The 75 percent solution

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

The 75 percent solution

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

The 75 percent solution

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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Iraq Initiative
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Iraq
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Defense Industrialist

Feb 28, 2017

The 75 percent solution

By James Hasik

The Marine Corps should move towards a mix of attack aircraft tailored for two classes of enemy, in wars small and large. In the short term, that means buying fixed-wing gunships. In the mid-term, it means buying tilt-rotor gunships, including drones. Both aircraft types are better suited for the small wars in which the Marine Corps has been engaged for most of the post-Cold War era. For now, that might seem to destroy Marine Aviation, but to save it in the long term for the big wars.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

In the News

Feb 26, 2017

Gold Quoted by the New York Times on ISIS in Iraq and Syria

By Zack Gold

Read full article here.

Iraq Syria

Future of Iraq Taskforce

Feb 25, 2017

Younis Quoted by Politico on the Iraqi Reaction to President Trump’s Executive Order on Border Control

By Nussaibah Younis

Read full article here.

Iraq

In the News

Feb 24, 2017

Slavin Moderates VOA’s Issues in the News on President Trump’s Cabinet, US-Mexico Relations, and the Battle for Mosul

By Barbara Slavin

Listen to full interview here.

Iraq Mexico

In the News

Feb 6, 2017

Ullman in the Wall Street Journal: Shock, Awe Come After Defining the Outcome

By Harlan Ullman

Read full article here.

Iraq The Gulf

In the News

Feb 3, 2017

Daniels Joins Rudaw to Discuss the Trump Administration’s Policy Toward Iraq and the KRG

By Owen Daniels

Watch full interview here.

Iraq

MENASource

Feb 1, 2017

Trump’s Executive Order by the Numbers

By Emily Burchfield and Rachel Kreisman

On January 27, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order on immigration, titled “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States.” The order places a ban on the entry of foreign nationals from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen for 90 days; suspends all refugee admissions for 120 days; and […]

Iraq Libya

Defense Industrialist

Jan 23, 2017

The USAF needs more than 300 light attack aircraft—now.

By Dave Foster

Lowering flight-hour costs later in the long war isn’t the main issue.

Defense Industry Iraq

Defense Industrialist

Jan 21, 2017

To get revolutionary in procurement, get radical on requirements

By James Hasik

In the US system, sketching out what the forces need is a task for military officers, upstream from the responsibilities of the under secretariat for AT&L. Ensuring they make sense and don’t excessively overlap amongst the services is supposed to be the job of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, which impanels the vice chairman of the joint chiefs and the vice chiefs of the individual services. However, in its 20-year history, the JROC has rarely seen a requirement it didn’t usher through the process with minimal change. In the long run, radically rethinking requirements requires radically rethinking the process of setting requirements. And that’s where the big money is to be found.

Afghanistan Defense Industry

MENASource

Jan 19, 2017

The Reina Nightclub Attack Might Change Turkey-China Relations

By Ivy Yang

The Reina nightclub attack in Istanbul on New Year’s Eve left 39 dead and dozens injured. When he was captured on January 17, Turkish officials said that the main suspect, Abdulkadir Masharipov, is an Uzbek national and a member of the Islamic State. Signs show that he might also be an ethnic Uyghur, and though […]

China Iraq
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Evanna Hu

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Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Extremism Defense Technologies

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Arun Iyer

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Disinformation Economy & Business

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Scott Jerabek

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Technologies Iraq

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Abbas Kadhim

Director, Iraq Initiative

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Iraq Middle East

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Hanar Marouf

Political Officer, British Consulate General Erbil

Millennium Leadership Program

Civil Society Iraq

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Michelle Melendez

2022-23 Senior US Marine Corps Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Iraq National Security
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