Iraq National Research Articles

Identifying Expert Opinions on the Challenges and Barriers Faced in Implementing Iraq's National Plan for Controlling Hepatitis B.

This study examined the difficulties and obstacles faced by healthcare professionals in implementing Iraq's national plan for hepatitis B virus (HBV) control. This research aims to offer valuable insights into the intricacies of HBV control efforts and identify key areas for improvement. In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 10 physicians, representing diverse medical specialties and healthcare settings, including experts in the fields of medical sciences. Data analysis was conducted using MAXQDA software, version 24 (VERBI Software GmbH, Berlin, Germany)to identify recurring themes and gain insights into the challenges encountered during the implementation of the national plan. Ten physicians participated in the study, providing insights into challenges and barriers hindering the effective implementation of Iraq's national plan for HBV control. Consensus among participants highlighted challenges such as resource constraints, inadequate infrastructure, population ignorance, and vaccine refusal. Documentation challenges, including inaccuracies in reporting HBV-associated mortality, were also noted. Barriers to successful implementation included poor public awareness, inadequate education for healthcare providers, and funding shortages. Unmet needs highlighted the necessity for unified protocols, surveillance systems, and international training programs. The improvement strategies proposed by participants emphasized raising awareness, supporting primary healthcare centers, and enhancing funding allocation. This study underscores significant challenges in implementing Iraq's national plan for HBV control, with barriers ranging from resource constraints to communication barriers. Healthcare professionals advocate for targeted interventions, collaborative efforts, and policy measures to address these challenges effectively. The findings contribute to the evidence base for enhancing HBV control efforts in Iraq and emphasize the importance of tailored approaches to public health interventions.

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Monitoring migrating raptors is among the most cost-effective and simple methods for forecasting shift in the ecosystem and environment. The Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Accipitriformes, Accipitridae) represents a widely wintering, on-passage raptor over Iraq's southern Mesopotamian marshlands. However, recent information related to this species’ population trend, as well as its spatial and temporal migration patterns, is not fully known. From October 2021–June 2022, nine ornithological field surveys were undertaken in the Central Marshes (UNESCO Site, RAMSAR Site, and Iraq's National Park). Three transect lines were chosen, and the surveying plot covered 40,000 hectares (400 Km2). Our recent surveys recorded a total of 64 harriers passing over the Central Marshes. The species density was determined using a distance sampling method; perpendicular distances were gauged using a digital range finder. During our surveys, the Central Marshes hosted a migratory population of ≈3,508-21,499 harriers. In addition, we assessed the breeding status of this bird species in the surveyed area; however, no confirmed breeding was found. Furthermore, illegal hunting/trapping were identified as the main threat facing the species in Iraq.

Determining the Sustainable Characteristic of the Iraq National Housing Policy 2010

Determining the Sustainable Characteristic of the Iraq National Housing Policy 2010

Brandon Wolfe-Hunnicutt. The Paranoid Style in American Diplomacy: Oil and Arab Nationalism in Iraq.

Brandon Wolfe-Hunnicutt. <i>The Paranoid Style in American Diplomacy: Oil and Arab Nationalism in Iraq</i>.

Time to pay the piper: Fossil fuel companies’ reparations for climate damages

Time to pay the piper: Fossil fuel companies’ reparations for climate damages

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TRADITIONAL CLASSIFICATION AND DEEP LEARNING IN LUNG CANCER PREDICTION

The cancer is an intimidating illness. Extra care is necessary while making a diagnosis. To aid the identification process, medical imaging plays a crucial role by producing images of the internal organs of the body for better diagnosis of cancer. Medical images are typically utilized by radiologists, engineers, and clinicians to spot the inner constitution of either individual patients or group of individuals. Most doctors prefer computed tomography (CT) images for initial screening of cancer — mainly lung cancer. To achieve deeper understanding and categorization of lung cancer, diverse machine learning techniques are employed in image classification. Many research works have been done on the classification of CT images with different algorithms, but they failed to reach 100% accuracy. By applying methods like Support Vector Machine, deep learning system like artificial neural network (ANN) and proposed convolution neural network (CNN), a computerized system can be built for truthful classification. The models are built as a classification system that can identify the nodule, if present in the lungs, as benign, malignant or normal or as benign or normal. Lung cancer datasets at Iraq National Center aimed at Cancer Diseases (IQ-OTHNCCD) and Iran Hospital-based CT images are used in this research. SVM, ANN, and proposed CNN classification techniques are applied to the datasets considered. This research work, proposes a model for classification of CT images with very promising accuracy on the datasets considered.

