Monday, April 30, 2018

Security In Iraq Apr 22-28, 2018


The last two weeks of April was the first time in 2018 that there were consecutive weeks with a low number of incidents. That resulted in low casualty figures as well.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 30


1917 Battle of the Boot at Band-i-Adhaim between British and Ottomans
1941 PM Gaylani refused permission for British troops to land in Basra
1941 2 brigades of Iraqi soldiers surrounded British Habaniya base ordered British
            to cease operations there
1941 Iraqi forces surrounded British embassy in Baghdad
1941 Iraqi troops seized Kirkuk oil field and cut off pipeline to Haifa
1941 PM Gaylani hoped to pressure British to leave Iraq without a fight
1941 UK memo to Chiefs of Staff discussed destroying Iraq’s oil wells to deny them to
            Germany
1948 Jewish forces took Jaffa, and 7 other towns held by Iraqi volunteers in 1st Arab
            Israeli War
1959 Gen Qasim banned party activities in armed forces to try to block Communists’
            influence
1969 Bakr govt executed opponents in central Baghdad
1980 By end of April around 20 Iraqi officials had been killed in bombings by
            Shiite opposition parties
1980 Arab Iranians seized Iranian embassy in London demanding sovereignty for
            Khuzistan province Were trained and armed by Iraq
1985 Sec State Shultz asked Def Sec Weinberger to speed up approval of technology
            exports to Iraq
1985 State Dept intel reported no evidence Iraq had started on a nuclear weapons
            program It had
1990 Jordanian prosecutor report detailed fake bank accounts Ahmed Chalabi ran
            with his Petra Bank
1996 Turkey began bombing campaign along border against PKK
1997 Fighting broke out between PUK and Kurdish Islamic Movement
2001 NSC meeting on Al Qaeda threat DepDefSec Wolfowitz asked why US should
            focus on bin Laden when Iraq terrorism real threat
2001 Dep CIA Dir McLaughlin told DepDefSec Wolfowitz no evidence of Iraq terrorist
            threat to US
2001 DepSecState Armitage told DepDefSec Wolfowitz Al Qaeda was the main threat
            to US
2003 U.S. forces shot at civilians for 2nd time in 2 days in Fallujah 2 killed
2003 Rumsfeld visited Iraq Realized rebuilding country would take years which was
            not his plan
2004 Marines withdrew from Fallujah turning over security to Fallujah Brigade
2004 Daily Mirror published what turned out to be fake pictures of UK forces abusing
            Iraqi prisoners
2004 Poll 71% of Iraqis saw US as occupiers 46% said invasion more harmful then
            good
2004 Prisoner abuse by US guards at Abu Ghraib reported in US media
2005 mass grave with up to 1,500 Kurds killed by Saddam during Anfal campaign
            found outside Samawa
(Musings On Iraq article on Anfal campaign)
2006 Fmr Sec State Powell told British TV he advised CENTCOM cmdr Gen Franks
            US needed more troops before invasion but advise ignored
2006 Pres Talabani said 7 insurgent groups might be able to be talked into joining
            political process
2006 US Special Inspector Gen for Iraq Reconstruction report said attacks still retarding
            rebuilding projects but real progress being made
2006 US Special Inspector Gen for Iraq Reconstruction head said that attacks on
            infrastructure down 60%
2006 Audit found effort to protect power and oil infrastructure largely failed Questioned
            2 foreign security companies contracted to train guards
2007 Anbar Awakening claimed to have killed ISI War Minister Masri Didn’t happen
2008 Maliki said that Mahdi Army had to be disbanded because couldn’t have
            militias and state
2008 Sadr spokesman said Iranian weapons in Iraq was normal because Tehran
            would sell to anyone
2008 Turkey said it would resume diplomatic relations with Kurdistan
2009 ISF started 2nd Operation Promise of Good in Diyala
2010 Def Min said that ISI had lost its direction after 2 leaders Masri and Baghdadi
            killed
2010 Maliki claimed foreign countries were plotting coup against him
2010 Iraqiya threatened boycott after courts banned winning candidates for Baathist
            past
2011 Hundreds demonstrated in Kut for better services and against corruption
2011 Asayesh arrested four protest organizers trying to start demonstration in
            Sulaymaniya
2011 US said Iranian investment projects in Karbala and Najaf were fronts for
            supported Asaib Ahl Al-Haw and Kataib Hezbollah
2012 KRG said Baghdad should pay foreign oil companies working in Kurdistan
2012 Allawi said he wouldn’t go to national conference to resolve differences with
            Maliki
2012 4 bodyguards of fmr Speaker Mashadani arrested for terrorism
2013 Kurdish ministers ended boycott of govt
2013 Islamic Army met with Kirkuk tribes to form armed group after ISF attacked
            Hawija protest site
2013 Sheikh Sulaiman said that protesters would go to war with govt after crackdown
            on Hawija protest site
2013 Insurgents attacked Wasit municipal council building
2013 Dep PM Mutlaq criticized ISF attack on Hawija protest site
2014 KRG parliamentary elections 1st in 8 years
2014 Anbar tribes claimed Baghdad agreed to some of protesters’ demands to end
            fighting Didn’t happen
2015 Head of Salahaddin council said Hashd were looting and burning buildings
            in Tikrit
2015 City worker in Tikrit said 300 buildings in northern section of city had been
            destroyed including 2 mosques
2015 IS seized half of Baiji refinery
2015 Head of Anbar Operations Command said Hashd were needed to fight IS
            in province
2016 Parliament refused to meet over Abadi’s technocratic govt Sadr called for popular
            revolution as followers stormed Green Zone

