Top Features
Strategic Reset
A new four-point strategy for Iraq and the Middle East from Brian Katulis, Lawrence J. Korb, and Peter Juul.
How Does This End?
Report from Korb, Katulis, Duggan, and Juul shows why "staying the course" endangers our overall security and endangers our long-term goals in Iraq.
How to Redeploy
CAP's military experts release a new report outlining how the United States can implement a logistically sound strategic redeployment from Iraq.
The Forgotten Front
Wadhams and Korb outline critical challenges in Afghanistan and solutions for refocusing U.S. efforts on the primary front in the war on terror.Other War in Iraq Features
May 12, 2008
This Week in Congress 5.12.08 - 5.16.08
May 1, 2008
Changing Rationales
This timeline of Bush administration quotes on Iraq, compiled by Bryan Thomas and Rudy deLeon, recounts the words and pledges that were offered during the past five years of the current conflict.
April 30, 2008
War in the Spotlight: Filmmakers Focus on Iraq
The past year has seen a number of films take on the far-reaching effects of the Iraq War both at home and abroad.
April 29, 2008
How Could We Spend $600 Billion?
The U.S. has so far given approximately $600 billion dollars toward operations in Iraq. What if that money was spent on research into energy efficiency and renewable energy instead?
April 28, 2008
Issue Pulse: Too Few Resources, Too Many Battles
Expert consensus is that continued strain from fighting two wars is keeping the United States from accomplishing goals in Afghanistan.
April 25, 2008
Public Turning Even More Negative on Iraq
Recent polls show a record high proportion of the U.S. public now believes Iraq was a mistake.
April 23, 2008
Petraeus Appointment Raises Questions
General Petraeus’ prospective appointment as the head of the U.S. central command raises concerns of objectivity and the future, writes Lawrence Korb.
April 17, 2008
Think Again: The Media (Finally) Talk About Torture
April has seen a series of media revelations about the Bush administration's use of torture at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib.
April 16, 2008
Fixated on Tactics: Iraq War Supporters Lack Strategies
Defending tactics for an open-ended military commitment in Iraq exposes proponents of “strategic patience” to the folly of their own arguments, writes Peter Juul.
April 15, 2008
What Would 10 More Years Bring?
Both Gen. David Petraeus and President Bush have indicated a willingness to keep American troops in Iraq for at least 10 years without regard to the costs in both human lives and dollars and to our overall national security. The Center for American Progress has calculated cost projections for a 10-year troop presence in Iraq.
April 15, 2008
War and Taxes: Sharing the National Burden
April 15 should remind every American that sacrifices by our soldiers on the battlefield require sacrifices at home, too.
April 14, 2008
The People Behind Body of War
Phil Donahue and former soldier Tomas Young talk about their film, working with Eddie Vedder, and the media coverage of the war.
April 11, 2008
Strategic confusion
Misunderstanding Iran's role works to increase its influence in Iraq, write Brian Katulis and Matthew Duss.
April 10, 2008
Virtue Out of Necessity: Bush Troop Decision Disingenuous
Stress on our military, not the success of the surge, are behind the president’s decision to withdraw some troops from Iraq, writes Lawrence Korb.
April 9, 2008
Homeless Veterans by the Numbers
CAP examines the problem of homelessness among veterans and what can be done as House Veterans Affairs Committee gathers for hearing on the issue.
April 8, 2008
Basra Was the Test: The Surge Fails Politically and Militarily
The “surge” strategy now under review on Capitol Hill failed to meet its most important goals recently in Basra, writes Ian Moss.
April 8, 2008
How Much Will This Cost? CAP Interviews Steve Kosiak
The defense budget expert talks about military reset, supplemental budgets, and the Pentagon's responsibility to the public.
April 7, 2008
This Week in Congress 4.7.08 - 4.11.08
CAP prepares you for testimony from Petraeus and Crocker, the Senate housing package, and international trade and the farm bill.
April 7, 2008
Veterans' Mental Health by the Numbers
CAP takes a by the numbers look at the mental health toll on our veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan and why improvements are needed.
April 4, 2008
Afghanistan Is Not Iraq
The sinking ship of Iraq threatens to bring Afghanistan down with it. But Afghanistan is not Iraq.
April 3, 2008
Insiders Report on Iraq
CNN correspondent Michael Ware and journalist Nir Rosen joined CAP to talk about increasing sectarianism and Iran's role in the Iraq war.
April 3, 2008
Think Again: Getting Iraq Right
Iraq demands a change in direction, but it's hard for people to demand a change on policies that go unreported, writes Eric Alterman.
March 27, 2008
Assessing the Total Cost of War
CAP brings together experts to analyze the direct and indirect financial cost of the war in Iraq to the American people.
March 26, 2008
The Lessons of War: Charles Ferguson Talks to Reel Progress
Director Charles Ferguson talks to Reel Progress about U.S. challenges in Iraq and his new book.
March 25, 2008
Just to Recap: Ridiculous War, Monumental Mistake
Five years ago, the United States invaded Iraq and set in motion a chain of events that most Americans wish had never been unleashed. While President Bush and Vice President Cheney have been making the rounds to convince a skeptical public that the war has been critical for America's national security interests, their words ring hollow. With 4,000 Americans killed, 30,000 wounded, and over half a trillion dollars spent so far, this unfortunate anniversary is the proper time to step back for a reality check.
