Review Aaron Klieman, Foundations of British Policy In The Arab World: The Cairo Conference of 1921, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1970

Klieman, Aaron, Foundations of British Policy In The Arab World: The Cairo Conference of 1921, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1970

 

At the end of World War I the English found themselves in possession of a large amount of Ottoman territory. London had made various promises to different groups which were often contradictory because it had no strategy for the region. In 1921 Colonial Secretary Winston Churchill organized a meeting in Egypt to attempt to find a solution to all these issues. The Cairo Conference came to shape much of the modern Middle East. That is the topic of Aaron Klieman’s Foundations of British Policy In The Arab World: The Cairo Conference of 1921. The author argues that Churchill was able to create a short term success for the British Empire which eventually collapsed.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 25 British Mandate in Iraq created Was start of Iraq as a nation state

 

1920 San Remo Agreement created British Mandate in Iraq France agreed to give up Mosul vilayet

in return for oil concessions in Iraq

(Musings On Iraq How The Ottoman Province Of Mosul Became Part Of Iraq)

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

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

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

(Musings On Iraq review Dictatorship, Imperialism & Chaos, Iraq since 1989)

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

(Musings On Iraq review Inventing Iraq: The Failure of Nation Building and a History Denied)

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

(Musings On Iraq review The Chatham House Version and other Middle-Eastern Studies)

(Musings On Iraq review Enemy On The Euphrates, The Battle For Iraq 1914-1921)

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

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Since 1958, From Revolution To Dictatorship)

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq’s Democratic Moment)

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 24 Kurds announced tentative deal with Saddam for Kurdish autonomy Would lead to Kurdistan Regional Government

 

1916 British attempt to re-supply besieged garrison at Kut failed Last attempt to relieve

forces there

Trump Administration Increasing Pressure On Iraq To Cut Ties With Iran But Might Close Embassy In Baghdad

The United States is starting a new effort to get Iraq to cut its ties with Iran as part of President Trump’s Maximum Pressure campaign. At the same time the White House may close its embassy in Baghdad showing that Iraq is not a priority. This is another sign of the dysfunction within the American government.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 23 PM Maliki ordered raid on Hawija protest site leaving 110 casualties Led to revival of the insurgency

 

1915 UK Gen Townshend ordered by Mesopotamia cmdr Gen Nixon to take Qurna and Amara

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

Dawa And Iraqi Resistance Reject Syrian President Visiting Iraq In May

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani is trying to normalize relations with the new government in Syria but is facing pushback from pro-Iran groups.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 22 Ayatollah Khomeini revealed Ayatollah Baqir al-Sadr executed by Iraq Called for Saddam to be overthrown

 

1915 Lord Curzon asked why British should promise Basra and Baghdad vilayets to Arabs if they

were fighting on Ottoman side

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 21 Coalition Provisional Authority created to run post-war Iraq

 

1802 Wahabi army from Arabia sacked Karbala 2,000-5,000 killed

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 20 Iraq-Turkey agreement allowed each to conduct cross border raids to fight Kurds

 

1917 British military governor in Baghdad banned weapons and ammunition for public and

imposed curfew on city

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 19 San Remo Conference held with UK France Italy Japan Decided to split up Ottoman empire and create Iraq

 

1916 German commander of the Ottoman forces in Mesopotamia Gen Goltz died of typhoid in

Baghdad

Dennis Alexander Abbott, Operation Telic, And The Liberation of Iraq, From the Desert Rats to the Media War, Pen & Sword, 2024

Abbott, Dennis Alexander, Operation Telic, And The Liberation of Iraq, From the Desert Rats to the Media War, Pen & Sword, 2024

 

Operation Telic by Dennis Alexander Abbott is one of those books you keep on reading hoping something will happen but never does. Abbott was an English journalist who was called up for duty in 2003 for the occupation of Iraq. He served as a media officer for British forces in southern Iraq. It’s based upon his journal but unfortunately his experiences were mundane.

