Moving Forward: U.S. Interest and Facilitating the Probable in Iraq
Abstract
The United States has a moral obligation and a vital national interest in helping the people of Iraq to achieve a more stable, secure, and prosperous future. The political compromises necessary to achieve such a future remain elusive. The two probable outcomes, an authoritarian or a flaccid Iraqi government, will not satisfy the interests of the people living in Iraq nor the other states in the region. More importantly, it is unlikely to produce a degree of stability and territorial control that is "good enough" to satisfy U.S. interests. This paper proposes a different strategy. First, it will address the two myths that prevent serious discussion of the question: Kurdish irredentism and Shi'a hegemony. Next it will consider probable outcomes and U.S. interests in the region. Finally, it will make recommendations for a strategy that supports the eventual disintegration of Iraq into more stable, and politically viable, elements that are less susceptible to outside influence and more satisfying for the people of Iraq, the United States, and regional partners, while further isolating the U.S. adversaries of Syria and Iran.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA538209
Entities
People
- Martin A. Perryman
Organizations
- George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies