Max Boot says, "Unless the U.S. does more to address the Iraqi prime minister's postelection moves, billions of dollars and thousands of lives could be for naught."

This module features teaching notes by CFR President Richard N. Haass, author of War of Necessity, War of Choice: A Memoir of Two Iraq Wars, along with other resources to supplement the text. In this CFR Book, Dr. Haass contrasts the decisions that shaped the conduct of two wars between the United States and Iraq, and writes an authoritative, personal account of how U.S. foreign policy is made. The preface to the paperback edition assesses not only Iraq but also the war in Afghanistan and a potential conflict with Iran.

Iraq's political standoff may be resolved with a compromise candidate, says CFR's Rachel Schneller. But it won't happen according to a U.S. timetable. And it shouldn't affect U.S. plans to withdraw combat troops this summer.

A judicial ruling in Iraq could delay the formation of a new government until the fall, increasing the risk of a planned U.S. drawdown of troops by the end of August, says CFR's Brett McGurk.

Listen to NPR's Foreign Correspondent Deborah Amos discuss her new book Eclipse of the Sunnis, about the forced migration of the Sunnis from Iraq following the outbreak of sectarian violence in the wake of the U.S.-led invasion of the country, as part of CFR's Religion and Foreign Policy Conference Call series.

The U.S. should consider postponing its planned August pullout from Iraq for several months to help maintain stability as post-election political jockeying and opportunistic violence by al-Qaeda in Iraq play themselves out, writes CFR Iraq expert Brett McGurk.

The close, completed counts in Iraq's elections mean that it will take months of coalition-building, and Sunni-Shiite political tensions, before it's clear who will head the new government, says CFR expert Meghan O'Sullivan.

Watch filmakers Kristian Fraga and Michael Scotti reflect on their documentary, Severe Clear.

Listen to filmakers Kristian Fraga and Michael Scotti reflect on their documentary, Severe Clear.

Watch experts analyze the results and political implications of the March 2010 Iraqi elections.

Listen to experts analyze the results and political implications of the March 2010 Iraqi elections.

Experts analyze the results and political implications of the March 2010 Iraqi elections.

Iraq's security forces performed especially well during parliamentary elections but a big test looms in the months ahead as votes are counted and Iraqi factions try to form a government, says CFR's Brett McGurk.

Meghan L. O'Sullivan discusses why, in Iraq, "the process of forming a government is likely to be prolonged."

In this guide to the Iraqi elections, Foreign Policy takes a look at the manifold parties, coalitions, and sects involved, providing a comprehensive profile of each party's leadership, main constituency, power center, and history.