This Day In Iraqi History – Apr 18 ISI Leader Baghdadi and War Minister Masri killed by US and Iraqi forces

 

1919 France and England signed Long-Berenger oil deal France got 20% of Iraqi oil via Turkish

Petroleum Company

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

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 17 PM Gaylani asked Nazis for military aid in case of war with UK

 

1916 Battle of Bait Isa Turkish counterattack stopped British advance British suffered

1,600 casualties Ottomans 4-5,000 3^rd defeat in British effort to relieve siege at Kut

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 16 Shah of Iran started giving military aid to Barzani to pressure Iraq to give him control over Shatt al-Arab

 

1914 US consul in Baghdad reported rumors spread that all Christians and Jews in city

would be massacred due to start of 2^nd Balkans War Rumors started after newspaper asked Mufti and Shiite clergy what was duty of Muslims in war They said to protect Islam and raise money Said Christians were defiling Muslim women in Balkans

This Day In Iraqi History – Apr 15 Joint Chiefs presented postwar plan with divisions from UK Poland Gulf States along with foreign police White House thought countries would end opposition to war and offer troops

 

1915 UK War Ministry committee heard from Adm Slade leading UK oil expert Said if Ottoman

Empire divided UK had to get Mosul vilayet because had oil

(Musings On Iraq review Enemy On The Euphrates, The Battle For Iraq 1914-1921)

Iraq Oil Revenues Rebound In March

There was a paradox with Iraq’s oil exports in March. Sales were down yet profits were up.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 14 Saddam wrote article saying Shiites and Kurds were untrustworthy since ancient times because worked for Persians and was reason they started 1991 uprising

 

1915 Ottoman campaign to try to retake Basra from British failed

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 13 Gen Qasim made cover of Time magazine

 

1915 British won Battle of Shaiba Ottomans had 4200 casualties 700 captured UK 1232 casualties

            Ottoman commander Askari killed himself in disgrace British 1200 casualties

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 12 Gertrude Bell wrote that Shiite clergy were all Persians and should be deported for issuing fatwas not to help UK defend Mosul against Turkey

 

1915 Battle of Shaiba began in Basra Ottomans and tribesmen launched frontal assault upon fortress

despite German advisers warning against it British artillery decimated Ottoman forces

Review Kevin McKiernan, The Kurds, A People in Search of Their Homeland, St. Martin’s Press, 2006

McKiernan, Kevin, The Kurds, A People in Search of Their Homeland, St. Martin’s Press, 2006

 

The Kurds, A People in Search of Their Homeland followed journalist Kevin McKiernan as he travelled through Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran from 1991-2005 meeting various Kurds. There’s history thrown in for background but most of it is about the friendships he formed and the events he witnessed.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 11 Sec Def Rumsfeld said “Stuff happens” to try to explain looting after US invasion of Iraq

 

1915 Ottomans and tribesmen began probing attack upon British outpost in Shaiba, Basra to try to

expel UK forces from vilayet

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 10 Sadrists killed Sayid Abdul Majid al-Khoei Surrounded Ayatollah Sistani’s house in Najaf Driven off by tribesmen

 

1917 US consulate report Economy in Baghdad collapsing after British took city Trade cut off No

business

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 9 Baghdad fell during the 2003 invasion

 

1915 New UK cmdr in Iraq Gen Nixon arrived Ordered to take all of Basra Secure Tigris to protect

Anglo-Persian Oil Company in Persia Plan for advance on Baghdad 1^st step in escalating war from protecting oil concession to taking all of Mesopotamia

(Musings On Iraq review Enemy On The Euphrates, The Battle For Iraq 1914-1921)

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq In World War I, From Ottoman Rule to British Conquest)

(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 - Apr 8 France approved Sykes-Picot agreement Baghdad and Basra vilayets would go to UK Mosul to France Independent Arab state would also be created under UK-French influence

 

1915 PM Asquith ordered committee created to determine which parts of Ottoman Empire

UK should get Would lead to creation of Iraq

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

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 7 PM Maliki said he was turning to Asaib Ahl Al-Haq and Kataib Hezbollah to secure Baghdad because disappointed with Iraqi security forces

 