View the Iraq History Timelines 

Sunday, April 29, 2018

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 29


1916 Ottomans defeated the British at Battle of Kut after 4 months captured
            13,000 prisoners British lost 33,000 casualties One of largest UK defeats in WWI
1941 More British troops from 20th Inf Brigade arrived in Basra Iraq protested
1941 British Ambassador told British women and children to leave Baghdad because
            of expected war with Iraq
1941 British flew planes from Shaiba base in Basra to Habaniya in Anbar
1941 PM Gaylani sent Iraqi forces to British air base at Habaniya, Anbar to confront
            them 11th Inf Brigade ordered to Baghdad to later be deployed to Anbar
1941 Iraqis flooded Habaniya area limiting movement of British troops there
1948 Battle of Katamon began between Jewish forces attacking Iraqi volunteers and
            Arab Legion in 1st Arab-Israeli War
1954 Arshad al-Umari became premier 2nd time
1969 Iraq condemned Shah of Iran for unilaterally ending 1937 border treaty over
            Shatt al-Arab waterway
1981 Amnesty Intl report interviewed 15 Iraqis exiles detailing toture methods used by
            govt
1982 Iran launched Op Bait al-Moqaddas with 70,000 troops to liberate Khorramshahr
            Iran-Iraq War Gained 300 sq mi
1994 Iraqi army launched new military campaign to drive out displaced and rebels
            from southern marshes
1994 Sec State Christopher said Iraq complying with UN Res 687 was not enough to
            end sanctions Contradicted resolution
2002 Pentagon official said 9/11 hijacker met with Iraqi intel officer in Prague
            Didn’t happen
2003 2nd anti-American protests in Fallujah Threw rocks at US troops who fired into
            crowd killing 3 wounding 16
2003 50 former British ambassadors and senior officials wrote letter to Blair criticizing
            having no plan for post-invasion Iraq
2004 US announced end of Battle of Fallujah Would withdraw turn over security to
            Fallujah Brigade
2004 Sheikh Jabani’s brother and 3 kids kidnapped in Fallujah for fighting insurgents
2005 Gen Vines issued order for US troops to stop and report any cases of abuse by
            Iraqi forces
2008 2nd ISCI and Dawa delegation went to Iran to meet Sadr and Gen Suleimani to
            negotiate ceasefire
2008 MPs found torture at Karbala prison overcrowding in Babil ones
2008 Accordance Front sent list of candidates to replace their vacant ministers in
            cabinet Maliki rejected some of them
2008 Turkey’s Foreign Minister said Ankara wanted better relations with KRG
2008 Fmr Dep Sec of Def Wolfowitz said Bush admin never expected an insurgency
            in Iraq
2009 Police sent by Integrity Comm to arrest Trade Min Sudani for corruption got
            into shootout with guards in Baghdad
2009 Interior Ministry said ISI had successfully penetrated ISF and used agents to
            carry out attacks
2010 Maliki said that there were no secret prisons in Iraq after one at Muthanna Airport
prison was revealed Claimed that torture victims at Muthanna prison gave themselves scars to fake abuse
2010 US accused Iran of using Hezbollah to carry out attacks against its forces in Iraq
2010 Sadrists said Maliki could not get a second term as premier
2011 Obama’s National Security Adviser suggested 10,000 US troops stay in Iraq after
            withdrawal
2011 Sadr threatened to bring back Mahdi Army if US forces stayed past end of year
2011 KRG security forces arrested one of top protest leaders in Sulaymaniya
2011 Anbar councilman Fallujah police chief and other officials arrested in Anbar
            Anbar Ops Command and Maliki blamed
2012 Pres Barzani told US he objected to selling F-16s to Baghdad Said didn’t trust
            Maliki with them
2013 Maliki and Pres Barzani agree on 7 point program to repair relations between
            Baghdad and Irbil
2013 ISI set off 2 car bombs in central Karbala 2 car bombs in Amarah 1 car bomb
            in Diwaniya
2013 Turkmen in Kirkuk demanded peshmerga withdraw from disputed areas
2014 ISIS took credit for suicide bombing of PUK rally in Khanaqin, Diyala that killed
            30
2014 Report that US intel believed Maliki getting re-elected PM would divide Iraq
            more
2016 Protests in Baghdad Basra Najaf Qadisiya Maysan Karbala Dhi Qar Muthanna
against corruption and sectarian quotas in govt

View the Iraq History Timelines 

Musings On Iraq In The News

I wrote "What to expect from Iraq's May 2018 elections" for NRT. I was also quoted by Paul Iddon in "Kurdish political division before Iraqi elections weakens Kirkuk claims" for Rudaw.

