Iraq: Background and U.S. Policy

Abstract

The 115th Congress and the Trump Administration are considering options for U.S. engagement with Iraq as Iraqis look beyond the immediate security challenges posed by their intense three year battle with the insurgent terrorists of the Islamic State organization (IS, aka ISIL/ISIS).While Iraq's military victory over Islamic State forces is now virtually complete, Iraq's underlying political and economic challenges are daunting and cooperation among the forces arrayed to defeat IS extremists has already begun to fray. The future of volunteer Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and the terms of their integration with Iraq's security sector are being determined, with some PMF groups maintaining ties to Iran and anti-U.S. Shia Islamist leaders. In September 2017, Iraq's constitutionally recognized Kurdistan Regional Government held an advisory referendum on independence, in spite of opposition from Iraq's national government and amid its own internal challenges. More than 90% of participants favored independence.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 21, 2017
Accession Number
AD1146639

Entities

People

  • Christopher M. Blanchard

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ammunition
  • Armored Personnel Carriers
  • Communication Equipment
  • Congress
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Employment
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Governments
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • Iraqi-War
  • Law
  • Military Organizations
  • Minority Groups
  • National Governments
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Public Administration
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • United States

Readers

  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.