Review Edwin Black, Banking On Baghdad, Inside Iraq’s 7,000-Year History of War, Profit, and Conflict, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2004

Black, Edwin, Banking On Baghdad, Inside Iraq’s 7,000-Year History of War, Profit, and Conflict, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2004

 

Edwin Black’s Banking On Baghdad, Inside Iraq’s 7,000-Year History of War, Profit, and Conflict joins his later The Farhud, Roots of the Arab-Nazi Alliance in the Holocaust as two horrible books on Iraq. That’s because in both volumes Iraqis disappear from their own history. The first third of Banking is fine covering ancient Iraqi history. When it gets to the later Ottoman times to almost the end the narrative is dominated by Western desires to exploit Iraq’s oil. It then gets sidetracked by the Mufti of Jerusalem making an alliance with the Nazis. Most of the story is dominated by Western governments, oil companies and the Mufti of Jerusalem rather than Iraqis.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 22 1952 Intifada started against Regent of Iraq

 

1914 Looting started in Basra city after it fell to British UK appointed governor of vilayet

Is An Israeli Attack Upon Iraq Imminent?

Israel appears to be making its final diplomatic moves before striking at Iraq for 12 months of attacks by Iraq’s Islamic Resistance.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 21 King Faisal asked for full Iraqi independence from UK

 

1914 UK troops entered Basra after Ottomans abandoned city

(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 Nov 20 Pres Arif put down Baathist revolt

 

1914 Arab tribes told British forces Ottomans had abandoned Basra British forces set out to

take city

US Army In The Iraq War Volume 2 Chapter 13 Toward The Defeat Of AQI, August 2009-July 2010

Chapter 13 in the U.S. Army’s second volume on the Iraq war covers the end of 2009 to the start of 2010. The Islamic State of Iraq reached a nadir during that period losing most of its leadership and manpower. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki continued to be an incompetent war time leader while plotting to hold onto power after he lost an election. That meant Iraq couldn’t take advantage of the decline of the insurgency.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 19 Sir Percy Cox met with Iraqi officials and Ibn Saud to draw border between Iraq and what would become Saudi Arabia

 

1914 British troops took Fort Zain, Basra Ottomans retreated to Basra city

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

Security In Iraq Nov 8-14, 2024

The Islamic State was absent from Iraq for a third consecutive week. Iraq’s Islamic Resistance on the other hand continues to escalate versus Israel.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 18 Ottoman Sultan Soleiman conquered Baghdad from Safavids

 

1534 Ottoman Sultan Suleiman I conquered Baghdad from Safavids

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 17 In Iran Ayatollah Hakim announced creation of Supreme Assembly for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq

 

1914 British attacked Sahil, Basra backed by 4 gunships and won Ottomans lost 1,500-2,000

casualties British 489

(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 – Nov 16 UK political officer Wilson claimed Iraqis wanted British rule

 

1914 British forces attacked Ottomans in Fort Zain, Basra

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

Review The Kurdish National Movement, Its Origins And Development

Jwaideh, Wadie, The Kurdish National Movement, Its Origins And Development, Syracuse University Press, 2006

 

The Kurdish National Movement, Its Origins And Development by Wadie Jwaideh was a 1960s Master’s Thesis from Syracuse University which was published decades after it was written. Jwaideh attempted to cover the history, culture and political movements of the Kurdish people in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and the Soviet Union/Russia from ancient times up to the 1950s. It’s a very detailed account of personalities and events. His major thesis was that the Kurds had a strong sense of identity but were never able to achieve their political goals because of their deep divisions which also allowed them to be constantly manipulated by regional powers.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 15 During WWI UK held victory parade in Baghdad Commander Gen Maude drank contaminated milk at ceremony and died 3 days later

 

1914 Ottomans attacked British at Saihan, Basra Forced to retreat British lost 62 casualties Turks

126

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 14 British army ordered to seize Basra vilayet WWI

 

1914 Sheikh of Islam called for jihad against British and French during WWI Call was repeated in

all Sunni mosques in Mosul, Baghdad and Basra vilayets

Maliki Brings Up Early Elections In Iraq Once Again In Attempt To Unseat PM Sudani

On November 12 a spokesman for the State of Law list once against brought up early elections in Iraq. This is part of a plan by Nouri al-Maliki to unseat Prime Minister Mohammed Sudani and return as the leader of the country.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 13 PM Sadoun shot himself over criticism of his govt Said he couldn’t live being seen as a puppet to the British

 

1929 PM Sadoun shot himself due to criticism he faced over his performance Suicide note said he

couldn’t live being seen as a puppet of the British Called Iraqis weak

Iraq’s October 2024 Oil Exports

Iraq’s oil exports and profits went up in October 2024.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 12 Baath National Guard went on rampage in Baghdad after party leader Saadi expelled Saadi’s followers in air force bombed presidential palace

 

