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Michael Flanagan
Michael Flanagan

Michael Patrick Flanagan represented the 5th District of Illinois in the historic 104th Congress. He sat on the Committees on the Judiciary, Government Reform and Oversight, and Veterans’ Affairs. Prior to his Congressional Service, Michael was commissioned in the United States Army Field Artillery. After leaving Congress, Michael and his firm, Flanagan Consulting LLC, have represented both large and small corporations, organizations, and associations. In 2009, Michael took a sabbatical from his lobbying business and entered public service again with the United States Department of State in Iraq as the Senior Rule of Law Advisor on the Maysan Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Maysan, Iraq. For his work, Michael was awarded the Man of the Year by the Iraqi Courts, the Civilian Service Medal by the US Army and was also given the Individual Distinguished Honor Award. Michael is currently a consultant in Washington, D.C. His email ID is [email protected].

As Iran sinks financially, Iraqi militias generate funds via protection rackets

In areas rife with corruption, lawful behavior is often punished as the forces of law enforcement do not work for the people but for the often malignant forces wielding actual power. Sadly, parts of...

 ANALYSIS: The troubled relationship between Iraqi nationals and Kurds

The ongoing relationship between the Arab Iraqis and the Kurds in the north of Iraq continues to be difficult. It has evolved from the parent to child relationship that Iraq has with all of its...

 ANALYSIS: Economic situation of the Middle East continues to be complicated

The economic situation of the nations of the Middle East continues to be a driving force on local relations and relations with the United States and the West generally.This week, Iranian President...

 ANALYSIS: Closely bound to Tehran, Basra is aflame, again

Iraq’s second city, Basra, is burning again. Driven by a lack of city services and enormous, growing unemployment, Basra’s populace is rioting and burning. This iteration of unrest is as...

 ANALYSIS: Is Iran’s time in Iraq coming to an end?

Iraq is no stranger to foreign influence in its politics, economy and way of life. It has been the crossroads for trade between Asia, Europe and Africa from time immemorial. Having had only an...

 ANALYSIS: Muqtada al-Sadr and rising tensions between Iran and Iraq

Economic and political tensions are rising between Iran and Iraq. One of the major contributors is the souring of Muqtada al-Sadr’s personal relationship with Iran and, to a lesser extent,...

 ANALYSIS: Why is sanctioning Iran’s banking sector a top priority?

On November 5 of this year, the United States re-imposed sanctions against Iran. This involved many moving parts within the United States’ government and in other governments around the world...

 Iraqi corruption reminiscent of this US state

In his appearance before a parliamentary panel Ali al-Alaq, the Governor of Iraq’s Central Bank, had to answer several questions about a five-year-old incident at a branch of the Iraq’s...