1915 UK Gen Nixon ordered to prepare attack on Nasiriya and Amara to protect Basra vilayet and

Persian oil concession

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq In World War I, From Ottoman Rule to British Conquest)

(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 - Apr 6 Fatwa said Wahabi Ikhwan were brigands Rallied Shiite tribes to fight the invaders

 

1916 British attacked Sannaiyat by Kut British suffered 1,168 casualties

Apr 5 - This Day In Iraqi History - Faisal II made king Cousin Ilah made Regent

 

1916 Battle of Sannaiyat by Kut British attacked Ottomans Took Hanna and Fallahiya British had

1,885 casualties

Del Wilber, In The Shadow Of The Swords, The Baghdad Police Academy, Casemate, 2020

Wilber, Del, In The Shadow Of The Swords, The Baghdad Police Academy, Casemate, 2020

 

In The Shadow Of The Swords by D.W. Wilber might be one of the only 1^st hand accounts about the Americans’ attempt to rebuild the Iraqi police. Wilber was a former St. Louis police officer who volunteered to be a trainer. It’s a very interesting read even though less than half of it is about the actual police academy. It points out some of the major flaws with the strategy.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 4 King Ghazi’s death announced to public Queen Aliya said it was Ghazi’s wish that his cousin Ilah be made regent

 

1927 UK official wrote Foreign Sec Chamberlain saying UK got Mosul by trick Promised 25 yr Iraq

Mandate Now pushing Iraq independence

Sadr Won’t Participate In Iraq’s Upcoming Elections

After much speculation Moqtada al-Sadr announced that he would not take part in this year’s parliamentary elections. This is good news for the ruling Coordination Framework because it doesn’t have to worry about its biggest rival. On the other hand it will be a hit for the country’s political system as it will likely result in the lowest voter turnout since 2003.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 3 King Ghazi died in a car accident King Faisal II took power but was only 3 His cousin Abd al-Ilah became Regent

 

1929 Shah and King Faisal passed notes that legal barriers over Persian nationals In Iraq had been

lifted

March 2025 Only 1 Insurgent Incident In Iraq

The Islamic State continued its slow death in Iraq in March 2025. There was only one incident during the month by the militants.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 2 Iraq closed border with Iran declared Kurdish revolt over Barzani and 150,000 people fled to Iran

 

1941 Regent of Iraq arrived at UK airbase at Habaniya Anbar after Golden Square officers tried to

arrest him after coup Regent tried and failed to organize resistance to coup in Basra Then fled to Jordan

(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)

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

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

(Musings On Iraq review The Role of the Military In Politics, A case study of Iraq to 1941)

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny)

Pro-Iran Factions And Tehran Planning Attacks Upon Syria?

There are worrying reports that pro-Iran groups in Iraq want to intervene in Syria again to undermine or overthrow the new government in Damascus. This is because many were invested in defending the Assad government and Tehran’s interests and want to re-establish their influence in the country.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 1 PM Taha Hashemi overthrown in coup by pan-Arab Golden Square officers Regent fled along with leading politicians

 

872 Brother of the Caliph Muwafaq defeated by Zanj slave rebellion in Basra

Musings On Iraq review The Revolt Of African Slaves In Iraq in the 3^rd/9^th Century

Iraq’s Hashd Bill Will Bring No Real Changes

A new Hashd bill is in parliament right now which is supposed to introduce reforms but will make no real changes. This is part of a process of empty promises by Iraq to curb pro-Iran armed factions to try to appease the new Trump administration.

