Sunday, August 23, 2026

This Day In Iraqi History - Aug 23 UK High Commissioner for Iraq Cox led crackdown against anti-UK forces in Baghdad exiling and deporting opposition leaders


1922 Iraqi National Party and Iraqi Awakening declaration called for protests against British and a

Shiite premier Mohammed al-Sadr

Saturday, August 22, 2026

Musings On Iraq In The News

  

I was quoted in this article “Future of Iraqi air defense in disarray as South Korea deal stalls” by Paul Iddon for Amwaj Media.

This Day In Iraqi History - Aug 22 Saddam’s son-in-law Hussein Kamal told UN Iraq ended all its WMD programs after Gulf War US and UN didn’t believe him Was telling the truth


 

1920 TE Lawrence wrote OpEd in Sunday Times Said UK led into trap in Mesopotamia Blamed UK

High Commissioner Wilson for bad administration that disgraced the British empire Said it was worse than Ottomans Said UK was wasting money Asked when problems would end

Friday, August 21, 2026

Review Edmund Ghareeb, The Kurdish Question In Iraq, Syracuse University Press, 1981


  

Edmund Ghareeb’s The Kurdish Question In Iraq is a bit of an oddity. On the one hand it takes much of what the Baath government said about Arab nationalism and the Kurdish issue in the 1960s and 70s at face value. On the other hand it gives a very good criticism of Mulla Mustafa Barzani and his struggle against the Iraqi government. His thesis is that Barzani’s miscalculations and autocracy led to his downfall.

This Day In Iraqi History - Aug 21 Faisal coronated as 1st king of Iraq


 

1916 UK parliamentary inquiry began into defeat at Kut

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Arrest of Al-Nujaba Intel Chief Leads To Threats To “Burn Baghdad”


  

Earlier this week the intelligence chief for Harakat al-Nujaba was arrested. This led to threats of violence which resulted in the government backing down as it always has in these situations.

This Day In Iraqi History - Aug 20 Iran-Iraq War ended


 

1915 Gen Townshend given OK by Secretary of State in London to move on Kut

This Day In Iraqi History - Aug 23 UK High Commissioner for Iraq Cox led crackdown against anti-UK forces in Baghdad exiling and deporting opposition leaders

1922 Iraqi National Party and Iraqi Awakening declaration called for protests against British and a Shiite premier Mohammed al-Sadr