Security In Iraq May 22-28, 2024

The Islamic State made a return to Iraq during the last week of May. Pro-Iran groups continued attacks upon Israel during the Gaza War.

This Day In Iraqi History - May 31 Kurdish revolt led by Barzinji put down by UK’s RAF

 

1915 British took Qurna and set out to capture Amarah from Ottomans

(Musings On Iraq review When God Made Hell, The British Invasion of Mesopotamia and the Creation of Iraq, 1914-1921)

Review Black Hearts, One Platoon’s Descent Into Madness In Iraq’s Triangle Of Death

Frederick, Jim, Black Hearts, One Platoon’s Descent Into Madness In Iraq’s Triangle Of Death, Broadway, 2010

 

Black Hearts, One Platoon’s Descent Into Madness In Iraq’s Triangle Of Death is a depressing story about how a U.S. army platoon was neglected, denigrated and committed a heinous crime during its deployment in Iraq. Most of the book is about how a battalion from the 101^st Airborne Division was deployed to what was called the Triangle of Death, one of the most dangerous parts of the country just south of Baghdad. It emphasizes how aimless the U.S. military was for many years in Iraq carrying out tasks that had no real impact. It’s only at the end that the book goes over the rape of a 14 year old Iraqi girl and the murder of her family by American soldiers. Black Hearts blames the chain of command for allowing the unit to deteriorate to the point that it carried out this act.

This Day In Iraqi History - May 30 UK-Turkey deal Turkey got 10% of Mosul oil in return for giving up claim to province

 

1920 Head political officer in Iraq Wilson got report that revolt in Mosul being planned

Iraqi Govt Continues To Fail In Spending Development Budgets

Iraq’s parliament is discussing the new 2024 budget which is part of a larger three year bill for spending that was passed last year. A professor from Basra posted on social media that the government remains abysmal at spending its investment money.

This Day In Iraqi History - May 29 1920 Ayatollah Shirazi issued statement supporting Iraqi independence from UK

 

1920 UK judicial secretary Carter wrote Sir Wilson head political officer warning Sunni-Shiite

unity would threaten British rule in Iraq

This Day In Iraqi History - May 28 Govt had Assyrian leader Mar Shimun come to Baghdad to discuss Assyrian issue

 

1933 Interior Min had Assyrian leader Mar Shimun come to Baghdad to discuss differences with

govt over settling community in north Interior said it was willing to acknowledge Mar Shimun as spiritual leader but would not give him any political power Said UK officer arriving to help settle community Mar Shimun said he would help with settlement Pledged loyalty to King Faisal

(Musings On Iraq review The Tragedy of the Assyrian Minority in Iraq)

(Musings On Iraq review State and Society in Iraq)

Security In Iraq May 15-21, 2024

The Islamic State and the Iraqi Islamic Resistance were both active in Iraq during the third week of May.

This Day In Iraqi History - May 27 Barzani decided to leave Iraq for USSR after his followers arrested and his brother surrendered to govt

 

1917 UK Col Clayton in Egypt worried Sykes-Picot would create opposition by Sharif of

Mecca against UK taking Baghdad Included independent Arab state for Sharif

(Musings On Iraq review The Creation of Iraq 1914-1921)

(Musings On Iraq review Empires of the Sand, The Struggle For Mastery In The Middle East 1789-1923)

(Musings On Iraq interview with Princeton’s Sara Pursley on Sykes-Picot and creation of Iraq)

This Day In Iraqi History - May 26 Jamil Midfai led Al-Ahd forces to attack Tal Afar in attempt to start revolt vs UK Mandate in Iraq

 

1915 US consulate report Discontent in Baghdad against draft for war growing UK tried

to bribe tribes south of Baghdad to turn on Ottomans

This Day In Iraqi History - May 25 Turkey launched 1st raid into Iraq to fight PKK under Iraq-Turkey security agreement

 

1918 11 leaders of Najaf revolt executed in Kufa by British

This Day In Iraqi History - May 24 Iran’s Op Beit al-Moqaddas pushed Iraq backed to border in Basra Iran-Iraq War

 

1922 Cleric Khalisi informed southern tribes British were trying to get their way in new Anglo-

Iraq Treaty

Review Unrevealed Milestones in the Iraqi National Nuclear Program 1981-991

Selbi, Dhafir, Al-Chalabi, Zuhair, Co-authored and edited by Dr. Khadduri, Imad, Unrevealed Milestones in the Iraqi National Nuclear Program 1981-991, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011

 

Unrevealed Milestones in the Iraqi National Nuclear Program 1981-1991 was written by three Iraqi scientists who worked on the country’s nuclear program. They were partly inspired by two other scientists who wrote books which the authors believed were full of misinformation aimed at supporting the U.S. claims about WMD. Their intent was to tell their truth of what Iraq did and didn’t do which of course was a huge topic of controversy before and after the 2003 invasion.

