro-Hizballah prime minister’s appointment in Iraq brings top US general to Baghdad

US Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, US Mid-East commander, paid a quiet visit to Baghdad on Tuesday, Feb. 4, after Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi was named by the Iraqi president to form a new Iraqi government. This was the first visit to Baghdad by a high-ranking American commander since the killing of Iran’s Al Qods chief Qassem Soleimani in a US air strike last month.

Allawi is known to be close to the Lebanese Hizballah’s chief Hassan Nasrallah, whom Tehran has entrusted with consolidating its influence in Baghdad in the wake of the assassination. There is therefore a high risk that the incoming Iraqi prime minister will push harder than his short-lived predecessors to evict US forces from the country. The Iraqi parliament had previously made this demand, but it was not binding on the government. Allawi, egged on by Nasrallah, is expected to rephrase the resolution in a way that forces government action, DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources report.

Gen. McKenzie’s mission in meetings with top Iraqi generals was to caution them against the prime minister going through with this step. He then traveled to the big US air base of Ain Al-Asad near the Iraqi-Syrian border. The consequences of Gen. McKenzie’s meetings in Baghdad are tensely awaited before determining whether Washington will respond to a fresh Iraqi demand to withdraw US forces (more than 5,000 military personnel) or continue to ignore it.

Iraq has been in uproar for the past four months over violent Shiite anti-government demonstrations – mostly in the Shiite south and Baghdad. An estimated 556 have been killed and thousands injured in brutal crackdowns by pro-Iranian militia thugs. The demonstrators are also protesting excessive Iranian influence in Baghdad. Incoming PM Allawi said publicly that the protesters were right and promised to meet their demands. However, the Hizballah chief is now running the show in Baghdad. He is armed by Tehran with the authority both to intensify the crackdown on the demonstrators and continue to deploy the powerful armed pro-Iraqi militias against  American military and other interests in Iraq, as well as US allies, such as Israel, by their Syria-based contingents.

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44 thoughts on “Pro-Hizballah prime minister’s appointment in Iraq brings top US general to Baghdad

  • Feb 5, 2020 @ 8:20 at 8:20
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    Good, President Trump said in State of the Union Speech, “Our Message To The Terrorists Is Clear: You Will Never Escape American Justice. If You Attack Our Citizens, You Forfeit Your Life”! Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi got that Message as well! Hizballah Can’t Do Anything Without it coming Back On Hizballah Leaders!

    • Feb 5, 2020 @ 8:41 at 8:41
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      US troops must leave Iraq, time for America in iraq is over

      • Feb 5, 2020 @ 9:07 at 9:07
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        So that you can oppress the Kurds and sunnis@hasan?.. they dislike you though you’re ignoring it. Iraq eventually will be broken into three.

        • Feb 5, 2020 @ 10:34 at 10:34
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          America betrayed Kurds and Trump sell them to turkish army

      • Feb 5, 2020 @ 16:46 at 16:46
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        @Hasan… Agree, US Troops can leave Southern Iraq & Let ISIS Take It Back. Kurds will Kurdistan Separate from Iraq & Iran. Let Turkey & Iran Fight over the Rests! A Broken Up Iraq is better for the Mideast Right Now!

        • Feb 5, 2020 @ 18:07 at 18:07
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          ISIS cannot overrun Shiite lands, only Sunni lands where they may have local support.

          • Feb 5, 2020 @ 19:00 at 19:00
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            @Dominet… These are All Mideast Lands where Many Cultures & Religions all Live & the Better Way is to End any “Caliphates Attempted Conquests” whether Sunnis or Shiia Islamists & Proxies as well. ISIS will Remove Itself by Change or Remain in Camps until they Grow Too Old!

    • Feb 5, 2020 @ 18:20 at 18:20
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      It is amazing there are Muslim wars in so many Arabic countries. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen, etc , and so many violent deaths of innocent citizens, yet the UN does not vote to condemn any of these actions.

      If anything, they vacate their ‘peacekeeping forces’ so they are not murdered as well. Hypocrites.

      Unfortunately the biased and corrupt UN is busy trying to find more ways to condemn Israel.

