Connecting the Dots: Unsettled Times,Ties

摘要

1.US pressure on Iraq's Iran-backed leadership to hold early elections appears to have backfired.The White House on Sunday accused Iran of draining Iraq's resources and using armed groups and political allies to prevent peaceful protests(EC Nov.8’19).In a phone call with Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi,US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo deplored the use of lethal force;over 300 people have been killed since Oct.1.But senior Iraqi officials hit back.”Enough of you interfering in our affairs,”tweeted powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr,who had earlier called for Abdul Mahdi to go.For now,the government retains the solid support of the security forces.