They and other Iraqi politicians were in attendance to mourn those killed Friday in a targeted U.S. drone strike near Baghdad’s international airport. For many in Iraq, the attack marks a death blow to U.S. influence in the country. But even if Iraqi politicians believe they need the U.S., there’s little chance they would rise to its defense, said Renad Mansour, a research fellow at the London-based Chatham House think tank. In any case, Mansour added, politicians have learned that success is more likely with Iran as a friend. “Many Iraqi politicians have realized that the U.S. is not a reliable ally,” Mansour said.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 04, 2020 20:26 UTC