Coping with a new crisis of each given day often seems beyond America’s reach. At the same time, Iraq has no clear path towards unity, the creation of either a workable political system or an effective government, or the prospects of economic recovery. The United States has again slashed its official presence in Iraq, and the U.S. The United States faces an all too real risk that events in Iraq will trigger a much more serious clash between the United States and Iran in Iraq – as well as Iran in the rest of the region – not to mention that the United States will face major Iraqi hostility over its use of force in Iraq despite opposition from the Iraqi government. Efforts to integrate the various Shi’ite and Sunni PMFs – that had helped fight ISIS – into the central government’s forces resulted in an unworkable system where these deeply divided forces – many with close ties to Iran – reported directly to a Prime Minister with no real authority who had lost his popular mandate. The central government’s Army and Air Force remained largely separate from the Kurdish forces in the north. All the while, the government failed to effectively aid the Sunni cities in the West that had been shattered in the fight with ISIS. The Kurdish regional government remained divided. Prime Minister Mahdi had resigned but then stayed on in an uncertain “acting” capacity. Its legislature was virtually disbanded after legislation was passed calling for a different, locally elected, and more representative system. Its corruption, ineffectiveness, and failed economic policies led to massive popular demonstrations. Moreover, the Iraqi central government virtually collapsed even before these events. drone strikes that killed Qasem Soleimani – the head of Iran’s Quds Force – and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis – the head of Al-Hashd al-Shaabi, an Iraqi militia group tied to Iran that had been linked to attacks on U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, which was then followed by a U.S. This has been followed by well-organized demonstrations and attacks on the U.S. troops and facilities – as a result, the United States has launched retaliatory attacks on Iraqi PMFs. Iran has sponsored attacks by Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces on U.S. Events have steadily escalated since late December.
It is all too tempting for the United States to focus on the current crisis over the clash between Iran and the United States in Iraq. Responding to Egregious Human Rights Abuses.Building Sustainable and Inclusive Democracy.Family Planning, Maternal and Child Health, and Immunizations.Energy, Climate Change, and Environmental Impacts.Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation.Defense Industry, Acquisition, and Innovation.Intelligence, Surveillance, and Privacy.
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