Review Mokhtar Lamani and Bessma Momani, editors, From Desolation To Reconstruction, Iraq’s Troubled Journey, Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2010

  

From Desolation To Reconstruction, Iraq’s Troubled Journey was the result of work at the Canadian Center for International Governance Innovation. It is an anthology of different authors focusing upon issues Iraq faced during the U.S. occupation such as the Kurdish question, foreign debt, federalism, and the U.S. attempt to spread democracy in the Middle East. Like any collection the chapters vary widely in quality and many of them are out of date because they are suggesting solutions to problems in 2009. Despite the inconsistencies there are some interesting selections.

Iraq Negotiations To Disarm Pro-Iran Resistance In Disarray

  

When Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi came into office he said one of his top priorities was to disarm the pro-Iran Resistance. He set a date of September 30 for that to be accomplished but has since backed down due to Iranian pressure. Talks over the matter are disparate and uncoordinated giving the pro-Iran groups the upper hand.

Iraq Begins Integration Plan For Armed Factions

Imam Ali Brigade

  

On June 10 the Joint Operations Command announced it was beginning the process of integrating the Imam Ali Brigade into the Iraqi forces. This was the third armed group to do so after Moqtada al-Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq.

US Demands About Iranian Influence In Iraq Causing Disarray Amongst Ruling Shiite Parties

  

Iraq’s Shiite elites and Hashd are worried about their political future. They are afraid that the United States not only wants the pro-Iran Resistance disbanded but their militias and financial power as well.

Iraq’s Pro-Iran Resistance Continue Attacks Upon Neighbors

  

New Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has promised to bring all weapons under state control but the pro-Iran Resistance is not only being defiant but threatening Iraq’s relations with its neighbors.

US Expects Action From Iraq Against Pro-Iran Resistance Not Words

  

The Trump administration is keeping up the pressure upon the Iraqi elite to disband the Resistance and curtail Iranian influence. That’s been seen in new statements and sanctions.

Gulf States Weary Of Continued Threats From Iraq's Resistance

  

Pro-Iran Resistance attacks upon the Gulf States and Jordan during and after the Iran War have strained relations between Iraq and its neighbors. Before Baghdad was courting them for investment, but now that’s in jeopardy.

Iran And Its Iraqi Allies Continue Attacks During Ceasefire

  

On April 8 the ceasefire went into effect between the U.S. and Iran. Hostilities were supposed to stop in Iraq as well as the Resistance announced a two week halt to operations but they have not. Iranian Kurdish groups have been attacked again and again and most recently a Kuwait border post was hit by an Iraqi drone.

US Cuts Off Iraq’s Oil Revenues To Force It To End Iranian Influence

  

The Trump administration dramatically increased the pressure upon Iraq to curtail Iranian influence in the country.

Iran War Day 40: Ceasefire In Iraq But No Economic Relief With Strait Of Hormuz Still Closed

  

The ceasefire between the United States and Iran brought back a sense of peace to Iraq. The Resistance following its Persian sponsors announced a two week halt to operations.

Iran War Day 39: Explosions Across Baghdad

  

The news of the day was a series of strikes by the U.S. and Israel across Baghdad. The Federal Police’s 2^nd Division was hit in Sabi al-Bour in the north. This was likely a mistake as a nearby Hashd base was also struck. Five police were wounded. A rocket landed on a house in Amiriya killing two civilians while an airstrike blew up a home on Palestine Street. The latter was used to store weapons for the Resistance. Jets also targeted locations in Jamila and Maghreb Street in the east. Five Hashd were wounded at a camp in Taji outside of the city in the north.

Iran War Day 38: Candidates For Iraq’s PM Align With Pro-Iran Resistance To Gain Office

  

The pro-Iran Resistance was active in Kurdistan and Baghdad. A peshmerga headquarters was hit by four drones on April 5. The next day two blasts were heard near Irbil airport. Four missiles were shot down heading towards the U.S. consulate in Irbil city. Multiple drones were also intercepted in Irbil province with debris hitting a residential area killing two civilians. In Baghdad drones targeted the logistics support center at the airport.

Iran War Day 37: Paradox Of Iraqi Oil Passing Through Strait Of Hormuz While Oil Sites Attacked

  

The weekend marked a paradox in Iranian strategy towards Iraq. On the one hand there were a series of attacks upon the Iraqi oil industry and on the other a tanker with Iraqi petroleum passed through the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran said Baghdad would be exempt from its blockade.

Iran War Day 36 Iraq's Oil Industry Continues To Be Threatened Financial Crisis By May

The U.S. or Israel bombed the Shalamcheh border crossing between Basra and Iran on the Iranian side. An Iraqi civilian was killed as a result along with five others being wounded.

Day 35 Of Impact of Iran War On Iraq: New Oil Export Routes Can’t Save Iraq From Economic Crisis Caused By Conflict

  

The Hashd Commission and the pro-Iran Resistance gave some numbers on the impact of the Iran War. The Commission said that there had been 83 attacks upon Hashd units since February 28 leading to 73 dead and 61 injured. The Resistance on the other hand claimed it carried out 753 operations and 23 alone on April 3.

Iran And Its Iraqi Allies Have A Strategy For The War Where Is America and Israel's?

   

As the Iran War enters its second month Iran and its allies’ strategy has become apparent. They are focusing upon Iraq’s oil industry, the Kurds, the Baghdad Airport and neighboring countries. The Americans and Israel on the other hand don’t appear to have any plan.

Iraq’s Kurds Blame Iranian Revolutionary Guard For Dozens Of Attacks As Drone Sets Off Major Fire In Irbil

  

Overnight a drone was intercepted targeting the U.S. consulate in Irbil City. Another drone was shot down over an American military base in the city. On March 29 the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad faced an attack so it appears diplomatic facilities are fair game again by the pro-Iran Resistance.

American Journalist Kittleson Kidnapped In Iraq

  

In the middle of the night loud explosions were heard in Sulaymaniya City but no other details were provided about what happened.

Over 100 Fatalities In Iraq Since Start Of Iran War

    

The Baghdad Airport was the center of attention on March 30. During the day rockets hit the military part of the facility destroying an Iraqi Security Forces transport plane. Then at night a drone crashed into the logistics center and then another crashed on the military side. The security forces also found a truck laden with drones in the Musayib district in northern Babil that were also aimed at the airport. The facility has been a favorite target of the pro-Iran groups since the U.S. invasion. It is not only used by the Americans but the constant strikes are a sign that the government cannot keep the capital safe.

Pro-Iran Resistance Restarts Attacks Upon US Embassy In Iraq

  

The pro-Iran Resistance upped the anti once again in Iraq by attacking the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Two drones were shot down by the air defenses at the facility. This is the first such attack in ten days.