Iraq analyst and observer of U.S.-Iraq relations. Senior Fellow @enablingpeace مختص في دراسة العلاقات العراقية-الأمريكية
Washington, DC
Joined November 2011
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Ahmed Ali retweeted
There was a bad and largely forgotten habit in the 1980s of pulling Rubic's Cubes apart and putting them back together solved. They never really worked again and were kinda loose and shaky afterwards. I think that's how we've been "solving" this Cube last 25 years. As soon as you look at it you can tell someone has been cutting corners and applying brute force.
Indeed, Mike. The Iraqi Rubik’s Cube takes time to get aligned. It is more non-linear than other Mideast Rubik’s cubes.
I like this piece by @Alfadhel_Ahmad. Time for the US to think creativly about Iraq. Sadrists sent a message when senior Sadrist Hamid al-Ghezzi traveled to New York in September with Zaidi's delegation. Although it is not clear if he met with US officials on the margins.
Check out @Alfadhel_Ahmad's latest for the Iraq Initiative on Muqtada al-Sadr's message for the United States and his efforts to position himself as an alternative to the Coordination Framework 👇
atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/me…
20 years later, the KDP-PUK strategic powersharing agreement is sort of officially over. Blame can go around but division is not in Kurdistan’s national interest. That is the bottom line.
The PUK leader Bafel Talabani also announced that if a government is formed, they will form their own government:
"If you appoint a president of the Kurdistan Region, we will appoint a president of the Kurdistan Region.
If you appoint a minister, we will appoint a minister.
If you appoint a prime minister, we will appoint a prime minister."
Zaidi gets the post-midterms assurance from Trump I raised in my piece yesterday.
lnkd.in/p/ewwbkDKi
Prime Minister @AliFalihAlzaidy held a phone call with U.S. President @realDonaldTrump, during which they discussed the evolving situation in the region, security developments, and prospects for the next phase.
The call also addressed the importance of coordination and consultation between the two countries regarding current challenges, as well as efforts to support regional stability and prioritize dialogue and diplomacy in addressing crises, with a view to containing tensions and preventing the conflict from spreading.
Prime Minister Al-Zaidi affirmed Iraq’s position calling for respect for the sovereignty of states and for Iraqi territory not to be used as a launching point for attacks against neighboring countries. He also stressed the need to adopt peaceful solutions and constructive dialogue to safeguard the security of the region and the stability of its peoples.
Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining communication between the two countries and coordinating positions on issues of mutual interest, in a manner that strengthens bilateral relations and serves mutual interests.
Ahmed Ali retweeted
گفتوگۆ لەگەڵ نوێنەر فاتیح لە بەرنامەی رووداوی ئەمڕۆ: هەڵبژاردنەکانی #ئەمریکا چییان دەرخست دەربارەی تاقیکردنەوەی دیموکراسی، رۆڵی هاوڵاتیان و سەرمایەداران، حوکمڕانی، و سیاسەتی دەرەوە.
youtube.com/watch?v=RxATWeUD…
My quick thoughts on the implications of U.S. midterms elections on U.S.-Iraq relations. Things don’t look bad for Iraq but work has to be done by Zaidi and Baghdad. Follow this link:
lnkd.in/p/ewwbkDKi
Ahmed Ali retweeted
گفتوگۆ لەگەڵ کەناڵ ٨ سەبارەت بە ئەگەرەکانی دەستپێکردنەوەی جەنگ لە نێوان ئەمریکا و ئێران، سیناریۆکانی دیالۆگ و جەنگ، و هەڵبژاردنەکانی کۆنگرێسی ئەمریکا ئیسرائیل و لێکەوتەکانیان.
youtu.be/X9pzs48-SL0?si=pn-2…
Ahmed Ali retweeted
گفتوگۆ لەگەڵ رووداو سەبارەت بە هەڵبژاردنەکانی کۆنگرێسی ئەمریکا وەك وێستگەیەکی گرنگی دیموکراسی و گەڕانەوە بۆ میللەت، سیناریۆکان و لێکەوتەکانیان بۆ دەسەڵاتەکانی سەرۆکی ئەمریکا، کاریگەری پێکهاتەکانی میللەتی ئەمریکا، ئەولەویەتەکانی ئەمریکا لە ناوخۆ و دەرەوە.
youtu.be/UjneBTPoEuY?si=Gy9O…
Recommended reading by the always insightful @SaadSaadsalloum. The piece is in English as well and after you read it, you will feel very informed about Iraq’s minorities relations with majority communities. Much works needs to happen to improve relations. Well-done, my friend.
