Iraq Index Tracking Variables of Reconstruction & Security in Post-Saddam Iraq
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The Resurgence of Asa'ib Ahl Al-Haq
December 2012 Sam Wyer MIDDLE EAST SECURITY REPORT 7 THE RESURGENCE OF ASA’IB AHL AL-HAQ Photo Credit: Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq protest in Kadhimiya, Baghdad, September 2012. Photo posted on Twitter by Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ©2012 by the Institute for the Study of War. Published in 2012 in the United States of America by the Institute for the Study of War. 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 515 Washington, DC 20036. http://www.understandingwar.org Sam Wyer MIDDLE EAST SECURITY REPORT 7 THE RESURGENCE OF ASA’IB AHL AL-HAQ ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sam Wyer is a Research Analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, where he focuses on Iraqi security and political matters. Prior to joining ISW, he worked as a Research Intern at AEI’s Critical Threats Project where he researched Iraqi Shi’a militia groups and Iranian proxy strategy. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Middlebury College in Vermont and studied Arabic at Middlebury’s school in Alexandria, Egypt. ABOUT THE INSTITUTE The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy research organization. ISW advances an informed understanding of military affairs through reliable research, trusted analysis, and innovative education. ISW is committed to improving the nation’s ability to execute military operations and respond to emerging threats in order to achieve U.S. -
Geopolitics, Oil Law Reform, and Commodity Market Expectations
OKLAHOMA LAW REVIEW VOLUME 63 WINTER 2011 NUMBER 2 GEOPOLITICS, OIL LAW REFORM, AND COMMODITY MARKET EXPECTATIONS ROBERT BEJESKY * Table of Contents I. Introduction .................................... ........... 193 II. Geopolitics and Market Equilibrium . .............. 197 III. Historical U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East ................ 202 IV. Enter OPEC ..................................... ......... 210 V. Oil Industry Reform Planning for Iraq . ............... 215 VI. Occupation Announcements and Economics . ........... 228 VII. Iraq’s 2007 Oil and Gas Bill . .............. 237 VIII. Oil Price Surges . ............ 249 IX. Strategic Interests in Afghanistan . ................ 265 X. Conclusion ...................................... ......... 273 I. Introduction The 1973 oil supply shock elevated OPEC to world attention and ensconced it in the general consciousness as a confederacy that is potentially * M.A. Political Science (Michigan), M.A. Applied Economics (Michigan), LL.M. International Law (Georgetown). The author has taught international law courses for Cooley Law School and the Department of Political Science at the University of Michigan, American Government and Constitutional Law courses for Alma College, and business law courses at Central Michigan University and the University of Miami. 193 194 OKLAHOMA LAW REVIEW [Vol. 63:193 antithetical to global energy needs. From 1986 until mid-1999, prices generally fluctuated within a $10 to $20 per barrel band, but alarms sounded when market prices started hovering above $30. 1 In July 2001, Senator Arlen Specter addressed the Senate regarding the need to confront OPEC and urged President Bush to file an International Court of Justice case against the organization, on the basis that perceived antitrust violations were a breach of “general principles of law.” 2 Prices dipped initially, but began a precipitous rise in mid-March 2002. -
Iraq: Politics, Elections, and Benchmarks
Iraq: Politics, Elections, and Benchmarks Kenneth Katzman Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs March 29, 2010 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RS21968 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Iraq: Politics, Elections, and Benchmarks Summary Iraq’s political system, the result of a U.S.-supported election process, has been increasingly characterized by peaceful competition, as well as by attempts to form cross-sectarian alliances. However, ethnic and factional infighting continues, sometimes using key levers of power and undemocratic means. This was in evidence in the successful efforts by Shiite Arab political leaders to disqualify some prominent Sunni Arab candidates in the March 7, 2010, national elections for the next Council of Representatives (COR, parliament), which will form the next government. Election-related violence occurred before and during the election, although not at levels of earlier years or at a level to significantly affect voting, except perhaps for Baghdad city. With all votes counted, although not certified, the cross-sectarian “Iraqiyya” slate of former Prime Minister Iyad al-Allawi unexpectedly has gained a plurality of 91 of the 325 COR seats up for election. Nuri Kamal al-Maliki’s slate came in a close second, with two fewer seats, and a rival Shiite coalition was a distant third with 70. The main Kurdish parties, again allied, won 43. Allawi’s slate had been expected to get the first opportunity to put together a majority coalition to form a government. However, Maliki and other Shiite parties—opposing what they claim is the mostly Sunni Arab base of the Allawi slate—are in extensive discussions to put together a coalition that would be able to determine the next government. -
