This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 13 US forces captured Saddam

 

1916 British made diversionary attack at Sannaiyat and took Hai in offensive to retake Kut from

Ottomans

Review Dahr Jamail, Beyond The Green Zone, Dispatches From An Unembedded Journalist In Occupied Iraq, Haymarket Books, 2007

 

Dahr Jamail was opposed to the U.S. overthrowing Saddam Hussein. That inspired him to go to Iraq several times from 2003 to the start of 2005 as a freelance journalist to report on how bad the American occupation of the country was. He said he wanted to put Iraqis in the forefront of his stories which he did. Ironically he mostly portrayed them as victims of the U.S. with no agency unless they were in the insurgency. His position on the war also led him to take all kinds of stories he was told at face value even though many were not true. His book suffers massively as a result.

This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 12 Dawa members including Abu Muhandis bombed US & French embassies in Kuwait killing 8 Retaliation for air strikes in Lebanon

1916 Gen Maude began new campaign to defeat Ottomans in Mesopotamia British now had numerical

advantage in troops and new supplies

This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 11 Gen Qasim nationalized 99% of Iraq Petroleum’s concessions and created Iraq National Oil Company Was only unused land though

 

1922 UK Colonial Office wrote only reason King Faisal accepted in Iraq was because he was

backed by British

This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 10 PUK made deal with Saddam not to fight for Iran in Iran-Iraq War 3000 peshmerga quit in protest

 

1915 Turkish infantry assault on British in Kut began

Iraq Govt Doesn’t Name Names For Khor Mor Gas Facility Attack

 

On the night of November 26 pro-Iran groups launched two drones against the Khor Mor gas facility in Sulaymaniya. One hit a storage tank setting off a fire that temporarily shut down the plant. In the aftermath the Sudani government set up an investigative committee and promised to name names of those responsible. That did not happen.

This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 9 UN said Abdul Mahdi govt used excessive force and abused protesters While groups were abducting and killing activists

 

1914 Ottoman forces surrendered in Qurna, Basra 1,034 Ottomans taken prisoner End of 1^st

            phase of Mesopotamian campaign

Trump Said He Would Help End Gaza War If Iraq Nominated Him For Nobel Peace Prize

 

Donald Trump has been called a transactional president. He expects things in return for his actions. It was recently revealed that Trump took this approach with Iraq and the Gaza War.

This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 8 After US soldiers complained about not having adequate equipment Def Sec Rumsfeld said you go to war with the army you have

 

1925 Turkey told League of Nations it refused to accept League as arbiter of Mosul’s future

This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 7 Saddam said Iraq going on defensive in Iran-Iraq War 3 months into war

 

1914 UK made 2^nd attack on Qurna, Basra forcing Ottomans to retreat Lost around 200 killed

130 taken prisoner UK lost 10 killed 118 wounded

(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 - Dec 6 Kataib Hezbollah fired into Baghdad protesters Killed 85 Wounded 130

 

1915 UK cmdr Gen Townsend sent his cavalry and transport south from Kut so would have fewer mouths

to feed Believed relief coming from Basra

Review Jackie Spinner, Tell Them I Didn’t Cry, A Young Journalists Story Of Joy, Loss, And Survival In Iraq, Scribner, 2006

 

 

Jackie Spinner was a reporter for the Washington Post in Iraq from 2004-05. Her book Tell Them I Didn’t Cry, A Young Journalists Story Of Joy, Loss And Survival In Iraq gets its name from the time the author was almost kidnapped. She wanted the staff to know that she never cried when men were trying to take her. Her writing is like a journal about her time working in Iraq along with letters from her twin sister about how her trip was affecting her family.

