Source: 'The Great Mental Models - Volume 1' by Shane Perrish

Probably 95% of MENA region "experts" don't do this. youtube.com/shorts/BzG3W...

My annual piece where I reflect on the challenges Iraq is likely to face in 2025. 1001iraqithoughts.com/2025/01/23/2...

Yes, it is happening fast. This is the change in the past year according to Gallup. The change in the numbers of the youth with a favorable view towards Israel is astonishing.

Recently appointed head of Iraqi intelligence Hameed Al-Shatri is the first Iraqi official to visit Damascus post-Ba’ath. There were a handful of Iraqi officials that were in charge of handling relations with Syria during Ba’ath regime. No surprise that a new but trusted figure was sent by Baghdad.

I wonder if we are gonna see the same scholars & analysts who have tried to paint Saddam as non-sectarian do the same with Bashar Al-Assad.

A Framework for Evaluating Iraq’s National Strategies 1001iraqithoughts.com/2024/05/06/a...

Meanwhile, the reaction by some Iraqi “liberals” to the suspension of the Kuwaiti parliament is terrifying.

In both my policy papers for @ecfr.bsky.social, I recommended European states to move beyond donor-recipient relations with Iraq to normal bilateral relations. This latest move to end the UNAMI mandate will naturally push for that. apnews.com/article/iraq...

A Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies explains why politicizing the definition of anti-Semitism in the U.S.— (1) is itself anti-Semitic (2) makes Jews less safe (3) is largely used to target Arabs and Muslims time.com/6977457/weap...

It’s important to distinguish between the limited interests of a certain group within Iraq’s political spectrum and what is good for Iraq’s governance system and it people when it comes to the shape of federalism. Well argued by @hamzehhadad.bsky.social

My latest piece for 1001 Iraqi Thoughts. 1001iraqithoughts.com/2024/03/14/i...

A great series published by 1001 Iraqi Thoughts about a number of important issues pertaining Iraq’ society, economy, foreign policy, and security. The young authors of these articles are graduates of a program by The Century Foundation, lead by @sajadjiyad.bsky.social. Details and articles below:

“While the U.S. delivers hope to Gaza” ☠️ h ☠️ o ☠️ p ☠️ e ☠️

A seminal book on the Iraq war that will inform generations to come. Released today: global.oup.com/academic/pro... You can tune into the virtual book launch with @hamzehhadad.bsky.social & @jonathanlorddc.bsky.social here: www.cnas.org/events/virtu...

March 1st marks the start of the 1991 Iraqi uprising that began in Basra & spread northwards. Saddam Hussein’s brutal regime massacred tens of thousand of Iraqis and levelled towns and cities. The Imam Hussain shrine has left some of the bullet holes to preserve the memory.

Interesting numbers from Gallup on Iraq. PM Sudani with the highest approval ratings of any Iraqi premier since tracking began in 2012. Also perceptions more negative amongst citizens in Iraqi Kurdistan than the rest of Iraq. Realities have flipped from a decade ago. news.gallup.com/poll/610355/...

Important analysis on the rationale behind US actions in Iraq. American leaders have either forgotten or don’t care about the trauma of terrorist attacks in Baghdad. The images of a burning car in a busy street reawakens horrific memories for Iraqis & shatters a hard-earned security in the capital.

Regardless of the reason for US attack in Iraq, the history of occupation leads to great sensitivity amongst Iraqis towards any strike on Iraqi territory. The same goes for Iran. Iraqi government continues to find itself stuck in this quagmire.

I’m quoted in this article by The Christian Science Monitor on the recent attack on a U.S. base in Jordan & the American response in Iraq & Syria. www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle...

More attacks in Iraq as promised by U.S. government. Except this time the targets are in the middle of the Iraqi capital. This will not bode well for future Iraqi-American relations.

Honoured to have been part of this special issue.

Iraq & U.S. form the Higher Military Commission. Last week I wrote: “It is important for all sides to understand that the presence of troops does not dictate the relationship between Iraq & the U.S., which is why the two governments need to reach a timeline and conclusion based on mutual benefit.”

My first piece of the year, re-examining the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq. 1001iraqithoughts.com/2024/01/16/t...

“For many Americans, this may be a welcome development, as they continue to view the presence of their military in Iraq as a continuation of their “forever wars”. And, of course, many Iraqis are sensitive towards foreign troops because of the 2003 invasion and occupation.” Leave is the best option.

When reading this, what stands out to me is that by the same level the KRG refuses the central government’s jurisdictions, especially in defense and security matters, the sovereignty of KRG, and by extension Iraq’s, will be violated. And it will be violated by ‘allies’ of the KRG before enemies.

My first article of the year, in which I review the most pressing challenges Iraq faced in 2023. 1001iraqithoughts.com/2024/01/10/r...

I find this insightful and thought provoking, especially if projected onto the two charts bellow. Although international relations and geopolitics are more complex, I still think the principles apply. I will try to elaborate bellow. 🧵 [Charts source: Battilana and Casciaro, 2021]

My interview today with The World on the precarious situation of the U.S. military & coalition presence in Iraq. theworld.org/media/2024-0...

"While the security setup is different today, and foreign troops are in Iraq in an advisory capacity at the invitation of the Iraqi government since 2014, it is not a permanent setup," My quote in DW’s article discussing the future of American troops in Iraq. www.dw.com/en/will-iraq...

My first article of the year, in which I review the most pressing challenges Iraq faced in 2023. 1001iraqithoughts.com/2024/01/10/r...

Bismillah