Investigative journalist Bob Woodward’s revelation that the United States has spied extensively on Iraqi government leaders and plans to oust the Nouri al-Maliki government has shocked Iraqi officials.

In his new book The War Within: A Secret White House History, 2006-2008, Woodward, who has close connections with some Pentagon officials, stated that the U.S. has even been spying on the private lives of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and some other top officials.
“We know everything he (Maliki) says,” one source bragged to Woodward.
This move shows that Washington doesn’t even trust its closest allies and plans to oust Maliki due to his fierce opposition to some points in the proposed Iraq-U.S. security pact.
The espionage operation is not only a breach of Iraqi national sovereignty but will probably also cause discord between Iraqi officials.
U.S. officials are spying on a particular group of Iraqi leaders because Washington believes that they are politically and intellectually inspired by foreign elements.
Baghdad has demanded an explanation, but it seems that Washington is conducting the espionage on the pretext that it is necessary to protect U.S. forces in Iraq.
The spying scandal will surely complicate relations between the two countries and has probably torpedoed the Iraq-U.S. security pact.
However, instead of apologizing to the Iraqi nation for the treachery, U.S. officials have tried to justify the move, which will put the last nail in the coffin of U.S.-Iraq relations.
Meanwhile, there are reports that Washington is rebuilding the Baathist movement with the goal of returning them to power at an opportune time.
Various conferences have been held in Arab states in the region, with former Baath officials in attendance, in line with the U.S. plan to oust the Maliki government and return the Baathists to power.
Prime Minister Maliki recently announced that he will never sign the security pact if certain points are not amended, although George W. Bush is insisting on getting the agreement signed before the end of his term in January.
This turn of events will surely incense the Iraqi people because it shows that the U.S. may even spy on religious leaders in the future, which would be an assault on the country’s religious values and undermine Iraq’s national sovereignty