April 7, 2008
Lessons Learned from the Basra Fighting for the Iraq Hearings
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1887)
Congress tomorrow will begin a second round of hearings on Iraq featuring General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. A major topic is likely to ...

March 13, 2008
Questions on Iraq for the Petraeus-Crocker Hearings
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1850)
When General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker testify before Congress, Members must ask questions that will help Americans develop an informed opinion about the ...

March 13, 2008
The Surge in Iraq: One Year Later
By Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno
(Heritage Lecture #1068)
The 2007 Iraq surge allowed Coalition and Iraqi forces to hold the hard-earned ground that was wrested from the enemy, while continuing to pursue terrorists ...

November 30, 2007
Combating Insurgencies: Past, Present, and Future
By Honorable Thaddeus McCotter
(Heritage Lecture #1053)
General David Petraeus's strategy of fostering the grassroots will mollify the Sunnis and success will occur. People who have a vested stake in the future, ...

September 21, 2007
Proposed Timetables for U.S. Withdrawal Would Sabotage Reconciliation in Iraq
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1632)
To prevent the formation of a new base for al-Qaeda, the United States must help to establish the security conditions necessary for Iraq’s government to ...

September 16, 2007
"Cut and Run Lite": Congressional Iraq Proposal Puts Troops at Risk
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1618)
Congress limiting deployments would tie Pentagon planners' hands and force a de facto drawdown of U.S. force levels in Iraq.

September 14, 2007
Bush on Iraq: U.S. Troops "Return on Success"
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1616)
President Bush delivered a short but effective speech last night that reviewed the military progress made in Iraq, explained why this progress now allows the ...

September 13, 2007
A Baghdad Statistician's Perspective on the Positives and Negatives of Polling in Iraq
By Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1615)
Due to the difficulties of polling in a place like Iraq, policymakers should approach such polls with caution and should use them to measure trends ...

September 11, 2007
After the Petraeus/Crocker Hearings: Four Issues for Congress
By Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1610)
General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker advise Congress should build on recent gains in security and local engagements, while continuing to strive toward the goal of ...

September 10, 2007
Understanding Violence and Civilian Casualty Rates in Iraq: An Insider’s View
By Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1605)
Broad measures show that the "surge" has been a success in reducing civilian casualties and improving overall security in Iraq.

September 7, 2007
Making Progress: What to Expect from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker's Report on Iraq
By Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1602)
Recent reports from Iraq provide great insight into some of the major issues and conclusions likely to be raised next week by General Petraeus and ...

September 4, 2007
Visas for Heroes: Congressional Action Needed to Safeguard America’s Friends
By James Jay Carafano and Diem Nguyen
(WebMemo #1598)
Congress and the Administration must reform U.S. laws and procedures to provide increased opportunities for Iraqi refugees to come to the United States.

July 30, 2007
Advancing Freedom in Iraq
By Steven Groves
(Backgrounder #2056)
A secure and stable Iraq is in America’s national interest, and Iraq's best chance for long-term stability is to develop democratic institutions that protect the ...

July 24, 2007
The War in Iraq: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1565)
Although those seeking to score political points often try to reduce the war to simple slogans and either–or strategic propositions, the situation on the ground ...

June 18, 2007
Hamas's Coup in Gaza Casts a Pall over Bush-Olmert Meeting
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1510)
Hamas's coup in Gaza is a death blow to peace negotiations. The U.S. must take steps to check the power of Hamas and its chief ...

May 25, 2007
Bush Administration Scores Victory on Iraq Vote
By Helle C. Dale and James Phillips
(WebMemo #1474)
Congress has finally carried out its obligation to fund the American troops on the frontlines of the global war against terrorism.

May 18, 2007
Iraq Benchmarks Should be Realistic Goals, Not a Means To Surrender
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1461)
Rigid benchmarks would become an excuse for pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq, rather than a means to help Iraqis build a stable and secure ...

May 4, 2007
Fighting Al-Qaeda in Iraq
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1443)
The estrangement of al-Qaeda in Iraq from its erstwhile allies is a hopeful sign for U.S. Iraq policy.