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Review Kurds of Iraq, Tragedy and Hope


Review Gunter, Michael, Kurds of Iraq, Tragedy and Hope, New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1992

Professor Michael Gunter of Tennessee Tech University is a leading Kurdish scholar. One of his first books on the subject was Kurds of Iraq, Tragedy and Hope published in 1992. It’s a quick read with only 118 pages of text, and gives a good review of the major trials and tribulations that have faced the Kurdish movement in Iraq.  

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 28


1922 UK Iraq Commissioner Cox said King Feisal racially weak for disagreeing
            with him
1929 Tawfiq al-Suwaidi became premier of Iraq, would hold that office 3
            times
1941 PM Gaylani asked Axis for military and financial aid for second time to be
            used against British
1941 UK Amb to Iraq told PM Gaylani second contingent of British troops landing
            at Basra Gaylani refused them entry
1947 Mustafa Barzani and 500 supporters returned to Iraq from Iran
1959 Communists asked for positions in Qasim govt but turned down
1973 Iraq offered to talk with Kuwait over border dispute
1990 Iraq hosted Arab summit Saddam attacked Kuwait for economic warfare vs
            Iraq
1990 Saddam asked Emir of Kuwait if Iraq could use two of its islands Emir said
            no
1991 US led Coalition created safe zone for Kurds near Dohuk after uprising
            put down
1992 Report CIA continued to give intel to Iraq until day it invaded Kuwait in Aug 90
1998 Inspectors report to UN said no progress in last 4 months due to confrontation with
            Iraq
2001 Report 9/11 terrorist Mohammed Atta met with Iraqi intel officer in Prague
2002 US military leaked story to press that Iraq invasion could use a force as small as
            70,000 Was push back against Rumsfelds small invasion force
(Musings On Iraq article on war in the press over Rumsfeld’s invasion plan)
2003 Protest in Fallujah led to shooting US troops killed 17 and wounded
more than 70
2003 ORHA Garner met with 350 Iraqis in Baghdad and told them they were in charge
            of Iraq said would be meeting to create interim govt in 4 weeks
2003 Dep Sec of Def Wolfowtiz said US occupation of Iraq would not need as many
            troops as invasion did
2003 Pentagon paper said interim Iraqi govt had not been decided upon
2003 Gen Franks asked UK to take control of 5 southern Iraqi provinces UK said could
            only handle 4 Basra Maysan Dhi Qar Muthanna
2003 UK report Iran sending in groups into southern Iraq to influence postwar
            situation
2004 Fighting between US marines and insurgents continued in Fallujah while US
            commander claimed ceasefire holding
2004 Marines began forming Fallujah Brigade to take over security of city
2004 UN Rep Brahimi reported to Security Council that interim govt would serve
            until elections held in late 2004-early 2005
2004 General Mark Kimmitt deputy director of Coalition operations in Iraq told CBS
            News he was disappointed in a few soldiers for Abu Ghraib scandal
2005 PM Jaafari’s cabinet approved by parliament 5 ministers and 1 dep PM either
            empty or temporary pending deal with Sunnis
2005 Defense Oil Electricity and Human Rights Ministers not been named yet in
            Jaafar cabinet
2005 US pressured PM Jaafari to name partial cabinet because filing ministers was
            taking too log
2005 SCIRI head Abdul Aziz al-Hakim gave speech threatening to purge the security
            forces of former regime members
2005 MP Mishan al-Jabouri accused Shiites of dividing Iraq and Sunnis were
            marginalized
2006 New US military campaign plan issued continuing with withdrawal
2008 ISCI and Dawa delegation went to Iran to meet Sadr and Gen Suleimani to
            negotiate ceasefire
2010 Court acquitted former Trade Min Sudani of corruption for lack of evidence
2010 Accountability and Justice banned Iraqiya members of Diyala council for Baath
            past
2010 Baathists held meeting in Damascus trying to unify two factions of Mohammed
            Yunis and Izzat al-Duri
2011 1920 Rev Brigades and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq agreed to disarm and join politics
            after talks with National Reconciliation Min Didn’t happen
2011 chief of staff of ISF Gen Zebari said Iraq would not be able to defend itself
            until 2020
2011 US Gen 25th Inf Div said Iranian backed Special Groups were attacking US
            forces
2011 Sadrists said that if US stayed passed end of year that would justify attacks
            upon them
2012 Pres Barzani Pres Talabani Sadr Speaker Nujafi and Allawi met in Irbil to
            discuss no confidence vote against Maliki
2012 Sadr issued demands to Maliki saying he would be removed if didn’t submit
            to them
2012 Pres Talabani tried to moderate between Maliki Barzani and Allawi over
            having no confidence vote against PM
2013 Sheikh Abu Risha turned over 2 people said responsible for killing 5 soldiers
            at Fallujah protest site
2014 Ibrahim Jaafari said that Maliki’s mistakes led to deterioration in security
2014 ISI seized control of 6 voting centers in Qara Tapa, Diyala
2014 Iran signed oil and natural gas deal with KRG
2014 Special voting started in national elections for parliament
2015 Badr’s Ameri said Hashd would not wait for permission to enter Anbar Were
            already there
2015 Sadr criticized Hashd trying to politicize fight against IS to gain power

