The New York Times notes a sign that, while Iraq’s Government has welcomed US airstrikes against the Islamic State, the return of American ground forces is not likely to be so warmly received.
A Saturday demonstration in Baghdad, called by the prominent Shia cleric and politician Moqtada al-Sadr, expressed suspicion of the US intervention against the interventions. “We don’t trust [President Obama]”, said one demonstrator.
Although Obama said last week that American troops would not be involved in the US escalation against the Islamic State, Washington’s military has indicated that special forces will accompany Iraqi units on the ground.
The rally’s distrust of the US had high-level endorsement from Deputy Vice President Bahaa al-Araji, who backed the widely-disseminated claim that the Americans were behind the same jihadists they were attacking, “We know about who made Daesh [the Islamic State].”
Members of the audience agreed. “The Islamic State is a clear creation of the United States, and the United States is trying to intervene again using the excuse of the Islamic State,” said one.
Another declared, “It is obvious to everyone that the Islamic State is a creation of the United States and Israel.”
Euronews’ report on the rally: