 |
Promoting a free and secure Iraq since 1998, EPIC impacts U.S. policy to address the root causes and humanitarian consequences of conflict in Iraq. We help connect and support organizations and individuals taking humanitarian action for peace in Iraq. |
Latest from EPIC
EPIC statement on the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq
 |
| Hundreds of Iraqi teachers and government employees demonstrate outside Sulaymaniyah's Dept. of Education, protesting dismissals and other politically motivated retributions against opposition supporters. (EPIC Photo, Sulaymaniyah, IRAQ, Sept. 15, 2009) |
Today the combat phase of the United States military's role in Iraq officially ends. Today also marks a new beginning in our nation's relationship with Iraq and its people. Tonight President Obama will mark the occasion with his third Presidential address to the nation.
Here at EPIC, we welcome the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq and the opportunity to turn a new page in U.S.-Iraq relations. But like you, we believe that it is very important how that new relationship is defined.
Risking Their Lives to Protect Human Rights in Iraq
Sometimes at great risk to themselves, Iraqi human rights defenders provide vital background information, contacts, and documentation of violations to the international community. 
their work elevates the issues the world would rather ignore: targeted attacks on minorities in Iraq, threats faced by journalists, and even torture.
In Part Two of Ground Truth Project interview with Samer Muscati, a human rights researcher, talks about the important work activists are doing to defend their fellow Iraqis.
Read more of what Samer had to say about minority communities under siege.
From Our Blog
Baghdad Bombings Set Off Political Bickering Amongst Iraqi Elites
The December 8, 2009 bombings have led to a wave of accusations amongst Iraqi politicians. First members of parliament demanded that the Interior, Defense, and National Security ministers, the head of the Iraqi Intelligence Service, the chief of the Baghdad Operations Command, along with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appear before them for questioning over the lapses in security that have led to the attacks.
Security Situation In Mosul, November 2009
The security situation in Iraq was a little different in November 2009. Unlike previous months, Baghdad province was not the deadliest place in the country. Rather Ninewa, largely driven by events in the provincial capital Mosul, had the most deaths for the month. Last month Ninewa had 61 attacks resulting in 41 dead and 80 wounded, compared to 59 attacks in Baghdad, 38 deaths, and 165 wounded. Around 90% of the violence in Ninewa occurred in Mosul.
Foreign Investment Increasing In Iraq, Led By UAE
A recent report by the Dunia Frontier Consultants company found that foreign investment in Iraq is increasing over the last year, led by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The report said that direct foreign investment had more than doubled in the first nine-months of 2009 compared to all of 2008. Total investment is now estimated at $156 billion, a 241% increase from 2008. There are now 53 companies operating in Iraq from 24 countries. The UAE has placed $37 billion in Iraq, 25% of all investment.
More On Wasted Reconstruction Projects In Iraq
It’s been reported here many times before that one of the greatest signs of failure of the United States’ effort to rebuild Iraq was the number of large reconstruction projects that the Iraqis have not been able to maintain after they were handed over to them.
Iraqi Parliament Passes Election Law – Again
Just before midnight on December 6, 2009 Iraq’s parliament passed a second draft of the election law. The new legislation mixes versions of the original law and the amended version, and seems to be headed for confirmation by the Presidential Council.
Terrorists Strike Baghdad With Massive Bombings For Third Time
Terrorists again struck downtown Baghdad on December 8, 2009.League Of Righteous Breaks Off Talks With Baghdad
On December 1, 2009 it was announced that the Iranian-backed, breakaway Sadrist group, the League of the Righteous, had ended its talks with Baghdad and would not run in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The cited reason was that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki refused to release the League’s leader Qais Khazali who is being held by the Americans at Camp Cropper outside of Baghdad.
Iraq’s Oil Exports Drop For Third Straight Month
October 2009 saw the third straight month that Iraq’s oil exports dropped. Last month Iraq produced 2.50 million barrels of oil a day, and exported 1.87 million. That was down from September when the same amount was produced, but 1.95 million barrels a day were exported.
Iraq Still Doesn’t Have Meters On Oil Industry
As reported before, Iraq’s oil production and exports have fluctuated up and down since the U.S. invasion in 2003. In 2009 Iraq has averaged 2.28 million barrels a day in overall production, and 1.83 million barrels in exports. Those are only estimates however by the Oil Ministry because hardly any of the industry has meters to get accurate numbers. In July 2009 the Board of Supreme Audit, one of three anti-corruption agencies in Iraq, reported the following about recording the Ministry’s production:
Human Rights Watch: Ninewa’s Minorities Under Pressure From Both Sunni Insurgents and Kurds
In November 2009 Human Rights Watch released a new report detailing the plight of minorities in Ninewa province entitled “On Vulnerable Ground.” The report covers the history of successive governments in Baghdad to Arabize Ninewa by pushing out minorities and Kurds and replacing them with Arabs, and then the ascendancy of Kurds there after the U.S. invasion. They turned around and tried to Kurdicize those same regions to advance their plans to annex the disputed territories there.