This Day In Iraqi History – Mar 31 Iraqi Communist Party founded

 

1915 UK Foreign Office wrote India Viceroy Lord Hardinge Agreed UK should take Basra

province and perhaps make Baghdad a protectorate

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 30 UK Cairo Conference decided on indirect rule in Iraq Faisal would be made king with pro-UK govt allowing British forces to withdraw

 

1921 Cairo Conference decided on indirect rule in Iraq Would make Faisal King of a pro-British

Iraqi govt allowing withdrawal of British forces 

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 29 Sayid Salih Jabr became Iraq’s first Shiite PM

 

1946 Iraq-Turkey Friendship Treaty Would cooperate over Tigris and Euphrates security

education communication economies

Review Nicholas Schlosser, U.S. Marines in Battle, Al-Qaim, September 2005-March 2006, Marine Corps University, 2014

Schlosser, Nicholas, U.S. Marines in Battle, Al-Qaim, September 2005-March 2006, Marine Corps University, 2014

 

U.S. Marines in Battle, Al-Qaim, September 2005-March 2006 is one of the better volumes in the Marine history of the Iraq War series. That’s because it includes both background and the aftermath to the Marine deployment to western Iraq. It’s main argument is that how the Marines stayed in cities while working with the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and local tribes starting in 2005 created a new dynamic that would dramatically change the security situation in Anbar province in the following years.

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 28 2 truck bombs in Tal Afar left 499 casualties Militias and police killed 70 in revenge

 

1918 British took Ana

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 27 Saddam said he was going to get a nuclear bomb with help of the Soviets so he could go to war with Israel

 

1918 British took Haditha

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 26 Iyad Allawi won 2010 election PM Maliki came in 2nd

 

1918 Battle of Khan Baghdadi between Ottomans and British started

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 25 Iraq’s Information Min Sahaf began telling media US losing during invasion of Iraq

 

1915 British infantry brigade and artillery landed at Basra as reinforcements

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 24 Ayatollah Khamenei Pres Khatami decided to send Badr Brigade into Iraq to carry out ops vs US during invasion

 

1915 Gen Nixon made UK cmdr in Mesopotamia Told to hold Basra vilayet and all outlets to

sea

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 23 Nuri al-Said became PM 1st of 9 times Went after opposition Closed newspapers Took control of parliament to assure passage of Anglo-Iraq Treaty

 

1915 French Amb to UK Cambon suggested that UK and France begin discussions on

dividing Ottoman Empire Would lead to creation of Iraq

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 22 Over 200 civilians killed in US airstrike on building used by IS in west Mosul Abadi govt would launch disinformation campaign denying that it happened

 

1921 UK Cabinet approved Colonial Sec Churchill’s choice of Faisal as new ruler in

Mesopotamia

(Musings On Iraq Churchill In His Own Words On Mesopotamia/Iraq)

(Musings On Iraq review Cairo 1921, Ten Days That Made the Middle East)

(Musings On Iraq review Churchill’s Folly, How Winston Churchill Created Modern Iraq)

(Musings On Iraq review Inventing Iraq: The Failure of Nation Building and a History Denied)

(Musings On Iraq review Imagining The Nation, Nationalism, Sectarianism and Socio-Political Conflict in Iraq)

(Musings On Iraq review The Chatham House Version and other Middle-Eastern Studies)

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

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

Review Chief Warrant Officer 4 Timothy McWilliams, with Schlosser, Nicholas, U.S. Marines in Battle, Fallujah, November-December 2004, Marine Corps University, 2014

McWilliams, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Timothy, with Schlosser, Nicholas, U.S. Marines in Battle, Fallujah, November-December 2004, Marine Corps University, 2014

 

U.S. Marines in Battle, Fallujah, November-December 2004 was part of a series of books released by the Marine Corps to document its involvement in the Iraq War. It is a detailed military history covering the fighting by Marines and soldiers during Operation Phantom Fury the 2^nd Battle of Fallujah. That is also its drawback as there is nothing on the politics or impact of the battle.

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 21 Shock and Awe bombing campaign started during 2003 invasion of Iraq

 

1920 Iraq political officer Wilson wrote India Secretary Montague Said no connection between Iraq and Syria

and would reject rule by Faisal who’d been declared king of both before overthrown by France Said Iraq should have its own govt

This Day In Iraqi History - Mar 20 Start of 2003 invasion of Iraq

 

1933 Rashid al-Gaylani became PM 1^st of 3 times Included opposition Ikha Party who got Yasin

al-Hashemi as Finance Min and Hikmat Sulaiman as Interior Min

(Musings On Iraq review The Chatham House Version and other Middle-Eastern Studies)