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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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In the News

Jun 17, 2014

Menon: Why America Can’t Save a Divided Iraq

By Rajan Menon

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Rajan Menon writes for the National Interest on why US assistance will not be able to save Iraq which is now divided into three parts:

Iraq

In the News

Jun 17, 2014

Slavin on How Iraq Affects US-Iran Relationship

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin joins PRI’s The World to discuss what the crisis in Iraq means for the US-Iran relationship:

Iran Iraq

In the News

Jun 16, 2014

Itani: To Save Iraq, Look to Syria

By Faysal Itani

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani writes for US News and World Report on why supporting Syria’s moderate opposition will undermine militants from the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant:

Iraq Syria

In the News

Jun 16, 2014

Saab: Blame These Countries for Iraq’s Current Crisis

By Bilal Y. Saab

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow for Middle East Security Bilal Y. Saab writes for the New Republic on why Iran and Saudi Arabia are responsible for the deteriorating situation in Iraq: 

Iran Iraq

In the News

Jun 16, 2014

Hof: Shelf Life of ISIS in Syria Has Expired

By Frederic C. Hof

Christian Science Monitor quotes Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic Hof on how military gains in Iraq by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant affect the calculus of the regime in Syria:

Iraq Syria

In the News

Jun 16, 2014

Slavin on US Cooperation with Iran in Iraq

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al Jazeera America on why US-Iran tacit cooperation over the situation in Iraq would be beneficial to the nuclear negotiatons process: 

Iran Iraq

In the News

Jun 15, 2014

Mardini: US Military Can’t Fix Iraq

By Ramzy Mardini

Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini writes for the New York Times‘s Room for Debate on why the United States military will be unable to fix the current crisis in Iraq:

Iraq

In the News

Jun 14, 2014

Itani: US Priority in Iraq is to Stabilize Security Situation

By Faysal Itani

The National quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on what choices the United States faces concerning the deteriorating situation in Iraq: 

Iraq

Defense Industrialist

Jun 13, 2014

Gunships against ISIS

By James Hasik

The AC-130 isn’t a functional replacement for the A-10C, but could it be a political one? This past Monday, Lt. Col. Paul Darling of the Alaska Army National Guard wrote an editorial in Defense News arguing—and as an infantry officer—that the USAF’s A-10C should indeed be retired. The savings, he said, should be reinvested in two programs: a replacement […]

Iraq Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Jun 13, 2014

A Strategy for Syria & Iraq

By Barry Pavel

The spread of the Syria crisis to engulf Iraq was predicted and predictable.  Some have called the Syria conflict a “factory for extremism.”  For years, many have been urging more robust US leadership and action in this crisis – not “boots on the ground” but using US military forces in a coalition with our allies and partners to […]

Iraq Syria

Experts