The spelling of the phrase "Iraqi National Congress" may seem straightforward at first glance, but it contains some tricky phonetic elements. The first word, "Iraqi," is pronounced /ɪˈræk.i/, with the stress on the second syllable. The next two words, "National Congress," have a secondary stress on the first syllable of "National" and the first syllable of "Congress." Their IPA transcriptions are /ˈnæʃ.ən.əl/ and /ˈkɒn.ɡres/ respectively. Together, the phrase is pronounced as /ɪˈræk.i ˈnæʃ.ən.əl ˈkɒn.ɡres/.
The Iraqi National Congress (INC) refers to a political organization that originated as a coalition of Iraqi opposition groups united against the regime of Saddam Hussein. The INC was formed in 1992 with the aim of promoting democracy and regime change in Iraq. Functioning as a political umbrella, the INC brought together various dissident factions and political parties that shared the common goal of overthrowing the Saddam Hussein regime.
The organization played a significant role in lobbying for international support, particularly from Western governments and institutions, to challenge the Saddam Hussein government. Members of the Iraqi National Congress engaged in diplomatic efforts, disseminating information about human rights abuses, and advocating for democratic change in Iraq.
Led by prominent Iraqi politician Ahmed Chalabi, the INC aimed to present itself as the main voice of the Iraqi opposition, both domestically and internationally. However, opinions on the INC's effectiveness and legitimacy have been divided. While some viewed the organization as a leading force against Saddam Hussein's rule, others criticized its lack of popular support within Iraq and accused it of having close ties to US intelligence agencies.
Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the subsequent fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, the Iraqi National Congress became involved in the post-war political landscape, seeking to establish a role in the new Iraqi government. However, internal divisions and controversies undermined the INC's influence, and it gradually lost prominence in Iraqi politics.