A long-time member of the armed forces, Adam Schwarze serves with the United States Navy as a lieutenant and Navy SEAL officer. Also a student at Harvard, he has been interested in military operations for as long as he can remember. Adam Schwarze focuses much of his study on matters relating to the Middle East.
The United States has long been working toward stability in the Middle East, a key part of which involves achieving stability in Iraq. Historically, Iraq has had strong religious, political, and security institutions, but these have largely faded away and left the country open to proxy battles from foreign entities. These battles increase the instability in Iraq, creating a self-perpetuating cycle that the US must break.
Breaking the cycle by returning Iraq to the place of power it held in the past would have a domino effect on the rest of the region. Iran is actively working toward a weakened Iraqi state by interfering with the country’s security and economic sector. Meanwhile, Turkey has little concern for the country’s stability and uses it as an extension of its counter-terrorism operations. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, has largely neglected Iraq for the past three decades, while China is attempting to bring Iraq into its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a predatory economic investment that won’t benefit the country.
Giving Iraq its power back means that many of these operations and influences would stop. It would also further support US efforts in the Middle East. While the US can handle failure in many Middle East countries, such as Syria and Yemen, Iraq has the potential to be a strategic partner with the US, keeping Iran and other problematic countries in check.
The United States has long been working toward stability in the Middle East, a key part of which involves achieving stability in Iraq. Historically, Iraq has had strong religious, political, and security institutions, but these have largely faded away and left the country open to proxy battles from foreign entities. These battles increase the instability in Iraq, creating a self-perpetuating cycle that the US must break.
Breaking the cycle by returning Iraq to the place of power it held in the past would have a domino effect on the rest of the region. Iran is actively working toward a weakened Iraqi state by interfering with the country’s security and economic sector. Meanwhile, Turkey has little concern for the country’s stability and uses it as an extension of its counter-terrorism operations. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, has largely neglected Iraq for the past three decades, while China is attempting to bring Iraq into its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a predatory economic investment that won’t benefit the country.
Giving Iraq its power back means that many of these operations and influences would stop. It would also further support US efforts in the Middle East. While the US can handle failure in many Middle East countries, such as Syria and Yemen, Iraq has the potential to be a strategic partner with the US, keeping Iran and other problematic countries in check.
