Home > Congressional Research Service, international relations, Iraq, military and defense, social and cultural issues > CRS — Iraq: Politics, Governance, and Human Rights (Updated)

CRS — Iraq: Politics, Governance, and Human Rights (Updated)

October 15, 2012

Iraq: Politics, Governance, and Human Rights (PDF)

Source: Congressional Research Service (via U.S. Department of State Foreign Press Center)

Relations among major political factions broke down in late 2011—a development that, when coupled with spillover from increasingly sectarian conflict in Syria, threatens Iraq’s stability, its ability to balance its relations with both Tehran and Washington and the achievements of the long U.S. intervention in Iraq. Sunni Arabs, always fearful that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki would seek unchallenged power for Shiite factions, accuse him of sidelining high ranking Sunni Arabs from government. Iraq’s Kurds have also become increasingly distrustful of Maliki over territorial, political, and economic issues, and are threatening to limit or end their involvement in the central government. The Shiite faction of Moqtada Al Sadr supported the other groups’ efforts in mid-2012 to try to oust Maliki, but Iran—a key Maliki ally and supporter—pressed Sadr to discontinue that action, contributing to the failure of the ouster drive. The infighting, coupled with the emboldening of Iraqi Sunni insurgents by the Sunni-led uprising in Syria, has produced increasingly ambitious attacks by Iraqi Sunni insurgent groups, particularly Al Qaeda in Iraq. These attacks are testing the ability of Iraqi security forces and undermining Maliki’s reputation as an ensurer of security and stability. The violence is intended to reignite all-out sectarian conflict, but the attacks have failed to spark such broad conflict to date. However, the political rift and the violence have not halted governance or prevented oil export-led growth.

The continuing violence and governmental dysfunctions have called into question the legacy of U.S. involvement in Iraq. In line with the November 2008 bilateral U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement, President Obama announced on October 21, 2011, that U.S. forces would leave Iraq entirely at the end of 2011. Insufficient Iraqi political support caused the Iraqi leadership to turn down a U.S. proposal to retain some U.S. troops after 2011. The proposal was based on U.S. doubts over the ability of Iraqi security forces to preserve the earlier gains and on a U.S. view that a continued troop presence would ensure U.S. influence beyond 2011. About 12,500 U.S. personnel, including contractors, remain in Iraq under State Department authority, but the State Department has assessed that number as too large for the existing missions and a 25% Embassy staffing reduction is planned by the end of 2013.

As U.S. troops completed the withdrawal by December 18, 2011, Administration officials asserted publicly that Iraq’s governing and security capacity is sufficient to continue building a stable and democratic Iraq. Iraq’s security forces number nearly 700,000 members, increasingly well-armed and well-trained. However, the Administration asserts that the ongoing violence necessitates that Iraq rededicate itself to military cooperation with and assistance from the United States, using State and Defense Department programs. These have included U.S. training for Iraq’s security forces through an Office of Security Cooperation—Iraq (OSC-I) and a State Department police development program. To date, these programs have been hampered by Iraqi efforts to emerge from U.S. tutelage: the police training program has withered and OSC-I efforts have been limited by a lack of agreement with Iraq on their legal rights and privileges in Iraq. As of August 2012, in view of the violence, Iraq has requested expedited delivery of U.S. arms as well as joint training.

Other major bilateral issues include Iraq’s refusal to call for Iran’s ally, Bashar Al Assad of Syria, to yield power amid major unrest. And, Iraq may be cooperating with Iran’s efforts to resupply Assad. Others see Iraq trying to reestablish its historic role as a major player in the Arab world, and to do so Iraq has been trying to rebuild relations with Sunni Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Iraq took a large step toward returning to the Arab fold by hosting an Arab League summit on March 27-29, 2012.

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Categories: Congressional Research Service, international relations, Iraq, military and defense, social and cultural issues
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