Iraq has largely slipped from the American public’s radar. The ongoing civil war in Syria and negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program have taken precedence, followed by deliberations on the United States’ long-term presence in Afghanistan and ongoing instability in Egypt, Lebanon, and Yemen. Given this country’s recent history with Iraq, the Iraqi government is facing a very different political climate in Washington when it asks for weapons sales, military training, and other US support.
Violence, Distrust, and Instability: Iraq’s Future in Uncertain Times
It has been more than two years since the last US troops left Iraq, effectively ending a war that carried on for nearly nine years. Even before the final US soldiers pulled out of the country, signs of instability due to a delicate power-sharing arrangement between Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish parties were evident. Today, the future of Iraq is in question.