Iraqi Party Comes to the United States

The Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq is launching a public campaign in the United States, "to educate and raise awareness of the goals of the leading Shiite political party that opposes Muqtada al-Sadr's group." The Council will spend an estimated $20,000 per month, to educate U.S. policymakers and the general public on "Iraqi Islamic culture." The U.S. representative of the group, Karim Almusawi, "has appeared at various forums such as the U.S. Institute of Peace event earlier this month that dealt with Iraqi recommendations for the incoming Administration," reports O'Dwyer's. The Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq maintains "a somewhat incongruous dual alliance with the U.S. and Iran," according to the International Crisis Group.