Iraq: Interview with Hayder al-Khoei

Bob Tollast interviews Hayder al-Khoei on developments in Iraq and the Iraqi view of events in Syria.  See the interview for more of al-Khoei's views on the tenuous political situation in Iraq.

As for Syria today, generally speaking, the Shia fear a post-Assad Syria and what they see as a Saudi-backed plot to weaken regional Shia power. These voices may not like Assad and some may even see the Alawis of Syria as a heretical sect, but they view Saudi influence in the Middle East as a bigger threat to the region and that is why they stand behind Assad, or refuse to undermine him. Iran sees Syria as vital ally in the region and a corridor to Lebanon. Iraq, by abstaining from the Arab League vote on Syria, made it clear that it, too, fears it will become the victim of a destabilised Syria. The New York Times ran a piece in August saying that Iraq was nudged by Iran on this issue, but what many Westerners fail to understand is the fear of many Iraqis, who have been subject to a brutal sectarian campaign over the years, who believe a post-Assad conflict in Syria would spill over.