In a co-authored analysis for the Middle East Institute, CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel discusses the strategic importance of maintaining a strong partnership between the U.S. Special Operations Forces and the Iraqi Counterterrorism Service (CTS). As the security landscape evolves in the Middle East, it will be critical for the United States to support CTS efforts to curb the Islamic State and bolster the Iraqi government, he explains.

General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.) is the former Commander of the U.S. Central Command. He is a Distinguished Senior Fellow on National Security at the Middle East Institute and a member of the CERL Executive Board. Read his bio here.

The views expressed here are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of any organization or university.