      • Feb 5, 2020 @ 20:13 at 20:13
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        Muslim wars of a religion of peace?
        How comes?
        Or perhaps they do not have peace until all others are dead, is this their “peace”?

      • Feb 5, 2020 @ 23:39 at 23:39
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        Interesting you can’t see wars that jews including in and wars in Europe that jews involved, including ww2 which was make jews disappeared from that continent

        • Feb 6, 2020 @ 2:30 at 2:30
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          hasan its our readers do not understand you . your comment about jews in ww2 are you saying they never fought in the war . IF that is what you think the US ARMY AND NAVY HAD GIVEN MORE BRONZE STARS TO JEWISH AMERICAN FIGHTERS PER THERE POPULATION OF ONLY 1.5% OF OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS .9.5 OUT OF TEN JEWS ENLISTED ON THERE OWN WILL INSTEAD OF BEING DRAFTED TO FIGHT THE GERMANS. IN MY FAMILY ALL SEVEN UNCLES AND MY FATHER SERVED THEY WENT US 82 AND 101ST AIRBORN 2 ON US NAVY DESTROYERS SINKING U BOATS . THE BRITISH HAD THERE JEWISH DIVISION FROM REFUGES SOME WENT SAS THAT IS THE ONES WHO TRAINED HAGANA IN 1947 TO BECOME THE TOP 3 BEST SPEC OPS IN THE WORLD .THAT IS WHY ISREAL WINS ALL ITS MAJOR WARS

          • Feb 6, 2020 @ 15:08 at 15:08
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            You out of your mind dude

          • Feb 6, 2020 @ 20:30 at 20:30
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            Larry you’re a little off with your last sentence. Israel has its challenges and there are a few Professional Military’s that are better including the US. This is just factual. As far as the Millions of American Jews who have served with distinction, all the way back to the war of independence, its all documented.

          • Feb 9, 2020 @ 2:00 at 2:00
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            and in ww1 the jewish troops in the german army were highly decorated then when the facists got in treated them like dogs

        • Feb 8, 2020 @ 16:27 at 16:27
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          WW2? Learn some HISTORY…

  • Feb 5, 2020 @ 8:32 at 8:32
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    Hizballah Nasrallah has his own Problems in Lebanon & Fears for his own Life in Bunker Caves

  • Feb 5, 2020 @ 10:23 at 10:23
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    Finishing time for Israel already arrived.

    • Feb 5, 2020 @ 11:13 at 11:13
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      “Finishing time for Israel already arrived.”

      @?Tommy?,

      That’s what you said last time!

    • Feb 5, 2020 @ 15:39 at 15:39
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      On second thought, I’ll be finished before Israel.

    • Feb 6, 2020 @ 4:21 at 4:21
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      Dont care about cultures. Dont care about who’s right or wrong. If we choose to be in a country we will do so. Dont care who owns the land. No one owns anything in our book. If we choose to kick you out and displace you we will. This is coming prepare yourselves and pack your bags. When we come knocking this time you better be gone. It is the rule of the US of A and enough being the nice guy!!!!

  • Feb 5, 2020 @ 10:29 at 10:29
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    Hard time for Jewish people who live in Israel. The Jewish People outside the Israel is more happier with better lifestyle.
    I’m really worry about my Kids future…

    • Feb 5, 2020 @ 17:07 at 17:07
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      One Day Soon, New Younger Brave Abraham’s Palestinians Leaders will Emerge with Jewish Sons & Daughters Abraham. They Will Stand Up Together with Votes in Hand Against Using Guns! Neither will be Scared of Fear of Sharing Canaan, Judea, Israel, & Palestine & Gaza Economic Interests of the Land of Milk & Honey Together. Choosing to Advance Global Business Over Mideast Global Conflicts. These Old & New Territories will be Ruled with High Ideas for Mutual Intended Protection of Businesses, Farms, Schools for Children & Progress for the Future! Just as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed & Prophets Self-Predicted without Empires!

    • Feb 6, 2020 @ 4:22 at 4:22
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      Dont care about cultures. Dont care about who’s right or wrong. If we choose to be in a country we will do so. Dont care who owns the land. No one owns anything in our book. If we choose to kick you out and displace you we will. This is coming prepare yourselves and pack your bags. When we come knocking this time you better be gone. It is the rule of the US of A and enough being the nice guy!!!!

