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Although Iraq has had a tumultuous past, recent successes have begun to change the narrative of its future. Last Tuesday, USIP president Nancy Lindborg invited Ambassador Brett McGurk, Ambassador William B. Taylor, and Iraqi Foreign Minister Dr. Ibraham Al-Jaafari to discuss his country’s ongoing battle with ISIL, and what role the international community has to play. In Iraq, there’s a pressing need to understand how the government is going to help the Iraqi people return home, how they are going to build on recent military successes, and how to avoid cycles of violence that require repeated military interventions.
Iraqi forces have yet to lose a battle in over a year, which has fostered increased confidence and capacity to their troops. Now, one of the key moves that the government and military have to make is to retake Mosul—the second largest city of Iraq.
Mosul presents a unique and monstrous challenge due to its incredibly large and diverse population, poor local governance, and chronic resource issues. Foreign Minister Al-Jaafari stated that Mosul requires a continuity of action, and that the people are motivated to act after three years under Daesh (ISIL) control. While continuity of action is key to success in Mosul, the Foreign Minister also called upon support from the international community to liberate the city.
For the government of Iraq, the war on terror isn’t just about defeating ISIL, but also on what’s going to happen afterwards. The new Iraqi government is polarized, it’s diverse, but most of all it’s representative. The Foreign Minister assured audience members that the main goal of the government was to establish a democratic system in Iraq, and to empower the local people. National reconciliation has long been in the works, and now the administration is focused on nationwide participation, with different Iraqi communities participating in decision-making, policy, and administration.
Additionally, Al-Jaafari stated that Iraq hopes to become a strong international player. Although the country is right in the middle of one of the most chaotic areas of the world, relationships with neighboring countries are based on mutual interest and “multilateral relationships […] in a world of mutual threats.” Iraq doesn’t seek to interfere in neighboring countries, nor will it imitate their practices. To illustrate this, despite the recent coup in Turkey as well as ongoing tensions with Saudi Arabia, Iraq has worked to maintain good relations and build bridges between these nations.
Iraq is currently part of a 40-member international coalition against ISIL. This global campaign aims to dry up ISIL’s propaganda, military, and resource networks. The Foreign Minister reminded the audience that Iraq is the first line against terrorist activity that threatens all of Europe, as well as the United States. He believes that in order for Iraq to succeed, it’s paramount for the international community to meet and exchange opinions and ideas regarding the global campaign against terror and the future of Iraq. The three biggest challenges that Iraq faces now are security, economy, and administration. Although he doesn’t ask the UN or the U.S. to send their own troops to Iraq, he has appealed to the UN to provide assistance on three levels: security and displacement assistance, military support, and post-liberation-era support.
Iraq is a country of abundant resources and rich culture, and the international community has a responsibility to support it as the front line against terrorism. Foreign Minister Al-Jaafari encouraged the international community to see success in Iraq as a point of pride for all.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Institute of Peace.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
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Iraq’s War On Terror
July 26, 2016
Although Iraq has had a tumultuous past, recent successes have begun to change the narrative of its future. Last Tuesday, USIP president Nancy Lindborg invited Ambassador Brett McGurk, Ambassador William B. Taylor, and Iraqi Foreign Minister Dr. Ibraham Al-Jaafari to discuss his country’s ongoing battle with ISIL, and what role the international community has to play. In Iraq, there’s a pressing need to understand how the government is going to help the Iraqi people return home, how they are going to build on recent military successes, and how to avoid cycles of violence that require repeated military interventions.
Iraqi forces have yet to lose a battle in over a year, which has fostered increased confidence and capacity to their troops. Now, one of the key moves that the government and military have to make is to retake Mosul—the second largest city of Iraq.
Mosul presents a unique and monstrous challenge due to its incredibly large and diverse population, poor local governance, and chronic resource issues. Foreign Minister Al-Jaafari stated that Mosul requires a continuity of action, and that the people are motivated to act after three years under Daesh (ISIL) control. While continuity of action is key to success in Mosul, the Foreign Minister also called upon support from the international community to liberate the city.
For the government of Iraq, the war on terror isn’t just about defeating ISIL, but also on what’s going to happen afterwards. The new Iraqi government is polarized, it’s diverse, but most of all it’s representative. The Foreign Minister assured audience members that the main goal of the government was to establish a democratic system in Iraq, and to empower the local people. National reconciliation has long been in the works, and now the administration is focused on nationwide participation, with different Iraqi communities participating in decision-making, policy, and administration.
Additionally, Al-Jaafari stated that Iraq hopes to become a strong international player. Although the country is right in the middle of one of the most chaotic areas of the world, relationships with neighboring countries are based on mutual interest and “multilateral relationships […] in a world of mutual threats.” Iraq doesn’t seek to interfere in neighboring countries, nor will it imitate their practices. To illustrate this, despite the recent coup in Turkey as well as ongoing tensions with Saudi Arabia, Iraq has worked to maintain good relations and build bridges between these nations.
Iraq is currently part of a 40-member international coalition against ISIL. This global campaign aims to dry up ISIL’s propaganda, military, and resource networks. The Foreign Minister reminded the audience that Iraq is the first line against terrorist activity that threatens all of Europe, as well as the United States. He believes that in order for Iraq to succeed, it’s paramount for the international community to meet and exchange opinions and ideas regarding the global campaign against terror and the future of Iraq. The three biggest challenges that Iraq faces now are security, economy, and administration. Although he doesn’t ask the UN or the U.S. to send their own troops to Iraq, he has appealed to the UN to provide assistance on three levels: security and displacement assistance, military support, and post-liberation-era support.
Iraq is a country of abundant resources and rich culture, and the international community has a responsibility to support it as the front line against terrorism. Foreign Minister Al-Jaafari encouraged the international community to see success in Iraq as a point of pride for all.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Institute of Peace.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
