Q&A: Former Iraqi National Security Advisor Mowaffak al-Rubaie
Top Maliki confidante gives his candid take on Iraq's political landscape, oil disputes and security crisis as national elections loom.
Former Iraqi National Security Advisor Mowaffak al-Rubaie at his office in Baghdad on Dec. 23, 2013, sitting in front of a bust from a toppled statue of ex-dictator Saddam Hussein. Around the bust's neck is the actual rope used to hang Hussein. (SABAH ARAR/AFP/Getty Images)
As Iraq approaches national elections in April, several crises are coming to a head – an oil policy dispute between Baghdad and Erbil, sectarian tensions between Shia and Sunni, and a resurgent network of terrorists looking to exploit the country's divisions.
At the center of these storms, Mowaffak al-Rubaie has faced the daunting task of helping navigate the Iraqi ship of state. After serving as national security adviser from 2004 to 2009, he has worked largely behind the scenes as an informal adviser to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki – a position from which he has gained unparalleled insight into the country's challenges.
This content is for registered users. Please login to continue.
If you are not a registered user, you may purchase a subscription.
If you are not a registered user, you may purchase a subscription.
