TNT – “Tidbits From TNT” Sunday 2-25-2024

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CandyKisses:  Faction leaders set a “deadline” for Americans: either withdraw or resume fighting

Today, Sunday (February 25, 2024), a number of leaders of armed factions in Iraq set a deadline for the United States to withdraw its forces from Iraq completely, while choosing between withdrawing or resuming attacks against US forces.

The US National Radio Network (NPR) quoted statements from the leaders translated by “Baghdad Today”, where the spokesman for the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades, Kazem al-Fartousi, said that “the factions will resume attacks against US forces again if they do not withdraw by the next US elections in November next year.”

Unlike the battles fought by Iraq against Iran and Kuwait, which were imposed on it by Saddam Hussein’s regime, this battle against US forces was chosen by the Iraqi people, not only to remove the forces’ occupation, but also in support of the brothers in occupied Palestine,” al-Fartousi said.

In turn, Kataib Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Mohi, according to the network, said that “the US administration will pay a heavy price for the assassinations carried out against leaders in the Popular Mobilization Forces during the past month, most notably Baqir al-Saadi,” stressing that “Kataib Hezbollah will confront the US forces and expel them not only from Iraq but from the entire region.”

The network indicated that “the assassination of Baqir al-Saadi and the air strikes carried out by US forces last month against targets inside Iraq prompted the continuous efforts to remove US forces to escalate,” wondering about “the reasons that call for the administration of US President Joe Biden to keep US forces in Iraq despite the lack of need.”

The network pointed out in its report and interviews with faction leaders, that “Iraq has witnessed great security stability during the past period, the presence of US forces has become directly threatened by the tension between the factions and those forces,” calling for “reconsidering their presence during the coming period to preserve the security gains achieved inside Iraq.” 

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Tishwash:  Al-Bayati: America practices a policy of double standards to control Iraqi funds

 Former MP Jassem Al-Bayati accused the American side of practicing a policy of double standards through its control of Iraqi funds and oil revenues in its banks and imposing sanctions on Iraqi banks under unjustified pretexts.

Al-Bayati told Al-Maalouma, “America imposes its control over Iraqi funds and imposes sanctions on local banks, while granting licenses to international ones operating in Iraq.”

He added, “International banks operating in Iraq receive billions daily because of American policy,” noting, “These banks obtain, control, and control Iraqi funds without any deterrent.”

He stated that “America imposes a ban on Iraqi banks and sanctions on Shiite parties.”

He described the American measures as “a farce, especially since this money it controls is money from Iraqi oil sold abroad, and not money belonging to it to impose its authority over.”  link

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CandyKisses:  Al-Hakim congratulates Kuwait on the anniversary of their liberation from Saddamist occupation

Baghdad Today – Baghdad

The President of the National State Forces Alliance, Ammar Al-Hakim, congratulated the State of Kuwait on Sunday (February 25, 2024) on the occasion of the anniversary of liberation from the “Saddam occupation”.

Al-Hakim said in a statement received by “Baghdad Today”, “We congratulate the government and people of Kuwait on the Kuwaiti National Day, which coincides with the anniversary of Kuwait’s liberation from the Saddam occupation, which tasted the peoples of the two brothers neighboring countries, Iraq and Kuwait, and the entire region and inflicted heavy losses whose devastating effects will remain visible.”

Al-Hakim added, “We all hope that the relations of brotherly and friendly countries will be characterized by brotherhood, love, joint work, mutual interests and respect to serve the higher interest of their peoples,” praying to the Almighty to “keep the evils of terrorism, extremism and hatred away from our countries and bring security, stability and prosperity to them.”

Every year on 25 February, Kuwait celebrates National Day, the anniversary of its independence from the United Kingdom in 1961, as well as Liberation Day from the “Saddam” invasion in 1991.

In August 1990, Iraq under former President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait before liberation the following year with Arab and international assistance, while the two sides resumed diplomatic relations in 2003 after the overthrow of Saddam’s regime.