Kadhim quoted in Washington Report on Iraq’s Parliamentary Elections

MENASource Jun 30, 2025

Balancing acts and breaking points: Iraq’s US-Iran dilemma

By C. Anthony Pfaff

The future of US–Iraq relations is neither as dim as it may first appear, nor as promising as one might hope.
Geopolitics & Energy Security Iran
Kadhim quoted in Washington Report on Iraq’s Parliamentary Elections

MENASource Jun 4, 2025

Why Iraq should build bridges with its ‘new’ neighbor, Syria

By Shermine Serbest

Iraq’s position on the Syria transition is split between two camps: the official government, and that of the powerful non-state actors.
Iraq Middle East
Kadhim quoted in Washington Report on Iraq’s Parliamentary Elections

MENASource Apr 17, 2025

Trump must clarify his Iraq policy. Washington’s Middle East investment hangs in the balance.

By Sarkawt Shamsulddin

Contradictory signals from the US president on Iraq’s Iran-connected Popular Mobilization Forces risks derailing hard-won progress.
Iraq Middle East

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The Iraq Initiative provides transatlantic and regional policy makers with unique perspectives and analysis on the ongoing challenges and opportunities facing Iraq as the country tries to build an inclusive political system, attract economic investment, and encourage a vibrant civil society.

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Top experts

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Kirsten Fontenrose

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Middle East National Security

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Abbas Kadhim

Resident Senior Fellow, Iraq Initiative

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Iraq Middle East

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David Mack

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

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Masoud Mostajabi

Former Deputy Director, Iraq Initiative

Iraq Initiative Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Energy & Environment English

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C. Anthony Pfaff

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

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Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Conflict Defense Policy

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Ahmed Tabaqchali

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

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Thomas S. Warrick

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

National Security Terrorism

Content

In the News

Nov 1, 2021

Kadhim quoted in Washington Report on Iraq’s Parliamentary Elections

By Atlantic Council

Elections Iraq

In the News

Oct 22, 2021

Quirk on addressing fragile state threats in 2022 National Security Strategy

By Atlantic Council

On October 17, the National Interest published an article by Atlantic Council Nonresident Senior Fellow Patrick Quirk offering steps the Biden administration can take in its 2022 National Security Strategy to address threats posed by fragile states. In the piece, Quirk discusses these threats – from non-state armed groups that fuel instability to corruption that weakens fragile state […]

Conflict Corruption

In the News

Oct 16, 2021

Khoury quoted in The New York Times on the Iraqi elections

By Atlantic Council

Democratic Transitions Elections

In the News

Oct 10, 2021

Kadhim quoted in Aljazeera on Iraq’s parliamentary elections

By Atlantic Council

Elections Iraq

IranSource

Sep 22, 2021

Iran ‘won’ the war with Iraq but at a heavy price

By Barbara Slavin, Abbas Kadhim

More than four decades after the beginning of a dreadful war that shaped the lives and worldview of a generation, Iraq and Iran seem to have put the past behind them and moved to a new relationship. But the road ahead is not without landmines. The balance of power is too lopsided in Iran’s favor to allow for a healthy alliance and Iran’s continued estrangement from the US makes Baghdad’s balancing act even trickier. The Iranians may be enjoying their triumphant short-term position, but the long-term consequences could be calamitous.

Iran Iraq

In the News

Sep 16, 2021

Slavin quoted in The National Interest on failures of the War on Terror

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Defense Policy

In the News

Sep 11, 2021

Slavin joins TRT World Newshour to discuss 9/11 and US foreign policies

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Conflict

In the News

Sep 9, 2021

Ashford on the Pop & Locke podcast: The Hurt Locker and the legacies of the war on terror

By Atlantic Council

On September 9, Emma Ashford joined Natalie Dowzicky, Landry Ayres, and Eric Gomez on the Pop and Locke podcast to discuss the movie “The Hurt Locker,” and the legacies of the war on terror. They discussed whether the movie is an accurate depiction of the experiences of service members during the Iraq War and how […]

English Iraq

In the News

Sep 8, 2021

Brahimi in Foreign Policy: “20 Years After 9/11, U.S. Global Authority Is Weaker Than Ever”

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Crisis Management

MENASource

Sep 8, 2021

It’s been twenty years since 9/11. The US Army still hasn’t learned to speak Arabic or Dari.

By Jon Tishman

The August withdrawal ended close to twenty years of combat operations in Afghanistan, while the US aims to end seventeen years of combat mission in Iraq by the end of this year. After such lengthy conflicts, one might expect the US Army to be overrun with soldiers fluent in Arabic and Dari. Despite repeated deployments and enough time to educate current senior leaders in the ranks from grade school skills to bachelor’s degree-level, the overall rate of soldiers conversant in target languages remains abysmally low in combat arms, even among codified linguist positions.

Afghanistan Iraq
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Experts

Fellow

Marie Forestier 

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic French

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Jon Wilks

Distinguished Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Crisis Management

Staff

Victoria J. Taylor 

Director, Iraq Initiative

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Fellow

Rend Al-Rahim

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Democratic Transitions

Fellow

Yerevan Saeed

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Energy & Environment

Fellow

Scott D. Berrier

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Policy
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Events

Public Event Thu, September 11, 2025 • 12:00 pm ET

US-Iraq security partnership after Operation Inherent Resolve
Iraq Security & Defense