Yahia Said

Yahia Said is visiting Research Fellow at the London School of Economics and the World Bank economist for Iraq. He closely followed the developments in Iraq since the invasion of 2003 covering issues of security, political and economic transition. Together with Mary Kaldor and Terry Karl, Yahia edited Oil Wars, Pluto 2008 which examines issues of confict in oil dependent countries.

The Iraq surge 2007-2008 – what does Human Security have to say about it?

The multinational forces succeeded in gaining the trust of communities by changing the focus of the mission from the prosecution of insurgents to protection of civilians. This is a significant departure from past practices

By Yahia Said

/ 15 Jan 2011

Parallel politics in Iraq

Iraq has had elections but does not yet have a governing coalition. Since 30 January, politicians in Baghdad have been haggling over who should control Kirkuk and its oil and

By Mary Kaldor and Yahia Said

/ 22 Mar 2005

Iraqs tightrope walk: Yahia Said interviewed

openDemocracy: What is happening in Iraq now? Doesnt the insurgency present an insuperable obstacle to a political solution and proper elections in January? Yahia Said: A number of these

By Yahia Said

/ 25 Nov 2004

Return to Iraq

The Green Zone a large area of Baghdad where the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) is based has an air of unreality. Grass and palm trees, fountains and pools, palaces and

By Mary Kaldor and Yahia Said

/ 27 May 2004

The capture of Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein: I am the President of Iraq and I am willing to negotiate. Special Forces Officer: President Bush sends his regards. A more farcical conclusion to the thirty-five year

By Yahia Said

/ 18 Dec 2003

Dear General Ezzat

My openDemocracy article Eight Days in Iraq may have sounded inappropriately upbeat for a place reeling under foreign occupation and the aftermath of three devastating wars and sanctions, a place

By Yahia Said

/ 24 Nov 2003

Eight days in Iraq

I could not believe my ears. I apologise for the inconvenience, said the Iraqi policeman as he finished searching our car. We were at the checkpoint in front of the

By Yahia Said

/ 6 Nov 2003

A question of trust: Iraqis, the US, and regime change

There are many reasons why Iraqis who have long sought to topple Saddam Hussein are opposed to the impending war. One of them is the lack of trust in their

By Yahia Said

/ 9 Dec 2002