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Description

As U.S. Armed Forces draw down in Iraq, there is increasing concern about the possibility of resurgent ethnic and sectarian tensions. Many Iraqis believe that the United States may be making a grave mistake by not fully using its remaining leverage to insulate the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) from the politi- cal influence of the incumbent Iraqi sectarian political parties. U.S. efforts to rebuild the ISF have focused on much needed training and equipment, but have neglected the greatest challenge facing the forces’ ability to maintain security upon U.S. withdrawal: an ISF politi- cized by ethno-sectarian parties. These ties pose the largest obstacle to the ISF in its quest to become genuinely professional and truly national in character.

Document Type

Policy Brief

Region(s)

Middle East/Iraq

Topic(s)

Defense Policy, National Security, Irregular Warfare

Publication Date

8-2009

Publication

Strategic Forum

Publisher

National Defense University Press

City

Washington, DC

Keywords

Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), Iraq post-U.S. troop withdrawal, Iraqi military capability and performance, Security sector reform in Iraq, Iraq security challenges

Iraqi Security Forces after U.S. Troop Withdrawal: An Iraqi Perspective

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