Iraq

20 Years After the U.S. Invaded: What’s Next for Iraq?

On March 9, AGSIW hosted a discussion reflecting on the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq ahead of the 20th anniversary.

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Sadr's Inevitable Comeback: How Will He Reenter the Political Game?

For the first time since 2005, Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has no clear political role and no formal road map to get back into politics until elections are held again in 2025. So where does this leave him and the Sadrist movement?

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Basra-Turkey “Dry Canal” Project: Ambitious Vision or Pipe Dream?

With the Al-Faw Grand Port and broader “Dry Canal” corridor project, Iraq aims to become a transportation hub between Asia and Europe. However, formidable political, security, financing, and feasibility challenges make for a rocky road.

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Iraq Looks for Expanded Economic Ties and to Put Baghdad Back on Washington’s Political Map

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein’s public outreach and official meetings seem to have put Iraq back on the policy agenda in Washington. But both sides will need to take further steps to sustain the positive momentum.

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The Iraqi Judiciary: Undermined by Violent Intimidation, Corruption, and Politicization

The judiciary, reflecting the lack of security and pervasive corruption in all branches of the Iraqi government, has become a tool in the hands of criminal elements and political players, often cooperating with militia elements, intent on gaining greater power wealth rather than advancing the rule of law.

Roundtable With Ambassador Alina L. Romanowski

On December 14, AGSIW hosted a virtual roundtable discussion with Alina L. Romanowski, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq.

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With Iraq’s Quota System, the New Government is More of the Same

The inefficiencies and corruption rife in Iraq’s ethno-sectarian quota system are substantial, but the country’s highly fragmented society has deeply entrenched the system in ways that make it difficult to reform. 

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New Government or Not, the Iraqi State is Still Struggling to Function

Bargaining over the resources of the government is set to remain just one expression of the struggle for authority in Iraq. Actual sovereignty is likely to continue to be a coercive negotiation backed by various substate militias’ force of arms and financial interests.

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With a President in Place, Can Iraq Finally Form a Government?

Iraq finally has a president, and the political parties understand that at this juncture, they don’t have the luxury of time for negotiations over government formation.

Kurdistan’s Gas Exports: Reality or Mirage?

There are a host of serious internal political conflicts as well as legal, financial, and geopolitical hurdles to increasing Kurdish gas exports, prompting questions regarding whether such aspirations are realistic.

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Through its careful examination of the forces shaping the evolution of Gulf societies and the new generation of emerging leaders, AGSIW facilitates a richer understanding of the role the countries in this key geostrategic region can be expected to play in the 21st century.

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