This Day In Iraqi History - May 23 CPA disbanded Iraq’s military

 

1922 When Colonial Sec Churchill asked by parliament if King Faisal opposed British Mandate

Churchill said no Faisal was against Mandate When news reached Iraq was 1^st page in papers Angered Iraqis

Security In Iraq May 15-21, 2024

The Islamic State and the Iraqi Islamic Resistance were both active in Iraq during the third week of May.

This Day In Iraqi History - May 22 Sheikh Barzanji led revolt against British

 

1919 Sheikh Mahmoud Barzinji started rebellion against British in Sulaymaniya

(Musings On Iraq review The Kurdish Revolt 1961-1970)

(Musings On Iraq review The Kurds, A Modern History)

(Musings On Iraq Explaining Kurdish Nationalism Interview With Teen Tech Univ Prof Michael Gunter)

This Day In Iraqi History - May 21 Treaty of Arzurum set line between Ottoman and Persian empires with Iraq as border area

 

1847 Treaty of Arzurum tried to set border between Ottoman Empire and Persia Gave

Sulaymaniya to Ottomans Shatt al-Arab to Persia Set up commission to demarcate border between Ottomans and Persia but never finished

(Musings On Iraq review An Analysis of Hanna Batatu’s The Old Social Classes and the Revolutionary Movements of Iraq)

Parliament Fails Again To Elect New Speaker

Saturday the Iraqi parliament was supposed to elect a new speaker six months after the position was vacated. Instead a fist fight broke out and the voting was delayed until another day.

This Day In Iraqi History - May 20 Bush said he opposed lifting sanctions on Iraq as long as Saddam in power

 

1917 Sharif Hussein of Nijaz agreed to UK control of Baghdad vilayet after WWI

This Day In Iraqi History - May 19 Gen Maude said UK came to Iraq during WWI as liberators not conquerors

 

869 Adv to Abbasid Caliph Mutazz confronted ministers accusing them of hoarding money Were

tortured and imprisoned but had no money

This Day In Iraqi History - May 18 German planes attacked UK Transjordan force in Anbar Anglo-Iraq War

 

1941 British bombed Fallujah while troops began surrounding town

(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s First Battle Of Fallujah 1941)

(Musings On Iraq interview World War II In Iraq and Syria Interview With Case Western’s Prof Broich)

This Day In Iraqi History - May 17 British planes bombed Mosul and Baghdad in Anglo-Iraq War

 

1920 Huge joint Sunni-Shiite demonstration in Baghdad during Ramadan against British rule

(Musings On Iraq review A Short History of Iraq)

Review Pride And Power, A Modern History Of Iraq

Franzen, Johan, Pride And Power, A Modern History Of Iraq, Hurst & Company, 2020

 

Pride And Power, A Modern History Of Iraq by Johan Franzen is a very dense history of Iraq from the Ottoman period to the present. It is chock full of detail after detail. There are some new bits of information relayed but the last third of the book that starts with the Gulf War falters. Its version of the 2003 invasion is especially disappointing making it an uneven book.

This Day In Iraqi History - May 16 Sykes-Picot agreement made between French and UK officials to divide up Ottoman Empire in Mideast

 

1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement broke up Ottoman Empire Basra and Baghdad to UK Mosul to France

Would be independent Arab state under UK and French influence

(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)

(Musings On Iraq review Empires of the Sand, The Struggle For Mastery In The Middle East 1789-1923)

(Musings On Iraq review U.S. Policy In Post-Saddam Iraq)

Security In Iraq May 8-14, 2024

Pro-Iran groups continued to claim multiple attacks upon Israel during the Gaza War while there was a rare incident by the Islamic State in Iraq during the second week of May.

