Iraq
The Current Situation
The security situation in Iraq has improved dramatically over the past two years as violence has fallen to levels not seen since the first months of the war. Moreover, political space is opening in Iraq: the January 2009 provincial elections, though imperfect, were largely viewed as free and fair, incumbents were turned out, and a broad range of parties participated. Sectarian political mobilization appears to be ebbing, and prominent national leaders are raising a cross-sectarian mantle.
Nonetheless, as the fog of war has receded and the conflict has become mostly political, the obstacles Iraqis face have become clear, and profound challenges remain. At the grassroots level, Iraqi society remains fractured. Numerous Iraqis have been uprooted and displaced in the past five years and remain in limbo, unable to return home and resume their lives. Iraq's weak governing institutions, corruption, and endemic poverty are constant impediments to long-term stability. After decades of destruction and war, communities are struggling to rebuild themselves within the new political order and lay the foundation for an enduring peace. The gains of the past two years are fragile, and it is imperative that Iraqis, with our help, seize the opportunity to shore them up.
Going Forward: USIP in Iraq
Since 2004, USIP has maintained a permanent field mission in Iraq, with an outstanding Iraqi and American staff who provide essential on-the-ground support to USIP’s programs. Experts in Baghdad and Washington implement projects aimed at:
- Promoting reconciliation and moderation;
- Strengthening governance and civil society;
- Giving the next generation a stake in peace and stability; and
- Facilitating positive international engagement.
The Iraq program is a part of USIP's Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations, directed by Daniel Serwer.
Highlights
Iraq, its Neighbors, and the Obama Administration:
Syrian and Saudi Perspectives
February 2009 | Working Paper
Since 2004, USIP's "Iraq and its Neighbors" initiative has sponsored track II dialogues and ongoing research on relations between Iraq and its six immediate neighbors. As part of this work, the Institute—in partnership with the Stimson Center—sponsored a bipartisan, independent, and unofficial Study Mission to Syria and Saudi Arabia in mid-January 2009. The delegation met with a wide variety of leading political figures, businesspeople, NGOs and foreign policy experts in both countries, including President Bashar Assad of Syria and Prince Turki al-Faysal of Saudi Arabia. The top concern for both Riyadh and Damascus remains blowback from Iraq: the ascendance of ethnic and sectarian identity and the spread of Islamic militancy. The need to contain this threat is the dominant force that shapes their relations with Iraq. Both Syria and Saudi Arabia have a vital interest in ensuring that Iraq's emerging political order is inclusive of Sunni Arab Iraqis, who have not yet been fully incorporated into Iraqi institutions. This working paper represents the initial findings of the Study Mission.
Dr. Ali Al-Dabbagh's Iraq-based Formula for Regional Cooperation
January 2009 | USIPeace Briefing | Elizabeth Detwiler
USIP recently hosted Dr. Ali Al-Dabbagh, official spokesman for the Iraqi government, He unveiled a far-reaching regional initiative to increase economic and strategic cooperation in the Middle East. The initiative represents a new level of consciousness and independence in Iraqi foreign policy.
Iraq’s Federal Executive: Options for Executive Power Sharing
January 2009 | Memorandum
This memorandum discusses comparative models that foster effective governance and shared responsibility, providing options for consideration on restructuring the power of the presidency.
Evaluating Iraq’s Provincial Reconstruction Teams While Drawdown Looms: A USIP Trip Report
December 2008 | USIPeace Briefing | Rusty Barber and Sam Parker
Since their 2005 inception in Iraq, PRTs have struggled to fully define their mission, overcome structural problems, learn to work alongside their military counterparts and assist Iraqis down the path to self-governance and stability so that U.S. forces can withdraw. While the concept was born in the Afghan conflict, PRTs in Iraq bear little resemblance to their Afghan cousins, which are led and largely staffed by military officers.
Iraq in the Obama Administration
December 2008 | USIPeace Briefing | Daniel P. Serwer and Sam Parker
Meeting over the past three years, a group of experts who span the political spectrum in the U.S. has come together to offer occasional assessments and advice on the situation in Iraq. This is the expert group’s most recent effort, one intended to provide the incoming Administration with the best available bipartisan expertise on the situation it will face in Iraq and on what can be done to ensure that vital American interests are protected.
What Iraq Needs from the Obama Administration: Recommendations from Iraqis Resident in the U.S.
November 2008 | USIPeace Briefing | Elizabeth Detwiler
Iraq has experienced a notable reduction in violence in the past year, and the Iraqi panelists asserted the need for a continued presence of multinational forces to maintain this progress. However, as Almusawi specified, Iraqis insist that any agreement regarding the presence of foreign troops should not compromise the country's sovereignty. The terms of the agreement must be clear, in Iraq's interests and approved by the Iraqi people.
Iraq’s Cultural Heritage: Preserving the Past for the Sake of the Future
October 2008 | USIPeace Briefing | Elizabeth Detwiler
The looting of Iraq’s museums and archaeological sites is an overlooked consequence of the 2003 invasion. The loss of such precious history would be tragic for any nation or culture. As Iraqis struggle to redefine a sense of nationhood after five years of war, they will need to draw on that common heritage to reconstruct their communities.
The Future of the U.S. Military Presence in Iraq
September 2008 | USIPeace Briefing | Julie Montgomery
A major reduction in the U.S. role in Iraq may be on the horizon. Author Julie Montgomery examines whether Washington should continue to engage or go home, the nature of U.S. leverage on the Iraqi government and related themes.
Iraq: Positive Change in the Detention System
July 2008 | USIPeace Briefing | Elizabeth Detwiler
This USIPeace Briefing, summarizing remarks from a former commander for detainee operations in Iraq, discusses recent successes in improving the conditions of insurgent detainees in the country.
Robert Boorda Takes Lead of USIP Baghdad Operations
Rusty Barber Returns to Washington to Oversee Iraq Programs
July 9, 2008 | News Release
Robert Boorda, a former Navy lawyer, has replaced Rusty Barber as Chief of Party, Iraq in the U.S. Institute of Peace's (USIP) Baghdad office. Barber, a former Foreign Service Officer who served in the post for the last 15 months, has returned to Washington, DC to oversee all of USIP’s Iraq programs.
