The Monocle Daily: Iraq’s Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Resurfaces – At What Cost?

Date: January 29, 2026
Host: Andrew Muller
Guests: Lyn O’Donnell (Foreign Policy), Charles Hecker (Author, RUSI Associate Fellow)

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the political aftershocks of Nouri al-Maliki’s return as Iraq’s potential prime minister, examining US (Trump) intervention, regional implications (especially Iran and the Middle East), and what this means for Iraq's future stability. The panel also explores Russian interests in a changing Syria, the US government shutdown threat, and the rise of driverless taxis in London, before closing with a moving monologue on Dominican-Haitian history.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iraq and Nouri al-Maliki’s Comeback

[04:20]

• Context: Iraq’s recent elections brought forth a coalition intending to return former PM Nouri al-Maliki to power, sparking US (Trump) threats to pull support if this happens.

• Maliki’s Record: Lyn O’Donnell describes 2006-2014 as “horrific years for Iraq and its people,” marked by sectarian violence and the rise of ISIS.

  • Quote [05:28]:

    “2006 to 2014 were horrific years...the country descended into sectarian violence...all of this led into the horror of ISIS.” – Lyn O’Donnell

• Trump’s Motivations: Both panelists see Trump’s rhetoric ("insane policies and IDEOLOGIES") as more about countering Iranian influence in Iraq than genuine concern for governance.

• Sectarian Politics: Iraq’s majority-Shia population and their voting patterns empower Iran’s sway, but, as O’Donnell notes, there are plenty of Shia leaders—so why Maliki?

  • Power politics and the ability to “hand out favours,” says O’Donnell, drive this support.

[07:45]

• Foreign Interference Backlash: Hecker notes that Trump’s threats could inadvertently boost Maliki’s support:
  • Quote [08:15]:

    “There is a certain unifying force that Donald Trump has in other countries.” – Charles Hecker

[08:43]

• Investor Hesitancy: Hecker relays from business contacts that international investors are wary of a Maliki return.
  • Quote [08:43]:

    “I will be an enthusiastic investor until or as long as they do not appoint Nouri al Maliki as the prime minister.” – Charles Hecker (quoting contact)

[09:21]

• Geopolitical Stakes: Both guests argue total US withdrawal would delight Iran but is unlikely; Trump’s saber-rattling is “belligerent rhetoric” more than real intention.

2. Russia, Syria, and Bashar al-Assad’s Exile

[11:17]

• Moscow’s Role: Putin hosts Syria’s new president, Ahmed Al Sharrar, despite their opposing war records, and former president Assad remains in exile in Russia.
• Why Stay in Syria?
  • Critical: It’s Russia’s last military base outside the former Soviet Union, says Hecker.
  • Russia needs allies; recent setbacks in Venezuela mean it can’t afford to lose Syria.

[13:37]

• Al Sharrar’s Legitimacy Bid: Lyn O’Donnell notes his “pragmatic” tour—trading Al Qaeda past for a suit and shaking hands in Washington.

• Assad’s Future:

  • Hecker predicts Assad’s fate is a negotiation chip:

    “If you’re going to be an unreliable ally, it’s probably better to be unreliable to people who have already been deposed from power.” – Charles Hecker [14:13]

• Justice vs. Stability: Should Assad be extradited and tried? O’Donnell doubts he’d reach a courtroom:

  • Quote [15:24]:

    “There’s plenty of time between getting off a plane and getting into a car on the tarmac… I can't see it happening with Asada either.” – Lyn O’Donnell

[16:06]

• Kurdish Reconciliation: Syria retakes major cities and offers citizenship and language rights to Kurds—but panel is skeptical this will erase deep grievances or gain Western legitimacy.

3. US Politics: Shutdown Threats and Immigration Debate

[17:32]

• Partial Shutdown Looms:

  • Democrats threaten a partial government shutdown over the Department of Homeland Security and Trump’s hardline immigration policies.

• Broken System:

  • Hecker: “It’s really, really weird that you can actually kind of switch the government on and off.”

