Strategic Shifts During Obama's Tenure and its Effects on Iraqi National Security

The study is an attempt to shed light on the shifts in the US strategy of Obama's administration, shifting from the Iraq, which was the focus of attention of previous US administrations, towards the Asia-Pacific region "Rebalance Strategy", and how this shift contributed to the deterioration of the security situation in Iraq and paved the way for the emergence of "ISIS" in Iraq. The study also shows the main features of this strategy and why Obama decided to withdraw from Iraq and the Middle East region and leaving it in chaos. By investigating and analyzing data, the study concluded that the withdrawal of the US forces from Iraq led to the suspension of training and equipping programs for Iraqi security forces, disruption of the US operational efforts in combating terrorism and insurgency, and led to the growth of Iranian influence in Iraq, which had negative consequences on the security and stability of Iraq and the region. In addition, the withdrawal also led to the absence of the US's role and influence on striking the right balance among the three main components of the Iraqi people.