View the Iraq History Timelines

Friday, April 27, 2018

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 27


1982 French delegation returned to Iraq to help work on its Osirak nuclear
            reactor Left after Iranian bombing of reactor in 1980
1987 Iran Op Karbala 10 took 2 towns and 100 sq mi in Sulaymaniya
1987 Syria agreed to stop backing Iraqi Kurds
1991 Iraq made declaration of its nuclear program to UN inspectors but was hiding
most of it
2003 Report evidence found linking Ansar al-Islam with Al Qaeda
2003 Captured Mukhabarat documents showed it had meetings with Al Qaeda in 1990s
2003 Grenade thrown at 82nd Airborne troops wounding 2 in Ramadi
2003 Baghdad conference opened to discuss forming an Iraqi provisional govt with
            300 Iraqis attending Endorsed by US
2003 ORHA and Oil Ministry officials met and picked top positions in ministry
2008 Maliki met with VP Hashemi to try to get Accordance Front to end
            cabinet boycott
2008 40 MPs said Maliki’s crackdown on Sadr needed to end
2008 Baghdad Operations Command said they captured Iraqis trained and armed    
            by Iran to fight ISF
2009 Maliki announced Iraqi forces captured Abu Omar al-Bahgdadi Didn’t happen
2009 Maliki condemned US raid in Kut that killed 2 civilians calling it a crime
2012 Kurdish Alliance returned to Ninewa council after boycott started in 2009
            when Hadbaa took all the top posts after elections
2013 Peshmerga said it was moving into disputed areas of Kirkuk Diyala Salahaddin
            to protect against increased violence
2013 Maliki blamed Syria for rise of sectarianism and increased violence in Iraq
2013 Naqshibandi claimed they were behind rise in violence after ISF attacked
            Hawija protest site
2013 Anbar Operations Command set 24 hrs deadline for killers of 5 soldiers at
            Fallujah protest site to be turned over
2013 5 Anbar tribes said they were arming to fight ISI in province after 5 soldiers
            killed at Fallujah site
2013 2 tribes withdrew from Anbar protests after 5 soldiers killed at Fallujah site
2014 ISF claimed it was starting op to retake Fallujah that Anbar council denied
            was happening
2015 Arabs accused Peshmerga of destroying homes in 5 villages after freed from IS in
            Kirkuk
2015 Badr’s Ameri said using Hashd only way to free Anbar
2015 IS head Baghdadi called on Syrian fighters to help fight in Salahaddin and Anbar

View the Iraq History Timelines 

Thursday, April 26, 2018

KDP Arrest PM Abadi Candidates


Prime Minister Haidar Abadi is in full campaign mode touring the country recently visiting Ninewa, Muthanna, Diwaniya, Anbar and Maysan. His latest stop was Sulaymaniya. Abadi’s Nasr list is running 25 candidates in Kurdistan including 10 in Sulaymaniya. That has apparently raised the ire of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). On April 24, it was reported that three Nasr candidates were arrested by the Asayesh. This blatant intimidation tactic was a warning that the Barzani clan did not appreciate the premier’s move into their territory.

This Day in Iraqi History – Apr 26


1916 British arranged a ceasefire with Ottomans in Kut, Wasit after 146 day
            siege
1923 UK’s Iraq committee presented findings and okayed by cabinet to stay path in
            Iraq
1941 PM Gaylani asked Axis for military and financial aid against British
1947 Iraq left SF Conference on creating UN to protest creation of Israel
1987 Jordan and Saudis arranged meeting between Saddam and Syria’s Assad to try to
            improve ties
1990 Report Bush pushed greater economic ties with Iraq
1991 Kurdish refugees began leaving Turkish mountains for refugee camps in Kurdistan
            Baghdad offered amnesty to Kurds that fled during uprising
2003 Report Bush invaded Iraq to try to transform Middle East by creating a
            democracy and countering draw of terrorism
2003 White House said evidence Iraq might have destroyed its WMD right before
            war and that proved war right
2003 Report no WMD found in sites Powell mentioned in his 03 UN speech
2003 Ayatollah Haeri issued fatwa from Iran saying clerics needed to fill power
            vacuum left by US invasion
2003 Sheikh Naifus of Albu Alwan in Babil arrested for taking part in executions of
rebels after 91 uprising
2004 Zarqawi announced his group Tawhid wal-Jihad
2004 US announced Iraqi police returning to Fallujah and would start join patrols
            with Iraqi Civil Defense Forces
2004 Aid agencies claimed Geneva Convention was violated in Battle of Fallujah due
            to civilian casualties
2006 Maliki told Rice and Rumsfeld he was going to fight terrorism improve services
            clean up police
2006 Barham Salah said Maliki was step towards reconciliation
2006 Amb Khalizad took credit for creating new coalition that appointed Maliki
            premier
2007 Congress passed bill calling for US withdrawal from Iraq by 10/1/07 Was
            vetoed by Pres Bush
2008 Chalabi called Petraeus saying he could speak for militias to negotiate ceasefire
            in Sadr City
2008 VP Hashemi said Accordance Front interested in ending its boycott of cabinet
2008 ISF said cleared last Sadr stronghold in Basra
2010 Baath exile faction led by Ahmad Yunis said wanted to unite with other faction
led by Izzat al-Duri during meeting in Damascus
2010 Human Rights Watch interviewed prisoners who were held at secret
            prison at Baghdad Muthanna Airport and tortured by ISF
2010 Kurdish member of Kirkuk council said displaced Arabs had to leave province
            and go home
2011 Maliki admitted his 100 day deadline to reform ministries was not enough time
2011 State of Law held counter protest in Mosul supporting Maliki
2011 Ninewa Gov Nujafi called for strike in response to security forces attacking
            protest camp in Mosul
2012 Sulaymaniya court gave protest organizer life in prison after policeman killed
            at protest in Halabja
2012 Report that Kurds being threatened and driven out of Khanaqin district northeast
            Diyala
2012 Sadr went to Irbil to meet Pres Barzani over no confidence vote against Maliki
2013 4 Sunni mosques bombed in Baghdad after noon prayers
2013 Anbar protest leaders called for a popular army to be formed to protect demo sites
2013 Fallujah protest site announced formation of Pride and Dignity Army to protect
            demonstrators from ISF
2013 5 Intelligence officers killed at Fallujah protest site
2013 ISF retook Suleiman Beq from insurgents who seized town for several days
2015 Kataib Hezbollah withdrew from southern Fallujah claiming Abadi and
            US were preventing it from fighting there
2015 Head of Anbar council announced Abadi okayed recruiting locals for Hashd
2016 Sadrists protested while parliament voted in 5 new ministers as part
            of Abadi’s technocratic cabinet
2017 Hashd took Hatra Ninewa


