Itani in Democracy Journal: Taking on ISIS – and Assad

Dispatches
Dec 10, 2025

Dispatch from Iraq: The biggest challenge awaiting the country’s next prime minister

By
Victoria J. Taylor 

A recent visit to Iraq following parliamentary elections reveals a growing divide between the political elite and the people.

Elections
Iraq

Itani in Democracy Journal: Taking on ISIS – and Assad

New Atlanticist
Nov 14, 2025

Experts react: How will Iraq’s parliamentary election shape the country’s politics?

By
Atlantic Council experts

Our experts examine what the results of Tuesday’s elections mean for the future of Iraqi politics and Baghdad’s regional role.

Civil Society
Democratic Transitions

Itani in Democracy Journal: Taking on ISIS – and Assad

Dispatches
Nov 10, 2025

Dispatch from Baghdad: Don’t confuse the calm around Iraq’s election with stability

By
Yerevan Saeed

Iraqi society faces several slow-burning stressors, from water and climate problems to over-centralization and narcotics trafficking.

Democratic Transitions
Elections

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.

EXPLORE THE Iraq INitiative

Top experts

Staff


Victoria J. Taylor 


Director, Iraq Initiative

Iraq Initiative
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business
Energy & Environment

Staff


Nibras Basitkey


Associate Director, Iraq Initiative

Iraq Initiative
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
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Staff


William F. Wechsler


Senior Director, Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

National Security
Middle East


Fellow


Alina L. Romanowski


Distinguished Fellow

Iraq Initiative
Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Economy & Business
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C. Anthony Pfaff


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
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Ahmed Tabaqchali


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Economy & Business

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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


Akeel Abbas


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Human Rights

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Jennifer Gavito


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
French

Fellow


Safwan Al-Amin


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
English

Fellow


Omar Al-Nidawi


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Energy & Environment

Content

In the News

Mar 23, 2016

Itani in Democracy Journal: Taking on ISIS – and Assad

By Faysal Itani

Read the full article here.

Iraq
Syria

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
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