EnablingPeace

After a long hiatus, the IRAQ MATTERS podcast is back! Kicking off a new season, EPIC's Executive Director Erik Gustafson sits down with independent journalist Winthrop "Win" Rodgers to discuss his ground-level report on Iraq's water crisis and the potential of drip irrigation to save the country's agricultural sector. This is a conversation about determination, human ingenuity, and practical, farmer-driven solutions.

The nonviolent struggle for democratic reforms in Iraq is now well into its fifth month of sustained protests against the government. We talk with Hayder Hamzoz, founder of INSM (Iraqi Network for Social Media), a network of Iraqi bloggers and citizens journalists. Hayder shares his perspective on how the protests work and the critical role that social media activists are playing on both the physical and digital front lines of Iraq's protest movement.

When you think of Iraq, more than likely your thoughts turn to the country's troubles since 2003. However, the roots of those events trace back to one of the region's most consequential wars of the 20th Century. Thirty-nine years ago this week, Iraqi forces invaded Iran's southwestern Khuzestan province, starting the Iran-Iraq war. The conflict saw the region's first use of weapons of mass destruction, an escalation of proxy warfare, a genocide against the Kurds, and the beginning of greater U.S. military involvement in the region. Fueled by arms sales and financing by the U.S., Gulf states, and over a dozen other nations with arms industries, the war dragged on for 8 years. Over a million souls perished. While no lines on the map changed in the end, the war has had an enduring legacy in shaping the region, contributing to events that led to the 1991 Gulf War, the Iraq War, and many of the region's rivalries and proxy conflicts that persist today. For this episode of IRAQ MATTERS, we talk with Joel Wing of "Musings on Iraq" and EPIC's very own Omar Al-Nidawi. Joel is a long-time Iraq watcher who writes "Musings On Iraq", a regularly sited blog of data, analysis, and more than 100 interviews. Omar is a fellow with the Truman National Security Project and EPIC's Program Manager, overseeing our research and field work. Born in 1980, Omar's childhood coincided with the Iran-Iraq war and its aftermath. Join us as we explore a pivotal time in history that deserves far more attention, especially for policy-makers and aid agencies seeking to deescalate the conflicts that plague the region today.

On this edition of IRAQ MATTERS, Basma Alloush of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) discusses Basra’s water crisis and the implications for the province's 4.5 million residents and for the rest of Iraq. With growing frustrations fueling ongoing protests and unrest, why does Basra matter and what can be done before it is too late?

On this edition of IRAQ MATTERS, Rasha al-Aqeedi, a native of Mosul and an acclaimed Iraq analyst, discusses Mosul's 3 years under ISIS, ongoing challenges to the city's security and recovery, the role of young people and civil society in the fight against intolerance, and Ninewa's central importance for enabling peace in Iraq.

Aside from the social and political costs that ISIS has wrought on Iraq, intense damage to cities and villages leaves the Iraqi people and their government with the massive task of rebuilding critical infrastructure. The reconstruction process presents an opportunity to bolster Iraq’s existing civil society, empower local populations, and foster new relationships between policymakers and their constituencies. Yet serious challenges – including economic crisis and government inefficiency – could handicap this effort as they did in the years following the 2003 U.S. invasion. Only with serious international engagement in a post-ISIS Iraq, both in terms of humanitarian funding and political guidance, can these obstacles be overcome – and the knowledge for how to do so effectively may be close at hand. On this edition of Iraq Matters, we welcome Stuart Bowen, who served as Special Inspector-General for Iraq Reconstruction from 2004 to 2013. As the “taxpayers watchdog” in Iraq, Mr. Bowen oversaw more than $60 billion in U.S. funds intended to aid reconstruction after 2003. His oversight led to more than 120 convictions for fraud and other crimes, saved the government more than $2 billion, and contributed to a new set of industry standards in administering reconstruction assistance. Listen as Mr. Bowen discusses the critical importance of eliminating corruption if there is to be sustained peace and development in Iraq - and the consequences that will occur if corruption is not addressed. He compares Iraq's current situation with the climate he worked through in the decade after Saddam Hussein and offers advice for those in the international community who will provide much needed reconstruction assistance.

