http://rusi.org/ web@rusi.org en-us Copyright 2012 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4EEA41041E169/ If this year brought us an earthquake, then 2012 will be a year of aftershocks and transitions. Speculate as we might, we must still prepare for the predictable but watch for the surprises. 2011-12-15 18:56:54 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4DAEB5DD10A7F/ Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have prompted widespread criticism, despite having proven their value in a variety of contexts. In many cases, their use may be the most logical - and safest - option. 2011-04-20 11:35:45 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4DA47282158B0/ The uprisings have affected the governments of some of the world's largest oil exporters. In the long-term, however, supply is unlikely to be affected. 2011-04-12 16:41:45 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:P4D5E78590C17F/ In this exclusive photo essay, Susan Schulman captures the challenges - mental and physical - faced by Corunna Company both as they prepare for deployment and after they arrive in south-western Iraq in Autumn 2004. 2011-01-18 13:00:00 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4CF4D68A3AE78/ Eight months after Iraq’s deadlocked parliamentary elections, the new coalition government has finally taken shape with Nouri al-Maliki yet again at the helm. As the leaked US embassy cables show however, the current sectarian power-sharing agreement may further weaken the Iraqi government and strengthen Iran’s role in the region. 2010-11-30 10:53:28 http://rusi.org/publications/newsbrief/ref:A4CED5BC7BC10A/ Saudi efforts in forming a new Iraqi government could prove the difference 2010-11-24 18:39:38 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4C73DBAA78FA6/ As the US government prepares for its 2011 withdrawal date from Iraq, the finishing post may be further than anticipated. 2010-08-24 17:05:22 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4C6E4DE259E68/ Leadership decapitation is unleashing a Hydra in Iraq, as Al-Qa'ida withstands the assassination of its top ranks 2010-08-22 23:45:00 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N4C0F6DC2C2608/ General David H. Petraeus, the current Commander of US Central Command spoke at RUSI's Land Warfare Conference on 9 June 2010. General Petraeus spoke of the enduring relationship between British and US Armed forces. 2010-06-09 11:45:10 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4BA0A45EDC053/ The importance of Iraq's national elections on 7 March cannot be over-estimated. While the ballots continue to be counted and discussions of possible alliances to form Iraq's next government ensue, it is pertinent to assess the electoral process itself and the next political stage of Iraq's infant democracy. 2010-03-17 09:47:38 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4B62D375B0ED6/ Tony Blair's evidence to the Iraq inquiry may focus on the legality of the war. But he is guilty of confused optimism rather than an urge to behave illegally. 2010-01-29 12:24:53 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4A4B2620A2286/ The date for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq has been dubbed the ‘National Day of Sovereignty’, but the quest for Iraqi stability is not over yet. Iraqi politicians and US officials alike must now commit to encouraging the war-torn country to stand on its own feet. 2009-07-01 10:04:01 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C49FCE0A01E12E/ Troops need to believe that they risk their lives for things that are genuinely important. 2009-05-03 01:12:17 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C49F9BEE224FA0/ The undoubted bravery and professionalism of British troops in Iraq disguised the deeper strategic failings of their mission. Leaders need to learn from the mistakes in Basra as we now concentrate in Afghanistan. 2009-04-30 16:10:11 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C498C298546144/ The regional elections in Iraq took place in January in a much hoped for atmosphere of peace and security. The results will begin to show whether Iraq remains a patchwork of conflicting groups, or whether progress is being made to draw the country together and develop a sense of national unity. 2009-02-06 12:19:22 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4961F98592F4B/ At last the prospects for stability in Iraq seem good. With many changes expected in 2009 there is a real opportunity for the Iraqis themselves to seize the initiative and claim back their sense of sovereignty. Of course there are hurdles to clear such as provincial elections, defining the status of Kirkuk and managing sectarianism without the impartial US forces, but the current momentum should carry the Iraqis through. 2009-01-05 12:16:25 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C494B9295ACCE1/ As the UK announces its withdrawal from Iraq, an overall judgement of its deployment should be a favourable one. Although it has become clear that the softer British approach is no longer appropriate, the UK contingent has made significant progress in preparing the Iraqis to cope with their own security. 