Ncos Stepping up to Lead - Page 14 COMMENTARY Thoughts for the New Year – Today by Col
C M Y K Vol. 36, No. 06 Friday, February 6, 2009 NCOs stepping up to lead - page 14 COMMENTARY Thoughts for the New Year – today by Col. William Francis deep breath and said that he had to get back 6th Mission Support Group Commander to his load as he had a ways to go before he could stop for the day. He bent down picked The other day I saw a man pulling a trail- up the trailer and strained off into the dis- er fully loaded down the slow lane of Dale tance. As I watched him slowly fade from Mabry, he was struggling mightily against sight I wondered how long it would take an unbelievable load and so I pulled over him to get where he was going and why he and approached him. As I got close, he was did not just stop, put the trailer down and breathing hard, sweat dripping from his face, leave his burdens right there on the side of his clothes drenched with sweat and I asked the road. And then I realized that I have to him if he needed help, if he was OK. He fight not to do the same thing, I do not actu- said, he was fine, that he did not need any ally pull around a heavily loaded old trailer help and in fact that he did this everyday (and thankfully there is not a man pulling throughout the year. At this point he pulled a trailer everyday down Dale Mabry) but I the trailer off of the road out of traffic, wiped will cling to things that slow me, that burden his brow and explained to me that when me, that discourage me if I am not careful. -
Refugee Status Appeals Authority New Zealand
REFUGEE STATUS APPEALS AUTHORITY NEW ZEALAND REFUGEE APPEAL NO 76505 AT AUCKLAND Before: B L Burson (Chairperson) S A Aitchison (Member) Counsel for the Appellant: D Mansouri-Rad Appearing for the Department of Labour: No Appearance Date of Hearing: 3 & 4 May 2010 Date of Decision: 14 June 2010 DECISION [1] This is an appeal against the decision of a refugee status officer of the Refugee Status Branch (RSB) of the Department of Labour (DOL) declining refugee status to the appellant, a national of Iraq. INTRODUCTION [2] The appellant claims to have a well-founded fear of being persecuted in Iraq on account of his former Ba’ath Party membership in the rank of Naseer Mutakadim, and due to his father’s position as Branch Member of the al-Amed Organisation for the Ba’ath Party in City A. He fears persecution at the hands of members of the Mahdi Army – a Shi’a militia group in Iraq, the police who collaborate with them, and the Iraqi Government that is infiltrated by militias. [3] The principal issues to be determined in this appeal are the well- foundedness of the appellant’s fears and whether he can genuinely access meaningful domestic protection. 2 THE APPELLANT’S CASE [4] What follows is a summary of the appellant’s evidence in support of his claim. It will be assessed later in this decision. Background [5] The appellant is a single man in his early-30s. He was born in Suburb A in City A. He is one of three children, the youngest of two boys. -
Iraq 2019 Human Rights Report
IRAQ 2019 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Iraq is a constitutional parliamentary republic. The 2018 parliamentary elections, while imperfect, generally met international standards of free and fair elections and led to the peaceful transition of power from Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to Adil Abd al-Mahdi. On December 1, in response to protesters’ demands for significant changes to the political system, Abd al-Mahdi submitted his resignation, which the Iraqi Council of Representatives (COR) accepted. As of December 17, Abd al-Mahdi continued to serve in a caretaker capacity while the COR worked to identify a replacement in accordance with the Iraqi constitution. Numerous domestic security forces operated throughout the country. The regular armed forces and domestic law enforcement bodies generally maintained order within the country, although some armed groups operated outside of government control. Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) consist of administratively organized forces within the Ministries of Interior and Defense, and the Counterterrorism Service. The Ministry of Interior is responsible for domestic law enforcement and maintenance of order; it oversees the Federal Police, Provincial Police, Facilities Protection Service, Civil Defense, and Department of Border Enforcement. Energy police, under the Ministry of Oil, are responsible for providing infrastructure protection. Conventional military forces under the Ministry of Defense are responsible for the defense of the country but also carry out counterterrorism and internal security operations in conjunction with the Ministry of Interior. The Counterterrorism Service reports directly to the prime minister and oversees the Counterterrorism Command, an organization that includes three brigades of special operations forces. The National Security Service (NSS) intelligence agency reports directly to the prime minister. -
The Coming Turkish- Iranian Competition in Iraq
