Politics

Government formation stalemate deepens

Nouri al-Maliki's path to the premiership becomes increasingly unlikely as political power brokers struggle to contend with U.S. opposition and regional uncertainty.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani (left) and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (right) meet on Feb. 11, 2026 in Baghdad. (Photo credit: Prime Minister's Office)

Feb 10, 2009

Iraqi oil ministry to face tough crowd, critics in upcoming meetings

Plus: *Shahristani wants expanded ministry role, new national oil co., less red tape *Petrochemical worker repression outrage by int'l union *Iraqi in Gitmo prison now missing *Sarkozy in Baghdad visit wants French firms back in country *Maliki responds to Biden threats to sovereignty *Video: Building boom in northern Iraq *Shoe-throwing Zaidi gets Feb. 19 trial […]

Jan 14, 2009

U.S. watchdog cites KBR, U.S. and Iraq governments for poor south oil reconstruction

Plus: *Obama and Iraq *More Iraq oil news *Oil, Transport and Port workers meet for "Well-to-Wheel" in Amman *Pentagon Report: Iraqis lack basic services, fueling discontent *Basra and the ballot * War News Radio: On the Move, Iraq’s displaced families *Iraq Press Roundup * Alive in Baghdad: Ashura, A Sign of the Times A new […]

Dec 17, 2008

Iraq Oil Report Quick Roundup

*Oil Prices to Hit Reconstruction *Oil Unions Prep for Elections *Electricity Police Planned for Cooperation with Oil Police *U.S. Forces Start Basra Transition with British *Alive in Baghdad: Mosques in Iraq's Civil War *Iraq Press Roundup Plummeting oil prices may force Iraq's government to slow ambitious reconstruction plans, and the country could face a budget […]

Dec 15, 2008

Regionalization battle in Basra, Iraq oil capital, takes next step

Plus: *2011 given as Oil Police readiness *Cabinet approves GE and Siemens deal *U.S.'s Iraq reconstruction effort criticized in draft report *Zebari at U.N. for oil funds protection *Much more Basrawis will be asked to allow a vote on the future governance structure of their province beginning today. Proponents of the plan to create a […]

Nov 20, 2008

Maliki takes first swing at KRG oil deals

Plus: *Shell and Turkey sign Iraq gas co-op pact *Update on SOFA *Oil capital Basra wants autonomy from Baghdad *Iraq Press Roundup Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has blasted the Kurdistan Regional Government for what he calls "constitutional violations." In a press conference he listed them – including developing foreign relations and utilizing Peshmerga forces […]

Nov 19, 2008

Update and Perspectives on the Status Of Forces Agreement

Plus: *SOFA negotiations rocky but developing *Iraq Oil Report offers first look at text submitted to Parliament *Kurdistan-Baghdad relations rocky *KRG signs U.N. electricity help *Iraq Oil Ministry wants helicopters *Alive in Baghdad: Sahwa, What Next After Al-Qaeda? *Iraq Press Roundup The Status Of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, is nearing a late-November deadline when Iraq’s […]

Nov 18, 2008

BREAKING: Text of Status Of Forces Agreement

A trusted source passed along what is believed to be the version of the SOFA approved Sunday by Iraq's Cabinet and signed Monday by U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. It must still be approved by Iraq's Parliament, no easy task. Iraq Oil Report will have more on this Wednesday. Also […]

Nov 7, 2008

Interview: Iraq Ambassador to U.N. Hamid al-Bayati

The day after Barack Obama was elected to be the next U.S. president, Iraq's Ambassador to the United Nations Hamid al-Bayati called it inspiring. But on the ground in Iraq, Obama really wouldn't be too different from President Bush, he said. In an interview with United Press International’s Ben Lando on the sidelines of an […]

Oct 29, 2008

Iraq Oil Report must read: Q&A with Iraq oil revenue auditor Joe Christoff

Plus: *Barzani and Bush meet in Washington *SOFA update *Alive in Baghdad: How do Iraqi youths spend their free time? *Iraq Press Roundup *Much more Q & A: Joseph Christoff of the U.S. Government Accountability Office talks with the Council on Foreign Relations’ Greg Bruno about Iraq’s oil revenue. The GAO and Christoff’s analytical reports […]

Oct 28, 2008

Oil for Soil: Crisis Group proposes ‘grand bargain’ on Iraq oil land dispute

Plus: *Iraqi Kurd-central government tension escalates *Iraq limits oil companies to one lead role in oil deals *Former SCOP Chief Khawaja’s recommendations *U.S. threatens Iraq aid and other SOFA developments *Basra worker protest *Iraq Press Roundup *Much more Oil for Soil: the International Crisis Group is proposing what its calling a "grand bargain" to head […]