Understanding the Tortured U.S.-Iraq Relationship

The U.S. and Iraq have gone to war twice in 30 years. The second time, American invaders deposed an oppressive regime led by strong-man Saddam Hussein. In the process, they unleashed long-suppressed sectarian divisions within Iraq and stoked the rise of Islamic State. In recent years, Iraqi officials worked closely with the Americans to try to establish stability and security in Iraq, even as Iraq also aligned with neighboring Iran, America’s foe. After the U.S. assassinated a top Iranian genera