Programs

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.

Top experts

Content

MENASource

Mar 21, 2016

The Problem with the Obama Doctrine

By H.A. Hellyer

The ‘Obama Doctrine’ is finally taking shape—with The Atlantic magazine revealing its most salient points through a series of conversations with the US president—but the insights are not all flattering, not least when it comes to the Arab world.

Iraq Libya

MENASource

Mar 16, 2016

Retaking Mosul: ISIS and Human Shields

By Sahr Muhammedally

Talks about retaking Mosul from the Islamic State (ISIS)—a city of 1 million people—are once again in the news. But Iraqi and US military planners need to think creatively about how best to minimize civilian harm in what is anticipated to be a long and fierce urban campaign where ISIS fighters are likely to be […]

Iraq

New Atlanticist

Mar 16, 2016

Is Dissent Brewing in ISIS’ Ranks Over Plans to Strike the United States, Europe?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Top commanders ‘disavow’ shift of strategy away from caliphate-building, says journalist A shift from the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham’s goals of building a caliphate to attacking Europe and the United States is reportedly causing a rift in the terrorist group’s upper echelons. A lieutenant to ISIS’ self-proclaimed caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, told Martin […]

Iraq Syria

In the News

Mar 7, 2016

Alami in Asharq Al-Awsat: ISIS’s Social Media War and How Facebook is Countering It

By Mona Alami

Read the full article here.

Iraq

In the News

Feb 29, 2016

Alami in Asharq Al-Awsat: Hezbollah’s Mounting Sectarian Narrative in its Confrontation with Gulf Countries

By Mona Alami

Read the full article here.

Iraq

In the News

Feb 25, 2016

Stein Quoted by the Telegraph on Turkey’s Strategy Toward Iran, Iraq, and Kurdish Forces in Syria

By Aaron Stein

Read the full article here.

Iran Iraq

In the News

Feb 23, 2016

Stein Quoted by The Hill on Iraqi Militia Group Connections with ISIS

By Aaron Stein

Read the full article here.

Iraq

In the News

Feb 20, 2016

Atlantic Council Launch of the Task Force on the Future of Iraq Featured in 790 KBET

By Atlantic Council

Read the full article here.

Iraq

MENASource

Feb 18, 2016

Abadi’s Unsavvy Politics

By Ramzy Mardini

Only a year and half since coming to power in Iraq, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has failed to learn how to adapt to assure his political survival. Last week, the Iraqi leader announced a new round of radical reforms from a position of weakness, despite having generated a great deal of pushback from Iraq’s political […]

Iraq

New Atlanticist

Feb 17, 2016

Iran, Syria, Russia Seen as Top Challenges in the Middle East

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Iran, Syria, and Russia together pose the biggest challenge in the Middle East today, and any notion that there can be an alignment of the interests of Tehran and Washington is unrealistic, three former US officials said at the Atlantic Council on February 16. “We have an Iran-Syria-Russia problem right now in the Middle East,” […]

Iran Iraq

Experts