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03-01-2020, 16:54
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חבר מתאריך: 01.08.05
הודעות: 12,666
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המשך:
The Guardian daily notes that due to close ties with the leader of the state, the general has enjoyed an unwavering position for years and has the ability to shape Iran's foreign policy.
Kasim Sulejmani was born in 1957 to a poor farming family in the mountain village of Qanat-e Malek in southern Iran. When he was a child, his father took a government loan for the development of the farm. Because the parents had no money to pay back the loan, 13-year-old Kasim, wanting to help them, went to the nearby city of Kerman to find a job. After a few days he managed to hire at a construction site. - He worked hard and collected enough money to pay off his father's debt and return home. He became a village hero, ”says Ali Alfoneh, an expert at the Washington Gulf Arab Research Institute.
In the 1970s, Sulejmani worked in municipal waterworks. At that time he was also to attend sermons of a itinerant clergyman who infected him with the idea of the Islamic revolution. In 1979, when the Shah regime collapsed and the Ayatollahs took over the authorities, 22-year-old Suleimani joined the Revolutionary Guard Corps. Although he had only been trained for three weeks, he was sent straight to the front. - He was directed to the north of the country, where he took part in suppressing the Kurdish rebellion - Alfoneh reminds.
A year later, Saddam Hussein attacked Iran. During the bloody and extremely brutal war, Suleimani showed courage and bravery. Although he lacked experience, he quickly took command of a squad of several thousand soldiers. He was famous for his reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines. He often returned with goats, which he shared with his comrades-in-arms. Thanks to this he gained the nickname "Thief of Goats".
The eight-year conflict that swallowed a million victims on both sides had a great impact on the young soldier and shaped him for life. Suleimans, like most Iranians, thought, rightly so, that Iraqis had rearmed and financially supported Western countries. In particular the United States. What's more, Americans shared information about the purposes Baghdad used during chemical attacks. Many Iranian veterans still feel their gruesome effects. It is not surprising that hostility to America was deeply rooted in Suleimanim. In turn, the slaughter of Iranian soldiers, often poorly armed, awakened nationalism, chauvinism, and revenge.
After the war, "Goat Thief" hit the border with Afghanistan, where he fought drug smugglers. In 1998 he was appointed commander of the al-Kuds brigade. Only a few years later he became one of the main playmakers in the Middle East.
PRIVATE DUCHY
Suleimani's most important goal was to build a Shiite sphere of influence stretching from Iran through Iraq, Syria and Lebanon to the Mediterranean. Paradoxically, the United States helped him implement some of this plan. In 2001–2003, Americans overthrew two hostile governments to Tehran - in Iraq and Afghanistan. At first, the Iranians even supported Washington in its activities, but this "cooperation" ended when George W. Bush classified Iran as "the axis of evil." To hit Washington's interests, as soon as Saddam Hussein's regime collapsed, he decided to use agents who had infiltrated the Iraqi Shiite community for years. With their help, the Al-Kuds commander created militia troops across the country that began to attack Americans. It is estimated that during the peak of the war, more than 30,000 were controlled by Iranians. fighters.
On the order of the general, homemade bombs were sent to Iraq. According to Washington, they are responsible for the deaths of every fifth American soldier. At the same time, Suleimans, by bribery, blackmail and threats, constantly increased control over Iraqi politicians. - Has contacts with all major Iraqi and Kurdish politicians and military. He is also in direct contact with the Iranian ambassador - says prof. Mehrzad Boroujerdi, political scientist at the University of Syracuse.
His influence has grown to such an extent that he is able to decide who will become the prime minister of the country. In 2010, Iraqis were unable to form a new government for nine months. At that time, Suleimani invited the most important Shiite and Kurdish politicians to Tehran and Kom. Al-Kuds commander forced them to promise that they would support the candidacy of Nuri al-Maliki. A few days later he became prime minister for the second time. Western diplomats say that the Iranian also set two conditions during the negotiations. First, Jalal Talabani was to remain the president of Iraq. Secondly, all Americans were to leave Iraq. The Yankees withdrew a year later. Iran took their place.
n the years 2014–2017, Tehran's position in Iraq was threatened by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS). As subsequent Iraqi divisions surrendered to jihadists, Suleimani brought his best men to Baghdad. With them, he organized an army of Shiite militants that resisted Sunni radicals. During the hottest fights with ISIS, the general was seen on the front lines in Mosul, Tikrit and Faluja. A successful offensive against jihadists and a rebound from most of the country's hands only strengthened Suleimani's position.
