MIT-Eurasia and MIT-Ukraine Programs; Academic engagement in public policy; Starr Forums; SSP Wednesday Seminars; Exhibit showcases South Asia and MIT connections; Emile Bustani Middle East Seminar; Celebrating the life of John Tirman; MIT-Korea Program; Military fellows offer courses during IAP

The 20th anniversary of the United States-led invasion of Iraq is on March 20, 2023. Codenamed  "Operation Iraqi Freedom" by the George W Bush administration, the goal was to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, topple Saddam Hussein, and re-make Iraq into a democracy. Two decades later, US troops are still on Iraqi soil and that nation is ravaged by challenges, including a threat of civil war last August. Center scholars weigh in on the history that led to the US invasion, lessons learned on state-building, and provide commentary on Iraq's future.

As countries prepare themselves for a post-pandemic world, case studies like China’s vaccine aid should help us better understand the new normal of cooperation and competition in public health and beyond, explains Tingxuan (Diana) Zhu, a PhD student in the Department of Political Science.