Iraq

By Jerome Joffe | (Informed Comment) | – – In recent months, prospects for applying the principles of federation and constitutional protection for minorities as a basic political solution for the conflicts in Syria and Iraq have dramatically improved. On the foundation of state restructuring, coordination of military force to degrade ISIS and the Nusra […]

Iraq

‘We Must Face Reality. Iraq Can No Longer Be Ruled In A Centralised Way’ – Former VP Salih

contributors

Zhyar Mohammed | Niqash.org | Sulaymaniyah | – – Senior Iraqi Kurdish politician Barham Salih doesn’t pull his punches: The Iraqi army is over, as is the national Iraqi project. And extremists can only, truly be defeated by political reform – after military action. Barham Salih is one of Iraq’s most senior, most experienced politicians. […]

Iraq

Missing, Believed Murdered: ISIL in Mosul Releases 1st ‘Death List’ of 2,070 Victims

contributors

Khales Joumah | Mosul | (Niqash.org) The Islamic State group in Mosul has released lists of locals whose families thought they were missing, but who have been executed. The extremists are also carefully monitoring who wants the information. Streets of Mosul, a city where thousands are missing, most likely murdered by extremists. His heart began […]

Iraq

Can Iraq’s Shiite Militias save the Country from Sectarian Division? Qais al-Khazali thinks So

contributors

By Mohammed al-Zaidi | Najaf | (Niqash.org) | – – NIQASH meets Qais al-Khazali, head of one of Iraq’s most feared militias. The cleric and soldier answered critics, talking about what to do when his fighters commit crimes and whether militias are replacing the army. Most often seen in uniform these days: Qais al-Khazali, leader […]

Corruption

Youth Revolts are back– Lebanon, Iraq Shaken by demand for Services, end to Corruption

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The master narrative of much Western journalism is that the youth protests of 2011 have been replaced by civil war and terrorism. But while there is plenty of both in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Libya, in fact here and there in the region youth protests have […]

Authoritarianism

Crisis in Iraqi Kurdistan: Attacked by ISIL & Turkey; and Now Leaderless

contributors

Honar Hama Rasheed | Erbil | (Niqash.org) | – – As the issue of Iraqi Kurdistan’s vacant presidency heats up, delegations from the US, Turkey and Iran have all visited to have their say. But what do they really want? The current Iraqi Kurdish presidency officially ended yesterday. Massoud Barzani, who heads the Kurdish Democratic […]

Bashar al-Assad

How many thousands US troops would GOP Hopefuls send to Iraq and Syria?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Bill Barrow of the Associated Press took a look at the specifics of plans for US troop deployments in the Middle East put forward by some of the GOP presidential hopefuls. Several Republican politicians have pledged a return of US combat troops in large numbers to […]

Authoritarianism

The Long Knives Come out in Baghdad

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – In principle, the idea of streamlining the Iraqi government and making it more efficient is a capital one. But the reforms being pursued by Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi have to raise some questions about the direction the country is taking. One step al-Abadi has taken announced […]

Iraq

Turkey Hit by Wave of Attacks as It Continues Mideast Military Strikes

contributors

By Anne Koopman | ( Global Voices Online) | – – At least nine people fell victim to a spate of attacks in the Turkey's largest city Istanbul and the south-eastern province Sirnak on August 10. As the country gets knee-deep in the Middle East crisis, the fear of more attacks is pervasive. Ever since […]