Iraq’s New Government: Now Comes the Hard Part

The Iraqi parliament officially endorsed Prime Minister Maliki’s proposed cabinet on December 21, ending some nine months of often painstaking coalition building negotiations. In the period since national elections were held in March, day-to-day governance continued in Iraq but a number of long-term strategic, political, and economic decisions were effectively put on hold pending efforts to form an inclusive and representative government. The new government now has a full plate of issues that include the future of the U.S.-Iraqi strategic partnership, key political matters such as national reconciliation and addressing Arab-Kurdish tensions, and improving upon the previous government’s record on service delivery and corruption.

Iraqi representatives and USIP experts assess the success of efforts to establish a genuine national partnership and discuss priorities for Iraq’s new government in 2011.

Speakers

Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh, from Baghdad
Minister of State and Spokesperson
Government of Iraq
Dr. Wisam Al-Ubaidi
Representative to the United States
Al-Wifaq Al-Watani Party (Dr. Iyad Allawi)
Qubad Talabani
Representative to the United States
Kurdistan Regional Government
Sean Kane
Program Officer
U.S. Institute of Peace
Tara Sonenshine, Introduction
Executive Vice President
U.S. Institute of Peace
Manal Omar, Moderator
Director of Iraq Programs
U.S. Institute of Peace