Government of Iraq

September 6, 2012-September 12, 2012- Vice President Hashemi sentenced to death, Al-Qaeda in Iraq claims attacks

On Sunday, Iraq’s Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi was sentenced to death by hanging. The sentence demonstrates the politicization of the Iraqi judicial system under Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who has commandeered Iraq’s legal institutions to consolidate power.

August 31, 2012-September 6, 2012--Iran resumes shipments of military equipment to Syria through Iraqi airspace, corruption plagues Defense Ministry.

August 22, 2012-August 31, 2012- Communications Minister resigns, IHEC disputes place elections in jeopardy, Tensions at Syrian border amid signs of Iranian pressure

August 15, 2012-August 22, 2012 - Violence in Iraq has risen in recent months, both in terms of number of attacks and casualties. July 2012 was the deadliest month in Iraq since August 2010. Iraqi government figures suggest that 325 people were killed in near-daily attacks in July.

August 3, 2012-August 15, 2012 Baghdad’s Tensions with Irbil and Ankara Diminish

July 20, 2012-July 27, 2012-Al-Qaeda Leader Claims Credit for Deadly Attacks, Maliki, Mutlaq Attempt to Renew Cooperation, IHEC Mandate Unlikely To Be Extended

July 27, 2012-August 3, 2012- Spillover from the Syrian conflict heightened tensions between Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Turkey this week.

July 16, 2012-July 20, 2012-Rebels Take Over Syrian Border Checkpoints, Obama Responds To Maliki’s Inquiry On Exxon

July 6, 2012-July 16, 2012 White House Says Daqduq Issue Not Closed,