Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security
Abstract
The Obama Administration is facing a security environment in Iraq vastly improved over that which prevailed during 2005-2007. The "turnaround" has been widely attributed to the "troop surge" announced by President Bush on January 10, 2007. Recent Defense Department reports assess that the overall frequency of violence is down to levels not seen since 2003, yet insurgents are still able to conduct high profile attacks in several major cities. These attacks have not caused a modification of the February 27, 2009, announcement by President Obama that all U.S. combat brigades would be withdrawn by August 31, 2010, leaving a residual presence of 35,000-50,000 U.S. trainers, advisers, and mentors, with these to be withdrawn by the end of 2011. This drawdown is in line with a U.S.-Iraq "Security Agreement," ratified by Iraq's parliament on November 27, 2008. However, some believe that insurgents will take advantage of the drawdown and that a U.S. military presence might be needed beyond 2011 to ensure further political progress and produce a unified, democratic Iraq that can govern and defend itself and is an ally in the war on terrorism. U.S. officials worry that the many remaining political disputes, as well as some that are escalating, pose a threat to stability. These disputes played out in the context of the January 31, 2009, provincial elections in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces. The elections went ahead peacefully and produced a victory for Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his allies, but also may have widened the split between Maliki and other erstwhile Shiite allies. The elections did not reduce tensions between the Iraqi Kurds and Maliki over Kurdish demands for control of disputed areas and local energy development. With an apparent consensus within the Administration to wind down the U.S. combat in Iraq, U.S. economic and security aid to Iraq is being reduced.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 07, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA501719
Entities
People
- Kenneth Katzman
Organizations
- Library of Congress