April 02, 2008
Life After the Surge: Prospects for Iraq and for the U.S. Military
This CNAS Congressional Testimony contains Michèle A. Flournoy's statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, given on April 2, 2008. According to Flournoy, "The only way to consolidate recent security gains in Iraq is to use our substantial political leverage to push various Iraqi actors toward political accommodation. The Bush administration success or failure in so doing over the coming months will determine the options available to the next President. When the next Commander in Chief takes office, he or she must put our Iraq policy on a new course that protects our vital interests there but also rebalances risk across our larger regional and global goals. He or she must also take urgent steps to develop a new and more effective strategy toward Iraq, reduce the strains on our soldiers, marines and their families, free up more forces for other urgent priorities like Afghanistan, and restore the readiness of our military for the full range of possible future contingencies."
More from CNAS
-
Iraq’s persistent fault line: The dangers of escalating tensions in Kirkuk
Commentary
While Kirkuk remains contested, risks of destabilisation will continue to hang over Iraq and the Sudani government....
By Hamzeh Hadad
-
Washington’s Security Strategy in Iraq Was Deep-frozen. This Week Might Bring an Overdue Thaw.
Commentary
It will require immense political will and courage to reform an Iraqi defense establishment that continues to perpetually hollow itself through corruption, indifference, and o...
By Jonathan Lord
-
A golden opportunity: How Iraq can benefit from regional calm
Commentary
Leaders are concerned with the economic wellbeing of their citizens in a transforming, and less oil reliant, world....
By Hamzeh Hadad
-
Jonathan Lord on the DoD and Kurdish Air Support
Video
Jonathan Lord joins AL-Hadath to explain some of the challenges facing United States Department of Defense in providing air defense systems to the Kurdistan Regional Governmen...
By Jonathan Lord
