This Day In Iraqi History - Oct 8

1920 US Consul in Baghdad blamed UK High Commissioner Wilson’s heavy

            administration taxes and bombing civilians for causing 1920 revolt

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

1942 PM Nuri al-Said formed a new cabinet

1948 Export-import licenses for Jewish businesses forbidden after creation of

            Israel

1984 Iraq broke 3 week ceasefire in Tanker War with attack upon ship leaving Iran’s

            Kharg Island main oil facility

1986 U.N. Res 588 said Iran and Iraq should follow Res 582 to resolve Iran-Iraq War Iran

            rejected UN Res 588 because didn’t blame Iraq for starting Iran-Iraq War

1991 Fighting broke out between army and Peshmerga in Sulaymaniya 400 killed before

            ceasefire reached with army withdrawing

1994 Iraq’s 15^th Mechanized Brigade was 20 km from Kuwait border

1994 US France UK deployed troops to Persian Gulf in response to Saddam putting

            troops on Kuwait border

1994 President of UN Security Council demanded that Iraq withdraw its troops from

            Kuwait border

1994 SCIRI asked international community to give it control of sections of southern Iraq

1997 IAEA Iraq started centrifuge program in 1987 but was way behind schedule Iraq

            might have had a bomb by 96

(Musings On Iraq article on UN weapons inspections)

1997 UK said that Iraq smuggling oil through Iran violating UN sanctions

2002 White House posted pictures claiming to be Iraq working on three facilities for

            nuclear weapons program

2003 Bush US went to war with Iraq to deal with future threats with WMD and ties

            to terrorism Said found Iraq’s WMD programs

2004 Presidential debate Bush said Iraq invasion absolutely right Iraq was trying to

            end sanctions and rebuild WMD programs

2004 Rice said Iraq Survey Group proved Iraq wanted WMD and therefore was a threat

2004 Family of British hostage Ken Bigley said he had been killed by insurgents

2006 Political parties agreed to Maliki’s plan for Central Comm for Peace and Security to

help secure Baghdad would have reps from each major party and coordinate with ISF and premier’s office

2008 Christian families began fleeing Mosul after 5 killed

(Musings On Iraq article on Christians in Mosul)

2012 Maliki went to Russia and signed $4.2 bil in arms deals

2017 Clash between Hashd and Peshmerga in Allewa, Kirkuk

View the Iraq History Timelines 

Early Returns For KRG’s Parliamentary Election

(NRT)

The Election Commission announced the preliminary results from the September vote for the Kurdish parliament. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) increased its hold upon the regional government, while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) moved back into second place due to a weak and divided opposition.

This Day in Iraqi History - Oct 7

1959 Baathists made failed assassination attempt on Pres. Qasim wounding him

            Saddam fled to Syria and Egypt as a result

1973 Iraq nationalized shares of US oil company & Shell in retaliation for west support

            for Israel in 1973 Arab-Israeli War

1980 2^nd day Iranian air force sunk ships to block Shatt al-Arab waterway to Persian Gulf

1983 France secretly flew 6 Super Etendard jets to Iraq Iran threatened France about the

            planes

1983 US report Iran turning tide in Iran-Iraq War and US already starting to tilt towards

            Iraq

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

1991 Peshmerga executed 60 Iraqi soldiers captured in Sulaymaniya 50 people killed

            in fighting in Kurdistan

1991 Kurdish Front consisting of main Kurdish parties said it would combat the PKK

1998 Congress passed Iraq Liberation Act saying policy was to remove Saddam Opened

up money to Iraq opposition Under Iraq Liberation Act Clinton admin was to certify 7 opposition groups to receive funds Certified Iraqi National Congress Iraqi National Accord KDP PUK SCIRI Islamic Movement of Iraqi Kurdistan Movement for Constitutional Monarchy

(Musings On Iraq book review of Iraq In The Eye of the Storm that includes Iraq Liberation Act and Gen Downing plan)

1998 Ex-Gen Downing and ex-CIA officer Clarridge drew up plan for Iraqi opposition

trained by Special Forces to seize territory in western and southern Iraq When Saddam attacked Iraqi opposition would lead to U.S. intervention and overthrow of govt

2001 Saddam condemned US invasion of Afghanistan saying it would only lead to more

            instability in world

2001 Bin Laden video said he was fighting for Iraqis who had suffered under sanctions

            White House would claim this was evidence of Iraq-Al Qaeda connection

2002 Bush speech in Cincinnati outlined Iraq’s WMD and nuke threat to lobby for passage

of Congression use of force resolution Said US tried containment sanctions inspections and Iraq still had WMD If Iraq didn't disarm Iraq would do it Said Iraq great threat because of WMD and its history of aggression Said if Iraq got enriched uranium it could have a nuclear bomb in less than a year Said Iraq tried to buy aluminum tubes for nuke program Claimed Al Qaeda and Iraq united in hatred for U.S. Had high level contacts for a decade Claimed Iraq had trained Al Qaeda in bomb making and poisons and Saddam celebrated 9/11

