This guide provides expert analysis and background on some of the central issues facing Iraq ten years after the U.S.-led invasion.

While President Barack Obama defends the U.S. troop drawdown in Iraq this month, U.S. and Iraqi military officials are seeking a longer force commitment.

Despite political uncertainty and a recent uptick in violence, the United States is winding down military operations in Iraq, a drawdown that will test Baghdad's nascent democratic institutions.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Barack Obama struck a note of cooperation in their latest meeting. But some Western observers worry the Obama administration is not focused enough on Iraq's simmering problems.

The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraqi cities was a relatively easy benchmark to meet, analysts say. Many are unsure whether the country can withstand a complete U.S. pullout in less than two years.

A new wave of sectarian violence has broken out in Iraq as the United States shifts its military and strategic focus to Afghanistan. Analysts warn new tensions could complicate withdrawal plans.

President Obama says ending the war in Iraq will require a new definition of victory, and experts add that the United States should expect no peace dividend in its budget anytime soon.

Passage of security agreements between Washington and Baghdad suggest the United States has moved toward the exit in Iraq, though the path to departure remains unclear.

Barack Obama's wish to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq within sixteen months played well at the polls. But experts suggest his plans may prove hard to implement as Washington's influence in Iraq wanes.

CFR.org provides a collection of resources on Iraq.

Passage of a long-awaited election law has renewed hope that Iraq can find political solutions to its many problems. But some Western observers still see trouble on the horizon.

Official optimism runs high amid improved security and a growing role for Iraqi forces, but analysts caution against premature celebrations.

Analysts are studying whether al-Qaeda in Iraq, severely diminished over five years of war, is moving its war against the West to Afghanistan.

As a new round of sectarian violence grips Kirkuk, experts doubt provincial elections will bring lasting peace.

Concerned that a U.S. drawdown in Iraq will leave a power vaccum, Arab Gulf countries are looking for ways to prop up their neighbor.

Despite the sputtering U.S. economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to dominate debate on the presidential campaign trail.

Iraq says it wants to sell oil contracts to foreign energy firms. The potential impact on energy markets could be large, but practical and political obstacles still prevent rapid production increases.

U.S. efforts to negotiate a long-term security agreement with Iraq are dividing Iraqi political parties and raising questions about the future of U.S. operations.

International relief agencies say promises by Washington and Baghdad to adopt policies addressing Iraq's growing humanitarian needs have failed to materialize.

Recent clashes and a cease-fire in Sadr City highlight the political jockeying and often confusing military skirmishes between Iraqis.