Long-Term Adherence to Etanercept in Treatment Effectiveness of Patients with Spondyloarthritis: 7-Year Data from the Iraq National Registry.

IntroductionThe diagnosis and treatment of spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a global challenge, with no cure available. Adherence to treatment with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, such as the tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor etanercept, varies among patients with SpA. Inadequate or poor adherence to treatment may have a negative effect on clinical outcome and quality of life and may lead to greater health-related expense.MethodsThis observational, retrospective study used real-world patient data from the Iraq National Center of Rheumatology database to retrospectively assess long-term adherence to etanercept, specifically evaluating 1- and 7-year adherence to etanercept among Iraqi patients with SpA.ResultsIn total, data from 763 patients were included in the analysis. The majority of patients were men (82.2%). Mean disease duration at baseline was 5.85 years; 84.0% of patients received concomitant steroids, and 14.2% were treated with concomitant methotrexate. Measures of disease activity and functional status (mean ± SD) at baseline based on the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) were 8.06 ± 0.83 (range 6.0–9.5) and 7.75 ± 1.12 (range 4.1–9.7), respectively. Around 30% of patients initiated etanercept treatment within 1 year of diagnosis. After 1 and 7 years, 91.7% (700/763) and 60.6% (80/132) of patients were adherent to etanercept treatment. Mean (± SD) changes from baseline in BASDAI and BASFI scores for adherent versus non-adherent patients at 1 year were 6.73 (± 1.90) versus 4.20 (± 1.85) (p = 0.0001) and 6.43 (± 2.04) versus 4.18 (± 1.88) (p = 0.0001), respectively.ConclusionsThese results suggest that Iraqi patients with SpA benefit from long-term adherence to etanercept treatment; however, additional analyses are needed to further assess the reasons for treatment discontinuation, which may include disease remission.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04507776.

Iraq: The Paranoid Style in American Diplomacy: Oil and Arab Nationalism in Iraq, by Brandon Wolfe-Hunnicutt (book review)

The Paranoid Style in American Diplomacy: Oil and Arab Nationalism in Iraq, by Brandon Wolfe-Hunnicutt. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2021. 336 pages. $26.

Land Reform and Kurdish Nationalism in Postcolonial Iraq

: This article revisits the origins of Kurdish nationalism in Iraq, problematizing the narrative, shared by nationalists and scholars alike, that presents the 1961–1975 insurgency solely as a moment of national awakening. Placing the Kurdish revolt within the social and political conflicts of postcolonial Iraq reveals its strong connection to the Iraqi Revolution of 1958. The early stages of the 1961 revolt must be understood as a reaction of the Kurdish landed class against the post-revolutionary land reform policy and the empowerment of the peasantry. The Kurdish tribal and landowning elite successfully turned its revolt into a national revolution by forcing progressive urban nationalists into a position of subordination and demobilizing the peasantry, formerly the backbone of the anticolonial movement. The hegemonic position of the landed class, won in 1961, had long-term consequences on the development of Kurdish nationalism in Iraq determining its conservative character and the persistent marginalization and depoliticization of the subaltern classes.

The 2017 independence referendum and the political economy of Kurdish nationalism in Iraq

In September 2017, the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq held a referendum for independence despite the high likelihood of heavy retaliation. In contrast to the narrative that presents that decision as the result of gross miscalculation, this article offers an alternative explanation highlighting the role played by Kurdish nationalism in upholding the structures of power of the region. The current class structure, institutional framework and rentier economy of Iraqi Kurdistan had their origins in the 1990s when Kurdish forces gained permanent control of the region. The new ruling class that developed in that decade had a profoundly extractive character and based its power on a strategy of appropriation of the public resources pursued through the control of the political institutions and security forces. The 2017 independence referendum must be understood as an attempt to thwart the threat to this social arrangement represented by a wave of popular protests. These events reveal the profound connection between Kurdish nationalism and the region’s class structure. They also allow us to appreciate the – often neglected – political agency of the subaltern classes in a rentier society.