April 30, 2007
After the Veto: Next Steps for Congress on the War Funding Bill
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1437)
Further delay by Congress will harm U.S. interests, undermine the training and readiness of the armed forces, and jeopardize the lives of the young soldiers ...

April 30, 2007
Iran's Hostile Policies in Iraq
By James Phillips
(Backgrounder #2030)
To counter Iran's increasingly aggressive role in Iraq, the United States should disrupt Iran's subversive network and raise the risks of its proxy war in ...

April 27, 2007
Congress's Call for Iraq Withdrawal Undermines the U.S.-British Alliance
By Nile Gardiner, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1435)
Congress is sending a clear signal of defeat to America's enemies in Iraq and across the world, which undercuts the United State's closest ally, Great ...

March 16, 2007
Senate Rejects Iraq Withdrawal While House Continues on a Dangerous Course
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1399)
Next week the House will consider a supplemental appropriation bill that would attach dangerous conditions to war funding and restrict the President's constitutional powers as ...

February 26, 2007
Don't Count on the Security Council to Curb Iran's Nuclear Ambitions
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1370)
The United States must push hard for stronger sanctions against Iran, not only at the Security Council but also directly with European and Japanese allies. ...

February 26, 2007
Congress's Unprincipled Proposals on Iraq Could Put Lives and Nation at Risk
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1371)
Congress must not take battlefield decisions away from commanders or undermine the commander-in-chief's capacity to defend the nation.

February 17, 2007
House Iraq Vote Spells Trouble Ahead for War Effort
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1364)
This resolution is the first step in what will be a protracted campaign to hamstring President Bush’s Middle East policy and undermine his constitutional authority ...

February 9, 2007
The Senate's Iraq Irresolution
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1353)
The resolution would accomplish little except to send a dangerous signal of foreign policy drift and weakness that will discourage America’s friends, encourage its adversaries, ...

February 6, 2007
Congress's Iraq Resolutions: Without Resolve or Constitutional Purpose
By Todd Gaziano, Steven Groves, and Brian Walsh
(WebMemo #1347)
The proposed Iraq resolutions are an abuse of Congress's authority and an unreasonable interference with the President's exclusive authority to make strategic military decisions during ...

February 5, 2007
Memo to Congress on Iraq: Don't Legislate Defeat Again!
By Helle C. Dale
(WebMemo #1338)
As with the Vietnam War, the Iraq War could be won or lost on the home front if Congress persists in passing resolutions undercutting or ...

January 31, 2007
The President's New Military Strategy in Iraq
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen and James Phillips
(WebMemo #1333)
The President's new Iraq strategy, while risky, presents the best chance for moving forward in Iraq and should be given the chance to prove its ...

January 23, 2007
State of the Union 2007: A New Way Forward in Iraq
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1322)
The war in Iraq is an integral part of the broader war against terrorism.

January 11, 2007
President Bush's New Way Forward in Iraq
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1304)
It is a calculated gamble, but one more likely to succeed than the alternatives.

December 19, 2006
Iraq Study Group is Wrong to Link Iraq to Israel
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1290)
The Iraq Study Group report's linking of progress in Iraq to progress on resolving the Arab–Israeli conflict does not stand up to scrutiny.

December 6, 2006
The Iraq Study Group Report: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
By James Phillips and James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1278)
With one exception, the Iraq Study Group provides a thoughtful approach to moving forward in Iraq.

November 28, 2006
A Message for Maliki: Bush Must Make Clear Iraq's Responsibilities
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1264)
President Bush should use the two-day summit meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki to restore momentum to efforts to build a stable and democratic Iraq. ...

November 14, 2006
Britain Must Not Retreat From Iraq
By Nile Gardiner, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1254)
While Blair is right to reject a pullout from Iraq, his efforts to engage Iran and Syria are a major mistake.

November 7, 2006
Saddam Hussein Adjudged Serial Mass Murder
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1247)
Bringing Saddam and his henchmen to justice is a welcome milestone on Iraq’s grueling path from dictatorship to democracy.

September 27, 2006
NIE Confirms that the Outcome of the Iraq War is Critical to the War on Terrorism
By Peter Brookes and James Phillips
(WebMemo #1226)
According to the NIE, victory in Iraq is critical to the war against terrorism.

