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 Like any collection the chapters vary widely in quality and many of them are out of date because they are suggesting solutions to problems in 2009.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.

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)

Pro-Iran Resistance Continue To Launch Drones From Iraq Into Saudi Arabia

  

In mid-October there was news that pro-Iran Resistance factions were continuing to send drones into Saudi Arabia worrying the Zaidi government about relations with its neighbor.

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)

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

1915 UK Mesopotamia cmdr Gen Nixon ordered advance on Baghdad no later than Nov 14