1914 British forces in Faw launched reconnaissance in force near Saihan, Basra

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

Security In Iraq Nov 1-7, 2024

In November the Iraqi Resistance continued its campaign against Israel despite increasing warnings that Israel will strike Iraq. The Islamic State was absent from the country once again.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 11 League of Nations announced the British mandate in Iraq

 

1914 Ottomans declared war on England and France

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 10 Irbil Agreement led to PM Maliki’s 2nd term Allawi to head new strategic council Deal never implemented

 

1958 Iraqi Communist Party issued plan for Kurdistan saying it supported Kurdish self-govt within

Iraq

(Musings On Iraq review A People’s History Of Iraq, The Iraqi Communist Party, Workers’ Movements, and the Left 1924-2004)

(Musings On Iraq review Red Star Over Iraq, Iraqi Communism Before Saddam)

(Musings On Iraq A History Of The Iraqi Communist Party Interview With Univ of East Anglia’s Johan Franzen)

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 9 US Marines killed 24 civilians in Haditha after Marine killed by IED

 

1914 With English attack on Basra coming locals went to Shiite clergy asking for help to defend

city

Review Beyond The Storm, A Gulf Crisis Reader

Bennis, Phyllis Moushabeck, Michel Edited by, Beyond The Storm, A Gulf Crisis Reader, Olive Branch Press, 1991

 

Beyond The Storm, A Gulf Crisis Reader is an anthology on the Gulf War. Like any such collection there is a huge range of topics covered and the quality varies. The editors Phyllis Bennis and Michel Moushabeck should be given credit for finding a large number of Arab writers to contribute since their voices are usually absent from coverage on the Middle East. The book also covers a huge range of issues not just the war such as human rights, the environment, how various countries dealt with the conflict, etc.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 8 British forces took Karbala one of centers of 1920 Revolt

 

1914 British troops after landing at Faw Peninsula Basra captured Ottoman Faw Fort

(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 - Nov 7 2nd 2nd Battle of Fallujah began

 

1914 British troops started march from the port of Faw to the city of Basra

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

PM Sudani May Change Cabinet To Appease Opponents Over Spy Scandal

At the end of October there were reports that Prime Minister Mohammad al-Sudani may change his cabinet. Some said this was to improve efficiency. The ministries that might have new leadership are Transportation, Communications, Agriculture, Water and Education.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 6 Iraq used mustard gas 1st time in Iran-Iraq War

 

1914 British troops from India landed at Faw, Basra starting war against Ottomans in Mesopotamia

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq In World War I, From Ottoman Rule to British Conquest)

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

Mashadani Returns As Speaker Of Iraq’s Parliament

On October 31 in a deal between the ruling Coordination Framework and the Sunni parties Mahmoud al-Mashadani was elected to return as the speaker of parliament. This ends an almost one year political dispute between the Shiite parties and highlights that they want pliant Sunni allies.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 5 Saddam sentenced to death for 1982 Dujail massacre

 

1914 England and France declared war on Ottoman Empire Would lead Mesopotamia into WWI

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

Iraq’s Islamic Resistance Carries Out 65 Attacks On Israel In October

October saw nearly daily attacks upon Israel by Iraq’s Islamic Resistance. Not only that but there were usually multiple attacks per day. The result was a massive increase in strikes against Israel. On the other hand the Islamic State was barely active during the month.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 4 Abdul Mahdi govt cut Internet to stop organizing protests while ISF arrested activists in night raids in Baghdad

 

1913 Constantinople Protocol set new border between Ottomans and Persia Ottomans kept

Shatt al-Arab waterway

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 3 UK attacked Ottoman forces in Basra before Ottomans joined WWI

 

1914 UK troops arrived at mouth of Shatt al-Arab while warship bombarded Ottoman fort on Faw

Peninsula before Ottomans joined WWI

(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 - Nov 2 British forces told to seize Mosul after WWI armistice signed

 

1915 Ottoman police in Baghdad city began arresting notable Jews and Christians Believed they

            were pro-British

Review The Farhud, Roots of the Arab-Nazi Alliance in the Holocaust

Black, Edwin, The Farhud, Roots of the Arab-Nazi Alliance in the Holocaust, Dialog Press, 2010

 

In June 1941 as the Anglo-Iraq War ended Iraqis slaughtered hundreds of Jews in Baghdad known as The Farhud. Edwin Black’s book is not really about that event however even though it uses the name. There is only one chapter on the Farhud and more than half the book is not about Iraq. Rather the author uses the Farhud to make his argument that Arab Muslims have hated Jews for over one thousand years which led them to support the Nazis during World War II.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 1 Churchill govt advised to remove PM Gaylani for contacts with Nazis and Italy

 

1918 Ottoman cmdr in Mosul vilayet asked British to retreat to Qayara and not threaten Mosul

            city

Final Results Of Kurdistan’s Provincial Elections

Iraq’s Election Commission announced the final results of Kurdistan’s parliamentary vote.