This Day In Iraqi History - May 15 Iraqi army attacked Israel in 1948 Arab-Israeli War

 

1935 Tribes seized Suq al-Shuyukh and cut railway between Basra and Nasiriya during revolt

against govt

Influx Of Foreign Workers Into Iraq Increases Unemployment For Youth

The advisor to Iraq’s prime minister on labor affairs said that the number of foreign workers in the country is constantly increasing. There are around 1.5 million right now. That exacerbates unemployment especially amongst the youth.

This Day In Iraqi History - May 14 Pres Bakr brought Communists into National Front govt to co-opt Baath’s largest opponent

 

1935 Iraqi army and air force began campaign to bomb tribal areas Destroyed towns and burned

crops to put down tribal revolt in Rumaitha

(Musings On Iraq review Wings of Iraq, Volume 1: The Iraqi Air Force, 1931-1970)

Security In Iraq, May 1-7, 2024

The first week of May saw no insurgent activity in Iraq but continued attacks by pro-Iran groups.

This Day In Iraqi History - May 13 German planes attacked UK forces at Habaniya air base Anglo-Iraq War

 

1915 British forces moved north to try to encircle Ottoman forces in Qurna

(Musings On Iraq review When God Made Hell, The British Invasion of Mesopotamia and the Creation of Iraq, 1914-1921)

This Day In Iraqi History - May 12 Sec State Albright said if 500,000 Iraqi children died under sanctions would be worth it to contain Saddam

 

1920 US protested to UK about San Remo agreement that divided up Iraq’s oil between UK and

France saying London promised open door policy in region

(Musings On Iraq review Supremacy And Oil, Iraq, Turkey, and the Anglo-American World Order, 1918-1930)

1941 Soviet Union recognized PM Gaylani’s govt

(Musings On Iraq interview World War II In Iraq and Syria Interview With Case Western’s Prof Broich)

1941 British reinforcements from Palestine and Transjordan attacked by a German bomber

1941 German air force liaison officer killed while trying to land in Baghdad during dog fight between

Iraqi and British fighter planes

1941 PM Gaylani told German ambassador to Turkey Ankara made offer to be middleman with

England Gaylani feared Turkey would intervene in Iraq

(Musings On Iraq review Persian Gulf Command, A History of the Second World War In Iran and Iraq)

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq 1941, The Battles for Basra, Habbaniya, Fallujah and Baghdad)

(Musings On Iraq review Rashid Ali al-Gailani, The National Movement in Iraq 1939-1941)

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq And Syria 1941, The Politics and Strategy of the Second World War)

(Musings On Iraq review Blood, Oil and the Axis: The Allied Resistance Against A Fascist State In Iraq and the Levant, 1941)

1948 Iraqi air force deployed to Transjordan for Arab-Israeli War

1948 Armed clash between Independence Party and tribesmen loyal to Nuri al-Said and fmr PM Jabr

5 dead 47 wounded

1954 National Front formed from National Democratic Party and Independence Party Called for civil

liberties Cancellation of Anglo-Iraq Treaty Closure of UK bases Cancellation of oil concessions

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq’s Democratic Moment)

1958 Parliament ratified Arab Hashemite Union with Jordan

1962 Mustafa Barzani cut off police battalion in Dohuk area

(Musings On Iraq review Kurds of Iraq, Tragedy and Hope)

(Musings On Iraq review The Kurdish Revolt 1961-1970)

(Musings On Iraq review The Kurds, A Modern History)

(Musings On Iraq review Journey Among Brave Men, Travels in Kurdistan)

(Musings On Iraq Explaining Kurdish Nationalism Interview With Teen Tech Univ Prof Michael Gunter)

1969 Dispute over Shatt al-Arab discussed at UN after Iran protested Iraq expelling 10,000 Iranians

1982 Iranian Op Bait al-Moqaddas Reached Khorrmashahr across from Basra Drove Iraqi forces out

of Susangerd area

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

(Musings On Iraq interview with author Tom Cooper on Iran-Iraq War)

(Musings On Iraq review The Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988)

(Musings On Iraq review Iran-Iraq War, The Lion of Babylon, 1980-1988)

(Musings On Iraq review The Iran-Iraq War)

(Musings On Iraq review The Longest War, The Iran-Iraq Military Conflict)

(Musings On Iraq review The Iran-Iraq War Volume 1: The Battle for Khuzestan, September 1980-May 1982)

(Musings On Iraq review The Iran-Iraq War Volume 2: Iran Strikes back, June 1982-December 1986)

