The Mirage of Sovereignty: Al-Sudani’s Failure to Protect the Resistance and the Sell-out of Iraqi...

Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani’s recent interview on "Al-Mayadeen Plus" serves as a delayed electoral manifesto for a second term he has not earned. Behind the "institutional" rhetoric lies a systematic attempt to dismantle the Axis of Resistance in Iraq under the guise of integration—a move that aligns more with Washington’s strategic desires than Iraq’s national interests.

1. Weaponizing "Integration": Liquidating the Resistance

Al-Sudani’s ultimatum to the factions—choosing between joining official security institutions or the political path—is a calculated betrayal of the very forces that saved Baghdad in 2014.

* The Contradiction: While he praises the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) for defeating ISIS, he simultaneously validates American fears by labeling certain factions as "problematic."

* Disarmament Policy: By forcing a choice between the weapon and the ballot box, Al-Sudani seeks to strip the Resistance of its deterrent power.

* Historical Failure: Contrast this with his 2022 pledges to maintain the "sanctity of the Resistance." Today, Al-Sudani echoes the language of the Strategic Framework Agreement, prioritizing American "understanding" over the legislative mandate (Resolution of January 5, 2020) to expel foreign troops.

2. Strategic Dependency: The U.S. Veto and "Mark Savaya"

Al-Sudani claims to reject foreign interference, specifically mentioning U.S. envoy Mark Savaya, but his actions reflect a story of total compliance.

* Economic Hostage-taking: Al-Sudani failed to decouple the Iraqi Dinar from the restrictions of the U.S. Federal Reserve. In 2025, Iraq remains under a financial siege where the U.S. Treasury dictates which Iraqi banks are permitted to operate.

* Security Subservience: Despite institutional claims, his administration allowed the International Coalition to extend its presence indefinitely under the guise of "transitioning to bilateral relations"—a timeline lacking any final exit date.

3. The Syrian Border: Censoring Terror and Military Encroachment

The Prime Minister and the interviewer avoided discussing the bloody history of Abu Mohammad al-Julani in Iraq—a man who led terrorist operations targeting minorities in both Iraq and Syria and threatened civil peace. Furthermore, they deliberately ignored the ongoing U.S. military buildup and incursions on the Syrian-Iraqi border.

* Reductionist Framing: Al-Sudani frames cooperation with Damascus solely as a "drug and terror combat" initiative, a shallow view of the relationship between the two nations.

* The Zionist Threat: While discussing the threat of Israeli strikes via a "third party," he failed to provide the PMF and the Army with necessary air defense systems (such as the S-300 or Iranian alternatives), leaving the Resistance arena exposed to Israeli assassinations.

4. Political Opportunism: The Second Term Ambition

The inclusion of his name alongside Nouri al-Maliki and Haider al-Abadi for the next premiership proves this interview was a campaign speech, not a policy update.

* A Disgraceful Return: For a PM who presided over the continued presence of occupiers and the bureaucratic strangulation of the Resistance, a second term would be a mandate for the "Lebanonization" of Iraqi security—where the state is weak and its defenders are disarmed.

The Silent Collapse: How Al-Sudani’s Economic Policies Led Iraq to the Brink

Al-Sudani’s interview cannot be read in isolation from the "structural ruin" he caused. Behind the facade of "stability," a disastrous economic failure hides, making Iraq a hostage to the U.S. Treasury.

1. Dependence on the U.S. Treasury: Lost Sovereignty

* The Dollar Crisis (2023-2025): The parallel market exchange rate reached 170,000-175,000 IQD per $100, causing rampant inflation that crushed the poor.

* Humiliating Compliance: He submitted to the SWIFT platform and U.S.

restrictions, resulting in over 30 Iraqi banks being barred from dollar transactions by external decree, paralyzing local trade.

2. Explosive Budgets: The "Electoral Bribe" Economy

* Salary Inflation: Wages and social grants consumed over 70% of the 2024-2025 budget, killing investment development.

* Historic Deficit: The 2025 budget recorded a massive speculative deficit, with internal debt rising to 92 trillion IQD (over 25% of GDP).

* Oil Dependency: Iraq remains 90% dependent on oil revenues, threatening the state with bankruptcy if global energy prices drop.

3. Politically Protected Corruption

* The "Juhi" Network: The 2024 espionage scandal within the PM’s office proved that corruption and security breaches reached the highest levels under his watch.

* Suspicious Settlements: In the "Heist of the Century" ($2.5 billion), his government focused on recovering minor portions of funds in exchange for releasing key defendants instead of delivering justice.

Conclusion: A Second Term Means Iraqi Bankruptcy

A second term for Al-Sudani is a death sentence for the remains of the economy. Iraq needs a genuine economic uprising that frees itself from the U.S. Federal Reserve, not an "employee" executing agendas aimed at starving resistant peoples.

Al-Sudani’s "institutional" vision, promoted "shrewdly," is merely a trap; he uses the names of martyrs Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis as cover for a platform seeking to bury their legacy. Iraq does not need a mediator for U.S.-Iranian meetings; it needs a leader who imposes the Iraqi will within the Axis of Resistance.

Beautifying the Collapse: Al-Mayadeen’s Fall into the Propaganda Trap

The image of this political deception is incomplete without the suspicious role of Al-Mayadeen. While claiming to be the "voice of the Resistance," the channel has slipped into the role of a "polishing platform" for Al-Sudani’s failures. Its exclusive focus on inflating Al-Sudani’s image, unlike other candidates, raises major questions about its independence.

Can "Al-Mayadeen" be considered biased media?

The answer leans toward the affirmative for several reasons:

* Political Choices : Dedicating resources to polish a figure who plays both sides with the American occupier indicates that "funding" or "narrow interests" have trumped "principle."

* Betrayal of Intellectual Integrity: Presenting Al-Sudani as a Resistance figure while he has not implemented the decision to expel U.S. forces is deliberate deception.

* Absence of Alternatives: The channel intentionally avoids highlighting other political proposals within the Coordination Framework that might be firmer against the U.S. presence.

Al-Mayadeen has lost its revolutionary luster to become an "echo of authority" rather than the "voice of the Resistance."

Al-Sudani’s term was a period of "orbital decay," and a second term would be a catastrophe for the regional struggle against hegemony.