On Jan. 6 France reopened a diplomatic mission in the Iraqi capital. That move, which gives France an important edge in the big power race for trade with Iraq, was made without consulting or informing any of France's European Union partners. Soon after, the French employers' association, Patronat, announced that it would send a delegation of senior business executives, representing over 20 companies, to Iraq in February. France was one of the biggest arms suppliers to Iraq. Turkey is permitting mounting trade with Iraq which been Turkey's biggest trading partner.
Trade is more helpful to Iraq than Kurdistan.
The U.S. concern is its oil interests in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. Most of all, however, the interests and welfare of the Iraqi people are losing out, disregarded as unnecessary to imperialist aims in the region.