Leslie H. Gelb explains why federalism is the best approach for creating a peaceful and independent Iraq.

As the last U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq this month, an emerging political battle among the country's top leaders has raised concerns over its stability. It underscores the difficult road ahead for the fragile democracy and potential for greater violence, says CFR's Ned Parker.

Max Boot says that at the moment, Iraq is an uneasy mixture of good and bad, volatile and stable, healthy and diseased—a strange witches' brew that could blow up or, just possibly, turn into an elixir for the entire region.

Max Boot says that by pulling out U.S. troops from Iraq prematurely--against the advice of military commanders --President Obama has made another war there more likely.

Meghan O'Sullivan states, "While Americans have been welcoming the 'end' of the war in Iraq over the past few days, a political crisis of serious proportions has been unfolding in Baghdad."

Leslie H. Gelb interviews U.S. vice president Joe Biden.

With the United States formally marking the end of the Iraq war, all U.S. combat troops are scheduled to withdraw by December 31. Listen to former National Security Council official Meghan O'Sullivan and correspondent Ned Parker, who reported from Iraq and has just returned from the region, together with Foreign Affairs Editor Gideon Rose discuss the road ahead for Iraq.

Richard N. Haass assesses the lessons of the Iraq war, concluding that wars of choice will in the future be harder to wage.

As the U.S. military formally ends operations in Iraq, four top expert voices in the debate on the war differ over whether it merited the cost in blood, treasure, and U.S. credibility.

If Iraq can attract foreign investment and revive its petroleum industry, it stands to become the most advanced Arab country, claim Bloomberg editors.

CFR's Stephen Biddle discusses the increasing emphasis on non-military ties between the United States and Iraq.

President Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki gave this joint press conference on December 12, 2011.

Vice President Joe Biden gave these remarks in Baghdad, Iraq on December 1, 2012.

Kenneth Katzman explains how sectarianism in Iraq impedes governance and human rights advances.

The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) issued this quarterly report in October 2011; it covers the period of July-September 2011.

Ray Takeyh states, "Iran may have been able to project its influence in an Iraq beset by civil war, but Tehran increasingly is on the margins as Iraq reconstitutes its national institutions."

Max Boot says the end of the U.S. military mission in Iraq is not a triumph but a defeat for the United States.

An interactive slideshow detailing events since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The pullout of U.S. troops by year's end points to the troubling rift in Iraqi politics and big questions about the country's stability, writes CFR's Ned Parker.

President Obama gave these remarks, regarding the ending the combat mission in Iraq, on October 21, 2011.