A Spoiler In Iraq

Is Iran still a threat in Iraq? The answer, according to a new study by the Institute for the Study of War and the Weekly Standard, is an unequivocal "yes." "The greatest threat to stability in Iraq is violence by Iranian-backed militias, known as Special Groups," writes analyst Marisa Cochrane. "Having consolidated their networks in Iran, it is highly likely that Special Groups will return to Iraq and rebuild their networks, adopting new tactics to escalate violence accordingly." The warning, coming on the heels of the Iraqi government's assumption of control over security in Anbar province, is a timely reminder that – for all the positive progress that has been made thus far – our gains in the former Ba'athist state are still fragile.