This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 5 PM Maliki and his State of Law tried to stop case against Trade Min Sudani who stole $400 mil which helped fund party

 

1927 Draft of Anglo-Iraq Treaty written by UK Colonial Office Said Iraq independent state to

appease Iraqis when under British control

This Day In Iraqi History Dec 4 Siege of Kut began Would become UK’s 2nd largest defeat in WWI

 

1534 Ottoman Sultan Suleiman entered Baghdad and visited Sunni and Shiite shrines trying to

win over city

Iraq Heading Towards Financial Ruin

 

For several years now Iraq’s finances have been on shaky ground. It continuously expands its public workforce while oil which it is completely dependent upon goes up in down in price. This is growing to a crisis point as Iraq has passed the largest budgets in history recently but hasn’t been able to cover them leading to a growing debt that the state may not be able to cover for much longer.

This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 3 Arif govt shut down all media to try to control opposition

 

1915 Retreating UK forces reached Kut after loss at Battle of Ctesiphon/Salman Pak UK

suffered 5,187 casualties over last 10 days Started Turkish siege of Kut

Pro-Iran Rocket Strike On Khor Mor Gas Field Leads to Widespread Blackouts In Iraq’s Kurdistan

 

On the night of November 26 two rockets were fired at the Khor Mor natural gas facility in Sulaymaniya. One rocket fell short but the other hit a storage facility setting off a fire and shutting down operations.

This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 2 PM Pachachi govt told oil companies not to employ Jews after creation of Israel

 

1920 US Consul in Baghdad said England hadn’t taken any serious steps to create an independent

Iraqi govt

US Led Coalition Withdraws To Iraq’s Kurdistan

 

On November 27 it was announced that the U.S. led Coalition against the Islamic State had ended its mission in federal Iraq. Only 4-5 personnel were left in Baghdad to do logistics and diplomatic tasks. The rest of the 1,500 Coalition troops were all now in Kurdistan. This is the first part of the Coalition’s withdrawal from Iraq.

This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 1 UK got France to give up Mosul vilayet after WWI for stake in Iraqi oil

1915 Retreating British force attacked by pursuing Ottomans at Um at Tubul after loss at Battle of

Ctesiphon/Salman Pak

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 30 UK political officer Sir Wilson set up plebiscite that would only support UK rule in Iraq

 

1914 British moved on Qurna, Basra Turkish fire stopped British and had to retreat

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 29 PM Abdul Mahdi resigned under pressure from Ayatollah Sistani over killing protesters

 

1914 Gen Barrett and Sir Percy Cox asked that UK occupation of Basra be announced as

permanent believing it would sway Arabs to UK side Request turned down

(Musings On Iraq review Desert Hell, The British Invasion of Mesopotamia)

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

Review Ahmed Mansour, Inside Fallujah, The Unembedded Story, Olive Branch Press, 2009

 

Mansour, Ahmed, Inside Fallujah, The Unembedded Story, Olive Branch Press, 2009

 

Ahmed Mansour was a talk show host turned journalist for Al-Jazeera who reported on the two battles for Fallujah in 2004. He was an opponent of the war and thought attacking a city with civilians was a war crime. That led him to blame everything upon the Americans and repeat false stories that he heard from Iraqis. While he reported on the casualties and suffering of the people of Fallujah you cannot believe anything else he wrote.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 28 Safavids captured Baghdad Tortured and killed Sunnis Destroyed Sunnis mosques and shrines

1623 Safavids took Baghdad after son of governor betrayed him Tortured and killed Sunnis and

destroyed Sunni mosques and shrines

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 27 Iran destroyed much of Iraq’s oil infrastructure in south ending its ability to export from Persian Gulf

 

1914 London told Gen Barrett wasn’t time to seize Baghdad vilayet but that Qurna, Basra

should be taken

(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 26 1920 Revolt ended vs British Mandate in Iraq

 

1914 Gen Barrow in India was against further advances by British in Mesopotamia Did want to

seize Qurna, Basra

Full Results Of Iraqi’s 2025 Parliamentary Election

 

While Iraq’s ruling elite are starting discussions over who should be the next prime minister the full results of the country’s 2025 parliamentary elections have been announced.

