Maliki's Strength Grows With the Help of a Politicised Army

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In The Media

Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Maliki's Strength Grows With the Help of a Politicised Army

Increasing control over the Iraqi army and the Ministry of Defence gives Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki the means to dominate his main political rivals, the Iraqiya coalition.

By Maria Fantappie

Published on Jan 8, 2012

Source: National

Leading up to the US withdrawal from Iraq at the end of 2011, much debate focused on the technical ability of the Iraqi army to secure their country. But intentionally or not, the United States left the Iraqi army in the hands of the Iraqi prime minister, Nouri Al Maliki. And in doing so, provided him an asset in his efforts to consolidate leadership over Iraq and defeat his main political rival, the Iraqiya coalition.

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This article was originally published in The National.

About the Author

Maria Fantappie

Former Visiting Scholar, Carnegie Middle East Center

Maria Luisa Fantappie is Head of the Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa Programme at IAI. She served as Special Adviser at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva (2020-2023) and at the International Crisis Group (2012-2020), engaging at the highest level of policy in Europe, the United States and across MENA (Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, Oman and United Arab Emirates).

Recent Work

Paper
Contested Consolidation of Power in Iraq
- Maria Fantappie
Article
Iraq’s Foreign Policy Future Rests with Syria
- Maria Fantappie

Political Reform Gulf

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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