Wednesday, April 25, 2018

No Enforcement Of Foreign Funding Law In Iraqi Election


The Iraqi Election Commission continues to fine parties for violations of campaign rules before May’s voting. Those include the lack of good conduct, putting up materials in the wrong places and times, etc. There are much bigger violations going on that the Commission has done nothing about. That is enforcing the ban on foreign funding for campaigns.

This Day In Iraqi History – Apr 25


1920 San Remo Agreement created British Mandate in Iraq France agreed to
            give up Mosul vilyat in return for oil concessions in Iraq
(Musings On Iraq article on how Mosul province became part of Iraq)
1929 Iran officially recognized Iraq as a country Hadn’t before due to complaints of
            mistreatment of Persians in Iraq
1991 Kurdish parties agreed to deal with Saddam including autonomy to end
            revolt after Gulf War
1991 Turkey told UN 30,000 Iraqi Kurds had entered Turkey in 2 days and 220,000
            were on there way as Kurdish uprising put down
1994 Iraqi govt announced completion of Mother of all Battles Irrigation Canal meant to
            drain southern marshes to drive out displaced and rebels
1995 Turkey’s Op Steel ended Withdrew 20,000 troops but left 15,000 in Kurdistan
1998 Was story that bin Laden sent delegation to Iraq for Saddam’s birthday and
            Uday agreed to train Al Qaeda Report false
2002 For Sec Straw said UK had to stand up to “bullies” like Saddam
2002 IAEA report that during inspections in 1990s Iraq’s nuclear program was
            dismantled and no ability to produce nuke material
2003 US arrested ex-Iraq Amb to Tunisia Farouk Hijazi who reportedly met with Al
            Qaeda in 90s and cited as proof of Iraq-Al Qaeda ties
2003 Bush said Iraq’s WMD were either hidden or were destroyed but US would find
            them
2003 White House official told NY Times Iraq may not have had WMD just agents to
make them
2003 Only Iraqi policemen to help US in Fallujah executed outside his house
2003 US Cmdr in Iraq Gen Franks said didn’t know how long it would take to
            rebuild and stabilize Iraq
2003 Iraqi opposition met in Madrid but failed to agree on an interim govt
2004 Marine generals met with Iraqis to discuss creating a Fallujah brigade after 1st
            battle of Fallujah
2005 Iraq Survey Group found Gulf War and UN sanctions destroyed Iraq’s WMD
            programs and Saddam didn’t try to rebuild them
2005 Iraq Survey Group found no evidence that Iraq’s WMD were sent to Syria
2005 White House said Iraq Survey Group found Saddam wanted WMD in the future
2006 Memo by Gen McCaffrey said that Iraqi army was making real progress but was
            badly equipped lacking armor air support etc
2006 Memo by Gen McCaffrey said Iraqi police heavily infiltrated by insurgents and
militias Said that Al Qeada in Iraq had been defeated as a strategic threat to the Iraqi govt
2008 Sadr said he was only opposed to US occupation not Maliki govt
2008 Report Badr and Mahdi Army setting up checkpoints and killing each other in
Qadisiyah and Baghdad
2008 Maliki said all parties supported his crackdown on Sadr and sign of reconciliation
2008 Maliki said if Sadr disarmed dropped politics turn in wanted militiamen would
stop Charge of Knights
2008 Fmr Under Sec of Def Feith said he warned of postwar chaos in Iraq but
            was ignored and Pentagon was on top of issue not State or CIA
2009 Gorran List founded by former PUK leader Mustafa
2009 Shiites protest in Khalis, Diyala claiming Baathists taking over new provincial
council after elections
2009 Arab tribes in Makhmour and Qaraj demanded Asayesh withdraw claiming
            harassment
2010 Iraqi Airways flew to London for first time in 20 years
2010 Court upheld Accountability and Justice Comm banning 52 winning candidates
            for Baathist ties
2011 Maliki claimed power had been decentralized in response to national protests
2011 ISF tried to stop protesters from gathering in Mosul Led to clash killing 1
            demonstrator and wounding 9 others
2011 Protest in Ramadi demanding US withdrawal close secret prisons and stop
            Iranian influence in country
2011 Peshmerga Minister accused Kurdistan Islamic Group and Kurdistan Islamic
            Union of being saboteurs and fostering jihadists
2011 Kurdistan Islamic Union said KRG had cut its monthly budget
2011 Soldiers and KDP security got into shoot out in Kirkuk City after brother 12th Div
commander killed a taxi driver and was arrested
2011 Speaker Nujafi said Iraq didn’t need US troops anymore and any extension
            would have to go through parliament
2012 Accordance Front and Iraqiya threatened no confidence vote against Maliki unless
he followed Irbil power sharing agreement
2012 Pres Barzani said that unless Maliki shared power would be a revolt by
            other ruling parties Said Maliki was like a dictator
2013 Maliki gave TV speech saying security would be restored after ISF attack
            on Hawija protest site led to spike in violence
2013 Heavy fighting in Mosul 10 police and 31 insurgents killed
2014 Boko Haram pledged support to ISIS
2014 US sent intelligence officers to assist Iraq with fighting insurgency, started
            training Iraqi Special Forces in Jordan
2014 KRG offered North Oil Company to use its pipeline to Turkey
2014 Report that insurgents were split over whether to support elections or not
2015 Abadi said Hashd should include all Iraqis from all backgrounds
2015 Kudish Alliance said opposed National Guard in disputed areas because
            peshmerga could secure them
2015 Yazidi militia leader Haider Sesho said that Yazidis would form their own
            party in Sinjar and be independent of KDP
2015 IS took over army base in Thar Thar, Anbar 141 soldiers killed in fighting
2017 Turkey bombed PKK positions in Sinjar Ninewa


Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Security In Iraq Apr 15-21, 2018


April has been different from previous months during the year. Each week the number of security incidents has gone up and down. The two main trends during the third week of April was the ongoing fighting between the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and Turkey in northern Kurdistan and more attacks upon candidates and political parties before next month’s parliamentary elections.

This Day In Iraqi History – Apr 24


1916 British attempt to re-supply besieged garrison at Kut failed
1920 UK gave France 25% of Turkish Petroleum Company in return for agreeing to
            British mandate in Iraq
1941 PM Gaylani and Mufti of Jerusalem met with Italian amb Told him they were
            angry Axis had done nothing to help Iraq vs British
1974 Iraqi planes bombed Qala Diza during Kurdish rebellion killing 130
1991 Kurdish leaders announced tentative deal with Saddam over autonomy and
            returning refugees who fled during revolt
1999 Were clashes between Iraqi forces and Iraqi opposition in south
2002 Gen Franks me with commanders in Qatar Said they needed to start war
            preparations
2003 Bush said Iraq might have destroyed its WMD before invasion but US would
            find them
2003 NY Times article Iraqi scientists said Saddam expanded WMD programs and
            secret facilities but destroyed stocks Wasn’t true
2003 US seized warehouse in Baghdad thought to contain WMD agents Proved false 
2003 Trailer found near Mosul was suspected of being mobile WMD labs Turned out
            not to be
2003 Dep PM Tariq Aziz surrendered to US Said Iraq had no WMD
2003 INC’s Zubeidi declared himself mayor of Baghdad
2003 ORHA head Garner met with 60 Iraqis in Kut to talk about security and how city
            should pick city council
2003 ORHA head Garner blamed Iran for anti-US protests in Kut
2003 ORHA head Garner said INC’s Chalabi was not US’s choice to run Iraq and
            Iraqis could pick their own leaders
2003 Gen McKiernan ground commander in Iraq told ORHA’s Garner security #1
            priority for postwar Iraq
2003 Rumsfeld called Powell to propose Paul Bremer as new presidential envoy to Iraq
2003 Rumsfeld called Garner and told him he would be replaced by Bremer Garner said
            he would quit Rumsfeld asked him to stay
2003 Rumsfeld said that Iraqis could form any govt they wanted as long as it wasn’t
            a theocracy like Iran’s
2003 UN Res 1476 extended Oil For Food Program past US invasion
2003 2 drive by shootings on US base in Kut, Wasit
2003 Was anti-American march in Kut, Wasit
2003 UK cabinet agreed to expand control from Basra & Maysan to Dhi Qar and
            Muthanna despite warnings might not have capabilities to deal with them
2003 UN SecGen Annan said US Coalition had to follow intl law as occupying
            power in Iraq US rejected occupier title
2004 US reported that 40% of Iraqi police deserted during Sadrist uprising in
            Najaf and Kut
2004 Insurgents launched boat attack upon Basra oil terminal killing 2 US sailors
2006 Sunni politicians accused SIIC of taking over Interior Min and staffing it with
            Badr militiamen and killing civilians
2006 Zarqawi released video portraying himself as military commander in Iraq
2006 Fmr CIA officer Drumheller said Iraq war was a policy failure by White House
            not intel one Said Bush committed to war no matter what the intel
2006 Iraqiya MP said new Maliki govt wasn't national unity one but just Shiite
            Kurdish and Sunni parties dividing up ministries
2008 ISF gained full control of central Basra from militias during Charge of Knights
2008 Captured ISI letters showed complaints about War Min Masri not consulting
            with others and didn't take criticism
2008 Captured letters said ISI was passing off old Zarqawi videos as new operations
2009 2 suicide bombers targeted Baghdad’s Khadmiya shrine
2011 Ayatollah Haeri in Iran issued fatwa against extending US troop presence in
            Iraq past 2011
2011 Sadrists said they opposed any troops extension for US past end of year
2011 Kurd opposition parties said KRG could either negotiate with protesters or
            suppress them
2011 Press freedom group said 226 violations by KRG against media trying to cover
            Sulaymaniya protests
2011 Bomb at Sacred Heart church in Baghdad
2011 6,000 protested in Mosul demanding reform and releasing prisoners
2012 Sound bomb at offices of Ayatollah Najafi in wave of attacks upon leading
            ayatollahs
2012 Pres Barzani said that Exxon would follow through with its contracts to work
            with KRG despite threats from Baghdad
2013 Maliki called for dialogue with Sunni protests after raided and killed protesters in
            Hawija Also called for law and order
2013 Mutahidun complained Maliki allowing militias to operate in Iraq
2013 Insurgents took control of Suleiman Beq, Salahaddin after ISF attacked
            Hawija protest site
2013 Hawija protest group announced that it was joining Naqshibandi after ISF
            attacked protest site
2014 Was fighting between ISIS and Military Council in Fallujah
2015 report that ISF were charging displaced Anbaris money to get into Baghdad