This Day In Iraqi History - Oct 31 Iraq suspended cooperation with UN weapons inspectors

 

1914 India ordered 6^th Div to seize Faw and clear Turks out of Shatt al-Arab before WWI

started

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq In World War I, From Ottoman Rule to British Conquest)

(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 - Oct 30 Armistice of Mudros ended WWI in Iraq as Ottomans surrendered

 

1918 Armistice of Mudros signed between British and Ottomans 6^th Army in Mesopotamia

surrendered to UK Ended WWI in Iraq UK wasn’t able to seize Mosul province and its oil before end of war

(Musings On Iraq interview with Princeton’s Sara Pursley on Sykes-Picot and creation of Iraq)

(Musings On Iraq review The Creation of Iraq 1914-1921)

(Musings On Iraq review Enemy On The Euphrates, The Battle For Iraq 1914-1921)

Security In Iraq Oct 22-28, 2024

Only the Iraqi Islamic Resistance was active during the fourth week of October. For the third week the Islamic State carried out no operations in Iraq.

This Day In Iraqi History - Oct 29 Hikmat Sulaiman and Gen Sidqi led 1st coup in Iraq overthrowing PM Hashemi

 

867 Riot by Turkish soldiers in Abbasid capital Samarra against two top advisers Wasif and

            Bugha over salaries Wasif beheaded

(Musings On Iraq review when baghdad ruled the muslim world, the rise and fall of islam’s

greatest dynasty)

Integrity Commission Head Resigns Over Bribery Charges After Accused Judge Of Covering Up Theft Of The Century

Integrity Comm head Judge Hanoun's Irbil press conference where he attacked another judge for covering up corruption and was later forced to resign in retaliation (Al Aalem)

On October 23 Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani named Mohammed Ali al-Lami the new head of the anti-corruption Integrity Commission. This was after the former head Judge Haidar Hanoun resigned in a cloud of controversy after attacking another judge and having bribery charges leveled against him.

This Day In Iraqi History - Oct 28 Iraqi Forces massacred protesters in Karbala Over 800 casualties

 

1913 Secret Al-Ahd Association of Ottoman officers formed Included many Iraqis that would

become leaders and prime ministers under monarchy such as Nuri al-Said Yasin Hashemi Jamil Midfai and others Called for Arab autonomy

This Day In Iraqi History - Oct 27 White House told Bremer to revise his political plan for Iraq because wanted to withdraw quickly

 

1932 King Faisal asked PM Said to resign Faisal wanted a national unity govt that would include

opposition and carry out reforms

This Day In Iraqi History - Oct 26 UK High Commissioner for Iraq Sir Cox created provisional Iraqi govt in response to 1920 Revolt

 

1920 UK High Commissioner Sir Cox formed Iraqi provisional govt after 1920 Revolt led

British to give up direct rule Abd Naqib of Baghdad was premier Had 21 ministers 12 with no portfolios Naqib opposed giving any ministries to Shiites

(Musings On Iraq review Dictatorship, Imperialism & Chaos, Iraq since 1989)

(Musings On Iraq review Reclaiming Iraq, The 1920 Revolution and the Founding of the Modern State)

(Musings On Iraq review The Shi’is Of Iraq)

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

Review A Quest in the Middle East, Gertrude Bell and the Making of Modern Iraq

Lukitz, Liora, A Quest in the Middle East, Gertrude Bell and the Making of Modern Iraq, I.B. Tauris, 2006

 

In A Quest in the Middle East, Gertrude Bell and the Making of Modern Iraq Liora Lukitz attempts to paint the personal and professional life of Gertrude Bell. The story constantly switches back and forth between those two aspects using her correspondence as a uniting factor. The author portrays Bell as a woman who fled the constraints of her upper class family in England for the adventure of the Middle East where she helped create the country of Iraq.

This Day In Iraqi History - Oct 25 Jaafar Askari made Defense Min Began creation of Iraqi army

 

1920 Jaafar al-Askari former Ottoman officer Faisal’s military commander during Arab Revolt

and officer in Arab Kingdom of Syria made Defense Minister Used 10 officers including brother in law Col Nuri al-Said to begin creation of new Royal Iraqi Army

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny)

Elections Maintain Status Quo In Iraq’s Kurdistan

Kurdistan held parliamentary elections on October 20 which had been delayed for two years. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) came in first as expected but lost seats.

This Day In Iraqi History Oct 24 – Iraq said it took Khorrmanshahr major city in south Iran Was supposed to be taken in first week of war Took 1 month

 

1915 UK cmdr in Mesopotamia Gen Nixon told to march on Baghdad

(Musings On Iraq review Enemy On The Euphrates, The Battle For Iraq 1914-1921)

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

Security In Iraq Oct 15-21, 2024

The Islamic State was inactive for another week in Iraq while the Iraqi Islamic Resistance made sporadic attacks upon Israel.

This Day In Iraqi History - Oct 23 UK picked Abd al-Gaylani to be Iraq’s first prime minister

 

1915 UK cabinet ordered UK cmdr Gen Nixon to take Baghdad

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