March 21, 2008
Moving Beyond the Surge
CAP event assesses U.S. strategic goals after the drawdown of American forces in July and where U.S. policy should go from here.
March 21, 2008
U.S. must end support for new Sunni militias
One key, yet overlooked, factor behind recent declines in Iraq's violence is U.S. support for new Sunni militias made up of former insurgents and al-Qaeda sympathizers. Direct financial support provided by the U.S. military to these groups - known collectively as the sahwa movement - have helped make the movement the main authority in certain Baghdad neighborhoods and other parts of Iraq.
March 21, 2008
What the Public Really Wants on Iraq
Last week was the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Ruy Teixeira asks: What does the public really want on Iraq?
March 21, 2008
Downsize the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad
The United States should reassign its personnel from the Baghdad embassy to consulates throughout Iraq to help assist in initiatives needed to better advance U.S. interests in Iraq. These consulates would be located in areas of Iraq that are relatively safer, such as Erbil in the northern Kurdish autonomous region. They would require additional security protection, including a contingent of at least two hundred Marines with backup air support from U.S. military bases in neighboring countries.
March 20, 2008
Pulse on Iraq: The Surge Still Isn't Working
Conservatives are still insisting the surge has worked. But a growing consensus among experts indicates otherwise.
March 19, 2008
What Could $432 Million Buy American Families?
On average, we spend $432 million a day in Iraq, while families at home feel the crunch of rising prices, declining employment, and soaring credit.
March 19, 2008
How Could We Spend $600 Billion?
The $600 billion given to operations in Iraq could buy thousands of schools, fund hundreds of thousands of salaries, and send millions to college.
March 19, 2008
War Without End
During the last six months, Americans have witnessed a steady decline in news coverage of the Iraq war, with the presidential campaign, economic troubles at home and scandals like the resignation of former New York governor Eliot Spitzer crowding out the war, according to data collected by the Project for Excellence in Journalism. US troops are at war in Iraq and many still come home in body bags or grievously wounded - but one might not easily realise this by looking at the front page of today's major US newspapers.
March 19, 2008
Background Basics: Iraq's Groups and Regional Actors
Many groups influence the dynamics of the War in Iraq, both within and outside of the country. CAP has a primer for following the groups in the news.
March 19, 2008
Background Basics: Key Middle East Countries
A look at regional actors gives a more complete understanding of the issues in play in Iraq and the solutions needed.
March 19, 2008
Diplomatic Surge Needed
Five years into the Iraq war, Sen. Casey writes that comprehensive regional diplomacy will best stabilize Iraq and help ensure its security.
March 18, 2008
Strategic Redeployment and Reset: A New Policy for Iraq
The best Iraq policy for the next administration is strategic redeployment as part of an overall strategic reset of U.S. national security.
March 17, 2008
Iraq Invasion Anniversary Countdown: Conservatives Jump the Gun, Again
Conservative lawmakers drop into Baghdad to claim “progress” in Iraq. Once again, they’re jumping the gun, writes Brian Katulis.
March 14, 2008
Petraeus Shouldn't Be a Solo Act
On April 8 and 9, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus will present his assessment of the security situation in Iraq to Congress. But if Petraeus is again allowed to testify without his superior officers, as he did last September, neither Congress nor the American people will be receiving the complete picture.
March 13, 2008
Unanswered Questions in Iraq
Brian Katulis talks with Charles Ferguson about his new book, No End in Sight, Bush administration mistakes, and the war's future.
March 11, 2008
Listen to the Top Brass in the Middle East: Don’t Make Them Quit Early
The abrupt retirement of top U.S. commander in the Middle East speaks volumes about wrong-headed White House policy, writes Lawrence Korb.
March 4, 2008
Declaration of Principles: Future United States Commitment to Iraq
CAP's Lawrence Korb testifies before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on the U.S.-Iraq Declaration of Principles agreement.
February 28, 2008
Think Again: The Surge Goes On Forever (and the Spinning Never Ends)
Almost every one of the 18 benchmarks laid out by the Bush administration have failed, yet the spinning never ends.
February 28, 2008
The Collapsing Myth of the Surge
Sunni militias demand more power, and Shi'a political divisions impede nationwide power-sharing deals, writes Brian Katulis.
February 26, 2008
A War We Must End
Despite the Democratic presidential candidates' expressed commitment to ending the war in Iraq, there is unease among the party's base. Some ardent activists have suggested that upon election, a new Democratic president will come under inordinate pressure to sustain the U.S. military commitment to Iraq, albeit with some modifications. This concern demonstrates both the difficulty of ending a controversial war and the necessity of doing so.
February 15, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Cure the Economy? Pull Out of Iraq
Polls show that the public thinks exiting Iraq is the most effective way to cure our economic woes.
February 13, 2008
Awakening to New Dangers in Iraq
Report shows that sahwa groups, a central “success” of the surge, have exacerbated existing political divisions and fomented new political cleavages.
February 11, 2008
Iraq's Displacement Crisis and the International Response
Experts discuss ongoing efforts, urge better cooperation, and press for more assistance and responsibility for the crisis and its response.
February 8, 2008