The Iraq Missing From Our History Books
العراق الغائب عن كتبنا التاريخية
في هذا المقال المنشور في منصة The Middle East Uncovered، أتناول العراق الغائب عن كتبنا التاريخية، وكيف جرى تهميش تاريخ مكوناته الدينية والإثنية واللغوية في الرواية الوطنية، وما يترتب على ذلك من فجوات في الذاكرة الجماعية والهوية العراقية.
أحاول من خلاله إعادة طرح سؤال جوهري:
كيف يمكن بناء هوية وطنية جامعة إذا كان العراقيون لا يعرفون تاريخ بعضهم بعضاً؟ ولماذا ينبغي أن يصبح تاريخ التنوع جزءاً أصيلاً من التعليم والذاكرة الوطنية، لا مجرد هامش نعود إليه في مناسبات الأعياد والمآسي؟
العراق الذي لا نعرفه جيداً، هو أيضاً العراق الذي لم ننجح بعد في فهمه.
themiddleeastuncovered.com/p…
Ahmed Ali retweeted
The biggest non-event in Iraq this week was the attempt by Tishreeni activists to revive the spirit of 2019. Protests took place, but they barely made a ripple. The posts immediately below have some relevant links.
The Tishreen anniversary protests went without too much tensions. This event did show a slowed down momentum for reform, a too exhausted reform movement, a successful traditional parties campaign to weaken the protest movement.
Ahmed Ali retweeted
يسرني توقيع مذكرة التفاهم بين معهد الخدمة الخارجية والمعهد الدبلوماسي الأردني، خلال الزيارة الرسمية لدولة رئيس مجلس الوزراء إلى المملكة الأردنية الهاشمية الشقيقة. نتطلع إلى تفعيلها عبر برامج مشتركة للتدريب وتبادل الخبرات، بما يعزز التعاون الدبلوماسي بين البلدين.
رئيس مجلس الوزراء السيد علي فالح الزيدي ورئيس مجلس الوزراء الأردني يرعيان مراسم التوقيع على 9 مذكرات تفاهم وبرامج تنفيذية هي:
1- مذكرة تفاهم للتعاون في مجال المنافسة ومنع الاحتكار.
2- مذكرة تفاهم في مجال حماية البيئة.
3- مذكرة تفاهم للتعاون في مجال التعليم العالي والبحث العلمي، للأعوام 2026-2031.
4- مذكرة تفاهم للتعاون في مجال حماية المستهلك.
5-مذكرة تفاهم في مجال الوثائق والمحفوظات.
6 -مذكرة تفاهم بشأن التعاون بين المعهد الدبلوماسي ومعهد الخدمة الخارجية في جمهورية العراق.
7.آلية التعاون في مجال دعم المشاريع الصغيرة والمتوسطة.
8- نسخة معدلة من البرنامج التنفيذي للتعاون الثقافي، للأعوام 2026 - 2028.
9- البرنامج التنفيذي للتعاون التربوي للأعوام 2026 - 2028.
Also keep in mind, my research shows the U.S. doesn’t have a policy to counter China or Russia in Iraq. It is not even a low level priority. Meanwhile, China and Russia find new ways to strengthen presence. Definition of wasted opportunity.
Rumors of Chinese air defense systems in Iraq. Having just done research on China in Iraq, it is not far fetched Beijing will provide pro-Iran fasail with low level air defense technology. They are pretty close allies and this is Iraq in a new Middle East.
Iraqi sources say the Baghdad government suspects that Israel is responsible for 2 explosions last week at militia ammunition storage sites. The sites contained Chinese shoulder fired air defense weapons that had just recently arrived from Iran. aawsat.com/%D8%B4%D8%A4%D9%8…
1- The last two months have been busy for us @enablingpeace. We covered the implications of the U.S. military withdrawal, shared research findings on Iran, China, and Russia in Iraq, and I had the pleasure of being on a panel @FPRI.
To catch up, follow videos in the next post.
2-
youtu.be/4dzsK3v0B3o?si=J-Jr… - U.S. vs Iran in Iraq.
youtu.be/vfvFRdPmPP8?si=6rmE… - The research groundview from Iraq.
youtu.be/WO506xOEqdA?si=Dn9U… - China and Russia in Iraq.
youtu.be/pg58fNqSM5k?si=J-e_… EPIC on the U.S. military departure from Iraq.
youtu.be/VVJydYMyOCQ?si=0sa8… - FPRI panel.
Valuable contribution as always.
At #MERIForum 2026, I spoke on a panel titled “After the Coalition: #Iraq, #Kurdistan and the New Regional Balance.”
In this @FPRI panel, I had a great conversation with @MohammedASalih and David Schenker on the implications of the U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq. Give it a listen.
youtu.be/VVJydYMyOCQ