Peter W. Galbraith

Peter W. Galbraith is an American diplomat, author, and policy expert who served as the first U.S. Ambassador to Croatia from 1993 to 1998. He worked as a staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for two decades, focusing on Middle East and South Asian affairs. Galbraith gained recognition for his expertise on Iraq and Kurdish issues, having made multiple trips to the region during and after the Saddam Hussein era. He documented human rights abuses against Kurdish populations and became an advocate for Kurdish autonomy. His diplomatic career included work on Afghanistan policy and serving as the United Nations Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan in 2009. Galbraith has also worked as a private consultant and businessman in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. He writes on foreign policy issues, particularly regarding Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. His analysis focuses on the practical challenges of nation-building and the complexities of ethnic and sectarian divisions in these regions.

Readers of "The End of Iraq" appreciate Galbraith's insider perspective on Iraq policy and his firsthand experience in the region. Many reviewers praise his detailed knowledge of Kurdish affairs and his ability to explain the ethnic and sectarian complexities that shaped Iraq's post-invasion trajectory. Readers value his candid assessment of U.S. policy failures and his argument that Iraq's partition along ethnic lines was inevitable. Several reviewers note his clear writing style and his ability to make complex geopolitical issues accessible to general audiences. Some readers criticize Galbraith for what they perceive as oversimplification of the situation in Iraq. Critics argue that his focus on ethnic divisions doesn't account for other factors that contributed to Iraq's instability. A few reviewers question whether his business interests in Kurdistan affected his objectivity. Several readers mention that while his predictions about Iraq's fragmentation proved accurate, they found his proposed solutions less convincing. Some note that his diplomatic background provides credibility but makes the book feel more like a policy brief than a comprehensive analysis.