An outlook on deployment the storage energy technologies in iraq

This study aims to analyze and implement methods for storing electrical energy directly or indirectly in the Iraq National Grid to avoid electricity shortage. Renewable energy sources are changing with time and climatology conditions. Therefore, the impact of weather on power generated and demand using renewable energy is considerable. This issue becomes a new motivation for developing new energy storage systems independent of time and weather. Stored energy ensures the smooth and clean transmission of electricity in conditions where the delivery may be interrupted or mismatched. Storage energy technologies are intelligent as they diversify energy sources, develop economic growth and produce more jobs. Technologies like Redox Flow Batteries (RFB), Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS), Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) and other forms were analyzed within this study. The PHS mechanical indirect electrical energy storage system is a great way to store large amounts of off-peak energy; however, it faces geographical challenges when siting such a development. The paper has strongly recommended the PHS to be used in Iraq due to the unique characteristics of 20,000 cycles, 33 year lifespan, and 80% round trip efficiency. Although Iraq has two rivers, salinity and water management must take into consideration. The study also suggested that RFB and CAES can be added to the network. The future work will concentrate on employing biomass technology, protection and improving the life span of these technologies. Solar and Wind technologies are excluded, as many research papers are available online.

Clinical Outcomes in Iraqi Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Following Earlier or Later Treatment with Etanercept.

PurposeThe development of evidence-based guidelines on early pharmacotherapeutic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) could be useful in Middle Eastern nations striving to improve outcomes in patients with this chronic, debilitating disease. Evidence obtained from local populations should inform such guidelines and therefore our aim was to use real-world data to evaluate the clinical responses of Iraqi patients with RA who received earlier or later treatment with the TNF inhibitor etanercept.Patients and MethodsData from patients registered in the Iraq National Center of Rheumatology database from May 2012 to December 2018, inclusive, were analyzed retrospectively. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, meeting the ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria for RA, referral for etanercept treatment, and ≥1 year of follow-up after etanercept initiation. Patients were excluded if they had received another biologic for RA. Included patients were categorized according to two separate stratifications: whether duration of RA symptoms prior to etanercept initiation was ≤10 or >10 years (10 years represented the mean duration for the entire analysis population); and according to whether duration of RA symptoms prior to etanercept initiation was ≤1, >1 to ≤4, >4 to ≤10, >10 to ≤20, or >20 years. The evaluated outcomes were mean change from baseline in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) after 1 year of etanercept treatment.ResultsA total of 979 patients were included. CDAI and DAS28 were significantly reduced (p<0.001 for both) after 1 year of etanercept treatment irrespective of whether duration of RA symptoms prior to treatment was ≤10 or >10 years. Patients with RA symptoms for ≤1 year prior to etanercept initiation showed a significant reduction in CDAI after 1 year of treatment (p=0.01).ConclusionIraqi patients with RA who received earlier treatment with etanercept had superior outcomes compared with those who received later treatment.

Improving the Iraqi Oil Well Cement Properties Using Barolift: an Experimental Investigation

Cement is a major component in oil and gas drilling operations that is used to maintain the integrity of boreholes by preventing the movement of formation fluids through the annular space and outside the casing. In 2019, Iraq National Oil Company ordered all international oil and gas companies which are working in Iraq to use Iraqi cement (made in Iraq) in all Iraqi oil fields; however, the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and compressive strength results in this study show that this cement is not matching with American Petroleum Institute (API) standards.&#x0D; During this study, barolift was used to improve the properties of Iraqi cement used in oil wells at high pressure and high temperature (HPHT). Barolift (1 g) was added to cement admixture to evaluate its influence on improving the performance of cement, mainly related to the property of toughness. &#x0D; Primarily, the quality and quantity of cement contents were determined using X-ray fluorescence. Experiments were conducted to examine the characteristics of the base cement and the cement system containing 1g of barolift, such as thickening time, free water, compressive strength, and porosity. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were conducted for analyzing the microstructure of cement powder.&#x0D; The experimental results showed that barolift acted as a retarder and improved the thickening time, slightly increased the free water, enhanced the mechanical properties, reduced the porosity, and aided in scheming new cement slurry to withstand the HPHT conditions. Microstructure analysis showed that barolift particles blocked the capillaries by filling cement spaces and, thus, a denser and stricter cement network was achieved.

