See the new #MilitiaSpotlight @WashInstitute piece by @HamdiAMalik and myself on how Iran-backed militias immediately justified the killing of a U.S. citizen in Baghdad yesterday. Zero hesitation, zero regard for the truth washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysi…
The Iran backed militias are feeling hugely confident under this new Iraqi govt, and it shows in how unrestrained is their glee that a US citizen can be killed with no consequences - and that the attack can be turned into a non-sequiter attack on USAID, who are uninvolved.
The Iran backed militias that undergird the Sudani government did not hesitate for a second to justify the killing of an unarmed teacher on the grounds that he may have been a spy. This coincides with an immediate snap back of militia presence at key Baghdad intersections. 
There is likely an anti access / area denial motive to the killing - a big signpost that Iraq is closed to Western engagement - people to people, civil society, critical journalism, election monitors. Keep your nose out, is the message, amplified by the growth of hostage taking.
My mate @HamdiAMalik did a great job of quickly digging out and preserving evidence of the unhesitant militia embrace of this killing. See his documenting work and our conclusions here washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysi…
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