Online Resources »

The End of Operation Iraqi Freedom and DoD's Future in Iraq

With President Obama's announcement ending U.S. combat operations in Iraq, the U.S. military takes on a new role in Iraq.

Unanswered Policy Questions on U.S. Troops

CFR President Richard Haass identifies questions that remain following the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq and a renewed focus on Afghanistan is announced in President Obama's Oval Office speech.

President Obama's Address on the End of the Combat Mission in Iraq

President Barack Obama's address from the Oval Office on the end of combat operations in Iraq and American security priorities.

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Quizzes »

Great Decisions 2010 Spring Quiz Series - The Persian Gulf

Online topic quizzes are an ideal test of readers' knowledge of the Great Decisions 2010 articles and the Spring Updates!

Great Decisions 2008 Fall Quiz Series - Iraq Quiz

Online topic quizzes from the Great Decisions 2008 Fall Quiz Series are an ideal test of readers' knowledge of the Great Decisions 2008 Fall Updates.

Great Decisions 2008 Spring Quiz Series - Iraq Quiz

Online topic quizzes from the Great Decisions 2008 Spring Quiz Series are an ideal test of readers' knowledge of the Great Decisions 2008 briefing book articles and Great Decisions 2008 Spring Updates.

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In the Classroom »

Classroom Resources for Great Decisions 2010 From Scholastic - The Persian Gulf

FPA and Scholastic have partnered to bring educators additional resources, all free, on the Great Decisions 2010 topic: The Persian Gulf. These articles appear in The New York Times Upfront, the current events newsmagazine for teens published with The Times.

Foreign Affairs Student Writing Contest 2010

In the inaugural Foreign Affairs Essay Contest, a panel from the Foreign Affairs editorial staff will select one winning essay from submissions from undergraduate students. The winning essay will be published on the Foreign Affairs Web site and the winner will receive a $500 prize. Five honorable mentions will receive a free year-long subscription to Foreign Affairs.

America & the World: Challenges for the New President

The advent of every new administration presents America with the opportunity to press the "reset button" for foreign policy - if it were only that simple! America's foreign policy, no matter who sits in the Oval Office, is always affected by decisions made by the previous administration, and all those that came before.

Originally published as a supplement to The New York Times Upfront, this Guide was written by FPA blogger Mark Dillen to help students examine ten of the leading foreign policy challenges that will face the Obama administration.

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Recommended Readings »

War of Necessity, War of Choice: A Memoir of Two Iraq Wars

War of Necessity, War of Choice -- part history, part memoir -- provides an invaluable compass for how the United States can apply the lessons learned from the two Iraq wars so that it is better positioned to put into practice what worked and to avoid repeating what so clearly did not. Richard Haass is one of just a handful of individuals -- along with Colin Powell, Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, and Bob Gates -- involved at a senior level of U.S. government decision making during both Iraq conflicts. He is the first to take us behind closed doors and the first to provide a personal account.

The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics and the Endgame in Iraq

In Iraq, the United States made mistake after mistake. Many Americans gave up on the war. Then two generals—David Petraeus and Raymond Odierno—displayed the leadership America expected. Bringing the reader from the White House to the fighting in the streets, combat journalist and bestselling author Bing West explains this astounding turnaround by U.S. forces. In the course of fifteen extended trips over five years, West embedded with more than sixty front-line units, discussing strategy with generals and tactics with corporals. Disposing of myths, he provides an expert's account of the counterinsurgency. This is the definitive study of how American soldiers actually fought.

Understanding Iraq: The Whole Sweep of Iraqi History, from Genghis Khan's Mongols to the Ottoman Turks to the British Mandate to the American Occupation

The destinies of Iraq and America will be tightly intertwined into the foreseeable future due to the U.S. incursion into this complex, perplexing desert nation -- the latest in a long history of violent outside interventions. A country sitting atop the world's largest supply of crude oil, Iraq will continue to play an essential role in global economics and in Middle Eastern politics for many decades to come. Therefore, it is more important than ever for Westerners to have a clear understanding of the volatile, enigmatic "Land of Two Rivers" -- its turbulent past and its looming possibilities.

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