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

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

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

Pro-Iran Resistance Digs In Heels Over Not Disarming

  

Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has set September 30 as the deadline for the pro-Iran Resistance to disarm. Several groups have refused and are digging in their heels over the matter.