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PROFILE

Peter Galbraith Guest

Peter Galbraith

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gubernatorial candidate and former diplomat

Democratic candidate for Governor of Vermont; former State Senator (D-Windham District) in Vermont and diplomatic fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation; former Deputy Special Representative in Afghanistan for the Secretary-General of the UN (June-September, 2009) and former US Ambassador to Croatia; author of The End of Iraq: How American Incompetence Created a War without End and Unintended Consequences: How War in Iraq Strengthened America's Enemies

FROM Peter Galbraith

Is Iraq the Next "Failed State" in the Middle East?

Is Iraq the Next "Failed State" in the Middle East? This week's brief takeover of the Iraqi parliament in Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone may have been political theater, but it was part of a real-life drama that's deadly serious and may or may not have a happy ending for Sunnis, Shia, Kurds — or the United States. American casualties will likely rise in the fight against ISIS -- and in support of a government too weak to hold the country together. We look at the struggle to prevent a bad situation from growing worse.

33 MIN, 49 SEC May 05, 2016

Will Iraq Become a Divided Country?

Will Iraq Become a Divided Country? In Baghdad today, 44 Sunni prisoners in a government-controlled police station were killed — apparently in retaliation for advances by Sunni extremists with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. As forces of ISIS get closer to Baghdad, it appears that Iraq's current leadership might not hold the country together. The unlikely alliance of Iran and the US is urging political unity instead of sectarian warfare, but they're being ignored by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Others insist that Iraq never was a real country, and that division between Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds is inevitable. Will the current chaos lead to a re-drawing of national boundaries imposed by European colonial powers 100 years ago?

34 MIN, 46 SEC Jun 17, 2014

Karzai Convenes Peace Jirga, Reaches Out to the Taliban

Which Way, L.A.?

Karzai Convenes Peace Jirga, Reaches Out to the Taliban Yesterday, as he opened his " peace jirga ," Afghan President Hamid Karzai spoke to 1600 handpicked tribal leaders and politicians. He addressed the Taliban directly, "Make peace with me and there will be no need for foreigners here." Before Karzai finished speaking, a rocket exploded nearby, and security forces fought off two attempted suicide bombers.

26 MIN, 32 SEC Jun 03, 2010

Karzai Convenes Peace Jirga, Reaches Out to the Taliban

Karzai Convenes Peace Jirga, Reaches Out to the Taliban Sixteen hundred handpicked delegates, tribal leaders and politicians, agreed today that President Karzai's traditional jirga , is the last chance for peace in Afghanistan. But his effort to reach out to the Taliban has already been met with rockets and suicide bombers, and the jirga includes none of his political opposition. If Karzai's government is too corrupt to earn public confidence, is there a credible alternative? Can more US troops make a difference? We hear different views on the chances of winning one of the longest wars in American history.

35 MIN, 53 SEC Jun 03, 2010

Diplomat's Interests in Kurdish Oil Raise Conflict of Interest Questions

Diplomat's Interests in Kurdish Oil Raise Conflict of Interest Questions Peter Galbraith is a former American diplomat, who has pushed hard for the province of Kurdistan to be as independent as possible from Iraq's central government. After the US invasion, he helped draw up a new Iraqi constitution and advocated that the Kurds have full control over newly discovered oil. Now it develops that, at the same time, he had an agreement with a Norwegian oil company that struck oil in Kurdistan, a fact he never disclosed until investigative reporters asked him about it this week. Was there a conflict of interest?

7 MIN, 30 SEC Nov 13, 2009

Afghanistan's Run-off Election

Which Way, L.A.?

Afghanistan's Run-off Election When Afghanistan's presidential election was under way, Peter Galbraith complained that the UN mission refused to release evidence of fraud. That cost him his job as special representative of the Secretary General. But the evidence turned out to be so strong that President Hamid Karzai agreed to a runoff . Today, that same UN mission announced that more than half of the country's senior election officials will be fired . Will that guarantee free and fair voting? Will there be protection against the Taliban for those brave enough to go back to the polls? Will the outcome earn the public support that's needed for General Stanley McChrystal's strategy of counter-insurgency? With Barack Obama on the verge of decisions that could define his presidency, what lessons can be learned from America's history in Vietnam?

28 MIN, 48 SEC Oct 21, 2009

Afghanistan, US Troops and the Run-off Election

Afghanistan, US Troops and the Run-off Election President Hamid Karzai insisted that his re-election was fair and square. He agreed to a run-off only after heavy pressure from the US and other countries, citing evidence of massive election fraud. Sending more US troops to Afghanistan now depends on the political culture of a country famous for incompetence and corruption. The White House wants a “credible” partner, and today the United Nations announced that more than half of Afghanistan's election officials are being fired. Will that guarantee free and fair voting next time around? Will there be protection against the Taliban for those brave enough to go back to the polls? Will the outcome earn the public support that's needed for General Stanley McChrystal's strategy of counter-insurgency? With Barack Obama on the verge of decisions that could define his presidency, what lessons can be learned from America's history in Vietnam?

36 MIN, 21 SEC Oct 21, 2009

Iraq's Future: The Battle Continues

Which Way, L.A.?

