Allawi: US Policy toward Iraq 'Without a Compass'
By Mustafa al-Kadhimi for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Ayad Allawi, the former Iraqi prime minister and leader of the Iraqi Nationalist ("Wataniya") Party, blamed the Iraqi government for policies that have allowed it to be "defeated by a bunch of […]
Video: Corruption leaves Military Struggling
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Bribery, corruption, and nepotism have led some analysts to say Iraq's military has been "built to fail". Billions of dollars have been spent rebuilding the military since the fall of Sadaam Hussein, but […]
Iraqi Kurdish City on High Alert
This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqi Kurdish City on High Alert, with Jihadi Monitoring and Prayer Groups Banned With extremists moving in next door, the Iraqi Kurdish province of Sulaymaniyah [Slemani] is ramping up security […]
Kurdish Plan to up Exports, Share Kirkuk Revenue
By John Lee. The KRG's Minister for Natural Resources, Ashti Hawrami (pictured), has told Reuters that the Kurds have plans to increase their oil exports eight-fold by the end of 2015. He said Kurdish oil exports could double "within a month or so" to around 250,000 bpd and hit 400,000 bpd by the end of […]
Nawzad Hadi Elected as Erbil Governor
By John Lee. At the first session of the new Erbil Governorate Council this week, Mr. Nawzad Hadi was elected as the Governor of Erbil, with Ali Rashid as head of the governorate council, and Azad Ikram Bahram as deputy head. (Source: Erbil Governorate)
Visiting Hawija, a town Controlled by ISIS
This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. NIQASH visited Hawija, a large northern Iraqi town near Kirkuk, which is currently controlled by Sunni Muslim extremists and local tribes. The town is dominated by ISIS’ black flags and […]
War with ISIS 'AcidTest' of US-Iraq Ties
By Andrew Parasiliti for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq’s ambassador to US: war with ISIS 'acid test' of US-Iraq ties Iraq’s ambassador to the United States said June 26 that his country’s preference is to rely on US military assistance […]
Video: Al-Sadr calls for Emergency Govt
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. One of Iraq's most powerful Shia leaders has joined a chorus of calls for a national unity government. Moqtadr Al Sadr says Iraq risks spiraling into chaos without a change of leadership. Al […]
Video: Maliki Welcomes Syrian Airstrikes
From CNN. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Does Iraq need U.S. airstrikes, if it has Syria? CNN's Jim Sciutto reports.
Has ISIS Killed Its Golden Goose?
By Mark DeWeaver. While it has long been assumed that ISIS gets most of its money from donors in the Gulf, recently declassified documents suggest otherwise. Researchers at the RAND Corporation found that donations actually accounted for less than 5% of the group’s funding during the period from 2005 to 2010. (See this article.) The […]
Defying Daash in Karbala and Baghdad
The following article features an interview with Mantid International CEO Ginger Cruz. Robert Tollast’s opinions expressed in the article do not necessarily represent the views of Mantid International, nor do the opinions expressed here necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The vast majority of Iraqis, Shi'a, Kurd and Sunni, are preparing themselves to […]
Weekly Security Update, 17 - 23 June 2014
Reporting remains largely interrupted across northern Iraq, which continues to impact on casualty statistics. Levels of recorded violence have nonetheless been consistent with the previous weekly data, with an estimated 445 fatalities reflecting sustained militant activity and counteroffensive ISF operations. Major clashes have continued to focus on Nineveh’s Tal Afar district and territories between Tikrit […]