Bloomberg (December 28)
“The retaking of Ramadi by Iraqi security forces this past weekend was a blow to Islamic State. It’s less clear that it amounts to a major victory for the government in Baghdad, but it at least demonstrates that its U.S.-backed strategy for recapturing territory in Sunni-dominated parts of the country is sound.”
Tags: Baghdad, Iraqi security forces, Islamic State, Ramadi, Recapturing territory, Sunni, U.S.-backed strategy, Victory
Wall Street Journal (June 13)
“The magnitude of the debacle now unfolding in Iraq is becoming clearer by the day.” The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has seized control of Mosul and Tikrit, and is “marching ever closer to Baghdad….An extended civil war seems to be the best near-term possibility.”
New York Times (May 20)
“The major powers have imposed increasingly strong sanctions aimed at Iran’s banks and oil trade. It is crucial to maintain that cohesion as a second round of negotiations opens this week in Baghdad.” The Iranians want the sanctions to end. This would be premature. “If Iran makes credible gestures, sanctions should be eased, but not significantly until it takes irreversible steps to roll back its nuclear activities.”
The Economist (December 23)
American troops departed Iraq on December 18. Less than a week later, dozens were killed when bombs exploded in Baghdad “stoking fears that without American soldiers, an unravelling political situation could herald a return for Iraq to the bad old days of sectarian bloodshed.”
Tags: Baghdad, Boms, Instability, Iraq, U.S.
