A pocos iraquíes, y a pocos árabes, les gustan los iraníes. Pero tras la salida de EE UU, los iraníes han pasado a ser la fuerza más poderosa en la región, así que los políticos que quieren sobrevivir se afanan por tejer alianzas con Teherán.

Bill Eagleton was incorruptible and a gentleman. He never joined the ranks of more recent American diplomats and military officers by seeking to cash in his connections and his position for consulting positions or contracts.

Iraqi Kurds and Iraqis more broadly can argue about whether Western concerns about Iran’s nuclear program are justified and they can also debate responsibility for the recent tension between Tehran and Washington. Analysts—whether they are in Washington, Jerusalem, or Tehran—largely agree, however, that the Middle East is closer to a major war now than at any time since 2003.

On December 2, rioters allegedly stirred up by preachers at Friday prayers rampaged through Zakho, destroying a controversial massage parlor before moving on to torch several liquor shops and hotels. In retaliation, a mob of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) activists attacked the local office of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and KIU media offices in nearby Duhok and Semel.

If Kurdistan is truly going to become a new Dubai or Bahrain and bolster its wealth and living standards to first world levels, it must rein in corruption or change the leadership which refuses to do so.

Obama's foreign policy style is akin to a gambler at a blackjack table who wants to sit at the table' but place his bets only after the dealer has laid out the cards.

Hay's mission was to establish civil administration as the British took control of Iraq from Ottoman authorities.

The issues facing Barack Obama and his military commanders in Iraq are fundamentally different from those of 2007 and 2008.