"There is no doubt that he is the most powerful man in Iraq. Nothing happens without his knowledge, "the former Minister of National Security tells journalists of Asharq al-Awsat.
Iraq has actually become the private principality of Suleimani. Local politicians consult key decisions with Tehran. In recent years, people associated with Al-Kuds have regularly used the Iraqi banking system to launder money. The government in Baghdad even sent part of its profits from the sale of oil to Suleimani. Less than two years ago, the general convinced the Kurds to give up their plans to declare independence after a referendum against Baghdad's will. A year ago, he was once again involved in the formation of the Iraqi government. He was promoted to Major General for his actions in Iraq.
In 2013, when Bashar Assad's regime seemed to be about to collapse, Al-Kuds commander appeared in Syria. For Tehran, maintaining an ally was crucial. His defeat would mean Iran losing its connection to Hezbollah bases, used as footholds to attack Israel. "If we lose Syria, we can't keep Tehran," said one Iranian clergyman emphatically. To prevent such a scenario, Suleimani hastily began to organize support for Assad. He brought Hezbollah fighters, the best Al-Kuds officers and Shia militia from around the Arab world to Syria. His volunteers recruited, among others, in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The general also convinced the authorities in Baghdad that Iranian planes with weapons and equipment for combatants could use Iraq's airspace. Suleimani along with his closest advisers repeatedly flew to Damascus, from where he personally commanded all pro-Iranian forces. In the first phase of the war, Iran managed to save the Assad regime and secure areas that were still under his control. In the second phase, which began more or less with the Russian intervention, Al-Kuds helped the Syrian government recapture the lost lands and strengthen power on them.
Suleimani's actions were noticed in the Kremlin. According to the Israeli media citing sources in Mosad, the general was secretly met with Vladimir Putin several times. Thanks to the efficient military operation in Syria, Tehran secured its interests in that country. He also realized the dream of a land bridge connecting Shiites under his control.
WHITE HOUSE DESTROYED ON INSTAGRAM
The success of Iranian operations in Syria and Iraq meant that Suleimani's popularity among Shiites in the Middle East reached its apogee. "It's like a combination of Erwin Rommel, James Bond and Lady Gaga in one," wrote former CIA agent Kenneth Pollack in Times. The general suddenly became an online celebrity.
Last year, he created an Instagram account, where photos from his meetings with Kurds, Yezidi and Iranian soldiers and politicians are published. There are also images of Ayatollahs and various graphics, including the one on which Suleimans launches explosives that destroy the White House. Al-Kuds commander also became "famous" among his enemies.
To the extent that they want to get rid of it. In 2018, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida wrote that Washington had given Israel the green light to kill the general. In turn, according to New York Times, Saudi authorities were also wondering how to assassinate him.
These reports only strengthened the general's position in the country. In March this year, for his merits, the commander Al-Kuds, as the first soldier since 1979, was awarded the highest Iranian decoration - the Order of Zulfaghar. Not surprisingly, a survey conducted by scientists from the University of Maryland together with Iranian researchers showed that Suleimani enjoys the trust of 83 percent. Iranians. Thus, he obtained a better result than the current president Hasan Rouhani and the minister of foreign affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif. The results ignited the discussion about whether the general would decide to abandon the soldier and enter politics, and maybe even become head of state.
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"בניתי לי בית ונטעתי לי גן במקום זה שביקש האויב לגרשנו ממנו בניתי את ביתי, כנגד מקום המקדש בניתיו. כדי להעלות על ליבי תמיד את בית מחמדנו החרב...."
(ש"י עגנון - חתן פרס נובל)
אשרי אדם שיכול לתת מבלי לזכור זאת כל הזמן, ולקבל מבלי לשכוח אף פעם
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