Iraq's Post-Invasion Odyssey: Resilience and Persistent Challenges
Over the past two decades since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 , the nation has traversed a path from "shock and awe" to stability, yet it continues to grapple with several persistent challenges. Despite facing numerous obstacles, including terrorism, civil war, threats of secession, and mass protests, Iraq's political order and elite have demonstrated surprising resilience. Democratic institutions were established, and representative governments were formed, providing a semblance of stability amidst internal and external pressures. Iraq's battle against terrorism and extremism, notably the rise of ISIS, proved to be arduous and devastating. The security forces and allied militias played a pivotal role in countering these threats, contributing to the restoration of relative calm. However, ethnic and sectarian divisions also led to tensions, with the Kurdistan region considering secession at times, testing Iraq's territorial integrity. Mass protests, fue...