
Iraq’s Prime Minister Is Silencing Human Rights Advocates
Mustafa al-Kadhimi promised reform and freedom of expression. Now he’s using archaic laws to stifle free speech.

Iraq’s Oil Dysfunction
The world’s sixth-largest oil producer still suffers from fuel shortages and power outages.

Why Muqtada al-Sadr Failed to Reform Iraq
Iraq’s most recent election promised change but ended up entrenching the establishment.

In Iraq, the Bitter Legacy of War Still Lies Hidden Underground
Baghdad can’t rebuild its infrastructure and agricultural sector when its land remains littered with thousands of explosive devices.

America Doesn’t Control the Forever Wars
The slow fall of the nation-state’s monopoly on violence will shape future conflicts.

Afghan Insurgents Are a Dead End
Rebuilding U.S. standing requires an end to backing militants abroad.

When Will the West Truly Decolonize Its Museums?
The recent repatriation of artifacts to Iraq sets a promising precedent—but it’s not nearly enough.

Iraqi Voters Want Weaker Militias and a Stronger State
Election results show citizens want a government that can stand on its own without being propped up by Iran, the United States, or shadowy militias.

Muqtada al-Sadr Is the United States’ Best Hope
The Shiite cleric was once Washington’s bitter enemy in Iraq—and now offers the best chance of securing U.S. interests.

The Biggest Loser of Iraq’s Election Could Be Iran
Pro-Iran parties lost support, say they’ll reject the results, and are threatening violence.

A Pro-Israel Summit in Erbil Breaks New Ground
At great personal risk, Iraqi civil society leaders gather to demand entry into the Abraham Accords.

20 Years After 9/11, U.S. Global Authority Is Weaker Than Ever
A crisis within Islam spawned al Qaeda. It also put an end to a U.S.-led unipolar world.

How the U.S. Got 9/11 Wrong
The lone superpower inadvertently taught the rest of the world how to fight it—and win.

After Afghanistan Collapse, Iraqis Fear They Could Be Next
The parallels are easy to list.

Iraq Is the Middle East’s New Power Broker
After decades of offering only chaos, Baghdad is trying to become a leading force in the region.

‘The Suicide Squad’ Is a Dark Parody of America’s Imperial Fiascos
The supervillain movie demonstrates the possibilities—and limits—of the genre.

No Matter What Biden Calls U.S. Troops in Iraq, Iran Is Gunning for Them
Relabeling U.S. soldiers as “noncombat” won’t spare them from militia attacks.

Iraqi Kurds Keep Faith in U.S. Despite Drawdown
The United States’ longtime partners in northern Iraq are watching Afghanistan go to pieces after the U.S. pullout with “wishful thinking.”