Seroprevalence of Syphilis among Iraq’s Blood Donors and Their Relation with Blood Group and Rh Factor

Aim of Study: to detect the frequency of syphilis disease among healthy blood donors and if there’sassociation with ABO Blood groups and Rh factor.Methods and Material: this study performed in Iraq National Blood transfusion in Baghdad city, collection ofblood samples obtained from apparently healthy blood donors for a 12 month period (Jan.2018 toDec.2018).Blood group for the volunteers was determined by forward and revers grouping method. Detection ofsyphilis performed by using ELISA technique (fortress,BXE0995C, united Kingdom) for detect antibodiesin the human serum. Syphilis test on of the routine test applied in the blood donor bank in Iraq.Result: a total of 178966 healthy volunteers included in the study, all were blood donors, age 18-60 years,with mean age of 39 years. Only 1233 (0.69%) appeared infected with syphilis, 1208 (98%) were males while25(2%) were females; 444(36%) seropositive was blood group A, while blood group O and blood group Bseropositivity was 366(29.7%) , 333(37%) respectively, The lowest percentage recorded for blood group ABat 90(7.3%). The prevalence of syphilis with Rh factor was as following: 1147(93%) of seropositive was Rh+ve whereas 86(7%) was Rh -ve. Conclusion: blood group A and O are the most prominent blood groupsamong voluntary donors and the prevalence of syphilis is equal compared with other countries.

Irak-Bağdat El Yazmaları Millî Merkezinde Arap harfli Türkçe divanlar kataloğu

There are thousands of manuscripts in various archives and libraries in Iraq. Turkish manuscripts constitute not a small part of these. In this study, a catalog of Turkish poetry divans formerly known as Iraq National Center for Manuscripts and now as The House of Iraqi Manuscripts in Baghdad, is presented. The aim is to put emphasis on the issue that there is a rich treasure of Turkish manuscripts in Iraq and give description for few examples of this important treasure for researchers who would like to do work in this field.

Staging Baghdad as a Problem of Development

This article examines a cinematic artefact from 1957 titled The Housing Program of Iraq, which contains rare footage of sarifa (reed and mud) settlements inhabited by rural migrants in mid-century Baghdad. The film, which was never finished, was produced as a collaboration between the Greek architect Constantinos A. Doxiadis and the director Demetrios Gaziades, who shot and edited the footage between Baghdad and Athens. Through this film Doxiadis intended to complement the Doxiadis Associates’ (DA) entry for the Iraq National Housing Exhibition and also to promote the modern housing projects designed by DA. In this period, various statist actors used the representational medium of documentary film in an attempt to redefine the boundaries of Iraqi citizenship. This film, thus, offered a cinematic portal into an other Baghdad, which was staged as the problem of development. Subsequent scenes narrated the solution to these neighbourhoods and positioned a family in a modern low-income house to animate the film’s developmental fantasy. The film projected universal Iraqi home ownership as a form of citizenship where the house was an instrument to facilitate financial, legal, and social agreements between rural migrants and the Iraqi state. By interrogating the methodological question of how to assemble an archive of ephemeral and subaltern places, this essay suggests expanding our notion of historiographic evidence to understand the intertwined relationships between the politics of development and architecture, and their representation in media.