2008-12-19 12:27:19 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N48171734EF2E6/ To mark the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War, the Royal United Services Institute has published a major retrospective on the conflict. 2008-04-09 13:00:00 http://rusi.org/publications/newsbrief/ref:A471C785BBB5A6/ On 29 July 2007, the Bush Administration announced plans to provide an estimated $63 billion worth of advanced weaponry to several of its key allies in the Middle East. 2007-10-22 11:23:07 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C470E1C4C0F8CC/ The validity of the US forces' figures for insurgent caualties is difficult to judge beyond the certainty that they will not be accurate. 2007-10-11 13:55:34 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N46F0DDB73C0ED/ General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker comes to RUSI to share their assessments on Iraq. General Petraeus warned of the devastating consequences from premature drawdown of forces. 2007-09-19 09:30:06 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C46EE8C1BA48B6/ For British leaders Iran may seem like a basket case at present, but it has to be handled politically not militarily. 2007-09-17 15:16:47 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C462C7605F0D4B/ What should be made of the recent spate of helicopter losses in Iraq? Are they a series of unfortunate coincidences, an indication of poor practice in coalition activities or the result of enhanced insurgent operations? 2007-04-23 10:00:00 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N45E2AD89A250E/ Redeploying troops from Iraq to Afghanistan makes perfect military and political sense 2007-02-26 09:54:59 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N45488CCF9CAC6/ According to a new paper produced by Jeff Michaels, associate fellow of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), an influential Whitehall think-tank, the fledgling all-volunteer Iraqi armed forces are “not fit for purpose” and will need massive military support from the West for some time to come. Michaels bases his argument on the fact that the new Iraqi forces are essentially a “light infantry army” which lacks any heavy armour and support units. Without conscription, he claims, “many of the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who should be employed in military service are currently unemployed, and provide a steady source of recruits for the insurgency”. 2006-10-22 12:00:00 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N45488CCF9CAC6/ According to a new paper produced by Jeff Michaels, associate fellow of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), an influential Whitehall think-tank, the fledgling all-volunteer Iraqi armed forces are “not fit for purpose” and will need massive military support from the West for some time to come. Michaels bases his argument on the fact that the new Iraqi forces are essentially a “light infantry army” which lacks any heavy armour and support units. Without conscription, he claims, “many of the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who should be employed in military service are currently unemployed, and provide a steady source of recruits for the insurgency”. 2006-10-22 12:00:00 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N45488E0CD5065/ Amyas Godfrey, a former British army officer at the Royal United Services Institute, said officials have responded to public pressure to set a timetable for a withdrawal from Iraq by saying that it will come "when the job is done." So it is significant, he said, that the army chief has said: "We should be leaving." 2006-10-14 12:00:00 http://rusi.org/publications/newsbrief/ref:P4214B51ECA8AA/ As with the reports which provided the impetus for US and UK intelligence service reforms, their styles are very different. 2005-02-17 15:15:42 http://rusi.org/publications/monitor/ref:A473DB915C105A/ This article proposes a unique solution to the security problems plaguing Iraq's oil infrastructure. 2004-09-01 15:00:00 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:P4129D0A009ADC/ Our intelligence community costs upwards of £1.5 billion annually, and prides itself on the top level assessments of its much admired Joint Intelligence Committee (the JIC), yet something went wrong. 2004-08-23 12:10:23 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:P40C892701370C/ Iraq serves as a potent illustration of how deeply embedded today’s private sector is in the business of security and war, and why questions over legislation require urgent attention. 2004-06-10 17:55:12 http://rusi.org/publications/monitor/ref:A473DAABF144F9/ This article explores the nature of the violent insurgency in Iraq and the debate over foreign fighters in the conflict. 2004-05-01 14:00:00 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:J40c1f7fc073bb/ This article assesses the politicization of intelligence and the factors that led to the UK government's insistence that Iraq posed a sufficient threat to British interests to justify war. 2004-02-18 12:00:00 http://rusi.org/publications/monitor/ref:A473DBED9CE68A/ This article assesses the increasing violence in post-Saddam Iraq and its potential outcomes. 0000-00-00 00:00:00