All Policy Analysis by Michael Knights

The PMUs active in the area embody a classic security dilemma: the armed force best able to protect a country from external enemies that also poses the greatest potential risk to the civilian leadership.

The just-launched Tikrit operation raises question about the relative exclusion of coalition support, the prominence of Shiite militias, the degree of Iranian involvement, and the Iraqi army's readiness for a much more imposing campaign in Mosul.

Does the Iraqi army have the right stuff to win the battle everyone knows is coming -- and handle the messy aftermath?

Tensions in Kirkuk serve as warning of the instability that could rack Mosul after its liberation.

A longtime expert on military affairs, a researcher on Shiite militias, and a retired U.S. Army colonel discuss optimal partners for defeating ISIS and the heavy risks associated with allowing Iran-associated actors to expand their influence.

The challenge posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has created some strange dynamics, among them the shared interest of the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran in "degrading and defeating" the Sunni jihadist group. But this shared interest should not be viewed as an

If this national institution is properly rebuilt into a force that can score victories against the jihadists, it would be far more beneficial to Iraq than expanding Shiite militias or local Sunni uprisings.

Patiently rebuilding the Iraqi Security Forces is key to defeating terrorism and cutting militias back down to size, but Baghdad may decide to move on Mosul before it is ready.

Leaders in Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan have taken a brave step toward reunifying the country through revenue sharing. The United States should support implementation of the deal.

The Kurds may be leveraging recent arms agreements to achieve a more direct security relationship with Western powers on the road toward de facto autonomy.

At this crucial time in Iraq's history, only one factor is holding the country together: the wealth created by the south's oil exports, and how these funds will be distributed in the 2015 budget.

The pundits have it wrong -- the group's move toward Baghdad is a sign of desperation.