Focus: Trade unions: fifteen years after the demise of Saddam's tyranny

The GFITU / GFIW split The GFITU split away from the GFIW when its internal integrity was compromised by the government of Iraq at the end of 2011 / early 2012. The GFITU was subsequently admitted to the ITUC six years later as a full member on November / December 2017. The GFITU held its 3rd national election conference in central Baghdad 31 March 2018 in which 4 women out of 13 were elected to the Executive board. Ali Raheem was re-elected again as President of the GFITU. Representatives of the ITUC, ILO and Global Unions were present. The ITUC Global Rights Index 2018 rated Iraq as 4 – systematic violations of rights. Iraq National Polity Iraq held its 4th post-2003 National General Election on 12 May 2018. The incumbent Prime Minister assumed power immediately after Isis terrorist gangs overran and occupied one third of Iraq June 2014, due to the deep sectarian approach by former Iraqi Prime Minister Mr Al Maliki, and extreme national disunity among post-2003 ruling elites. The incumbent Prime Minister is an Islamist moderate working to establish a national political consensus to govern the country post General Election along non-sectarian lines; aiming to maintain and protect Iraq’s internationally recognised sovereign integrity, which has been – and still is – under constant threat from sectarianism and separatist tendencies within dominant ruling elites that have been working since 2003 to divide Iraq into 3 sectarian and nationalistic statelets. The incumbent Prime Minister is aiming to implement social and economic programmes that seek to improve the living standards of all Iraqis. Iraq is now witnessing a national trans-sectarian pro-Iraq grass roots mass social protest movement, that is organised and led for the last three years by the Iraqi Communist Party, al Sadr followers (the al Istiqhama National Party), liberals, and social democratic parties. These political forces formed an alliance to contest the 12 May national election. They called it SAAIRUN. The alliance manifesto states that its primary objective is the eradication of widespread corruption, an end to identity politics that have governed Iraq of post-2003, and the provision of basic services that have been in short supply since 2003 (i.e. clean water, electricity and healthcare, jobs, housing and education). It is worth noting that living standards for most Iraqis have regressed considerably post-2003. Many people have no access to clean drinking water. Children and elderly people are dying in huge numbers due to a lack of healthcare. Illiteracy across Iraq has increased considerably. Millions of children (girls and boys) are now doing child labour and not attending schools. Iraq’s incumbent Prime Minister has worked hard to secure a landslide election victory on 12th May in order to implement his programme and vision of a unified, democratic and peaceful Iraq (his words). He is leading an electoral coalition that is called Nasr (Victory) alliance. The Nasr electoral alliance, that is composed of various Iraqi communal and sectarian affiliations, was seen as the frontrunner to win the 12 May National Election, however it only came third with 42 seats. Iran-backed Shia strong militia leader and former Transport Minister Hadi al-Amiri’s Fateh (Conquest) Coalition was in second, while the surprising outcome of the election is that SAAIRUN came first, wining 54 parliamentary seats. The SAAIRUN victory come about as a result of a number of key factors, including that a large percentage of Iraqi voters boycotted the election, and that the majority of those who did vote, voted for real change. Over 200 MPs of total 329 lost their seats including that of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. The national election was marred by election irregularities and fraud. The UN latest report on Iraq cited election fraud but endorsed the results. Parliament held session in early June and passed a law mandating the manual recount of ballots across Iraq. The Law annulled votes cast by Iraqis living abroad and by the Internally displaced Iraqi refugees. To complicate the situation further, a storage site that held half of Baghdad’s ballots boxes was set on fire. The Prime Minister said “this is a plot to harm Iraq and its democracy”. It was a deliberate act...

