Understanding Iraq’s anti-ISIS efforts, political deadlock, and economy (Anna Newby, Brookings)

As the Middle East goes, much of the world’s attention is understandably focused on the chaos in Syria. But the United States is much more directly involved—in a variety of capacities—with Iraq next door. How is the military campaign against the Islamic State going in Iraq? What explains the political paralysis in Baghdad, as well as massive recent demonstrations? Is there hope for the economy? And on all of these fronts, is the Kurdish region doing any better?

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/order-from-chaos/posts/2016/05/19-iraq-isis-politics-economy-newby