Iraqi Sunnis plan lobbying operation in Washington

Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni, is one of two Iraqi vice-presidents.

WASHINGTON -- Members of the largest Sunni Muslim political bloc in Iraq's Parliament are planning to open a lobbying operation in Washington, in a dramatic shift for Sunni parties that once boycotted Iraq's elections and turned down opportunities for dialogue with the United States.

The move reflects a growing realization among many Sunnis that they need US help to counter their Shi'ite political rivals, who are backed by Iran, an archenemy they now share with the United States.

The decision by Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi , a leader of the Sunni alliance that holds 44 of 275 seats in Parliament, to begin lobbying in Washington also highlights how deep the divisions among Sunnis, Shi'ites, and Kurds have become. Each group now has its own representatives in Washington to push its agenda at the State Department, the White House, and on Capitol Hill.

Read the rest at the Boston Globe

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