The panelists discussed the Iraq was and combating terrorism, moderated by Shannon Brownlee. Topics included the Coalition Provisional Authority occupation of Iraq, the Islamic view of the American presence, democracy in Iraq, the role of Al Qaeda, the rise of militants and violence, and the consequences of U.S. troops leaving Iraq. After their presentations they responded to audience members questions. Rajiv Chandrasekaran is the author of Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone, published by Knopf. Fawaz Gerges is the author of Journey of the Jihadist: Inside Muslim Militancy, published by Harcourt. Nir Rosen is the author of In the Belly of the Green Bird: The Triumph of the Martyrs in Iraq, published by The Free Press. This event was sponsored by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.