  • Feb 5, 2020 @ 10:32 at 10:32
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    As an Indian I want Israel to be doomed and all Jews to be killed.

    • Feb 5, 2020 @ 11:10 at 11:10
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      “As an Indian I want Israel to be doomed and all Jews to be killed.”

      @Kabour,

      You may be in for a real big disappointment!

    • Feb 5, 2020 @ 11:15 at 11:15
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      Thank you for showing the true face of muslim islamist fachists. But don’t worry, we know how to defend ourselves.

    • Feb 5, 2020 @ 11:19 at 11:19
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      Keep wanting till the day you’ll die like many before you, Israel is about to expand again and the world depends on Jews alot, including Indian security

      • Feb 5, 2020 @ 22:56 at 22:56
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        You must be a Paki Indian from Kashmir?!?! Lol. Keep wishing… The sun will loose its fuel before Israel is doomed.

    • Feb 5, 2020 @ 14:58 at 14:58
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      Good luck with that. LOL

    • Feb 5, 2020 @ 15:16 at 15:16
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      You mean as a devout Salafi MUSLIM!!! Not all Indian Muslim and almost no Hindi and Seeks agree with you. In reality you want them and all infidel and apostate (that any other Muslim who does not agree with you) dead don’t you.

    • Feb 5, 2020 @ 15:43 at 15:43
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      As an almost human being I want subhuman Indian filth killed and wiped off the face of the earth.

    • Feb 5, 2020 @ 18:54 at 18:54
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      @Kabour… Some Pakistani Feel The Same Thoughts On India Citizens! Still, I Prefer that does not Happen to Any People in Any Nations. Losing Entire Cultures, People & Nations is Not Acceptable When There Are Processes of Negotiations, Mediation & Agreements for Peace Not Genocide!

  • Feb 5, 2020 @ 11:43 at 11:43
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    What would be the end result of all US troops leaving Iraq?
    Within 5 min. after their departure, Iraq will undergo a national name change and, going forward, will be referred to as…………………………..the Islamic Republic of Iran!

  • Feb 5, 2020 @ 12:48 at 12:48
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    That’s too funny. The Iraqis didn’t invite US Troops into the country, couldn’t stop them from entering, so how exactly are they going to evict them?

  • Feb 5, 2020 @ 16:07 at 16:07
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    The snake is Iran and its proxy armies in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. I bet US Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie had a few choice words for Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi to ponder!

  • Feb 5, 2020 @ 20:39 at 20:39
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    Anybody still think removing Saddam was good idea?

    • Feb 5, 2020 @ 22:58 at 22:58
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      @Dag… Egypt, Jordan, Arabia Gulf States, UAE, Bahrain all Working with Israel. The World is Better Off without Tyrants like Saddam, Qaddafi, Yasmine, Arafat, Bin Laden, Soleimani, Baghdadi! As well as, Iran Shiia Khomeini & Khamenei that are the Real Problems in the Mideast since 1979. Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, & Gaza are under Protests & All Remarkable People will overcome these Tyrants Thieves.

      • Feb 6, 2020 @ 1:18 at 1:18
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        The arrival of smartphones and removing Saddam, contribution 50-50.
        People are waking up and expressing themselves with hopes and ideas.

      • Feb 6, 2020 @ 1:22 at 1:22
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        @GST001
        Yasmine?

  • Feb 6, 2020 @ 6:43 at 6:43
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    Once again proving my point those dictators are needed in many of those ME countries.

  • Feb 6, 2020 @ 22:59 at 22:59
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    Give peace a chance.

    I prefer Coors Light my friends. Let’s get together for a game of Bocci, add a few beers and we all will have a good time.

    No rifles, no bullets, no fear.

  • Feb 7, 2020 @ 5:37 at 5:37
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    Once the Yankees leave Iraq, it’s MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

    THE YANKS HAVE DELIVERED IRAQ IN THE HANDS OF IRAN.

    Good job! Many Muricans have died for this and 5 trillion $ of US taxpayers have paid for this.

  • Feb 11, 2020 @ 17:54 at 17:54
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