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

{
  "authors": [
    "Maria Fantappie"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center",
  "programAffiliation": "",
  "programs": [],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Gulf"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform"
  ]
}

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.

Read Full Text

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.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Russia’s Rubber-Stamp Duma Elections Are Exposing Schisms in Putin's Regime
In the discussions made possible by the State Duma election campaign, one question is being asked more and more loudly. “What next?”
Andrey Pertsev
Article
Unlocking India’s Urban Dividend
As India undergoes a demographic transition, its cities will be its economic powerhouse—but only if it accurately captures city growth and empowers cities to support their citizens.
Apoorva Jadhav
Article
Imagining Ukraine’s Political System After the War
Even if the terms of a ceasefire or peace settlement are satisfactory to most Ukrainians, the country’s democracy will face its fair share of challenges.
Petro Burkovskyi, Olexiy Haran
Article
Will the U.S.-DRC Strategic Partnership Agreement Endanger U.S. Interests in the DRC?
President Tshisekedi is implicating Washington in his pursuit of a third term. Staying silent may prove detrimental to the United States in the long run.
Christian-Géraud Neema
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Russia Is Approaching a Political Crossroads
Two divergent trends—Putin’s hardline vision of how to prosecute the war in Ukraine, and a growing desire for change in Russia—could tear the regime apart.
Tatiana Stanovaya

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Russia’s Rubber-Stamp Duma Elections Are Exposing Schisms in Putin's Regime

In the discussions made possible by the State Duma election campaign, one question is being asked more and more loudly. “What next?”

Andrey Pertsev

Article

Unlocking India’s Urban Dividend

As India undergoes a demographic transition, its cities will be its economic powerhouse—but only if it accurately captures city growth and empowers cities to support their citizens.

Apoorva Jadhav

Article

Imagining Ukraine’s Political System After the War

Even if the terms of a ceasefire or peace settlement are satisfactory to most Ukrainians, the country’s democracy will face its fair share of challenges.

Petro Burkovskyi, Olexiy Haran

Photo of Donald Trump and Felix Tshisekedi shaking hands in front of a blue banner.

Article

Will the U.S.-DRC Strategic Partnership Agreement Endanger U.S. Interests in the DRC?

President Tshisekedi is implicating Washington in his pursuit of a third term. Staying silent may prove detrimental to the United States in the long run.

Christian-Géraud Neema

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Russia Is Approaching a Political Crossroads

Two divergent trends—Putin’s hardline vision of how to prosecute the war in Ukraine, and a growing desire for change in Russia—could tear the regime apart.

Tatiana Stanovaya