US makes strategic mistake in Iraq

A series of bomb attacks in predominantly Shiite areas shook the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Thursday, leaving more than 60 dead. The withdrawal of the US troops could prove to be a strategic mistake, the left-liberal daily Der Standard fears: "Obama will come under even greater attack from the Republicans for failing to extend US military presence in Iraq. But [Iraqi Prime Minister] Maliki didn't want that - and his friends in Tehran much less. They all know that the toppling of Assad and the resulting strengthening of the Sunnis in Syria and Lebanon poses a threat to Shiite dominance in Iraq. But there definitely won't be a complete rollback like Saudi Arabia wants - that would be nonsense for democratic policy. But that the US has pulled out of Iraq just when Iran's ousting from the Arab countries is beginning to take shape could prove to be a strategic mistake."

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