Review Roger Petersen, Death, Dominance, and State-Building, The US in Iraq and the Future of American Military Intervention, Oxford University Press, 2024

  

Death, Dominance, and State-Building, The US in Iraq and the Future of American Military Intervention is a very detailed argument by MIT Professor Roger Petersen that America’s counterinsurgency and nation building strategies failed in Iraq. His point is that the U.S. was able to temporarily bring down violence during the Surge but failed to maintain the peace nor build a functioning Iraqi state.

Iraq Sees Surge In Voting Across Most Of The Country (REVISED)

 

Iraq’s Election Commission released partial early results for voter turnout in the provinces. It showed a surge of voting across the country compared to the last parliamentary elections in 2021.

Iraq’s Political Parties Prepping to Cheat In November Election

Iraq’s parliamentary elections are a month away and already the media is full of stories of the political parties cheating as happens every time votes are cast.

Princeton Researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov Released By Kataib Hezbollah After 2 Yrs Of Captivity REVISED

Image of Elizabeth Tsurkov at the cafe where she would be kidnapped by Kataib Hezbollah in March 2023

Princeton researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov was released by Kataib Hezbollah after being held in captivity for over 29 months in Iraq. There are various reports that the U.S. and Iraqi governments gave concessions to obtain her freedom.

Review Richard Engel, A Fist In The Hornet’s Nest, On The Ground In Baghdad Before, During & After The War, Hyperion, 2004

Engel, Richard, A Fist In The Hornet’s Nest, On The Ground In Baghdad Before, During & After The War, Hyperion, 2004

 

Richard Engel was an American journalist who decided to go to Iraq before the 2003 invasion and try to get a job with a U.S. media outlet. A Fist In The Hornet’s Nest, On The Ground In Baghdad Before, During & After The War is a collection of his experiences in the Iraqi capital during those tumultuous months. While it’s emphasis is obviously on what it was like being a journalist at that time it includes enough stories about everyday Iraqis to make it a well-rounded story.

Kataib Hezbollah Kill Policeman, Civilian In Gun Battle to Keep Political Ally in Office in South Baghdad

 

The power and lawlessness of the pro-Iran Hashd was once again on display in Baghdad at the end of July. A routine replacement of a district agricultural director led to a gun battle between Kataib Hezbollah and the police as the former was relying upon the official to seize land to enrich itself. The government as usual did nothing of consequence to stop this faction.

Pro-Iran Factions Carried Out Limited Attacks In Iraq During Israel-Iran Conflict

June saw the return of pro-Iran factions which carried out a limited series of attacks in Iraq in support of Tehran during the Israel-Iran conflict.

2nd Month In A Row With No Islamic State Attacks In Iraq

May was the second month when there was no attacks by the Islamic State. This is another sign that the insurgency is over in Iraq.

Security In Iraq May 8-14, 2025

After a long hiatus there were two incidents involving the Islamic State in May.

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.

Security In Iraq Mar 1-7, 2025

There was another incident by the Islamic State in Iraq during the 1^st week of March.

Security In Iraq Jan 15-21, 2025

The Islamic State remains dormant in Iraq during the new year. Some old ordinance exploded leading to casualties and there was a clash with the security forces during a security sweep in January.

Review Anne Garrels, Naked in Baghdad, The Iraq War as seen by NPR’s correspondent, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003

Garrels, Anne, Naked in Baghdad, The Iraq War as seen by NPR’s correspondent, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003

 

Anne Garrels was a reporter for National Public Radio who went to Baghdad in 2002 to witness the U.S. invasion and how it impacted Iraqis. Naked in Baghdad, The Iraq War as seen by NPR’s correspondent is a series of journal entries about her day to day activities joined by emails that her husband sent out to update her friends and family about what was happening. Garrels was able to capture the feelings of everyday Iraqis and a little slice of life in the Iraqi capital during this tumultuous time.

US Army In The Iraq War Volume 2 Chapter 12 A New Iraq Policy For The United States

The twelfth chapter of the U.S. Army’s 2^nd Volume on the Iraq War is about the 2011 U.S. withdrawal and its impacts upon Iraq. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki continued his concentration of power and was using the security forces to go after his opponents, the Islamic State of Iraq began its comeback while the Americans willingly gave away its influence with Baghdad.

Iraq’s Islamic Resistance Records New High In Attacks Upon Israel In Sep 2024

September’s security news was dominated by attacks by the Iraqi Islamic Resistance. The Islamic State was also active during the month but still at a low level.

Security In Iraq Sep 8-14, 2024

There were 3 security incidents in Iraq again during the second week of September, the same number as the week before.

US Army In The Iraq War Volume 2 Chapter 8 Crescendo: Maliki Against The Sadrists

 

Chapter 8 of the second volume of the U.S. Army’s history of the Iraq War focuses upon the 2008 Charge of Knights campaign launched by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki against his political rival Moqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army militia. Maliki ordered the offensive impulsively without providing the support necessary for it to be successful. The Iraqi Forces almost collapsed as a result until the Coalition stepped in with aid.

Iraq’s Islamic Resistance Continued Its Campaign Vs Israel In June 2024

June was dominated by stories of Iraq’s Islamic Resistance launching attacks upon Israel for its war in Gaza. Some of these incidents were allegedly in conjunction with Yemen’s Houthis. The Islamic State was barely active during the month.

US Army In The Iraq War Volume 2 Ch 4 “The Awakening Gathers Momentum”

Chapter 4 of the second volume in the U.S. army’s history of the Iraq War is about how the Anbar Awakening expanded in the province. That eventually led to other tribes and insurgent groups to turn against the Islamic State of Iraq across central Iraq in what became known as the sahwa.

Security In Iraq Jun 15-21, 2024

There were just two security incidents reported in Iraq from June 15-21.