Petraeus urges US influence in running Mosul in post-Daesh era

Former CIA director and commander of US-led occupation forces in Iraq and Afghanistan has called for the United States to exert influence over governance of the Iraqi city of Mosul following its liberation from Daesh (ISIL) terrorists.

Clearly advocating continued US intervention in internal affairs of Iraq in a Saturday article in The Washington Post, the highly decorated and still influential -- though retired -- US General David Petraeus also insists against any role by “Shia militias” in running the affairs of the Iraqi city in the post-Daesh era and further calls for the US-led coalition in the Arab country to “aid” Baghdad in governing the multi-ethnic city as well as the Nineveh Province.

The former top US spy also insists that his “very successful” model of governing Mosul in 2003 under the US-led invasion should be followed in reestablishment of order in the major Iraqi city after the ouster of Daesh militants from the region through what he claims as an “inclusive process” adding, “Importantly, Shiite (Shia) militias should play no role in … security and governance.”

However, according to the article, the governance of Mosul under his command included “reconciliation with former Baath Party members cast out of work by the … de-Baathification decree and providing work for the tens of thousands of [unemployed] Iraq soldiers [under former tyrant Saddam Hussein].”  

This is while the Iraqi government identified the former Baath Party members and Saddam-era soldiers for collaborating with Daesh terrorists in taking over vast areas of the Iraqi territory, including Mosul, while mass executing hundreds of young Iraqi soldiers as well as many local civilians.

Petraeus goes on to credit the US military for successes of Iraqi army and volunteer forces in flushing out the Daesh terrorist from various areas over the past year.

“Enabling forces that the US-led coalition has provided for Iraqi elements over the past year — intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, advisers, logistical elements, and precision strike platforms, in particular — have been instrumental in the successes enjoyed by the Iraqis in Ramadi, Fallujah, Tikrit, Baiji, Qayyarah and a host of other battle sites,” wrote the US general.

He concludes by emphasizing that Washington and its coalition partners should exercise influence over the governance of the major Iraqi city following its liberation.

“Having provided the largest amount of assets to ensure further successes [of Iraqi forces against Daesh terrorists] and reconstruction initiatives, the United States, together with its numerous coalition partners, will have considerable influence over the resolution of the issues [in Mosul]. It will have to exercise that influence.”

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