[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 137 (Friday, August 17, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





               WE MUST STAND UP TO IRAN'S PROXIES IN IRAQ

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 17, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Iran is continuing its march across 
the Middle East. At this moment, it is consolidating its gains in 
Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Iraq. Through its network of 
violent proxies, it is exerting influence to subject millions to the 
will of the mullahs in Tehran and to launch terrorist attacks against 
us and our allies. Iran's sectarian proxies are sowing division across 
the region through their brutal rule, giving Sunni extremists like al-
Qaeda and ISIS an opportunity to recruit among the oppressed. Wherever 
there is weak governance in the Middle East, Iran moves to expand its 
conquests and challenge the rule of law.
  Currently, Iraq is particularly vulnerable to Iran's proxy 
subversion. The country is attempting to rebuild--with our help--after 
years of battling ISIS. Hundreds of thousands still remain displaced 
from their homes and the damage to the country's infrastructure is 
immense. Yet despite ISIS's defeat on the battlefield and the 
liberation of all major towns and cities, corruption and Iranian 
meddling present major obstacles towards allowing Iraq to heal. 
Iranian-backed militias are not disbanding, but instead are controlling 
territory, infiltrating government institutions, and attempting to 
seize political power. They do not respect democracy or care for the 
interests of average Iraqis. These proxies serve only the goals of 
their masters in Tehran who want to keep their neighbor weak. Their 
presence undermines the Iraqi government's authority and ultimately 
hinders reconciliation amongst the country's religious sects.
  After President Obama foolishly withdrew our forces in 2011, it was 
these thugs and their Iranian patrons who filled the void, creating the 
sectarian conditions for Iraq to unravel and ISIS to be born. We must 
not allow this to happen again. By working to restore Iraqi sovereignty 
and diminish the power of Iran's agents, we can prevent ISIS from 
returning and another generation of Americans having to go fight in the 
Middle East.
  Unfortunately, Iran's proxies in Iraq are gaining power and despite 
legislation to target these groups, our own State Department is getting 
in the way. For too long they have tried diplomatic niceties to urge 
Iraqis to stand up to their countrymen who are doing Tehran's bidding. 
But this method is failing as Iranian-backed groups such as Asaib Ahl 
al-Haq win more seats in Iraq's parliament. Al-Haq is a militia group 
that has killed dozens of Americans, Iraqis, Kurds, and Syrians, yet no 
one will stand up to them--not even our foreign service officers. It's 
time to stop doing a dance with the devils in Iraq and Iran, and send a 
clear message that these groups should be designated as terrorists and 
cast out of the halls of power in Baghdad. If we do not, the future of 
Iraq as a strong independent nation is in jeopardy.
  Iranian-controlled militias, like Asaib Ahl al-Haq and their comrades 
in Harakat Hezbollah Al-Nujaba must be targeted so that those freedom-
loving Iraqis who hope to rebuild their country can see that America 
stands with them. Already we are seeing in the streets of southern Iraq 
that some Iraqis are demonstrating courage in the face of Iran's 
proxies. They, like the Iranian people, are demanding that the mullahs' 
corruption be removed from their country. The era of bending the knee 
to Tehran is over.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________