Weekly Email: Institute For The STUDY of WAR

IMAGE OF THE WEEK During last week's ISW Capitol Hill Lunch Brief, ISW President, Kimberly Kagan, and ISW Research Analyst, Claire Russo, spoke about the recent Provincial Elections held in Iraq. RECENT PRODUCTS COMMENTARY » Capitol Hill Briefing: Provincial Elections in Iraq NEW! February 19, 2009 COMMENTARY » ISW News Roundup - February 19, 2009 NEW! February 19, 2009 COMMENTARY » ISW's Iraq Election Center NEW! February 5, 2009 COMMENTARY » "Iraq's Remarkable Election" in the Wall Street Journal NEW! February 5, 2009 SUPPORT US \ Help us thrive! Your donation will help our organization and enhance our product offerings. | Donate Now | February 19, 2009 Dear Pastor Ed Boston, Last week, ISW hosted a Capitol Hill lunch briefing on the recent elections in Iraq. If you missed the briefing, be sure to check out the briefing's highlights by ISW Research Analyst Claire Russo. Included in the main points are: The Iraqi population demonstrated its understanding that democracy can provide for their needs as, throughout Iraq, they voted for nationalist and secular-leaning parties over the sectarian parties who won in the elections of 2005. Iraqis voted out incumbents in the majority of provinces, in what appears to be a demand for action at the local level. The Sunni population of Iraq passed a major milestone in their reconciliation by electing a variety of political parties that illustrate the Sunnis' diverse political objectives. Iraqis demonstrated their desire for a nation ruled by a strong central government, and despite successful provincial elections, many political obstacles lie ahead.