​​​This study traces the historical and institutional evolution of Iraq's intelligence agencies, charting their transformation from instruments of authoritarian control under the Ba'ath regime to fragmented bodies fractured along sectarian, ethnic, and political lines after 2003. It analyses the structural, legal, and political forces driving this shift, highlighting the corrosive impact of domestic interference, foreign influence, and persistent security crises. Drawing on official records, archival sources, over more than sixty interviews, and scholarly literature, the study demonstrates how institutional fragmentation continues to undermine governance and national stability. Post-2003 Iraq is arguably marked by a weak, multi-loyalty intelligence apparatus that erodes public trust and impairs effective security provision.