The Year Ahead/Politics
David Petraeus on the Biggest National Security Threats of 2018
The former U.S. Army general and CIA director talks about Iran, North Korea, Niger, and whether he’d work for Trump.
Petraeus in 2015.
Photographer: C Flanigan/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Nafeesa Syeed: With the fight against Islamic State winding down, what can we expect next in Iraq and Syria?
David Petraeus: This is a very significant achievement and a validation of the strategy that was begun by the previous administration and then accelerated by this one. But the battle after the battle is what matters most.
In Iraq, this is the battle over power and resources. The future of Iraq, frankly, will depend a great deal on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s ability to practice inclusive governance to ensure that the Sunni Arab community that felt alienated and even abused by the previous prime minister [is brought] back into the fabric of society.