Abdul El-Sayed defies $60 Million campaign against him, wins Michigan Democratic Senate Primary

Image
  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Despite massive spending by outside groups and high-profile endorsements for his opponent, Abdul El-Sayed secured a decisive Democratic Senate primary victory and now heads into a closely watched November showdown. Abdul El-Sayed has scored one of the most closely watched political upsets of the 2026 election cycle, defeating Representative Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary despite facing more than $60 million in outside spending , much of it from pro-Israel political groups. The victory marks a significant breakthrough for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and sets up a high-stakes general election contest against Republican Mike Rogers in November. El-Sayed's campaign prevailed even after Stevens received late endorsements from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and influential national Democrats, including Representative James Clyburn . Those endorsements failed to reverse momentum behind El-S...
Post a Comment

Muqtada al-Sadr and Qais al-Khazali: From brothers-in-arms to Iraq's fiercest Shiite rivals


By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis

Muqtada al-Sadr vs. Qais al-Khazali: The 21-Year Feud Reshaping Iraqi Politics

Discover how Muqtada al-Sadr and Qais al-Khazali went from allies in the Mahdi Army to bitter rivals, reshaping Iraq's Shiite politics and security landscape.

The white and black turbans, who are the same age, used to work in the same force and face US forces, but are now bitter enemies.

Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the Sadr Movement, and Qais al-Khazali, the secretary of the Ahl al-Haq militia, have been at odds with each other from time to time.

Before becoming a prominent armed and popular leader, Qais Khas Ali, 52, was one of Sadr's obedient leaders in the Mahdi Army between 2003 and 2005, when Sadr declared "jihad" against US forces.

When he formed the Asaib Ahl al-Haq group in 2005 and split from the Mahdi Army, the situation changed.

The relationship between Sadr and Qais Khas Ali broke down 21 years ago, when they were both young and black-haired, but their differences deepen as they get older.

Sadr and Qais Khas Ali; age-old rivalry and animosity in a new guise

Sadr's movement and Ahl al-Haq have always been at odds, but their differences deepened in August 2022, when a media war broke out between them and Sadr called Asaib a "faction of liars."

The conflict between the Sadr movement and the Ahl al-Haq movement comes at a time when Sadr has a large loyal population in Iraq and the Asaib has become a heavy number on the political arena, in addition to both sides have armed forces.

Currently, the conflict between the Sadr movement and the Asaib has led to occasional fighting, especially in Maysan province.

Security experts say the Sadr movement and Asaib Ahl al-Haq are still affected by their separation and their conflict could resurface at any moment.

In addition to the conflict between them, the Sadr movement and the Asaib have common areas in central and southern Iraq, fighting for dominance over those areas.

The external dimension has also affected the conflict between the Sadr movement and the Asaib, which is considered a governing force close to Iran, while the Sadr movement claims to be Iraqi nationalist.

Although the conflict between the Sadr movement and the Asaib occasionally resurfaces and short-term armed clashes occur between them, but the two forces quickly stopped their armed movements and calmed the situation.

Sadr resumes attack

After the US and Saudi bombing of Shiite militia positions, Sadr movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr issued two statements stressing the need to protect Iraqi sovereignty and attacked Shiite groups.

Sadr strongly criticized the behavior of what he calls illegal militias and accused them of shameless acts that lead Iraq to a useless war.

He warned that it is the duty of these groups not to give any excuse to the Gulf countries to target Iraqi territory, and called on the Iraqi government to work seriously to impose security, sovereignty and protection of the Iraqi people and prevent the development of sectarianism.

Related article:

Saudi Arabia and Iraq: from a diplomatic bridge to a potential field of confrontation

#Iraq #MuqtadaAlSadr #QaisAlKhazali #MiddleEast #Geopolitics

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lindsey Graham Passing Reshapes Republican Foreign Policy—and Raises Questions for the Kurds

Image
  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis The sudden death of one of Washington's most influential Republican hawks removes a powerful congressional advocate for Ukraine, Israel, a hardline Iran policy, and Kurdish aspirations in the Middle East. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of Washington's strongest advocates for the Kurds, Ukraine, Israel, and a tougher US policy toward Iran. Lindsey Graham's Sudden Death Leaves a Strategic Void in Washington WASHINGTON — Senator Lindsey Graham , one of the Republican Party's most influential foreign policy voices and one of President Donald Trump's closest congressional allies, has died at the age of 71 following a sudden illness, according to a statement released by his office. His unexpected death comes at a particularly volatile moment in American and Middle Eastern politics. Graham had recently traveled to Ukraine, remained deeply involved in congressional debates over Iran and Israel, and was p...
Read more

Lindsey Graham's Death Leaves a Void in US-Kurdish Relations

Image
  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis     The passing of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of the most influential American advocates for the Kurdish people, raising questions about the future of bipartisan support for Kurdistan amid shifting US foreign policy priorities. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of Washington's strongest advocates for the Kurdish people, creating uncertainty for future US-Kurdish relations. The Loss of a Longstanding Friend of Kurdistan The sudden death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has prompted an outpouring of tributes not only across Washington but throughout the Kurdistan Region, reflecting the rare position he occupied as one of the most consistent and influential American advocates for Kurdish interests. The Washington Kurdish Institute described Graham as a steadfast supporter whose commitment to the Kurdish people extended beyond political rhetoric, offering condolences to his family while highlighting...
Read more

Can the stateless Nation of Kurdistan help save the Global Order?

Image
By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj A new geopolitical analysis argues that Kurdistan's experience of survival, mediation, and pragmatic diplomacy offers unexpected lessons as the international order faces its deepest crisis since World War II. A new geopolitical analysis argues Kurdistan's experience offers vital lessons for rebuilding international order amid the Iran war and global instability. As the World Fragments, Kurdistan Offers an Unexpected Lesson The international system is under unprecedented strain.  Russia's war in Ukraine, escalating tensions between Iran and the West, the paralysis of the United Nations, and growing competition among major powers have raised a fundamental question: Who still defines the rules of international order? According to a new geopolitical analysis by Greg Mills and Basil Gavalas , the answer may not come from Washington, Moscow, Beijing, or Brussels—but from an unlikely place: Iraq's Kurdistan Region . While lacking international r...
Read more