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 25 Report Pres Trump asked PM Abadi twice for Iraq’s oil in return for invading Iraq

 

1638 Ottomans laid siege to Baghdad for 3^rd time

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 24 Colonial Sec Churchill said when King Faisal could pay for his govt he could decide the future of Iraq Until then UK was in control

 

1915 UK decided to retreat from Ctesiphon/Salman Pak due to heavy casualties Turks withdrew as well

This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 23 Military govt formed under PM Mahmoud to put down 1952 Intifada protests against monarchy and UK

 

1914 Sir Percy Cox issued statement in Arabic that British had occupied Basra and UK was

at war with Ottomans and had no ill will towards locals

(Musings On Iraq review Desert Hell, The British Invasion of Mesopotamia)

(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 22 1952 Intifada started against Regent of Iraq

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

Review Farnaz Fassihi, Waiting for an Ordinary Day, The Unraveling Of Life In Iraq, Public Affairs, 2008

 

Fassihi, Farnaz, Waiting for an Ordinary Day, The Unraveling Of Life In Iraq, Public Affairs, 2008

 

Farnas Fassihi was a journalist for the Wall Street Journal who reported from Iraq from before the 2003 invasion to the start of 2006. In her book Waiting for an Ordinary Day, The Unraveling Of Life In Iraq she attempts to tell the stories of regular Iraqis who were swept up in the changes and violence that enveloped their country and how the growing insecurity took a toll upon her. It is one of the few Western books from this time that put Iraqis in the forefront

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 Looting started put down by British

(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

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)

US Sanctions On Russia’s Lukoil May Shut Down Production At Basra Oil Field

 

American sanctions on Russia are having a big impact upon Iraq. The Russian company Lukoil has told Baghdad it can no longer operate the West Qurna 2 oil field in Basra due to the Trump administration.  

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

 

1534 Ottoman Sultan Suleiman I conquered Baghdad from Safavids

PM Sudani Comes In 1st Place But Re-Election Not Guaranteed

 

Prime Minister Mohammed Sudani came in first place in November’s parliamentary election. However he didn’t win enough seats to ensure a second term. His main opponent Nouri al-Maliki came in second but didn’t do as well as he hoped. That means the government formation process will be a free for all since the two main politicians vying for the premiership are at the mercy of the other lists to form a ruling coalition.

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)

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

Review Bill Katovsky and Timothy Carlson, embedded, The Media At War In Iraq, an oral history, The Lyons Press, 2003

 

Katovsky, Bill and Carlson, Timothy, embedded, The Media At War In Iraq, an oral history, The Lyons Press, 2003

 

Embedded, The Media At War In Iraq, an oral history is an anthology of 51 journalists and others who were involved in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Some of the reporters were embedded with U.S. and British forces. Others went into Iraq on their own and were called unilaterals. Like any collection the stories vary widely from the exciting to the mundane.

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

Iraq Sees Surge In Voting Across Most Of The Country (REVISED)

 

Iraq’s Election Commission released partial early results for voter turnout in the provinces. It showed a surge of voting across the country compared to the last parliamentary elections in 2021.

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

Early Election Results Show 56% Voter Turnout In Iraq

 

November 11 Iraq held its seventh parliamentary elections. Despite widespread worries about apathy amongst the public there was an increase in voters and the highest participation rate since 2014.

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)

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

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1914 Ottomans declared war on England and France

Musings On Iraq In The News

 

I was quoted in this article by Paul Iddon in Forbes “The Prospect Of An Israel-Iraq War Over Iran-Backed Militias”

 

Click here to see all of Musings On Iraq citations and appearances

Vice President Cheney’s Role In The Iraq War

 

Almost the entire senior leadership of President Bush’s national security team was for regime change in Iraq. Vice President Dick Cheney was out in front making accusations against Saddam Hussein to justify the invasion. Since he recently passed here is a review of his role in the lead up to the Iraq War.

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)