On September 25, the Kurdistan Regional Government held a referendum asking voters “Do you want the Kurdistan Region and the Kurdistani areas outside the region’s administration to become an independent state?” Two days later, the Electoral Commission announced that 92.75 percent of more than 3.3 million votes cast were in favor of independence. Since that time, Iraqi Kurdistan and its government has experienced considerable backlash from the government in Baghdad, including the loss of territory outside of the Kurdistan Region, and control of oil exports, international borders, and air traffic. On November 1, longtime KRG President Masoud Barzani resigned from office. On this edition of Iraq Matters, we are pleased to welcome Bilal Wahab, Soref Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where he focuses on governance in Iraqi Kurdistan and in Iraq as a whole. He has taught at the American University of Iraq – Sulaimani, where he established the Center for Development and Natural Resources, a research program on oil and development. Bilal also serves as a Member of the Board of Directors here at the Education for Peace in Iraq Center. Listen in as Bilal explains the referendum's outcome: who does it represent? what does it ignore? and are young people as invested in an independent Kurdistan? Bilal also offers his unique insight on the role of the Iraqi Constitution as a basis for dialogue between Baghdad and Erbil and how the United States might be helpful in that process. He also speculates on the political future of the KRG under a younger Barzani.

As they swept across northern Iraq in summer 2014, ISIS militants targeted members of the Yazidi faith in Sinjar – launching a genocidal attack on the ancient religious minority that galvanized a global response. Nearly two years after the town of Sinjar’s liberation in November 2015, the future for Iraq’s Yazidi community remains perilous. As regional actors compete for control of Sinjar today, the region has yet to be rebuilt or repopulated. Thousands of Yazidi women and children remain in ISIS captivity, and many more are displaced across the country and region. On this edition of Iraq Matters, we are honored to welcome Cathy Otten, a British writer and journalist who has been based in Iraqi Kurdistan since 2013. Cathy’s writings on the social impacts of ISIS violence and the struggles of minority communities in northern Iraq have appeared in the Independent, Newsweek, TIME, the Guardian, and many other outlets. She is a regular commentator on TV and radio, talking about Iraq and the war with ISIS. Her upcoming book – With Ash on Their Faces – tells the story of Yazidi women and their tragic interactions with the so-called Islamic State. Listen as Ms. Otten explains the situation facing many Yazidi families today - particularly women and girls - and suggests what may come next for these families as ISIS is driven out of their homeland. She also shares her thoughts on discerning facts amid the fog of war and the special challenges she has faced in her many years of covering conflict in northern Iraq.

As Iraqi forces near victory against ISIS militants in Mosul, policymakers in Baghdad now face the daunting task of restoring infrastructure and essential services in cities and territory damaged by three years of brutal occupation and war. The costs of such work in Mosul alone could rise above $100 billion over the course of 10 years, while elsewhere the Iraqi government faces similar multi-billion dollar price-tags. Failing to meet these costs could foster future instability. Finding the financial and material resources to meet these challenges will prove critical as Iraq moves beyond the ISIS nightmare. On this edition of Iraq Matters, we are honored to welcome Dr. Mustafa al-Hiti, President of the Reconstruction Fund for Areas Affected by Terroristic Operations. The Fund was established by the Government of Iraq in 2015 to coordinate urgent reconstruction activities in areas destroyed by ISIS, to develop plans for mid- and long-term reconstruction, and to serve as the link between international organizations and Iraqi government ministries. Listen as Dr. al-Hiti explains the stark need facing Iraq today – not just in Mosul, but throughout the country. He also shares his thoughts on rebuilding civil society, the importance of maintaining traditional security in places under reconstruction, and the role his organization plays in coalescing support from the international community and world governments.

Mutanabbi Street is a celebrated part of Baghdad named for the 10th century Iraqi poet. It is filled with bookstores and cafes where people have gathered for centuries to exchange knowledge and ideas, and has been dubbed the heart and soul of Baghdad’s literary community. But 10 years ago, on March 5, 2007, 26 people were killed when a car bomb exploded – destroying lives, businesses, and the vibrancy of this intellectual meeting place. Since then, the street has reopened, but the lives that were changed that day remain changed forever. On this edition of Iraq Matters, we are pleased to welcome Moussa al-Naseri, a Baghdad native who sold stationary on Mutanabbi Street for many years and survived the 2007 bombing. Moussa is now a U.S. citizen. Joining him is Sarah Browning, co-founder and Executive Director of Split this Rock, a national nonprofit of poets, artists, and activists who encourage the use of art to advocate for peace.

On January 27, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that suspends refugee admissions to the United States for 120 days, bars all Syrian refugees indefinitely, and dramatically reduces the number of refugees allowed to enter the United States in 2017, among other immigration restrictions. The order, titled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” was issued alongside an assumption that somehow terrorists are blending in with refugees and making their way here to the US. On this edition of Iraq Matters, we are pleased to welcome Jen Smyers of Church World Service, who will help explore this notion, discuss the history of the US refugee resettlement program, and explain the process by which refugees are vetted and why that vetting process might be of concern. Jen serves as the associate director for immigration and refugee policy with Church World Service where she works with policy makers to advocate for improved assistance for refugees resettled in the United States and humane immigration reform.