(Musings On Iraq review The Iran-Iraq War Volume 3: Iraq’s Triumph)

(Musings On Iraq review The Iran-Iraq War Volume 4: The Forgotten Fronts)

1986 US intel report Iraq was talking with China to build a covert nuclear power plant

1990 Italy said it seized parts headed for Iraq to make a 130 ft long supergun UK Turkey

Greece also found parts for gun

(Musings On Iraq review Al-Hussein, Iraqi Indigenous Conventional Arms Projects, 1980-2003)

1991 Baghdad took journalists to mass grave with 100 bodies it claimed were killed by Iranians and

Shiite rebels in southern Iraq

1996 Sec State Albright interviewed on 60 Minutes Was asked whether 500,000 Iraqi children dying

as a result of sanctions was worth it Albright said yes

(Musings On Iraq review Out Of The Ashes, The Resurrection of Saddam Hussein)

(Musings On Iraq review Invisible War, The United States And The Iraq Sanctions)

2003 Paul Bremer arrived in Iraq to take over new CPA During meeting Bremer suggested shooting

looters US military said it would not shoot looters Remark leaked angering Iraqis

(Musings On Iraq review State of Denial, Bush At War, Part III)

2003 Only 4000 Iraqi police on duty in Baghdad to cover 7 mil inhabitants

(Musings On Iraq interview with Col Ted Spain on how US struggled to establish law and order in post-invasion Iraq) 

2003 UK ForSec Straw said that Coalition failed to restore order in Baghdad

(Musings On Iraq review Voices From Iraq, A People’s History, 2003-2009)

(Musings On Iraq Review The Report of the Iraq Inquiry, Executive Summary)

2003 Report on INC defector ex-nuke scientist Hamza Saddam’s son-in-law Kamil called Hamza a

liar Hamza and former UN inspector Albright tried to get book published on Iraq’s nuke program Said Iraq failed to build bomb Not published Hamza got new book published Saddam’s Bombmaker claiming Iraq was closer to building a bomb than anyone knew

2004 1800 new pictures of prison abuse at Abu Ghraib released

2004 Sec Def Rumsfeld told Senate US interrogation methods used in Iraq were legal and cleared by

Pentagon lawyers

2005 Al Qaeda in Iraq kidnapped Anbar Gov Mahalawi and his son Governor’s body found 3

weeks later

2006 Bush invited 10 former Secretaries of State and Defense to ask them opinions about Iraq war

(Musings On Iraq Did the US Ever Have A Strategy To Win In Iraq Before the Surge?)

2007 Report US GAO found 100,000-300,000 barrels of oil missing each day Worth est $5-$15 mil

Smugglers likely culprit

2007 Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq dropped revolution from its title Also said

that it would look towards Ayatollah Sistani more than Ayatollah Khamenei Party was trying to distance itself from its pro-Iran history

2008 PM Maliki told Amb Crocker and Gen Petraeus that Iran was helping criminal elements in Basra

and Iraqis were sick of Tehran’s interference

2008 Sadr issued another ceasefire to try to stop govt offensive against Mahdi Army

2008 United Iraqi Alliance and Sadrists agreed not to attack each other politically after ceasefire

announced

2008 Report US judge who headed anti-corruption effort in Iraq in 07 said State Dept undermined

effort and allowed corruption to continue US embassy State Justice Depts Iraqi govt ignored effort Jul 07 Amb Crocker told Iraqi official stole $1 bil in medical supplies and sold them on black market and to Syria US did nothing Judge worked on report on corruption Congress asked for copy State classified report and blocked testimony on it Embassy blocked Congress from interviewing anti-corruption officials in Iraq PM Maliki fired Sunnis on Integrity Comm and top investigator Head of Comm Judge Radhi wouldn’t follow Maliki’s orders When Radhi asked for asylum in US due to threats US Embassy wouldn’t help him

(Musings On Iraq Iraqi Corruption)

(Musings On Iraq Corruption In Iraq An Interview With Stuart Bowen Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction)

(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Trouble Fighting Corruption Interview With Vincent Foulk Former US Anti-Graft Official)

2008 Deputy head of US anti-corruption effort said US did nothing as PM Maliki worked to subvert

Integrity Commission

2008 Iran came out against Iraq signing Status of Forces Agreement with US

2009 PM Maliki had head of Ghazilia Baghdad Sawha arrested Was tortured by ISF

2009 Tribal march in Mosul for Hadbaa list and against Peshmerga and Asayesh presence in Ninewa

(Musings On Iraq Tit For Tat In Ninewa)

