Overview

The end of the U.S. occupation of Iraq on June 30 leaves many questions about what follows. Will the Iraqi people view the Iraqi interim government as legitimate? What will the continuing role of Coalition forces be? With the dissolution of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), how will the international civilian coalition be maintained?

To explore the many questions surrounding the June transition the Institute's Iraq Working Group hosted a Current Issues Briefing on June 30 featuring a panel of seasoned experts on the challenges facing Iraq. Moderated by Daniel Serwer, director of peace and stability operations at the Institute, the panel explored such issues as:

• Will the U.S. transfer of legal custody of Saddam Hussein help?
• Will the Iraqi interim government be able to increase security by imposing emergency law or by other means?
• What role will U.S. allies, the United Nations and the international community be willing to play?
• What role will the U.S. embassy play in relation to the Iraqi governing authority?

Speakers

• Amatzia Baram
  Senior Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace
• Faleh Jabar
  Senior Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace
• David L. Mack
  Vice President, Middle East Institute
• Daniel Serwer
  Director, Peace and Stability Operations, U.S. Institute of Peace