Pence makes surprise visit to Iraq

US Vice President Mike Pence has made a surprise visit to Iraq amid ongoing protests in the capital city Baghdad, and some southern cities.

Pence landed at Al Asad Air Base in the western Al Anbar Governorate on Saturday where he was greeted by the US Ambassador to Iraq and several military officers.

The visit was previously unannounced due to security considerations and Pence traveled to the Arab country on a cargo plane to conceal his identity.

Upon arrival, Pence received a classified briefing from the commanding officer on the base.

He then spoke on phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi and visited Nechirvan Barzani, president of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region in Iraq.

On the phone call, Pence cited one purpose of his visit was to express the US government's gratitude to US troops.

I want to "extend gratitude to the men and women (of the US military) serving in your country," Pence told Mahdi. according to the TV travel pool with the vice president.

President Donald Trump had visited troops at the base about a year ago on Dec. 26, 2018.

Kurdistan visit

Pence cited another purpose of his visit with Barzani to express Washington's support for the Kurds who were fighting Daesh terrorists.

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"I also welcome the opportunity on behalf of President Donald Trump to reiterate the strong bonds forged in the fires of war between the people of the United States and the Kurdish people across this region," Pence told Barzani at the beginning of their meeting.

Trump's decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria was seen as US betrayal of Kurds.

Iraq protests

Pence called on Iraqi officials to uphold the freedom of speech for protesters without fear of violence.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday the United States was prepared to impose sanctions on any Iraqi officials responsible for the deaths and wounding of protesters.

The protests in Iraq, which began more than a month ago, are directed at an elite group whom they accuse of pillaging the oil-rich country's wealth.

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The protesters want to dislodge the elite political rulers they view as corrupt and beholden to foreign powers at the expense of Iraqis who suffer from poverty
and poor healthcare.

Anti-Iran policy

One of Washington's regional policies has been to sow discord among neighbors to better pursue its own policies.

Iran and Iraq are no exceptions to this rule and the US has pressured Iraq to wean itself off Iran.

This has become a major point of conflict between Washington and Baghdad.

Pompeo repeats anti-Iran threats in surprise visit to Iraq

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is continuing attempts to sow discord between Iran and Iraq during a surprise visit to the Arab country.

During his surprise visit to Iraq on Saturday, Pence delivered a message to the Iraqi prime minister regarding Iran.

The US message was that Iraq should disassociate itself from Iran due to the deteriorated US-Iran ties.

Ties between the US and Iran, which had ameliorated following the Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), rapidly deteriorated after US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the deal.

The landmark 2015 nuclear agreement had been signed between Tehran and six major world powers, the US included, after years-long negotiations.

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