This Day In Iraqi History - Feb 18

1940 PM Said resigned over growing problems with pan-Arabist Golden Square officers Said

wanted Gaylani to become PM and he would become Foreign Minister to maintain pro-British policies Golden Square objected to Gaylani govt because it would include Said and Gen Hashemi Went to Regent calling for their exclusion from new govt Regent disagreed with Golden Square officers over new govt and made Gen Umari Mosul garrison commander retire as a result

(Musings On Iraq book review of Rashid Ali al-Gailani, The National Movement in Iraq 1939-1941)

(Musings On Iraq book review The Role of the Military In Politics, A case study of Iraq to 1941)

1984 UN negotiated deal for Iran and Iraq to stop attacking civilian areas Didn’t last

1986 Iraqi high command finally accepted Fao main goal of Iranian offensive after falling for Tehran’s

deception and believing it wasn’t

(Musings On Iraq interview with author Anthony Tucker-Jones on Iran-Iraq War)

(Musings On Iraq interview with author Tom Cooper on Iran-Iraq War)

(Musings On Iraq book review The Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988)

(Musings On Iraq book review Iran-Iraq War, The Lion of Babylon, 1980-1988)

(Musings On Iraq book review The Iran-Iraq War)

(Musings On Iraq book review of Iran-Iraq War Volume 2: Iran Strikes back, June 1982-December 1986)

1991 Tariq Aziz went to Moscow and accepted Soviets unconditional withdrawal plan from Kuwait Then

demanded end to all UN sanctions and resolutions

1999 Ayatollah Mohammed Sadiq al-Sadr assassinated by Saddam

(Musings On Iraq interview with Univ of Haifa’s Prof Baram on legacy of Ayatollah Sadiq al-Sadr)

1999 Fmr CIA counterterrorism officer Cannistraro said Iraqis met bin Laden in Dec 98 False story

2002 US Embassy in Niger said new details on Iraq-Niger uranium deal meant a new look into story was

needed

(Musings On Iraq article on Iraq-Niger uranium story)

2005 Al Qaeda in Iraq suicide bombers hit Shiite pilgrims in Kadhimiya

2007 Blair announced plants to cut British troop strength in Iraq from 7000 to 4000

2007 US forces began campaign to clear Ramadi block by block of insurgents

(Musings On Iraq book review of Confronting Al Qaeda, The Sunni Awakening and American Strategy In Al Anbar)

(Musings On Iraq book review of The Marines Take Anbar, The Four-Year Fight Against Al Qaeda)

2007 1^st living standards study since 03 Found 1/3 of Iraqis living below poverty level 40% lacked good

sanitation 50% lacked adequate water supplies Said free market reforms that cut subsides were lowering living standards for middle and working class families Said service projects should take precedent over reforms

2007 Report ISI targeting US helicopters Shot down 7 in 3 weeks Set up ambushes for US troops looking

to rescue crews

2009 Pres Talabani met with PUK officials like Kosrat Rasul and Barham Salah who wanted reforms

within party or were threatening to leave

(Musings On Iraq article on splits within PUK)

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