The United States, its allies and the Iraqi Government will need to make some difficult decisions if they are to maintain hard won security gains in Iraq.

In the wake of coordinated and deadly al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) attacks in and around Baghdad, Lydia Khalil explores the uncertain road ahead and considers the role Australia can play to assist Iraq as it deals with an uptick in violent attacks, unresolved sectarian tensions, the nascent Iraqi security services, and a fragile government with a precarious hold on power.