Monday, April 23, 2018

Number Of Displaced Continues To Drop In Iraq


The war against the Islamic State that started in 2014 caused the second major displacement of Iraqis since 2003. Over 5 million people left their homes. Now that the conflict is over, more and more people are returning.

This Day In Iraqi History – Apr 23


1917 British Samarra Offensive ended in victory over Ottomans British suffered
            18,000 casualties
1920 Ataturk gave speech demanding Turkey’s southern territories include Mosul and
            Sulaymaniya
(Musings On Iraq article on how Mosul province became part of Iraq)
1941 PM Gaylani asked for German military intervention in case of war with England
1941 London decided to land an entire division from India in Basra
1948 Kirkuk oil workers protested against Anglo-Iraq Treaty
1989 Ali Hassan al-Majid’s special powers over northern Iraq for Anfal ended
(Musings On Iraq article on Anfal campaign)
2003 Iraq oil started flowing for fist time since US invasion Iraq shut down oil flow
            day war started Mar 20
2003 USAID official told Nightline rebuilding Iraq could cost US $1.7 bil and
            Iraqi oil and donors would pay for rest
2003 ORHA head Garner came up with list of 9 objectives to accomplish for postwar
            Iraq including paying salaries return police and ministries etc
2003 White House said confident Iraq’s WMD would be found
2003 NY Times article Iraqi scientists told US Iraq destroyed all its WMD equipment
            before invasion US now looking for programs rather than WMD stocks
2003 NY Times article US would be getting info on Iraq’s WMD from Chalabi and
            INC
2003 Up to 3 mil participated in Arbaeen ceremony that had been banned under
            Saddam
2003 Protest in Kut, Wasit blocked US convoy for 4 hours
2003 Report thousands of Arabs were being evicted from Kirkuk by Kurds and
            forming militias to protect themselves
2003 1st US troops arrived in Fallujah 2 weeks after end of invasion
2004 Bremer said ex-soldiers welcomed back into army said complaints about
            deBaathification were legitimate US streamlining how it deal with prisoners
2004 US Cmdr in Iraq Gen Sanchez ordered investigation into military intel practices
            due to Abu Ghraib prison scandal
2005 UN Sec Gen Annan blamed US and UK for Iraq smuggling under Oil For Food
            program in 90s rather than UN
2009 KRG Premier Barzani criticized Hadbaa party for monopolizing all the seats
            on Ninewa council
2009 Iraq claimed it captured IS leader Abu Omar Baghdadi Didn’t happen
2010 5 car bombs hit Shiite mosques in Baghdad kill 72
2011 Karbala governor said province should think about becoming a federal region
2011 5,000 protested in Mosul demanding release of prisoners
2011 Sadrists marched in Baghdad against US occupation
2012 Iran tried to work out deal between Maliki and Sadr but failed Sadr moved
            into growing critic of Maliki’s rule
2012 Iraq’s Foreign Ministry called in Turkey’s ambassador complaining about
            Ankara’s interference in Iraqi politics
2013 Maliki ordered raid on Hawija protest camp run by Naqshibandi leading to over 40
            dead and 70 wounded
2013 Violence spiked in Iraq after Hawija raid and helped mark return of Iraqi
            insurgency
2013 Mohammed Abu Risha called for protesters to arm themselves after ISF attack
            upon Hawija protest site
2013 Clash between protesters and ISF in Ramadi 6 soldiers killed
2013 Fighting broke out between ISF and insurgents in Suleiman Beq
2013 British court found maker of fake bomb detectors guilty of 3 counts of fraud
2016 Fighting broke out again between Hashd, Turkmen vs Peshmerga Kurds in
            Tuz Kharmato


Sunday, April 22, 2018

Musings On Iraq In The News

I was mentioned by Coline Clarke and Haroro Ingram in "Defeating the ISIS Nostalgia Narrative" in Foreign Policy Research Institute. The article was also republished by RAND.