Today, more than 10 million Iraqis – half of them children – are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. More than 3.3 million Iraqis have been displaced from their homes since 2014. As Iraqi Security Forces and their allies work to liberate Mosul of ISIS militants (a process that may last for months), hundreds of thousands more families could be displaced and in need of care. How can this impending crisis in Mosul be mitigated while not losing sight of the millions of others who will still need food, medical care, and temporary shelter? What are conditions like for Iraq’s displaced population? And what are aid agencies, the Iraqi government, and the international community doing to assist?

Since June 2014, ISIS militants have occupied Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city and the capital of the Ninewa Province. As Iraqi Security Forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, a U.S.-led coalition, and their allies prepare to clear ISIS from the city – beginning perhaps as soon as next month – we look ahead at what might come next. On this edition of IRAQ MATTERS, we ask how this complex region that has long been a center of ethnic factions vying for power will be governed as it rebuilds and repopulates. What pre-ISIS conflicts among these groups linger, and how will that shape the future? We are pleased to have as our guest Christine van den Toorn, Director of the Institute of Regional and International Studies at the American University of Iraq - Sulaimaniya.

Iraq faces an ongoing humanitarian emergency with 10 million people—nearly a third of the population—in need of immediate assistance. Nearly 3.5 million individuals have been forced to flee violence, leaving behind their homes, communities, and all they have ever known in search of safety. On this edition of IRAQ MATTERS, EPIC Director Erik Gustafson talks with Hala al-Sarraf, one woman who is going to extraordinary measures to help meet the needs of these vulnerable families. Listen as they discuss how Iraqi civil society groups are operating in Iraq's difficult environment, why local NGOs ought to be empowered and trusted to lead aid efforts, and the critical role that youth volunteers play in shaping Iraq's humanitarian progress.

عندما يسمع معظم الأميركيين كلمة العراق ، سوف يفترضون أن الحديث سيكون عن القنابل ، والعنف ، والنفط ، والسياسة. في حين أن هذه هي من القضايا الحديثة الهامة ، لكنها تجعلنا ننسى أن العراق هو موطنا لواحدة من أولى الحضارات في العالم التي يعود تاريخها الى اكثر من 6000 سنة . منذ ذلك الوقت ، أعطى الشعب العراقي المتنوع الكثير للعالم من خلال المساهمات في الفنون والعلوم و الموسيقى والأدب ، والفلسفة . يتحدث مدير برامج EPIC طيف جاني مع الشاعرة العراقية الشهيرة، الناشطة ومحامية حقوق الإنسان أمل الجبوري حول التحديات التي تواجه حرية التعبير في العراق التي واجهتها قبل الغزو الذي قادته الولايات المتحدة عام 2003 ، و أهمية تبادل قصة العراق مع العالم ، و دور الفتيات الشابات في رسم مستقبل العراق . هذه الحلقة متوفرة ايضا باللغة الإنجليزية.

When most Americans hear the word Iraq, they assume that the conversation will be about bombs, violence, oil, or politics. While these are important modern issues, they make us forget that Iraq is home to one of the world’s first civilizations dating back 6000 years. Since that time, Iraq's diverse people have given so much to the world through contributions to art, science, music, literature, and philosophy. EPIC Program Manager Taif Jany talks with celebrated Iraqi poet, activist, and human rights lawyer Amal al-Jabouri about the challenges to free speech that she faced prior to the 2003 US-led invasion, the importance of sharing Iraq's story with the world, and the role of young women in shaping Iraq's future. This episode is also available in Arabic.

Today, Iraq is facing three simultaneous crises: ongoing insecurity and violence on and off the ISIS battlefield, a serious economic downturn precipitated by falling oil prices, and a humanitarian emergency with 10 million people—nearly a third of the population—in immediate need of assistance. The good news is that conditions in Iraq are favorable for an effective government, thanks to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s genuine commitment to reforms that improve governance for all Iraqis. EPIC Director Erik Gustafson speaks with Iraqi Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Lukman Faily on the needs of displaced persons in Iraq, government reforms to counter corruption, the role of Americans and the next U.S. President, and the future of Iraqi society. Find out what the Ambassador said about these topics and more on this edition of "Iraq Matters."

