In a rare moment of bipartisan consensus, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson and Democrat Jimmy Panetta have introduced the Free Iraq from Iran Act, a piece of legislation that seeks to confront a festering threat to Iraq’s sovereignty-one that has not only destabilized the country for decades but has also undermined US interests in the region. The act aims to end American aid to Iraq unless its government takes verifiable steps to disarm and dismantle Iran-backed militias operating within its borders. This move is not only justified-it’s long overdue.

Since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iran has methodically exploited the power vacuum in Iraq to entrench its influence through a network of armed militias and political proxies. What started as nominally “resistance” groups have now morphed into a parallel state within Iraq. Groups like Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and the Al-Badr Organization are directly linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Quds Force, an elite unit tasked with exporting Iran’s revolutionary ideology.

These militias are not loyal to Iraq’s constitution or its democratically elected government. They operate independently, often above the law, with their command chains reaching directly back to Tehran. They have embedded themselves in Iraq’s security apparatus, economy, and political institutions. This parasitic relationship has allowed Iran to turn Iraq into a platform for regional aggression and internal suppression.

The presence of Iran-backed militias has come at a catastrophic cost for Iraq and the region. These groups engage in widespread corruption, siphoning off reconstruction funds, manipulating elections, and running illicit detention centers where torture........

© Blitz