US imperialism root cause of Iraqi woes: Scholar
US imperialism, which aim is to hold its grip on Iraq's rich oil and gas resources, is the main source of the Iraqi nation's economic woes, an American scholar says.
Recently a group of Iraqis staged a rally protesting against the dire economic conditions in the country.
Kevin Barrett, an author, journalist and radio host with a PhD in Islamic and Arabic Studies blames the West Imperialism linked to Zionism to the unrest in the country.
In an interview with Press TV on Monday, Barrett said western instigated wars on Iraq, which aimed to break the country, have caused millions of Iraqi lives and destroyed its once-flourishing economy..
"This war on Iraq … has cost millions of lives...The number of Iraqis killed in British, American, Zionist-driven attacks on Iraqi people totals nine million people," he said.
Barrett said if you added the number of Iraqi people who died from deprivation caused by the western instigated wars on Iraq, the death toll would be much higher.
![[07/10/19] Iraqi government blames :evil hands: for targeting protesters - English - ShiaTV.net](http://www.shiatv.net/thumb/2_131155.jpg)
He said the purpose of the neocon-Zionist instigated wars on Iraq have not been to save the country, but to destroy its economy and infrastructure, kill its scientists and engineers and take control of its vast oil resources.
"This is the reason why the oil-rich country of Iraq cannot build its economy," Barrett noted.
To rebuild the economy of the country, the Iraqi people needed to kick out western foreigners so they could regain their control over national resources, according to Barrett.
"The Iraqi people should rise against the western occupation in their country. They should rise against Zionism and imperialism. If the people of Iraq gain full control of their resources they will be able to build their infrastructure and economy," he explained.
Barrett cited the global Zionist movement based in occupied Palestine as the primary instigator of unrest in the region.
Barrett said by identifying the true enemies and creating a united front against them, the Muslim nation could gain independence from western domination.
"If the Muslim world ever were to unite, and to get actual control of its oil and gas resources … the Islamic Ummah would become the world’s strongest and most prosperous nation," according to the scholar.
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