02
May 2019
Past Event
Post-ISIS Stabilization and Reconstruction in Syria and Iraq

Post-ISIS Stabilization and Reconstruction in Syria and Iraq

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
May 02, 2019
A Syrian man and a child ride a motorcycle in the Islamic State (IS) group's former Syrian capital of Raqa in northern Syria.
Caption
A Syrian man and a child ride a motorcycle in the Islamic State (IS) group's former Syrian capital of Raqa in northern Syria.
02
May 2019
Past Event

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004

Speakers:
Denise Natali

Assistant Secretary for Stabilization, U.S. State Department

Linda Robinson

Senior International and Defense Researcher, RAND Corporation

Loay Mikhael

Senior Advisor, Iraq Haven Project; Head of Foreign Relations, Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council

Elizabeth Dent

Non-resident Scholar, Countering Terrorism and Extremism Program, Middle East Institute

Frances Z. Brown

Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Jonas Parello-Plesner

Executive Director, Alliance of Democracies Foundation

Now that ISIS has been driven out of Iraq and Syria, rebuilding the region is a significant issue for the U.S., Iraq, Syria, and its allies. Hudson Institute hosted a discussion on post-ISIS Iraq and Syria and the future of U.S. Middle East policy. Keynote remarks will be delivered by Assistant Secretary of State for Stabilization Denise Natali, followed by a panel with the RAND Corporation’s Linda Robinson; Senior Advisor with the Iraq Haven Project Loay Mikhael; the Middle East Institute’s Elizabeth Dent; and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Frances Z. Brown. The discussion was moderated by Hudson Non-resident Senior Fellow Jonas Parello-Plesner.

ISIS has been defeated militarily, yet many challenges remain to stabilize and reconstruct the war-torn region, particularly in Iraq and Syria. The chief difficulties plaguing these countries include unlawful reconciliation practices for residents of former ISIS-occupied territories; regional disputes between the Kurdish population, Turkey, and Assad-controlled Syria; and mounting influence from outside actors including Russia and Iran. Rebuilding the region is in the U.S.’s best interests, but it cannot be done alone. Instead, the Trump administration favors a burden-sharing approach that requires greater investment from Iraq, Syria, and its western allies.

**NOTE: This event is open to the press. All members of the media should RSVP to press@hudson.org.**

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