Moving Forward in Iraq

The Center for a New American Security released the publication, “Shaping the Iraq Inheritance,” which recommends that the U.S. encourage political accommodation and improved governance in Iraq by initiating a phased redeployment of U.S. forces, and condition support to the Iraqi government on continued political progress.

Scott Carpenter and Michael Rubin of the Washington Post argue that in order to build on Iraq’s political progress, its election system should be reformed into a mixed system similar to that in Germany in which party lists are combined with the ability to elect individuals directly. “As ordinary people have been victimized by corruption, abuses of power and party militias, Iraqis say the popularity of political parties and party bosses has fallen even further.”