(Musings On Iraq Arab-Kurdish Divide Over New Ninewa Provincial Council)

2009 Mass grave in Qadisiyah found with 100 Kurds killed during Anfal campaign

(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Anfal Campaign And The Destruction Of The Kurdish Opposition)

2009 Report PM Maliki set pattern of turning on his allies Started with Sadr in 08 Sadr put him in

power Then turned on Kurds Sent army into disputed area of Diyala Both aimed at increasing Maliki’s nationalist credentials Created Tribal Support Councils that angered ISCI and Kurds

(Musings On Iraq Disputes Over Tribal Support Councils)

2010 US general warned Sadrists carrying out attacks extortion intimidation in southern Iraq

2011 Parliament elected 3 VPs after 2010 elections Mahdi Hashemi and Khuzai

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Completes Another Pieces Of The Government Puzzle By Voting On Vice Presidents)

2011 PM Blair’s communication dir Campbell told Chilcot Inquiry Sep 02 WMD dossier was not case

for war vs Iraq but why Blair concerned about Saddam Min of Defense dir of general intelligence Gen Laurie said dossier was to promote war Said previous drafts rejected because didn’t make strong enough case vs Iraq Said Defense Min under pressure to get more on Iraq to make argument for war Said in final draft every point was edited to make it as strong as possible Said conclusion of dossier was not supported by intel

2011 Report MI6 told PM Blair’s foreign policy adv Manning Dec 01 that there was no intel linking

Iraq to jihadists Said removing Saddam important to secure oil supplies Would lead to secular state that would help against extremists Said Saddam could be removed in a coup Another memo from April 05 said Iraq war had radicalized many and increased terrorist threat Said made terrorists more determined to attack West Expanded Al Qaeda’s reach Had radicalized Muslims in UK

2011 Report Survey found 50% of graduating primary students went to higher education Many

schools broken down More than 20% of primary kids around 4 mil students dropped out each yr South Iraq up to 65% of kids don’t go to school Girls had least education

2011 Sadrist leaders said 2/3 vote in parliament needed to approve US troop extension

(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Sadr Could Be Backing Off Threat To Revive Mahdi Army If U.S. Doesn’t Withdraw)

2011 ISCI leader Hakim called on Arab govts to end tension with Iran and form regional organization

to normalize relations with Tehran

(Musings On Iraq Two Iraqi Leaders Praise Iran)

2012 KRG complained about PM Maliki holding cabinet meeting in Kirkuk Listed all grievances with

Baghdad over oil Article 140 etc

(Musings On Iraq Maliki’s Visit To Kirkuk Meant To Divide Iraqi National Movement And Kurdish Coalition)

2012 KRG Natural Resource Min said if Baghdad didn’t deliver region’s share of budget it would

truck oil for exports independently

2013 Iraqi paper got memo showing PM Maliki okayed purchase of fake bomb detectors

(Musings On Iraq Fallout In Iraq From Conviction Of Fake Bomb Detector Maker)

2013 Sadrists Supreme Council and Fadhila agreed to form coalition in 7 new provincial govts in

south and Baghdad

2014 Ground forces cmdr Gen Ghidan said Amiriya Fallujah had been cleared of insurgents

2014 Report Election observers found parties replaced ballots and forged them in Anbar Election Com

accepted ballot boxes that were marked for violations and others without counting contents

2014 ISF said Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr dist cleared of insurgents Was still ISIS base

(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s Southern Front Babil Province Where The Islamic State Has Free Reign)

(Musings On Iraq Twelve Security Operations Later And Iraq’s Northern Babil Is No Less Safe)

2015 Report ISCI claimed Kataib Hezbollah Asaib Ahl Al-Haq and other Hashd challenging

future of National Alliance Wanted to turn success in war vs IS into political power Accused Kataib Hezbollah of attacking ISCI offices in Basra Baghdad and other provinces

(Musings On Iraq Intra-Shiite Rivalaries In Iraq As Kataib Hezbollah Raids ISCI Office)

(Musings On Iraq Instrument Of Iran’s Power In Iraq And Syria Kataib Hezbollah)

(Musings On Iraq Asaib Ahl Al-Haq From A Breakaway Sadr Militia To Defenders Of Iraq)

