The Kurds may be leveraging recent arms agreements to achieve a more direct security relationship with Western powers on the road toward de facto autonomy. When US defence officials want to give a compliment to a junior military partner they will often use the phrase "Little Sparta", referring to the ancient Greek city state revered for its small but potent army. Most recently
Read MoreAn examination of allegations that the Obama administration’s failure to secure a long-term U.S troop presence in Iraq after 2011 was the "original sin" that led to the ascendance of ISIS. The meteoric rise of ISIS has justifiably spurred an examination of what U.S. policies might have led to a less dire outcome in territories now controlled by the group. One common focus is t
Read MoreThe River Tigris faces a number of real dangers, most of them associated with completed projects or ones underway in neighboring states. The most important are: The Ilisu Dam in Turkey (under construction). The diversion of river tributaries originating in Iran (either underway or perhaps in most cases completed). The huge pumping station in Syria that aims to pump
Read MoreWashington is relying on local forces to carry out ground operations following airstrikes against ISIS, but disunity within the Kurdish ranks may hamper their ability to defeat the insurgents. Iraqi Kurdistan is gaining in importance by the day as a launchpad for military operations against the "Islamic State." The US military and CIA are expanding their pre-existing facilitie
Read MoreInternational Journal of Contemporary Iraqi Studies. Volume 8, Issue 2-3, September 2014 Contents Sociology in Iraq: The centennial celebration of Ali al-Wardi Authors: Tareq Y. Ismael And Jacqueline S. Ismael Page Start: 97 ‘Alī Al-Wardī, ‘Texas sociologist’? Authors: Elizabeth Bishop Page Start: 103 Iraq today in the thoughts of al-Wardi: The rule of the preachers Au
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