2002 CIA blocked Bush talking about Iraq trying to buy uranium from Africa in

            speech

2002 Italian contacted journalist about providing her with Iraq-Niger uranium deal

            papers that turned out to be fakes

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

2002 CIA Director Tenet sent letter to Senate Intelligence Committee Said Iraq wouldn’t

conduct terrorist or WMD attacks upon US unless regime was threatened Said Iraq wouldn’t conduct terrorist or WMD attacks upon US unless regime threatened Wrote that there were high level Iraq-Al Qaeda ties going back a decade Iraq offered safe haven and non-aggression Iraq provided poison gas training to Al Qaeda Said Al Qaeda operatives in Iraq

2002 Intel officials complained to press saying White House claims of Iraq-Al Qaeda

            ties exaggerated

2003 Rumsfeld said he knew nothing of NatSecAdv Rice creating Iraq Stabilization Group

at NSC Rumsfeld was told about NSC group but wanted to personally be in control of all Iraq decisions so opposed Rice’s move

2003 Australian Senate censured PM Howard for not proving his claims Iraq had WMD to

            justify sending troops to Iraq

2003 Turkish parliament okayed PM Erdogan sending Turkish troops to Iraq

            Governing Council opposed idea

2004 Powell said Iraq Survey Group initial report proved Iraq wanted WMD and that

            it was a threat

2004 Blair claimed Iraq Survey Group report proved that Saddam wanted WMD

2004 Sadr offered to disarm Mahdi Army as part of peace deal with Allawi govt

            Wasn’t serious

2017 Clash between Hashd and Peshmerga in Kharabaroot, Kirkuk

2017 KRG Election Comm said it rejected Change nominee for president because

            registered late But he sign up on time

View the Iraq History Timelines 

Islamic State Returns To Baghdad While Overall Security In Iraq Remains Steady

(Shafaaq News)

Overall security in Iraq has been unchanged since April 2018. However there has been a shift in Islamic State targets and a return of suicide and car bombs in September.

This Day In Iraqi History - Oct 6

1958 Mustafa Barzani returned to Iraq from exile in Soviet Union for talks with

            new Qasim govt

1980 Iraqi army surrounded Khorramshahr, Iran and street fighting began Iraq bombed

            Esfahan and Qom in Iran

1980 Iranian air force sunk ships to block Shatt al-Arab waterway to Persian Gulf

1982 Iranians withdrew outside Mandali Diyala Ended Op Muslim ibn Aqil Iran lost

6,000 dead 15,000 wounded Iraq lost 2,000 dead Iran only gained 1.8 mil strip of Iraqi territory in Diyala

1986 Heavy Iraq air strikes on Kharg Island Iran oil terminal

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

1990 CENTCOM cmdr Gen Schwarzkopf given first draft of Kuwait war plan He was

            unhappy with it and asked for more options

1991 Clashes between Kurds and Iraqi army in Kalar

1994 Iraq put troops on Kuwait border and threatened to stop working with UN

            weapons inspectors Was meant to pressure UN to end sanctions

1997 UN inspectors report Some progress on chemical and missile programs but nothing

            with biological weapons Iraqis had also banned inspections at presidential sites

1997 IAEA provided last report on inspections Said if any info was left on Iraq’s nuclear

            program was a political decision

1998 Inspectors report to UN Iraq had blocked disarmament and was now attempting to

            block monitoring work

(Musings On Iraq article on UN weapons inspections)

2002 Bush said Iraq could have a nuclear weapon in a year if got enriched uranium

2002 Dep Nat Sec Adv Hadley asked CIA Dir Tenet if story of Iraq trying to buy

            uranium from Niger could be put back in Bush speech Tenet said no

2002 CIA told NSC to drop mentioning Iraq-Africa uranium story in draft of Bush

            speech for 2^nd time

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

2003 1^st battalion of Mahdi Army graduated in Basra

2003 Iraq produced 4,518 megawatts of electricity exceeding CPA target by 118

            megawatts

2004 Iraq Survey Group report said Iraq’s WMD destroyed in 1991 Said no plans to revive

programs when US invaded in 03 Said Saddam wanted to restart WMD programs after sanctions ended Iraq tried to tell west it didn’t have WMD while also hinting that it still did to deter Iran WMD was aimed at Iran Iraq issued 1300 oil vouchers under Oil For Food Program that netted $11 bil in illegal funds 1990-03 Russian oil companies Lukoil Gazprom Zarbuezhneft Sibneft Rosneft Tatneft got 30 % of oil vouchers