2015 Diyala integrity comm called for court to dismiss Diyala governor for stealing funds for

displaced

2015 Report Rumaila oil field had budget cut by $1 bil Production not grown as fast as

predicted Was talk of Iraq producing 13 mil/bar/day 2015 Iraq was producing 3.7 mil/bar/day Oil Minister said early predictions unrealistic Said if Iraq reached 6-7 mil/bar/day by 2020 would be good Didn’t meet that mark Infrastructure years behind schedule

2015 Report Gorran came in 2^nd in 2013 KRG elections Got ministries but didn’t control

bureaucracy staffed by PUK-KDP Was criticized for going from opposition to partner with ruling parties it criticized Decline of PUK led KDP to want to be sole leader in KRG Pres Barzani declared himself commander in chief and wanted all Peshmerga under his control Peshmerga still under control of leaders within PUK-KDP PUK turned to Iran for aid

2015 Report PM Abadi OK’d 6000 tribal fighters from Anbar Less than 1000 had signed up 40-

50% quit during training Badr accused some of the volunteers of being IS Criticized program created by US

2016 IS began final assault on Ramadi with 12 suicide car bombs ISF morale broke and began

retreating

(Musings On Iraq review Suicide Bombers In Iraq, The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom)

2017 3 mass graves found outside Saqlawiya Anbar Contained ISF executed by IS

2017 Hashd op to free west Ninewa started

2018 Iraq held fifth election for parliament 44% voter turnout lowest since elections started in

2005 Sadr-Communist Sairoon list won most seats

(Musings On Iraq May 2018 Elections Triumph For Iraqi Democracy Failure Iraq’s Parties)

(Musings On Iraq Seat Allocation Announced For Iraq’s New Parliament)

(Musings On Iraq Iraq Election Results All 18 Provinces)

(Musings On Iraq interview with IRIS-Chatham House’s Mansour on 2018 elections)

(Musings On Iraq interview with Edinburgh Univ PhD student Benedict Robin on Sadr-Communist alliance and May election)

2018 PUK attacked Gorran HQ in Sulaymaniya Widespread accusations of voting fraud in

Sulaymaniya and Kirkuk provinces

(Musings On Iraq Growing Crisis Over Elections In Kirkuk and Kurdistan)

2018 Iran’s Quds Force head Gen Suleimani arrived in Baghdad for elections Reportedly started

talks afterward to form anti-Sadr coalition

(Musings On Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander General Suleimani And His Role In Iraq, An Interview With The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins)

2019 Report Saudis offered to re-open border crossing closed since 1990 Also re-open

embassy Offered to build sports stadium

2020 Report IS starting new phase in Iraq Trying to assert power over villages and suburbs

Operating in small cells instead of large groups

2021 Clash between protesters and police in Karbala after activist assassinated

(Musings On Iraq UN Report On Violence Against Iraqi Protesters)

(Musings On Iraq United Nations Faults Iraq For Failing To Protect Protesters)

View the Iraq History Timelines 

This Day In Iraqi History - May 11 2nd time Sec Def Rumsfeld claimed 2 brigades and a company of special forces roughly 10,000 troops could invade Iraq and overthrow Saddam

 

1925 UK Colonial Secretary wrote Arab elites knew Iraq was being held together by British

This Day In Iraqi History - May 10 Army forced PM Talib to resign Pres Arif became PM

 

1920 Nationalist Haras al-Istiqlal decided to increase campaign for independence in

Baghdad Agreed on joint Sunni-Shiite events during annual religious ceremonies

Review Saddam’s War

Bulloch, John and Morris, Harvey, Saddam’s War, Faber and Faber, 1991

 

Saddam’s War is a very short and thorough overview of the causes of the Gulf War. It was written by John Bulloch and Harvey Morris who worked for the Independent newspaper in London as a journalist and an editor. It provides a good introduction for anyone interested in the conflict.

This Day In Iraqi History - May 9 German and Italian planes started landing in Iraq for Anglo-Iraq War

 

1919 UK approved Iraq political officer Wilson’s plan for mandate in Iraq run by a high

commissioner Foreign Office told Wilson to treat Mosul as an Arab province of Iraq Meant Mosul would be included in Iraq

(Musings On Iraq review Britain In Iraq, Contriving King and Country)

(Musings On Iraq review U.S. Policy In Post-Saddam Iraq)