In the last two months, a new foe has reared its head. The collapse in the price of oil on the world markets, thanks to a decision by Saudi Arabia to start a price war with its geopolitical foes Iran and Russia, has slashed the Iraqi government’s budget.
Around 90 per cent of its income comes from oil, and a price cut from $140 at its peak, and from $80 a year ago to $40 today has had a major effect.
“Of course, it has affected all aspects of the Iraqi government, and the first impact is on the Ministry of Defence,” the defence minister, Khaled al-Obeidy, told The Sunday Telegraph in an interview.
Mr Obeid was speaking after a tour of the front lines north-east of the town of Haditha, in Anbar province. On arrival by an air force C-130 plane at Camp Speicher in Salaheddin province, the start point for the surge west across the Anbar desert, he was met by local government officials complaining that delivery of funds from Baghdad was late – as well as by the weaponless policemen.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member