• ICE, Border Patrol, & Political Optics:

  • The debate over ICE becomes a political wedge; Republicans, despite “small government” rhetoric, support militarized state action against immigrants, much to the bafflement of both American citizens and observers.
    • Quote [23:12]:

      “I’m for small government, except for the parts of the government that I like, and … that carry out the policies that I want or … act against my fellow citizens who I don’t like.” – Charles Hecker

• Blowback and Concessions:

  • O’Donnell argues public pressure may force the Trump administration to backtrack.
    • Quote [19:46]:

      “You mean that they might be starting to listen to the people who don’t like being shot? Yeah, maybe.” – Lyn O’Donnell

4. Driverless Taxis in London – A Local and Global Shift

[24:45]

• Waymo’s Robo-Taxis Debut:
  • Trials begin in London, with panelists noting both the inevitability and the social cost.
  • O’Donnell is pragmatic but wary: “I think it’s inevitable, whether I’m keen or not…”
• Loss of Human Help & Jobs:
  • Many rely on drivers, both as employees and for assistance. O’Donnell:

    “There has to be a balance between driver and driverless… There is a large proportion of every population that would like to have help.” [25:28]

• Unexpected AI Interactions:
  • O’Donnell recounts a Miami incident where the driverless car’s AI commented on a passenger:

    “The car said, ‘Yeah, John really needs to chill.’” [26:43]

• Political Resistance:
  • Hecker predicts the powerful London Taxi lobby (LTDA) will fight back as they did against Uber ([27:29]); the future will bring profound job displacement for many.

5. Weekly Letter: Dominican-Haitian History & Identity

[30:16]

• Gregory Scruggs reports from Santo Domingo:
  • He delves into the fraught legacy of the “Parsley Massacre,” where linguistic differences were a death sentence during ethnic violence.
  • Scruggs reflects on ongoing anti-Haitian sentiment and how complex histories are both remembered and forgotten in modern Dominican life.
  • Memorable Moment:

    “Spit out a mellifluous ‘perejil’ with a knife to your throat and you would survive. Find yourself a tongue-tied Francophone intoning ‘perejil,’ and your fate was sealed.” – Gregory Scruggs [32:48]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• [05:28] Lyn O’Donnell: “2006 to 2014 were horrific years...the country descended into sectarian violence… all of this led into the horror of ISIS.”
• [08:15] Charles Hecker: “There is a certain unifying force that Donald Trump has in other countries.”
• [08:43] Charles Hecker (quoting Iraqi investor): “I will be an enthusiastic investor until or as long as they do not appoint Nouri al Maliki as the prime minister.”
• [13:37] Lyn O’Donnell: “He put on a suit, shed his Al Qaeda nom de guerre and flew to Washington and had his picture taken, shaking hands...”
• [14:13] Charles Hecker: “If you’re going to be an unreliable ally, it’s probably better to be unreliable to people who have already been deposed from power.”
• [19:46] Lyn O’Donnell: “You mean that they might be starting to listen to the people who don’t like being shot? Yeah, maybe.”
• [23:12] Charles Hecker: “I’m for small government, except for the parts of the government that I like, and … that carry out the policies that I want or … act against my fellow citizens who I don’t like.”
• [26:43] Lyn O’Donnell: “The car said, ‘Yeah, John really needs to chill.’ The car is judgmental.”
• [32:48] Gregory Scruggs: “Spit out a mellifluous ‘perejil’ with a knife to your throat and you would survive. Find yourself a tongue-tied Francophone intoning ‘perejil,’ and your fate was sealed.”

Timestamps Guide

• 00:00-03:25 – Personal anecdotes, panel introductions
• 04:20-11:17 – Iraq, Maliki, US-Iran geopolitics
• 11:17-16:49 – Russia & Syria, Assad's exile
• 17:32-23:57 – US shutdown, ICE, political dynamics
• 24:45-29:58 – Driverless taxis, job future, tech anecdotes
• 30:16-36:31 – The Letter: Dominican Republic, Haiti, and historic memory

Tone & Language

The discussion veers between sharp analysis (“belligerent rhetoric,” “pragmatic and mutually pragmatic”) and wry, sometimes sardonic humor (comparing US shutdowns to “the new impeachment,” or joking about driverless cars’ judgmental remarks). Quotes are relayed in the speakers’ own style, often mixing irony with blunt realism about global politics and technology.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode offers both sobering geopolitical reality checks (Iraq’s political volatility, Russia’s shrinking international reach, and America’s governance gridlock) and universal questions about a technological future that may leave millions behind. It’s punctuated with deadpan wit and a final, evocative exploration of history, violence, and culinary memory in the Caribbean.