A Civilian “Surge” for Iraq

As the situation in Iraq stabilizes and a new administration takes office, the public debate on U.S. policy toward Iraq has focused on the redeployment and withdrawal of U.S. troops. This has resulted in far less attention being paid to civilian assistance programs, although such programs could very well play the crucial role in Iraq’s long-term stabilization.

On January 30, the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement hosted a discussion with a panel of leading experts on civilian assistance programs, including those who have worked on the ground in Iraq, to examine the work of civilian aid agencies. Panelists will also explore the experiences of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Iraq, the role of humanitarian assistance in U.S. foreign policy and the potential role of the United Nations. Brookings Senior Fellow Elizabeth Ferris provided introductory remarks and moderated the discussion.