Why Trump’s Criticism of Maliki Strengthens Him in Iraq

Is publicly confronting the likely next prime minister of Iraq the right strategy for the United States? The nomination of Nouri al Maliki by the Coordination Framework, the organizing body of Shiite politics in Iraq, on Jan. 24, and the blunt and public objection by President Donald Trump three days later, have exposed a growing political crisis with major implications for U.S. interests in Iraq and the broader Middle East.Rather than weakening Maliki, the intervention has galvanized Shiite political actors under the banner of national sovereignty — including those who do not typically support him. Maliki’s nomination reflects deeper structural

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