Iraq Archives - Arab Digest

Erdoğan

12 July 201813 July 2018Oliver MilesIraq, Qatar, Syria, Turkey, USA

resets Turkish government, with power moving to the executive presidency. Activity at home and abroad. Turkey ” great and strong” but can he get what he wants from Trump? EU and others react cautiously.

Controlling borders in the Arab world

11 July 2018Oliver MilesAlgeria, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen

For Arab states, controlling their borders is often a challenging business. Cross-border cooperation and physical measures, aided by the latest technology, may help. Beggar-my-neighbour policies certainly won’t.

Syria: the south-west and elsewhere

22 June 2018Oliver MilesIran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Russia, Syria

Syria – next major fighting expected in the south-west, near Golan Heights, Israel and Jordan.

Iraqi: Sadr/Amiri alliance

14 June 2018Oliver MilesIran, Iraq, oil, Saudi Arabia, USA

Messy developments following the May election. Alliance between Sadr and Amiri not the end of the story. US and Saudi influence down, Iranian up.

Boundaries in the Arab world and their remarkable durability

8 June 201811 June 2018Oliver MilesEgypt, France, Iraq, IS, Jordan, Kurds, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, UK, Western Sahara, Yemen

The boundaries of Arab states, mainly drawn by colonial powers, have shown remarkable durability. In some instances, these boundaries have been challenged but such challenges have generally failed to change the map of the region.

Iraqi elections: the consequences

24 May 2018Oliver MilesIran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, USA

Iraq elections – Muqtada al-Sadr has the initiative as coalition building begins – a changed man? Iraq and Iran.

Iraq: Sadr in the lead

15 May 201815 May 2018Oliver MilesIran, Iraq, USA

Iraqi elections unexpectedly show Muqtada al-Sadr in the lead, which will be unwelcome to both Washington and Tehran. Coalition forming won’t be easy.

Trump and the Iran deal: Arab reactions

10 May 2018Oliver MilesBahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE, USA

Saudi Arabia and its close allies express guarded support for Trump. Most others stay on the fence. Iraq calls on US to reconsider.

Iraqi elections: war-torn, sectarian.

7 May 2018Oliver MilesIran, Iraq, Syria

Iraq ready for elections on 12 May. Population disrupted by war. Sectarianism under fire.

Agriculture in the Arab world: still important after all these millennia

25 April 201825 April 2018Oliver MilesEgypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia

Despite some decline in its relative contribution to Arab economies, agriculture remains important in both economic and social terms. Improved management, less bureaucracy and better access to markets could make it more so.