October 2011The U.S. military is in the midst of withdrawing from Iraq in accordance with the terms of the 2008 Status of Forces Agreement. But Iraq's future remains dangerously uncertain and a critical concern for U.S. national security.
The events of the past two years have raised significant concerns about the Iraqi government's commitment to sustaining democratic governance and ability to secure its population from a drastically weakened but still-deadly militant threat.
U.S. policymakers must support the consolidation of democracy and security, but without the traditional military tools that once provided the face of America's involvement in Iraq; instead, security assistance, economic development programs, and diplomacy will need to be utilized more resourcefully to achieve a strategically advantageous long-term outcome.
CNAS analysts continue to research political and security issues in Iraq to help shape the debate on what remains an important area for U.S. policy.
Link ~ Preserving Progress: Transitioning Authority And Implementing The Strategic Framework Agreement
