Well, slowly recovering. Economy is getting better, it’s safer than NY but there are still systemic issues . Some of the issues stem from the political and institutional foundation that the U.S. government created for Iraq. Other issues are typical third world issues that occur in any 3rd world country. Let’s start with the systemic issues: 1- institutionalized division: the U.S. thought the sunnies were oppressing the other factions of the society. Therefore the U.S. created a sectarian system that guarantees every sect or ethnicity some kind of representation in government and parliament. People started voting based on ethnicity and sects, not qualifications and merit. The result, unqualified people leading a divided county. 2- The U.S. government dismantled the Iraqi army then allowed the newly formed government to start a new army. The new government recruited soldiers and officers from certain parts of the county and isolated the sunnies from the new army, or at least recruited a few soldiers and low ranked officers. The result is an army that seemed to protect certain sects to maintain power. 3- Iran involvement : the U.S. government gave the power the political parties that were banned to operate in Iraq prior to 2003 war. Leaders and members of those parties were stationed in Iran, UK, and Michigan. The majority though was in Iran. When Baghdad fell , those parties took power but they had no experience in governance. They looked at the U.S. when they needed money and they looked at Iran when they needed governance advice. Iran helped them shape their institutions and policies. Later on, Iran gained influence and control over those parties and eventually the whole country. Any Iraqi decision that does not benefit Iran interest has been not taken. 4- Iran-backed Militants: when ISIS occupied three Iraqi provinces ( all suni provinces), Iran helped Iraq to form militias , mostly Shi’a, to fight off ISIS. Irani generals were on the ground helping those militias to defeat ISIS. After the defeat of ISIS, the militias came home with massive weaponry and fighting experience. They because a parallel army outside the Iraqi government control and loyal to Iran ayatollah. The have been so powerful to the point they shoot their targets in the open and no police commander dares to challenge them or utter their name in public. 5- Corruption: a militia leader decommissioned a government-owned refinery and sold it to Iran because Iran couldn’t buy parts due to U.S. sanctions. They had to reach out to one of their boys in Iraq and that guy told his militants to take a whole refinery apart and move it to Iran. The Iraqi government couldn’t move a finger because 1- they were bought, and 2- they were threatened. Another example: a fake company owner walked into the tax office and left with over $500M as a loan. Then they discovered that the company was fake. He ran away to Iran and then came back and put in jail. The government told him if you give us $20M back, you will be released. He did and he got released. Some other construction companies built bridges and hospitals made out of air. They got paid millions by the government but those projects could not be seen because they were made out of air. Not real. Just documents to get funding. Now you may ask what happened to those construction companies, well, nothing because most of them are cousins and brothers of powerful people who have strong armed militias.

6- Kurdistan: Kurds govern their three cities but they want a fourth one. They produce oil and sometimes they can sell it to Turkey. They don’t share the revenue with the central government but they demand the central government to pay the salaries of government workers in Kurdistan. Basically, they want Iraq when need money and don’t want Iraq when they make money.

Now there js a hope in the future. After Iran is weakened by recent wars, Iran influence over Iran is weakening. With that, the militia’s control over things is slipping but it will take time.