2004 Bush said Iraq didn’t have WMD stocks US intel thought but invasion still right

            because Saddam wanted them

2004 Fallujah leaders offered to create joint security force for city made up of Iraqi

            National Guardsmen and local US and Allawi govt rejected offer

2005 Blair said new explosive devices being used in Iraq that pointed to Hezbollah or

            Iranian involvement Was talking about EFPs

(Musings On Iraq interview with Galen Wright of Arkenstone blog on Iranian arms shipments to Iraqi militias) 

(Musings On Iraq article on Hezbollah presence in Iraq)

2005 Bush said there was no peace in Iraq without victory and that US would win At

            time US had no strategy to win war

(Musings On Iraq article on pre-Surge US Iraq strategy)

2006 Bush told Maliki had to ignore news coming out of US because domestic politics

Maliki said he couldn’t ignore US news like talk about dividing Iraq or immediate withdrawal Maliki told Bush he was going to push reconciliation fighting terrorism and militias

2010 Obama adm review of Iraq policy VP Biden said wanted Maliki to stay as PM &

            Obama agreed

2015 Badr’s Amiri criticized Abadi’s reforms as full of mistakes and disorganized

2015 Teachers in Sulaymaniya and Halabja struck over unpaid wages

View the Iraq History Timelines 

This Day In Iraqi History - Oct 5

1915 6^th Army created by Ottomans under command of German Gen von der

            Goltz to defend Mesopotamia from British

1922 King Feisal accepted Anglo-Iraq Treaty

1922 UK Sec of War Evans lobbied cabinet to withdraw from Mosul province

(Musings On Iraq article on how Mosul province became part of Iraq)

1974 Kurdish parliament appointed by Baghdad took office

1975 Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz went to Damascus to discuss uniting Iraq and Syria

1980 Iraq ended unilateral ceasefire in Iran-Iraq War after Iran didn’t follow suite and

            went back to fighting

1982 UN Res 522 called for ceasefire Iraq accepted Iran rejected

1982 Iranian Op Muslim ibn Aql invaded Diyala and attacked Mandali

1985 Iraq ended air strikes on Kharg Island Iran’s main oil terminal Hit 21 times but

            no lasting damage

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

1990 Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz addressed UN saying Iraq wouldn’t compromise on

            Kuwait

2000 During VP debate Cheney said US might have to take military action to remove

            Saddam in future

2002 CIA Dir Tenet told White House to remove Iraq tried to buy uranium from Niger

            from Bush speech Said intel was weak

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

2002 Knight Ridder article quoted several intelligence officers that Bush admin

            ignoring dissenting opinions on aluminum tubes

(Musings On Iraq article on the aluminum tubes story)

2004 Bremer said US never had enough troops in Iraq while he was running the CPA

            Said military thought troop levels fine

2005 Parliament changed decision from actual voters back to registered ones for no

            vote on constitution

(Musings On Iraq interview with constitutional scholar Zaid al-Ali on Iraq’s constitution)

2005 Suicide bomber hit mosque in Hilla, Babil killing 27 wounding 87

2005 UK official claimed Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah providing EFPs

            to Shiite militias in Basra to attack British troops

(Musings On Iraq interview with Galen Wright of Arkenstone blog on Iranian arms shipments to Iraqi militias) 

(Musings On Iraq article on Hezbollah presence in Iraq)

2006 Sunni leaders told Sec State Rice Iraq breaking apart They were victims of

            sectarian violence and no one protecting them

2006 SCIR head Hakim told Sec State Rice Shiites tried to work with Sunnis but they

            were obstructionists

2006 Sec State Rice told Maliki if there was no reconciliation US would leave and

            Maliki would end up being hung

2006 Al Jazeera played tape by Islamic Army offering talks with US Said Iraq facing

occupation by US and Iranians and latter worse Said Zarqawi had made mistakes in Iraq

2017 Riyad and Hawija in Kirkuk liberated from Islamic State

2017 Turkey’s President Erdogan threatened to close border and air space to Kurdistan

            in retaliation for KRG independence referendum

View the Iraq History Timelines 

Review Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict

Harris, William, Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict, New York: Oxford University Press, 2018

Looking for a really short introduction to the wars in Syria and Iraq? Quicksilver War, Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict would be a good start. William Harris a professor of politics at the University of Otago, New Zealand gives a brief, only 174 pages of text, overview of how the two wars joined together, peaking with the Islamic State announcing its caliphate across both countries, up to the group’s defeat in Iraq and the continued civil war in Syria up to 2017.