After an emotionally and economically exhaustive eight-year war, President Obama will withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of this month. Laith Saud, an Iraqi-American who teaches Islamic world studies at DePaul University, reveals his thoughts on what Iraq’s future might look like in a region dramatically transformed by the Arab spring. And on Global Notes, Jerome and Radio M host Tony Sarabia present their picks for best album of the year.