The Foreign Service Journal, September 2009

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 9 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 31 lines of operation: diplomatic, economic, security, politi- cal and rule of law. Some illustrative tasks in the strategy include: • Building the Iraqi government’s capacity to budget for and provide essential services, in order to increase its responsiveness and accountability to the Iraqi citizens; • Strengthening indigenous microfinance and small- and medium-size lending institutions, in order to develop the private sector and decrease dependence on imports and aid from Iran; • Increasing the Iraqi government’s ability to track and shut down flows and facilitators of lethal aid; and • Encouraging and enabling Baghdad to strengthen diplomatic and trade ties with other regional partners. This last task is particularly exemplary. It is based on the JIATF team’s recognition that Tehran posed a threat in part because of Iraq’s relatively insignificant relations with other neighbors: Arab countries had limited trade with, and minimal diplomatic representation in, Iraq, mainly due to security concerns. As Iraqi ForeignMinister Hosh- yar Zebari has acknowledged: “The absence of Arabs from Iraq was a big mistake. It is not right and it is not accept- able.” He vowed to increase regional diplomatic ties in order to promote his country’s stability. By mid-2009, Iraq’s trade links with Germany, France, Turkey, Kuwait, Qatar, China and many other countries were growing from week to week. Improved security en- abled Baghdad to strengthen diplomatic ties with other Arab countries, another element that balances Iran’s in- fluence in Iraq. Heads of state and top ministers from sev- eral Arab and European countries recently visited Iraq for the first time, each carrying promises to increase trade and investment and to establish embassies and consulates. Many Arab and Western countries have recently desig- nated ambassadors to Iraq. Today, Iran and Iraq are increasing cooperation on security, transportation, tourism and trade. The maturing relationship reflects Tehran’s realization that legitimate ties with a stable and sovereign Iraq are more in Iran’s interest than intervention in an unstable and occupied neighbor. F O C U S