Iraq's Future: The Battle Continues There's more political uncertainty in Iraq today with the death of Abdul Aziz Hakim, a powerful political figure who succumbed to cancer. In the aftermath of the US invasion, Hakim gained enough power to be a visitor at the Bush White House, but he also had close ties with Iran.

28 MIN, 25 SEC Aug 26, 2009

Bombs and Politics in Iraq

Bombs and Politics in Iraq Last week two massive truck bombs killed 100 people in downtown Baghdad and wounded 1000 more, a serious blow to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. He'd been dismantling blast walls and claiming that Iraqi forces could maintain security now that US troops have pulled out of the cities. The death of rival leader Abdul Aziz Hakim, who today succumbed to cancer, has increased political uncertainty. In the aftermath of the US invasion, Hakim gained enough power to be a visitor at the Bush White House, but also had close ties with Iran. Is the time ripe for another Sunni insurgency? Will the Kurds start a civil war? Iran and the US are competing for influence in Iraq. Will American troops be dragged back in or are US interests best served by continuing to withdraw?

35 MIN, 20 SEC Aug 26, 2009

Pakistani Opposition Leader Bhutto Assassinated

Which Way, L.A.?

Pakistani Opposition Leader Bhutto Assassinated Heads of state around the world are reacting to today's assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan. President Bush delivered his comments from his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Who will fill the vacuum her death leaves in Pakistani politics? Who will carry her banner in the January election? Will that election occur as scheduled? How did Pakistan become unsafe for democracy? Will President Musharraf be able to control the aftermath of the Bhutto assassination? This, and a friend's personal memories of Bhutto.

Dec 27, 2007

Pakistani Opposition Leader Bhutto Assassinated

Pakistani Opposition Leader Bhutto Assassinated Heads of state around the world are reacting to today's assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan. President Bush delivered his comments from his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Who will fill the vacuum her death leaves in Pakistani politics? Who will carry her banner in the January election? Will that election occur as scheduled? How did Pakistan become unsafe for democracy? Will President Musharraf be able to control the aftermath of the Bhutto assassination? This, and a friend's personal memories of Bhutto.

39 MIN Dec 27, 2007

Kurdistan: New Drums of War in the Middle East

Kurdistan: New Drums of War in the Middle East The US will have to choose between its wife and its girlfriend. Will it be Turkey or Iraqi Kurdistan? Meantime, Iran is hanging around the back door. That's a crude metaphor that fits all too well with 100,000 Turkish troops on the Iraqi border in an already violent region. At stake are: stability in the only tranquil part of Iraq; US relations with a NATO ally; and the global price of crude oil. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is on her way to Istanbul for a conference originally called to talk about Iraq's internal security; Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki has asked Iran to help resolve the crisis; Turkey's President will meet President Bush on Monday. Can they calm an escalating crisis?

36 MIN, 31 SEC Nov 01, 2007

The Looming Political Battle over Iraq

The Looming Political Battle over Iraq Although Congressional Democrats failed to prevent President Bush's military surge in Iraq last year, they won a concession. They funded the increased deployments, but demanded that the administration report on the success of its operations by September 15. With that day of reckoning almost here, the political battle lines have been drawn. Many Democrats, and a growing number of Republicans, are demanding a withdrawal. The military is stretched to the breaking point, but terrorism remains a threat and the President says the surge needs more time. When General David Petreaus makes his report next week, Bush will face one of his toughest decisions since he launched the war: does the US stay or go? Can Bush continue to fight and still bring some troops home? Guest host Jim Sterngold explores the chaos of Iraq that's taking center stage in the chaotic political arena in Washington.

33 MIN, 56 SEC Sep 05, 2007

How United Is Iraq's Unity Government?

Which Way, L.A.?

How United Is Iraq's Unity Government? Iraq's unity government is facing a political crisis. Last week, six ministers resigned, and today five more declared a "boycott" of meetings. That leaves no active Sunnis in Prime Minister al-Maliki's cabinet. Feisal Istrabadi, Iraq's Ambassador to the UN, concedes that the al-Maliki government is not providing basic services—water, power and sewage, but claims that the Prime Minister's political problems are growing pains much like those of the early United States.

Aug 06, 2007

Is Iraq's Government on the Verge of Collapse

Is Iraq's Government on the Verge of Collapse With the parliament off on a month-long vacation, five more Iraqi cabinet ministers quit today, the last of the Sunnis in a Shiite-dominated regime. The latest to leave the government of Nouri al-Maliki are loyal to former Prime Minister Ayad Allawai. Also today, suicide bomber killed at least 28 people, including 19 children, in Tal Afar, a religiously mixed city north of Baghdad. This comes on the heels of Defense Secretary Robert Gates' very public disappointment over the failure of political reconciliation. We hear about Iraqi politics and the government's inability to provide basic services, including water and power. Is it too late for the Iraq Study Group's recommendations ? Should Iraq be divided into three separate entities?

Aug 06, 2007

Post-Iraq Syndrome

Post-Iraq Syndrome Defeat in war can have "unintended, seemingly inexplicable consequences." Upset defeats can be especially damaging to a nation's psyche. Thirty years ago, what came to be called Vietnam Syndrome has divided America for decades, with profound consequences for its politics and conduct of foreign policy. Will "Iraq Syndrome" have similar and longer-lasting consequences? What about US prestige and effectiveness in the rest of the world?

Jun 15, 2007

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