Soleimani Was in Baghdad on Mission for Saudi Peace with Iran

Does this explain the gracious, appropriate, and prompt reply from the U.S. military to the Iraqi demand that U.S. troops quit Iraq? I think more than one thing explains the military's open contradiction of their commander-in-chief's bluster but this would probably be a part of it. The Saudis are most assuredly livid about the assassination of Qassem Soleimani while he was on a mission for them. And surely they're justifiably worried that his murder could be blamed on a Saudi betrayal. But if the Saudis are upset, one can imagine how the ranking Iraqi officials feel.  

Iraqi PM says Soleimani was supposed to deliver reply to Saudi message

By Jason Ditz

January 5, 2020

Anti-war (U.S.)

On Thursday night, the US assassinated top Iranian Gen. Qassam Soleimani in a drone strike at Baghdad International Airport. His arrival was actually part of ongoing diplomatic efforts, according to Iraqi PM Adel Abdul-Mahdi.

Soleimani’s visit was related to well-documented Saudi attempts at diplomacy to ease tensions with Iran. The Saudis had dispatched a message of peace to Iran, with Iraq acting as an intermediary. Soleimani was coming to Iraq to deliver the Iranian government’s reply.

The US assassination, then, undercut the peace effort to an enormous level. Iraq was keen to facilitate peace between its two neighbors, hopefully to calm down US threats against Iran. Instead, the US undercut the entire process.

It’s not clear this totally ends the Saudi effort for peace, though it may be difficult for Iran to safely get messengers into Baghdad in the near future, with the US rather openly threatening more assassinations. Since peace overtures were the Saudi “plan B” after the US didn’t attack Iran, they may no longer bother, given the rapidly escalating military tensions.

[END REPORT]

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