Analysis: Why US withdrawal might not end Iraq’s militia problem

Next Wednesday, Sept. 30, will be Sovereignty Day in Iraq, a new national holiday created to celebrate the withdrawal of the last US troops from the country after a 23-year presence. What Wednesday will not be, despite much speculation to the contrary over the past few months, is the day that Iraq’s multiple pro-Iran militias surrender their weapons to the state. Since Iraq’s latest prime minister, Ali Al-Zaidi, took office in May, Sept. 30 has been widely mooted as disarmament day. There has, h