Iraq Situation Report: January 2-4, 2015 By: Sinan Adnan & Nichole Dicharry

Key Takeaway:  ISIS is taking pre-emptive measures to prevent tribal resistance or cooperation with the ISF behind its lines. Although mass kidnapping incidents similar to those described here have taken place before, the last two days have witnessed an increase in tempo of such activities in multiple areas considered out of government control. These forceful measures will m

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Casey, Rubio Urge Administration to Take Steps to Cut Off ISIS Financing

ISIS Has Become Most Well-Funded Terrorist Group in Recent Memory / In Letter Senators Urge Admin to Consider Labeling ISIS Transnational Criminal Organization to Send Strong Signal to Smugglers, Third Party Facilitators that U.S. Is Prioritizing Cutting Off ISIS Financing / Reports Indicate ISIS Receiving Revenue from Oil that Is Smuggled Through Black Markets and Purchased by

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Iraq’s budget problems go beyond Erbil-Baghdad crisis. By Harith Hasan

The Iraqi parliament still has not been able to approve the draft general budget for 2014, prompting Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to warn of the possibility of a major financial crisis and a disruption of state institutions. As the conflict continues between Baghdad and Erbil regarding Iraqi Kurdistan's share in the state budget, there is a pressing need for the government t

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