Since the escalation of armed conflict in Iraq that began with ISIS seizing territory in Anbar in January 2014, 3.2 million people have fled their homes. As Refugees International reports: "They are living in rented accommodations, unfinished buildings, and makeshift camps, often without adequate food, water, or medical care." We talk with Refugees International's Senior Advocate Daryl Grisgraber about her recent mission to Baghdad and her visits to the southern city of Hilla and a hard-to-reach area in Anbar. Get a firsthand account of the crisis, including untold stories of some of the families most affected and of youth volunteers who are responding to their needs. We then share highlights of our recent briefing with Ahmed Ali, including his views on the fight against ISIS, the challenges facing Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, and the recent unrest in Iraqi Kurdistan.

An Exclusive Briefing with Ahmed Ali on the latest updates on the fight against ISIS, political developments and challenges facing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, and the United States Role in Iraq.

For years, we've been singing the praises of the Iraqi Children Foundation (ICF). Today we're thrilled to finally share their inspiring story with you. Just days after their most recent mission to Baghdad, we sit down with ICF co-founder Jonathan Webb. After four years of experiencing the war in Iraq up-close and personal, Jonathan returned with a very different vision for Iraq. In 2008, he co-founded ICF to mobilize a life-changing “Surge of Love” for millions of children traumatized by violence in Iraq. Jonathan shares the story of ICF's success in helping orphans and other vulnerable children living on the streets of war-torn Iraq, and what he's learned from partnering with some of Iraq's most extraordinary civil society leaders. Also included, an Iraq update from our EPIC's research team.

One year ago this week, ISIS captured the city of Sinjar, the historic home of Iraq's Yazidi community. ISIS massacred hundreds of residents in cold blood and kidnapped thousands of women and children. To learn what has happened to the people of Sinjar since then, we talk with Christine van den Toorn, director of the Institute of Regional and International Studies (IRIS) at American University of Iraq, Sulaimani. Also featured: an Iraq update with our Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor research team.

The following is the full recording of EPIC’s exclusive interview with the Kurdish Minister of Planning, Ali Sindi, who oversees the management and support of internally displaced communities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The interview took place on March 18th, 2015, in the Minister's office in Erbil. Thank you for tuning in to this important conversation.

With the war against ISIS, a worsening fiscal crisis, and the challenge of hosting 1.5 million Iraqis and Syrians displaced by ISIS militants, Cathy Otten of IRIN reports that Iraqi Kurdistan is nearing ‘the breaking point.’ To learn more, EPIC Senior Fellow Ahmed Ali joins us from Erbil in an exclusive interview with the KRG’s Minister of Planning Ali Sindi. We then turn to Joel Wing of “Musings on Iraq” for an update on the latest security and humanitarian developments in Iraq. - See more at: http://www.epic-usa.org/20-under-threat/#sthash.VFxNSR7X.dpuf

This is an encore release of our very first Iraq Matters podcast. Over the past 15 years, EPIC has touched many lives and we created this podcast series to share these connections and stories with a wider audience. This first episode featured Part 1 of an interview with EPIC’s current Senior Visiting Fellow, Ahmed Ali, an update on Iraq from Joel Wing, the author of Musings on Iraq, and a segment on Iraqi culture with Zainab al-Suwaji, co-founder of the American Islamic Congress. We hope you enjoy this important piece of EPIC’s history. Keep an eye out for the re-release of Episode #2, featuring Part 2 of our interview with Ahmed Ali.

According to the latest UN estimate, 5.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Iraq. To discuss that challenge, EPIC convened a distinguished panel with Francois Stamm of ICRC, Michel Gabaudan of Refugees International, Joe Stork of Human Rights Watch, and Nancy Youssef of The Daily Beast. Hosted by the Iraqi Cultural Center on January 16, 2015, the panelists offered insights on the deepening crisis, the opaqueness of the current military campaign, and warnings for the future of international aid in Iraq, as the fight against ISIS and inadequate shelter leaves many Iraqi families out in the cold. - See more at: www.epic-usa.org/19-out-in-the-co…sh.AqSMxpq6.dpuf

You may have seen it on your social media feed. These days it seems to be appearing everywhere. The Arabic ن (“noon”) symbol has been used by the Islamic State to mark Christian homes and businesses. Now Christians and their supporters, as well as advocates for religious freedom around the world are turning the tables and using it as a symbol of solidarity. Tune in to this episode to hear from Nuri Kino, Juliana Taimoorazy, and Jeff Gardner and learn more about how a global movement is coming together to defend Iraq’s minorities and preserve its rich heritage and cultural diversity.

In the season 2 premiere of our IRAQ MATTERS podcast, we sat down with veteran Zack Bazzi, TentEd Co-Initiator. Here we have a special extended version of our interview with Zack which includes more personal connections and a big picture look at the Syrian Refugee crisis. Thank you for listening to IRAQ MATTERS, and don't forget to subscribe to us on iTunes and Stitcher by searching "Iraq Matters". Happy listening!