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In an August 31, 2019 interview on Al-Rafidain TV (Iraq), Iraqi writer and researcher Rafe' Al-Falahi questioned why Iran is moving missiles into Iraqi territory and giving them to militias, especially in light of all its talk about long-range missiles that can strike Israel. Saying that this is all part of a conflict that Iran is part of, he asked why a "shattered" country like Iraq should be trusted with these missiles, and he said that Iraq is tired of wars, for which he said it has been paying the price since the American occupation in 2003. He said that he doubts that the militias in Iraq have the country's best interests in mind or that Iran is seeking to strengthen Iraqi sovereignty, security, and honor. In addition, Al-Falahi said that "resistance" is a deceitful and misleading term used by Iran and its militias. He gave the example of the resistance movements in Yemen and Syria, which he said have ruined the countries and spread corruption on behalf of Iran, and he said that Hizbullah has, similarly, hijacked Lebanon and caused the Lebanese people to suffer. Al-Falahi added that Israel has remained untouched in the meantime, and he said that Iran's actions have strengthened the relationship between Israel and many Arab regimes.
Following are excerpts:
Rafe' Al-Falahi: Why is Iran transferring these missiles out of its territory and into Iraq, and giving them to these militias? They talk about long-range missiles that can reach Israel or the Zionist entity, so why transfer these missiles to Iraq?
Interviewer: Baha Araji says that it is a stockpile and that Iraq has been entrusted with those missiles.
Rafe' Al-Falahi: Why would Iraq be trusted with this kind of weapon? Iran is a vast country. It has cities, bases, and great capabilities, whereas Iraq is a shattered country.
Interviewer: Iran is also twice the size of Iraq.
Rafe' Al-Falahi: Right. These are Iran's weapons and it can store them [in Iraq]. This war is Iran's war. Iraq is tired of battles and wars. Throughout history, Iraq has paid a steep price in the blood of its people and in its resources. It has been paying this price for the past 16 years at least – since the [U.S.] occupation. Why should Iraq suffer this? Who can persuade me that these militias that are defending Iran have Iraq's best interests in mind? Who can persuade us that when Iran brought those missiles and weapons and placed them in the bases of those militias, it was looking to enforce Iraq's sovereignty, security, and honor? This is extremely odd.
[…]
What "resistance" are they talking about? The term is false, deceitful, misleading, bogus, and dishonest. Who and what are they resisting against? In Yemen, there are militias just like there are in Iraq, and they have destroyed the country. These militias have ruined the country, they have spread corruption, and they have shattered Yemen's unity, its people, and everything – and the fighting continues. These militias are also a tool used by Iran to pressure the Arab countries. In Lebanon…
Interviewer: The state has been hijacked…
Rafe' Al-Falahi: The state has been hijacked for the sake of Hizbullah. The people of Lebanon are suffering because of Hizbullah and as a result of Iranian interference, presence, and incursions. In Syria, these militias have spread corruption throughout the land. They have killed the Syrian people and joined the Syrian regime in banishing Syrians.
Interviewer: Ten million Syrians…
Rafe' Al-Falahi: How can it be… What kind of "resistance" is this? Meanwhile, Israel – the Zionist entity that they talk about – is safe, and nothing happens there…
Interviewer: And it is bombing Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut, and Gaza…
Rafe' Al-Falahi: Perhaps it is time for us to say loud and clear that all these policies, which are part of the Iranian policy… This Iranian policy, which has been implemented at least since the American occupation in 2003, has brought Israel closer to many Arab regimes.
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