Punishing Iraqi militias, Rubio bolsters Libyan ones
The Trump administration has taken a hardline stance against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, including sanctioning former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and freezing Iraq's access to U.S.-held funds. In contrast, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are supporting a militia-based government in Libya led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh and influenced by Grand Mufti Sadiq Al-Ghariani. The article highlights the contradiction in U.S. policy of opposing militias in one country while backing them in another.
- ▪President Trump vetoed Nouri al-Maliki's return to power in Iraq and froze Iraq’s access to its U.S.-held dollars.
- ▪Trump previously ordered the killing of Iranian Qods Force Chief Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in response to attacks on U.S. personnel.
- ▪In Libya, the U.S. supports the Tripoli-based government of Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, which relies on Turkey and is influenced by Grand Mufti Sadiq Al-Ghariani.
- ▪The Libyan National Army under Khalifa Haftar controls over 70% of Libya, including key oil infrastructure, after clearing Islamist militias from Benghazi.
- ▪The article criticizes U.S. policy for empowering Islamist militias in Libya despite opposing similar groups in Iraq.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
When former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sought to return to the premiership, President Donald Trump was quick with a veto. “Last time Maliki was in power, the Country descended into poverty and total chaos. That should not be allowed to happen again,” he posted on Truth Social, warning the United States would cut off Iraq if Maliki persisted. It was no bluff. Multiple U.S. presidents tolerated Iran-backed Iraqi militias, even when they contributed to the murders of Americans. Trump refused to play by the same playbook. During his first term, he killed Iranian Qods Force Chief Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia head Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, just days after the Kataib Hezbollah militias fired 30 rockets into an Iraqi air base, killing a U.S. contractor.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Washington Examiner.
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