Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s visit to Washington next week comes at a moment of flux in both countries. In Washington, a new administration is reviewing its anti-ISIS strategy. Meanwhile, Iraqi forces are poised to retake Mosul, unearthing a thicket of complex problems and looming questions about Iraq’s future.
For Congress, this moment also presents an opportunity to reassert its role and work with the Trump administration to define an appropriate U.S. role in helping Iraq address its security, political, and humanitarian challenges. Alongside an administration populated by Iran hawks and skeptics of civilian power, the Hill can help chart a middle course between a “Mission Accomplished” rush to abandon Iraqis the day after Mosul and mission creep toward maximalist policies inconsistent with America’s current status as invited guests of the Iraqi government—all while mitigating some of the self-inflicted damage of Trump’s rhetoric and policies to date.
The above excerpt was originally published in The Hill.
Click here to view the full article.