This Day In Iraqi History - Sep 20 Bush talked with Blair about seizing Iraq’s southern oil fields

 

1917 Sir Percy Cox made civil commissioner in Iraq

Review Once Upon A Time In Iraq, History of a Modern Tragedy

Bluemel, James and Mansour, Dr Renad, Once Upon A Time In Iraq, History of a Modern Tragedy, BBC Books, 2020

 

In the introduction to Once Upon A Time In Iraq, History of a Modern Tragedy James Bluemel and Dr. Renad Mansour say they wanted to provide a voice to ordinary Iraqis so they could tell how their lives were impacted by the Iraq War. Few books include Iraqi voices so this seemed like just the type of book that is needed. In reality however the book is a mix of Iraqi and American personalities. Not only that but the first half covers 9/11 to the end of 2003. The middle is about the two battles of Fallujah and the capture, interrogation and execution of Saddam Hussein which diverges from the stated goal of the authors. The last third quickly goes from 2005 when the civil war broke out to 2017 when the Islamic State was defeated. There are definitely good moments but there could’ve been more Iraqis and the authors could’ve spent less time on the early years of the conflict.

This Day In Iraqi History - Sep 19 Bush again asked for report on Iraq-Al Qaeda ties after already told none existed

 

1914 UK sent 3 gunboats to Shatt al-Arab to protect Persian oil fields

(Musings On Iraq review When God Made Hell, The British Invasion of Mesopotamia and the Creation of Iraq, 1914-1921)

This Day In Iraqi History - Sep 18 PM Said threatened to expel Jews from Iraq over Israel

 

1916 British leaders told troops to continue advance in Mesopotamia vs Ottomans after huge loss

at Kut One of biggest British defeats in WWI

Sudani Govt Faces 1st Controversy With Spying Scandal

The Sudani government has been hit with its first scandal after members of the prime minister’s office were arrested for eavesdropping on Shiite politicians and officials. This comes as opposition to PM Sudani is growing within his own list the ruling Coordination Framework.

This Day In Iraqi History - Sep 17 Saddam renounced 1975 Algiers Treaty with Iran Claimed sole control of Shatt al-Arab Prelude to Iran-Iraq War

 

1953 Mohammed al-Jamali became PM Was a Shiite Cabinet included Kurdish Interior Minister 7

Shiites most ever and ministers from opposition United Popular Front and Independence Party Presented land and civil service reform which parliament rejected Landowners blocked land reform MPs blocked civil service reform accusing Jamali of sectarianism

(Musings On Iraq review The Chatham House Version and other Middle-Eastern Studies)

(Musings On Iraq review Iraqi Statesman, A portrait of Mohammed Fadhel Jamali)

(Musings On Iraq review Relations Of The People to The Land In Southern Iraq)

Security In Iraq Sep 8-14, 2024

There were 3 security incidents in Iraq again during the second week of September, the same number as the week before.