September 11, 2006
Iraq Is a Strategic Battleground in the War Against Terrorism
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1210)
Al-Qaeda has taken root in Iraq and has declared its plans to use that country as a staging area for exporting terrorism.

September 8, 2006
U.S. Military Policy in Iraq: "Cut and Run" a Disaster for the U.S. and the Middle East
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and James Phillips
(WebMemo #1207)
Abandoning the cause of freedom and democracy in Iraq would hurt Iraqis and Americans for decades to come.

June 28, 2006
What Is Needed for Reconciliation in Iraq
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1139)
On June 27th, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki emphasized that the new national reconciliation plan he had introduced to parliament two days earlier would not ...

June 16, 2006
Civil Society in Iraq at Work Amid the War
By Dr. Ali Abdul Ameer Allawi
(Heritage Lecture #946)
Age-old structures of civil society that smoothed the edges between Arab and Kurd, Shiite and Sunni were damaged by the long Saddam Hussein dictatorship. It ...

June 12, 2006
After Zarqawi: The Way Forward in Iraq
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1119)
President Bush meets with senior advisors this week to assess the next steps in Iraq following the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of ...

June 8, 2006
The Death of Zarqawi: A Major Victory in the War on Terrorism
By Nile Gardiner Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1118)
A turning point in the war on terrorism?

June 8, 2006
Getting Zarqawi: One Win in Long War
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1116)
Terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is dead, but the long war continues.

February 24, 2006
Pulling Iraq Back from the Edge of Civil War
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #999)
The sectarian violence following the bombing of the Shiite shrine in Samarra has pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war and dealt a major ...

February 1, 2006
State of the Union 2006: Iraq and the War on Terrorism
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #982)
The President names the enemy and lays the groundwork for a long-term strategy.

February 1, 2006
State of the Union 2006: Iraq and the War on Terrorism
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #982)
The President names the enemy and lays the groundwork for a long-term strategy.

December 16, 2005
After the Elections: The Road to Political Stability in Iraq
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #945)
Iraq's new leaders will have the opportunity to mobilize support to restore stability and security, promote national reconciliation, rebuild the economy and society, and complete ...

December 15, 2005
Time for Coordinated Communications in Iraq
By Stephen Johnson
(WebMemo #943)
Is it time for an end to "information warfare" in Iraq?

December 2, 2005
Dispelling the Myths About Iraq
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #932)
You've heard the pundits and the politicians. Now read the facts.

November 18, 2005
Al-Hurrah Television and Lessons for U.S. Public Diplomacy
By Helle C. Dale
(Heritage Lecture #909)
Our public diplomacy should promote U.S. interests and security through understanding, informing, and influencing foreign publics, as well as broadening dialogue between American institutions and ...

October 14, 2005
Iraq Votes on a Malleable Constitution
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #883)
The referendum is an opportunity to build national unity. Approval would signal that Iraqis have passed another milestone on the road to stable democracy.

October 13, 2005
Al-Qaeda Agonistes
By Kim R. Holmes, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #882)
The end of Zarqawi as a political force in Iraq?

October 7, 2005
Bush Speech Clarifies the War Against Terrorism
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #878)
The target is "Islamic radicalism," rather than the more generic "terrorism."

October 6, 2005
Lawrence of Arabia and the Perils of State Building
By John Hulsman, Ph.D.
(Heritage Lecture #900)
The experience of T. E. Lawrence in the early 20th century teaches that state building should always be approached from the bottom up, never from ...

October 4, 2005
The Case Against British Withdrawal from Iraq
By Nile Gardiner, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #871)
British troops must remain until Iraq is stable and secure enough to stand on its own feet.

November 9, 2004
Letter  From Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan
By Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi
(WebMemo #605a)
Letter  From Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan

June 25, 2004
Building a Stable Iraq After the June 30 Transition
By James Phillips
(Backgrounder #1771)
Insurgent violence is likely to intensify in the run-up to the American presidential election and the Iraqi national elections. The U.S. should rapidly build up, ...

June 2, 2004
Iraqi Prisoner Crisis: Correcting America's Communications Failure
By Stephen Johnson & Helle Dale
(Executive Memorandum #935)
To address the Abu Ghraib incidents, the Administration should put military public affairs officers fully in the command loop in Iraq and show the world ...

