Trust an issue as Iran helps fight against Islamic State

Gen. Solamani

This week the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Army Gen. Martin Dempsey , US Defense Secretary Ash Carter  and Secretary of State John Kerry testified at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on "The President's Request for Authorization to Use Force Against ISIS: Military and Diplomatic Efforts" on Capitol Hill in Washington.

As the meeting progressed, testimonies noted that Iraq was succeeding in pushing ISIS fighters out of Tikrit after a 10-day battle. While Baghdad successful without American assistance, it had substantial aid from neighboring Iran, according to Time.

Dempsey outlined how extensive Iran’s help was in the battle for Tikrit: 20,000 of the 24,000 troops fighting ISIS in and around the city, or more than 80%, were “Iranian trained and somewhat Iranian equipped” Shi‘ite militia.

Sadaam Hussein’s former home town of Tikrit carries a key lesson: Iraq can beat ISIS without US assistance, so long as it has Iran by its side. “If it’s Iran that is at the tip of the spear here, if they’re the ones sponsoring the victories … they’re going to have influence in Iraq,” Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said. “That’s going to be very, very difficult, very tenuous, very dangerous for the regional peace.”

Republican lawmakers grilled the trio asking if the Obama Administration was ignoring Iran’s growing presence in Iraq in hopes of securing a nuclear deal with Tehran. “I believe that much of our strategy with regards to ISIS is being driven by a desire not to upset Iran so that they don’t walk away from the negotiating table on the deal that you’re working on,” Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida said.

Secretary of State Kerry denied the allegation.

Gen. Dempsey broadened the perspective by informing the committee that Iran’s role in the fight for Tikrit is “positive,” but warned of what might happen next. “We are all concerned about what happens after the drums stop beating and [ISIS] is defeated,” he said. “We’re very concerned about that.”

Iran’s involvement is a “mixed blessing”

While the committee agrees defeating ISIS is positive, relying on and strengthening Iran is questionable. 

“Does it matter that Iran is advising militias fighting ISIS? Does it matter which countries are taking part in the fight against ISIS -- including that one of them, Iran, is a longstanding U.S. foe?” Even military advisors don’t have easy answers, reported by CNN.

Sectarian divisions

To better understand possible outcomes, an understanding not only of the international landscape and Iraqi politics, but Islam itself is prudent.

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The religion's two major sects are Sunni and Shia. In Iraq, Sunni Arabs comprise 15% to 20% of Iraq's population, with about half in urban areas like Baghdad, Mosul and Tikrit, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. About 18% of Iraq's population is Sunni Kurds.

That means the vast majority of Iraqis are Shiite Muslims.

During his decades-long rule, Saddam Hussein gave positions of power to Sunnis, and marginalized Shiites, according experts. Shiite families fled to Iran and the country gave them housing and jobs and educated their children. “That imbued Iraqi Shiites who have returned home with a fierce allegiance to Iran,” they said.

What are terrorism experts saying?

Jessica Stern, a lecturer on terrorism at Harvard University wrote this, "ISIS: The State of Terror," says it's imperative to address the sectarian divisions in Iraq and continue pushing for changes in its government, in the CNN report.

She notes that "the anti-Sunni, Shia-promoting government of Maliki" was a big reason ISIS was able "to take root" in Iraq.

"Many Sunnis feel under siege. ISIS is saying, 'We're going to protect you. ISIS is presenting itself as a savior of Sunnis," she said.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Rick Francona, a CNN military analyst.

"The Iranians are smart enough to know that's a possibility, so they would be telling the Shia-led militias not to make this a Sunni v. Shia fight," Francona said.

Should the US consider Iran's efforts to defeat ISIS by backing Shia-led militias?

Speaking at the congressional hearing about the White House's request for use of force to fight ISIS, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff reminded the gathering that Iran's involvement in helping Iraqi forces is a good thing.

"Anything anyone does to counter ISIS is in the main a good outcome," Gen. Martin Dempsey said.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter suggested that the matter was more nuanced. The US is worried about Iran's role, he said.

"It is something that is concerning to us," he said of Iran's role, "in particular because the sectarian danger in Iraq is the principal thing that can unravel the campaign against ISIS."

For now fighting back ISIS appears to be the main focus and is experiencing success, but sectarian divisions in the region definitely will be a challenge moving forward once ISIS has ultimately been degraded.  The ability to create long standing peace will be decided by the ability of the Shia and Sunni to present a united front against further incursions by ISIS.  

Still, trust is one of the main considerations, and some believe it is thin when dealing with Iran.  Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the committee chairman, wondered aloud if the Iranian-backed militia might attack the 3,000 American troops currently in Iraq.

“We have no indications that they intend to turn on us,” Dempsey said.

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