Iraq Archives - Arab Digest

Covid-19 provides good cover for ISIS

1 April 20201 April 2020William LawArab Digest EmailIraq, IS, Syria, USA

While the world is focussed on the Covid-19 pandemic ISIS is quietly reassembling infrastructure, financial and otherwise, that will enable it to rebuild its global terror campaign.

Water shortage: another MENA crisis

31 March 2020William LawArab Digest EmailAlgeria, Egypt, GCC, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kurds, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen

Countries across the MENA region are facing severe water shortages yet have done little to ameliorate a shared problem. Will the Covid-19 pandemic teach them that working cooperatively is the only way to resolve a looming crisis?

Jordan’s Difficult Neighbourhood

30 March 2020William LawArab Digest EmailIran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE

Jordan’s relations with Iraq, Syria and Qatar have improved. Iran remains hostile. With other countries in the region, the direction of travel is less clear.

Business is brisk in MENA arms trade

11 March 2020William LawArab Digest EmailAlgeria, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, USA

War in three countries, tension with Iran, growing regional instability. Is it any surprise that the arms trade to MENA is hot and getting hotter?

Covid-19 hits the MENA economies

3 March 2020William LawArab Digest EmailAlgeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, UAE

Economies in the MENA region were slowing even before coronavirus hit.

Iraq: an obscure politician in an unenviable position

11 February 2020William LawArab Digest EmailIran, Iraq

Summary: The naming of a new prime minister designate in Iraq has neither calmed street protests nor clarified the country’s future direction.

The Gulf and Global Markets

6 January 20206 January 2020William LawArab Digest EmailIran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Suleimani killing, USA

Thus far a modest market reaction and US President Donald Trump’s wish to avoid a major spike in oil prices as he gears up for his re-election campaign are signs that war is not the inevitable outcome of the Sulemaini assassination

Tilting to war: the assassination of Suleimani

3 January 2020William LawArab Digest EmailIran, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, USA, Yemen

The assassination of the Iranian Quds Force general Qassem Suleimani dramatically alters the political landscape of the Middle East. How Iran responds will determine if the region is marching toward a major war.

A brief review of a tumultuous year

24 December 2019William LawArab Digest EmailAlgeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey

2019 has seen the biggest protests in the MENA region since 2011 together with ongoing wars, escalating tensions and economic and political insecurity.

How a failed political system condemns Iraq to never-ending corruption

10 December 2019William LawArab Digest Emailcorruption, Iraq

Iraqis remain in the streets, calling for the removal of a political elite mired in corruption but the political structure enabling the elite remains entrenched.