The Most Important Man In Iraq?

Major General Suleimani's reputation as the most formidable operator in the region has not diminished in the past three years. By some measures it has actually increased: Syria now also comes within his sphere of influence.Tehran has invested heavily in the survival of the embattled Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, and his fall would be a serious strategic setback for Iran and Suleimani. It is perhaps the only part of the region where the general's preferred mix of strategic diplomacy with aggressive operations is being strongly tested.In Baghdad, however, no other name invokes the same sort of reaction among the country's power base: discomfort, uncertainty and fear.''He is the most powerful man in Iraq without question,'' the former national security minister, Mowaffak al-Rubaie, said recently. ''Nothing gets done without him.''Read more: