Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has ignited fresh political controversy. He called for confining all weapons to the state. He insisted Iraq must have only one army. His remarks immediately raised questions about the Popular Mobilization Forces. Moreover, the debate comes amid ongoing government formation negotiations.
Maliki leads the State of Law Coalition today. He remains the Coordination Framework candidate for prime minister. He made his comments through his official media office. Journalists asked him about achieving stability in Iraq. In addition, he addressed youth opportunities and reconstruction priorities extensively.
The Iraqi people have suffered enough from prolonged violence. They now deserve to live with security and dignity. Therefore, de-escalation and unity must guide all political parties. Furthermore, the rule of law must extend across the entire country. Consequently, confining arms to the state remains absolutely essential.
One army must include members from all components. This force serves under the commander in chief exclusively. Ultimately, this foundation allows for building a truly stable state. Stability creates secure environments for attracting outside investors. As a result, genuine employment opportunities will emerge for young Iraqis. Similarly, reconstruction efforts can advance across all provinces simultaneously.
His reference to one army immediately triggered political debate. Observers question whether this implies PMF dissolution. Others, however, suggest gradual integration into formal military structures. Undeniably, the issue carries extraordinary sensitivity at this moment. Moreover,reported American opposition to Maliki complicates the discussion. Specifically, Washington may tie conditions to continued security cooperation.
The Anbar security operation recently demonstrated Iraqi forces capabilities. That successful raid captured a senior ISIS commander. Furthermore, it dismantled an entire militant cell preparing attacks. Notably, the operation showed professional military competence without militia participation. Consequently, this success strengthens arguments for unified command structures.
Political negotiations among Iraqi blocs continue intensively. As a result, Maliki’s remarks will intensify security institution discussions. Nevertheless, the balance between state authority and armed factions remains delicate. After all, some factions emerged during the ISIS war urgently. Subsequently, their legal status evolved through subsequent parliamentary legislation. Yet, full integration into formal forces remains incomplete and contested.
Trump reportedly objects to Maliki returning as prime minister. The American president criticized Maliki’s previous tenure harshly. He cited governance failures and sectarian tension increases. Moreover, he blamed deteriorating security before ISIS emerged in 2014. Consequently, Trump allegedly threatened suspending American support to Iraq. Specifically, he reportedly wants Maliki to step aside completely.
Nevertheless, Maliki shows no indication of withdrawing his candidacy. In fact, Coordination Framework leaders repeatedly affirm his nomination publicly. Furthermore, Maliki insists the choice remains a sovereign Iraqi decision. He argues that constitutional mechanisms and parliamentary consensus determine outcomes. Therefore, external pressure will not dictate Iraqi political processes.
Significantly, the Anbar security operation occurred against this political backdrop. Importantly,security forces performed without reference to political disputes. Instead, professional military units conducted the dangerous mission successfully. Thus, they demonstrated Iraq can manage its own security challenges. Consequently, this strengthens arguments for consolidating all forces institutionally.
The standoff injects additional complexity into government formation. Consequently, domestic actors weigh internal political alignments carefully. At the same time, they also consider international positioning implications seriously. Notably, different factions hold varying positions on PMF restructuring. While some resist any change to current arrangements forcefully, othersadvocate accelerated integration into regular forces.
Maliki’s insistence on remaining in the race matters significantly. Indeed, it underscores the broader contest over political direction. Clearly, Iraq’s future security architecture hangs in the balance. However, the one army concept faces practical implementation challenges. For instance,thousands of PMF members receive state salaries currently. Yet, they operate under a separate command structure simultaneously. Therefore, reconciling these arrangements requires difficult political compromises.
Previous integration attempts achieved only partial success. For example, some factions joined formal security institutions willingly. In contrast, others maintained independent operational capabilities deliberately. Furthermore, legislation recognized the PMF as an official institution. In theory, it placed the force under commander in chief authority nominally. In practice, however,significant autonomy persists across many units.
Significantly, the Anbar security operation demonstrates what unified forces achieve. Clearly,professional training and clear command structures deliver results. Currently, political leaders now debate how to replicate this success. Ultimately, the outcome will shape Iraqi security for years ahead. On one hand, Maliki positioned himself firmly on one side. On the other hand, his rivals will offer alternative visions inevitably. Therefore, the coming weeks will reveal which approach prevails.