March 21, 2003
Saddam's Strategy: Holding Baghdad Hostage
By James A. Phillips
(WebMemo #232)
The sooner that American forces can converge on Baghdad, the sooner Iraqi morale will collapse, and the faster Saddam's few remaining loyalists will desert his ...

November 25, 2002
Iraq Q&A with Jim Phillips
By Andrew Olivastro
(WebMemo #176)
Heritage's Jim Phillips says that if Saddam rejects the terms of the resolution then he will find himself isolated in defiance of a broad U.N. ...

November 12, 2002
U.N. Security Council Resolution Ratchets Up Pressure on Iraq
By James A. Phillips
(WebMemo #172)
Resolution 1441 confirms that Iraq is in "material breach" of U.N. resolutions, makes it harder for France and Russia to vote against the use of ...

October 28, 2002
Disarming Iraq: The Lessons of UNSCOM
By James A. Phillips
(Backgrounder #1608)
The U.N. inspection program, as currently structured, cannot work. UNMOVIC is designed to fail. It can never completely uncover Iraq's WMD programs, but it could ...

October 24, 2002
The Vital Role of Alliances in the Global War on Terrorism
By Paolo Pasicolan and Balbina Y. Hwang
(Backgrounder #1607)
The dependability of alliances is what the U.S. requires to combat terrorist threats, and will be key to a successful strategy in Iraq. Unswerving alliance ...

October 8, 2002
A Strong Case Against Iraq
By James A. Phillips
(WebMemo #154)
Bush's speech has put additional pressure on the U.N. Security Council to realistically address the growing threat posed by Iraq. If the U.N. fails to ...

October 2, 2002
Presidential Authority in the War on Terrorism: Iraq and Beyond
By Jack Spencer
(Backgrounder #1600)
Now is the time for decisive action against Saddam Hussein. If the U.N. balks at taking action to address Saddam's violation of its resolutions, the ...

October 1, 2002
Why America May Not Have to Go It Alone: The Growing Anti-Saddam Coalition
By Dr. Nile Gardiner
(Backgrounder #1598)
Mounting evidence suggests that Iraq may be liberated by one of the biggest strategic and diplomatic coalitions ever. The tide is turning against Baghdad, and ...

September 27, 2002
Tony Blair's Challenge in Securing British Support for a War Against Iraq
By Dr. Nile Gardiner
(Backgrounder #1596)
The Bush Administration must recognize the difficulties Prime Minister Blair faces in shoring up support domestically and across Europe and demonstrate its support for his ...

September 25, 2002
In Post-War Iraq, Use Military Forces to Secure Vital U.S. Interests, Not for Nation-Building
By Baker Spring and Jack Spencer
(Backgrounder #1589)
The Administration should make it clear that a U.S. military presence in post-war Iraq will be deployed to secure vital U.S. interests, not as an ...

September 19, 2002
Bush Is Right on Iraq: The Issue Is Compliance, Not Inspections
By Brett D. Schaefer and Baker Spring
(Backgrounder #1592)
The Security Council must demand Iraq's compliance with its past resolutions and back up its demands with a clear authorization for member states to use ...

September 5, 2002
U.N. Authorization for War with Iraq Is Unnecessary
By Brett D. Schaefer
(Executive Memorandum #831)
The Administration has the legal authority under international law to take action to protect U.S. interests. U.N. Security Council Resolution 678 authorizing U.N. member states ...

May 20, 2002
Undue Criticism for September 11
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #100)
The Bush Administration has suffered undue criticism from several quarters concerning information that critics contend might have provided an indication of Osama bin Laden's terrorist ...

April 29, 2002
Bringing Russia into an Anti-Saddam Coalition
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D.
(Executive Memorandum #812)
U.S.-Russian cooperation on a regime change in Iraq should be mutually beneficial. Helping Putin secure Russia's economic interests in Iraq would weaken domestic criticism of ...

April 1, 2002
British and European Responses to the Proposed U.S. Military Action Against Iraq
By Dr. Nile Gardiner
(Backgrounder #1531)
As the Bush Administration contemplates taking military action against the regime of Saddam Hussein, it should be fully aware of the dominant factors that bear ...