Focus: Trade unions: fifteen years after the demise of Saddam's tyranny

The GFITU / GFIW split The GFITU split away from the GFIW when its internal integrity was compromised by the government of Iraq at the end of 2011 / early 2012. The GFITU was subsequently admitted to the ITUC six years later as a full member on November / December 2017. The GFITU held its 3rd national election conference in central Baghdad 31 March 2018 in which 4 women out of 13 were elected to the Executive board. Ali Raheem was re-elected again as President of the GFITU. Representatives of the ITUC, ILO and Global Unions were present. The ITUC Global Rights Index 2018 rated Iraq as 4 – systematic violations of rights. Iraq National Polity Iraq held its 4th post-2003 National General Election on 12 May 2018. The incumbent Prime Minister assumed power immediately after Isis terrorist gangs overran and occupied one third of Iraq June 2014, due to the deep sectarian approach by former Iraqi Prime Minister Mr Al Maliki, and extreme national disunity among post-2003 ruling elites. The incumbent Prime Minister is an Islamist moderate working to establish a national political consensus to govern the country post General Election along non-sectarian lines; aiming to maintain and protect Iraq’s internationally recognised sovereign integrity, which has been – and still is – under constant threat from sectarianism and separatist tendencies within dominant ruling elites that have been working since 2003 to divide Iraq into 3 sectarian and nationalistic statelets. The incumbent Prime Minister is aiming to implement social and economic programmes that seek to improve the living standards of all Iraqis. Iraq is now witnessing a national trans-sectarian pro-Iraq grass roots mass social protest movement, that is organised and led for the last three years by the Iraqi Communist Party, al Sadr followers (the al Istiqhama National Party), liberals, and social democratic parties. These political forces formed an alliance to contest the 12 May national election. They called it SAAIRUN. The alliance manifesto states that its primary objective is the eradication of widespread corruption, an end to identity politics that have governed Iraq of post-2003, and the provision of basic services that have been in short supply since 2003 (i.e. clean water, electricity and healthcare, jobs, housing and education). It is worth noting that living standards for most Iraqis have regressed considerably post-2003. Many people have no access to clean drinking water. Children and elderly people are dying in huge numbers due to a lack of healthcare. Illiteracy across Iraq has increased considerably. Millions of children (girls and boys) are now doing child labour and not attending schools. Iraq’s incumbent Prime Minister has worked hard to secure a landslide election victory on 12th May in order to implement his programme and vision of a unified, democratic and peaceful Iraq (his words). He is leading an electoral coalition that is called Nasr (Victory) alliance. The Nasr electoral alliance, that is composed of various Iraqi communal and sectarian affiliations, was seen as the frontrunner to win the 12 May National Election, however it only came third with 42 seats. Iran-backed Shia strong militia leader and former Transport Minister Hadi al-Amiri’s Fateh (Conquest) Coalition was in second, while the surprising outcome of the election is that SAAIRUN came first, wining 54 parliamentary seats. The SAAIRUN victory come about as a result of a number of key factors, including that a large percentage of Iraqi voters boycotted the election, and that the majority of those who did vote, voted for real change. Over 200 MPs of total 329 lost their seats including that of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. The national election was marred by election irregularities and fraud. The UN latest report on Iraq cited election fraud but endorsed the results. Parliament held session in early June and passed a law mandating the manual recount of ballots across Iraq. The Law annulled votes cast by Iraqis living abroad and by the Internally displaced Iraqi refugees. To complicate the situation further, a storage site that held half of Baghdad’s ballots boxes was set on fire. The Prime Minister said “this is a plot to harm Iraq and its democracy”. It was a deliberate act...

A social accounting matrix for Iraq

This paper deals with the challenges associated with the generation of a social accounting matrix (SAM) in conditions where up-to-date measured data are particularly scarce and provides future researchers of economic systems with the first SAM for Iraq. It delivers a unique and updated countrywide database for use in modeling and policy analysis and applies this database to the empirical investigation into the expected effects of economic diversification in Iraq as stated in the recent Iraq National Development Plan 2013–2017.

Foreign Direct Investment in Iraq: Reassessing the Legal Framework

In spite of its troubled past and ongoing internecine violence, Iraq today stands at the threshold of economic opportunity in ways that few developing states — much less war-torn states like Iraq — could imagine. The Iraq National Investment Commission reported, for example, that in 2010, 178 companies filed for investment licenses totaling $10.5 billion. Currently, the primary foreign participants in Iraq’s post-war economic expansion are sophisticated multinational corporations (MNC), many of which have experience investing in politically and economically unstable markets, including those in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. In their efforts to capitalize on Iraq’s unrivalled natural resources and nascent economic development, these MNCs rely on expert in-house counsel, experienced local counsel, and an expanding group of international law firms to navigate Iraq’s unique legal landscape. “Smaller” and less experienced foreign investors, including some small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), sense the opportunities in Iraq and want a seat at the table. Yet, unlike their larger MNC counterparts, many of these SMEs have limited experience conducting business in the MENA region, are wary of the ongoing political and economic instability in Iraq, and often do not have the financial flexibility to retain expert counsel from large international law firms. Although various think tanks, government agencies, and international organizations have provided useful information regarding the legal framework governing foreign direct investment (FDI) in post-War Iraq, the literature remains fragmented and, at times, outdated. This Article is intended to provide SMEs, theorists, and practitioners an up-to-date, introductory overview of the legal framework governing FDI in post-War Iraq with an eye towards facilitating a greater awareness among SMEs and non-MNC foreign investors of the benefits and challenges attending FDI in post-War Iraq. Specifically, this article briefly explains the broader legal system within which FDI in Iraq takes place and outlines in more detail several common legal issues — such as setting up a business, tax matters, banking, and repatriation of funds — that foreign investors are likely to encounter when preparing for and conducting business activity in Iraq. Additionally, this Article provides investors with practical insights into some of the non-legal issues that accompany investment in post-War Iraq, including sociocultural and security issues. This Article is intended to function as a preliminary, scholarly supplement to professional legal advice.