Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Iraqis Voice Mixed Reactions to Biden's Election

Namo Abdulla

   The projected election of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United
   States has been met with mixed reactions in war-torn Iraq, where nearly
   3,000 American troops remain to help the country's forces fight the
   remnants of the Islamic State terror group.

   While Iraqi leaders from across the political spectrum have welcomed
   Biden's victory, some Iraqis fear the return of the Democrats to power
   may translate into greater influence for Iran and its violent proxy
   groups in the oil-rich country.

   "Some welcome the end of the disruptive and unpredictable policies and
   tactics of the past four years," Bilal Wahab, an Iraq expert at the
   Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told VOA. "Others fear that
   Biden would ease the pressures on Iran and its proxies in Iraq to the
   detriment of gains made by last year's protest movement."

   Anti-IS operations

   Following a visit to Washington by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa
   al-Kadhimi, the Trump administration in September lowered the number of
   U.S. troops in the country from 5,000 to 3,000.

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