Kenneth M. Pollack

Kenneth M. Pollack, a contributing editor to The National Interest, is a Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy Studies and the Director of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution. He is coauthor of the new report,“Unfinished Business: An American Strategy for Iraq Moving Forward.”


Essays

Sunni vs. Shia. Kurd vs. Arab. Nationalist vs. Islamist. Iraq circa 2011 is looking an awful lot like Iraq circa 2004. The country is headed back to the anarchic depths from which it ever-so-briefly emerged.

We shouldn't believe all we hear about the success of Obama's Iran strategy. The world needs to put a stranglehold on Tehran.

Baghdad is once again on the brink of civil war. The old Iraqi politics of backroom deals, corruption and violence are alive and well. An early exit may look like a bright idea now, but Iraq will be lost to us forever.

The negative effects of an Iraqi civil war can be mitigated, even if the conflict itelf cannot be quelled.

Commentary

Sectarian tensions in Iraqi politics have reached a boiling point. Washington's response will make a bad situation worse.

One way or another, America will have to become more involved in Libya to break the stalemate.

A new American strategy for the region: siding with the good guys. 

Sadr's back. Iraq is on the brink. Washington sits idly by.

Iraq's long, hot summer is over and its leaders have a deal to form a government. But getting things done won't get much easier.

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February 13, 2012