UNITeD StateS INSTITUTe of Peace www.usip.org SPeCIAL RePoRT 2301 Constitution Ave., NW • Washington, DC 20037 • 202.457.1700 • fax 202.429.6063 ABOUT THE REPO R T Sean Kane This report reviews the growing competition between Turkey and Iran for influence in Iraq as the U.S. troop withdrawal proceeds. In doing so, it finds an alignment of interests between Baghdad, Ankara, and Washington, D.C., in a strong and stable Iraq fueled by increased hydrocarbon production. Where possible, the United States should therefore encourage The Coming Turkish- Turkish and Iraqi cooperation and economic integration as a key part of its post-2011 strategy for Iraq and the region. This analysis is based on the author’s experiences in Iraq and Iranian Competition reviews of Turkish and Iranian press and foreign policy writing. ABOUT THE AUTHO R in Iraq Sean Kane is the senior program officer for Iraq at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). He assists in managing the Institute’s Iraq program and field mission in Iraq and serves as the Institute’s primary expert on Iraq and U.S. policy in Iraq. Summary He previously worked for the United Nations Assistance Mission • The two rising powers in the Middle East—Turkey and Iran—are neighbors to Iraq, its for Iraq from 2006 to 2009. He has published on the subjects leading trading partners, and rapidly becoming the most influential external actors inside of Iraqi politics and natural resource negotiations. The author the country as the U.S. troop withdrawal proceeds. would like to thank all of those who commented on and provided feedback on the manuscript and is especially grateful • Although there is concern in Washington about bilateral cooperation between Turkey and to Elliot Hen-Tov for generously sharing his expertise on the Iran, their differing visions for the broader Middle East region are particularly evident in topics addressed in the report. -
Iraq Index Tracking Variables of Reconstruction & Security in Post-Saddam Iraq
Iraq Index Tracking Variables of Reconstruction & Security in Post-Saddam Iraq http://www.brookings.edu/iraqindex July 28, 2011 Foreign Policy at Brookings Tracks Security and Reconstruction in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan Afghanistan Index » http://www.brookings.edu/afghanistanindex Iraq Index » http://www.brookings.edu/iraqindex Pakistan Index » http://www.brookings.edu/pakistanindex Michael E. O’Hanlon Ian Livingston For more information please contact Ian Livingston at [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS Tracking the Aftermath of the Surge Page Estimated Number of Iraqi Civilian Fatalities by Month, May 2003-Present…….…...…………………………..…….....….. UPDATED 7.28.11….……3 Enemy-Initiated Attacks Against the Coalition and Its Partners, by Week..…………..… …...……...……………………………………....…………….....4 Iraqi Military and Police Killed Monthly…………..……………………………….....… . UPDATED 7.28.11....………….……………….....………...……4 Targeted Violence against Government of Iraq Officials……………………………… NEW 6.30.11……………………………………….……………….5 Estimated Number of Al Qaeda Members in Iraq…………………………………………………… NEW 6.30.11………………………….……………....5 Number of Roadside and Car Bombs in Kirkuk, 2007-2010……………………………………….……………………………………………………………5 Multiple Fatality Bombings in Iraq………………………………………...…………....…...………..….……..……………………………………..……..…..5 Number and Current Status of Sons of Iraq (SOI’s) in Iraq…………… UPDATED 6.30.11…………………………..………...…………………………..6 Authors’ Political Benchmark Assessment……………………………................................……………… UPDATED 7.28.11………………….…………...6 Security Indicators -
Sectarianism in the MENA Region
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR EXTERNAL POLICIES POLICY DEPARTMENT WORKSHOP Sectarianism in the Middle East ABSTRACT Sectarian conflict and polarisation has become a key feature of Middle East politics in the aftermath of the Arab uprisings of 2011. This workshop looked at some of the key drivers of this, such as the troubled legacy of foreign intervention, state failure, regional rivalries between Saudi Arabia, Iran and others, ruling strategies of authoritarian regimes as well as the spread of identity and sect-based political movements. With in-depth analysis of the two key arenas of sectarian conflict in the contemporary Middle East, Syria and Iraq, and a paper on the consequences of state collapse, this paper also makes recommendations on how the EU could help reduce sectarian tensions. EP/EXPO/B/AFET/2016/01 EN July 2017 - PE 603.843 © European Union, 2017 Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies This paper was requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs. English-language manuscript was completed on 14/07/2017. Printed in Belgium. Authors: Dr Toby MATTHIESEN, Senior Research Fellow in the International Relations of the Middle East, St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, UK Dr Simon MABON, Lecturer in International Relations, Director of the Richardson Institute, University of Lancaster, UK. Dr Raphaël LEFÈVRE, Rank-Manning Research Fellow in Social Sciences, University of Oxford, UK. Dr Renad MANSOUR, Academy Fellow, Chatham House, London, UK. Official Responsible: Kirsten JONGBERG Editorial Assistant: Györgyi MÁCSAI Feedback of all kind is welcome. Please write to: [email protected]. To obtain copies, please send a request to: [email protected] This paper will be published on the European Parliament's online database, 'Think tank'. -
