Iraq: How to Move Forward?

Nir Rosen has a new article in Foreign Policy addressing the situation in Iraq. Rosen covers the story from a variety of angles, including the daily grind of Iraqis passing through checkpoints and American officers who still consider themselves “combat soldiers”. The bulk of the report focuses on the political situation: “Iraq is still being held back from full independence — The Status of Forces Agreement… deprives Iraq of full sovereignty…Saudi and Iranian interference, both political and financial, has also limited Iraq’s scope for democracy and sovereignty.” Rosen does see hope, albeit complicated by external factors, in the March elections: “Regardless of the outcome…the elections will not precipitate a return to civil war. The state is strong, and the security forces take their work seriously… The sectarian militias have been beaten and marginalized, and the Sunnis have accepted their loss in the civil war.” He goes on to describe Ayad Allawi’s flirtation with the Sadrists and the competing interests of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkey.

Mohammad Bazzi provides a counter point with regards to the March elections: “With Iran’s backing, this new alliance (the Sadrists and State of Law) has claimed the right to form a government despite the fact that it was created after the election and is therefore in blatant disregard of the wishes of Iraqi voters…Such backdoor tactics threaten to once again unleash the sectarian warfare that shattered Iraq.” Democracy Digest also has coverage here.