Review The Battle for Fallujah, Occupation, Resistance and Stalemate in the War in Iraq


Review Foulk, Vincent, The Battle for Fallujah, Occupation, Resistance and Stalemate in the War in Iraq, Jefferson and London: McFarland & Company, Inc.: 2007

The Battle for Fallujah is a bit misleading as the book is really about the period from 2003 when the U.S. forces first entered Fallujah until the 2nd Battle of Fallujah at the end of 2004. Each chapter has a theme such as kidnappings, car bombs, Moqtada al-Sadr and his uprisings, etc. It’s a quick read on what the American military was facing during this period of the Iraq War.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 22


1915 Lord Curzon asked why British should promise Basra and Baghdad vilyats
            to Arabs if they were fighting on Ottoman side
1916 British attacked Sannaiyat but Ottomans turned them back British suffered
            1,200 casualties
1923 British troops occupied Rowanduz in military campaign to subdue Kurds opposed
            to being included in new Iraq Mandate
1969 After Shah ended 1937 border treaty with Iraq Iran sailed ship down Shatt al
            Arab waterway in violation of treaty
1969 Iraq retaliated by expelling 10,000 Iranians for Shah ending 1937 border treaty
            over Shatt al-Arab waterway
1980 Khomeini revealed that Ayatollah Baqir al-Sadr had been executed and called for
            overthrow of Saddam
1991 Report that Iranian intel and Revolutionary Guard working in Iraq to help revolts
1998 Tariq Aziz letter to UN Said inspectors ignored last 7 yrs of progress Said intrusive
            inspections work of US to create justification for US military strike
2003 ORHA head Garner went to KRG to talk with Barzani and Talabani about interim
            Iraqi govt
2003 Barzani and Talabani suggested group of Iraqi advisers to help Garner rather than
            interim Iraqi govt
2003 Sadrists held second day of protests after its cleric Fartusi was arrested by US
2003 Only 10% of Baghdad’s electricity restored since city fell to US forces
2003 US sent 1000 more experts to look for Iraq’s WMD
2003 Chief UN inspector Blix told BBC US tried to discredit inspections at the Security
            Council
2003 UK general warned that British military not trained for postwar operations called
            for in Iraq
2003 NYTimes’ Miller told PBS NewsHour US found info on Iraq’s WMD Had
            destroyed stocks right before invasion Fooled UN inspectors
2004 Bremer said some Baathist officials would be able to return to their jobs
2004 After no real weapons turned over by insurgents in Fallujah Gen Conway said
            militants had days to do so or city would be attacked again
2006 Pres Talabani Asked Maliki to form new govt
(Musings On Iraq interview with Reuters’ Parker on Maliki’s biography)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Inside Iraqi Politics’ Sowell on whether Maliki became a dictator)
(Musings On Iraq interview with Historian Phebe Marr comparing PM Maliki with MP Said)
2007 ISI stopped bus and took 23 Yazidis off and executed them in Bashiqa, Ninewa
2008 Maliki promised $150 mil to rebuild Sadr City after fighting Mahdi Army was
            over
2009 16 Kurdish towns in Ninewa threatened to not cooperate with new Hadbaa run
            Ninewa council calling it Baathists
2010 Parliamentary election results were supposed to be certified but political disputes
            delayed that
2011 Protests in Baghdad, Mosul and other cities calling for release of prisoners better
services fighting corruption
2011 Sadr announced new social organizing project Munasiroon in Basra
2012 Attack on Najaf offices of Ayatollah Fayadh in wave of attacks against Iraq’s
            top clerics
2012 Turkey’s Erdogan compared Maliki to Saddam
2013 Tigris Ops Command stopped parliamentary delegation from visiting Hawija
            protest site after checkpoint attacked
2014 Pres Barzani threatened independence of Kurdistan if oil dispute with Baghdad
            continued
2015 Day after IS attacked Sahl al-Malih, Ninewa Peshmerga expelled Arab residents,
            looted and burned village

View the Iraq History Timelines 

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Review America at the Crossroads, Democracy, Power, and the Neoconservative Legacy


Review Fukuyama, Francis, America at the Crossroads, Democracy, Power, and the Neoconservative Legacy, Yale University Press: New Haven and London, 2006

Neoconservatives were one of the main groups behind the 2003 invasion of Iraq providing much of the ideological justification for the war. The term was thrown around a lot in the media, yet few actually knew what it was about. For example, there was some talk about Leo Strauss and graduates from the University of Chicago where he taught, but what that meant in real terms or how it related to the Iraq war were largely left unexplained. That’s the reason why Francis Fukuyama’s America at the Crossroads, Democracy, Power, and the Neoconservative Legacy is important because it provides a short and concise summary and analysis of just what neoconservatism is and how it was connected to Iraq.

This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 7 Saddam said Iraq going on defensive in Iran-Iraq War 3 months into war

  1914 UK made 2 nd attack on Qurna, Basra forcing Ottomans to retreat Lost around 200 killed 130 taken prisoner UK los...