'Islamic State' (ISIS)
Issue 23, April 2018 Middle East: The Origins of the ‘Islamic State’ (ISIS) Mediel HOVE Abstract. This article examines the origins of the ‘Islamic State’ or the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham or Levant (ISIS) in light of the contemporary political and security challenges posed by its diffusion of Islamic radicalism. The Arab Spring in 2011 ignited instability in Syria providing an operational base for the terrorist group to pursue its once abandoned Islamic state idea. Its growth and expansion has hitherto proved to be a threat not only to the Middle East but to international security given its thrust on world domination. It concludes that the United States of America’s activities in the Middle East were largely responsible for the rise of the Islamic State. Keywords: Islamic state, Islamic radicalism, international security, Middle East. Introduction The goal of this article was to examine the origins of the “Islamic State” (IS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (Syria) (ISIS), the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in light of the contemporary political Mediel HOVE and security challenges posed by its diffu- Research Associate, sion of Islamic radicalism in a drive to estab- International Centre for Nonviolence, lish the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. This Durban University of Technology, is important given the fact that the roots of Durban, South Africa, and ISIS are under-examined in academic litera- Senior Lecturer, ture although they are tangentially covered History Department, University of Zimbabwe in the media. This study augments those E-mail: [email protected] studies that have attempted to examine the roots of ISIS such as Gulmohamad (2014). -
The Baghdad Security Plan Begins
A PUBLICATION OF THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR AND WEEKLYSTANDARD.COM A PUBLICATION OF THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR AND WEEKLYSTANDARD.COM U.S. Army Sgt. Scott Monahan, a tactical human intelligence team leader, collects an entourage of children while on a civil affairs mission in the Rabi area of Adhamiyah, Baghdad, on February 26, 2007. February 10, 2007 – March 5, 2007 Enforcing the Law: The Baghdad Security Plan Begins by KIMBERLY KAGAN This report, the second in a series, describes the purpose, course, and results of Coalition operations in Baghdad during the fi rst three weeks of Operation Enforcing the Law (also known as the Baghdad Security Plan), from General Petraeus’ assumption of command on February 10, 2007, through March 5. It describes the fl ow of American and Iraqi forces into Baghdad; American and Iraqi command relationships; the efforts of those forces to prepare positions and develop intelligence in critical neighborhoods; the limited clearing operations that the forces already in Baghdad have conducted; and operations against the so-called Mahdi army, or Jaysh al Mahdi, in Baghdad. It describes and evaluates the apparent responses of the Jaysh al Mahdi and al Qaeda to these preparations and early operations, and highlights some of the differences between this operation and last year’s offensives in Baghdad, Operations Together Forward I and II. PAGE 1 • FEBRUARY 10, 2007 – MARCH 5, 2007 A PUBLICATION OF THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR AND WEEKLYSTANDARD.COM Mission struction missions in Iraq. He requests troops resident Bush announced an increase for Iraq through the United States Central Com- in U.S. -
Camp Bucca Newletter #2
CAMP BUCCA NEWSLETTER VOLUME 1 EDITION 1 18 February 2008 Airmen Deliver School Supplies, Soccerballs to Safwan School Story and photo by SPC Brandon Hubbard Students received a gift of supplies and athletic equipment Wednesday, Feb. 6, at a school near Umm Qasr, Iraq. Airmen from the 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, delivered dozens of supplies to the students, including paper, coloring books, pencils, crayons and hand-sewn book bags, as well as a dozen soccer balls. Many of the materials were donations from Girl Scout Troop 76 from Cornwall, New York. The 887th ESFS is charged with the external security of Forward Operating Base Bucca, under the command of the 300th Military Police Brigade. “Taking a diversion from routine patrols lets us meet and interact with the local populous,” said Staff Sgt. Matt Hamblen, the patrol squad leader. Speaking with the headmaster of the school, Hamblen explained that the items were all provided by Americans who support the Iraqi people and want to see them succeed. In January, Al-Basra became the ninth province to be returned to the Iraqi Government. During this period, the Army, Navy and Air Force service members at Camp Bucca in the southern province are assisting the Iraqi population with healthcare, supplies and other humanitarian aid. Continued on page 7 Table of Contents 2………………………CG’s Column 3………...CSM & Chaplain Column 4……………………TOA Ceremony 5…………………….Security Forces 6…………………..Top Marine Visit 7…………….Airmen Deliver (Con.) 8………………………….Bucca Cup 9…………………….Tell Your Story 10………………….Need A Passport 1 The Camp Bucca Newsletter is C OMMANDER COLUMN published in the interest of all Service- members, families and civilian employ- ees of the Camp Bucca, Iraq commu- Bucca Team, nity.