Iraq

Link to syllabus

Link to chronology

Link to Brookings Iraq Index http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/Centers/Saban/Iraq%20Index/index.pdf

Iraq: cities and roads

Iraq: Topographical map

Iraq: Population by Religion & Ethnicity ~2000. (millions, and %)

Number Percent

Moslem 23.2 93

Shi’a 14.0 56

Sunni 9.2 37

Christians 1.3 5

Chaldeans 0.4 2

Yazidis 0.5 2

Arabs 18.0 71

Kurds 6.0 24

Assyrians 1.3 5

Source:Encyclopediaof theOrient

Iraq by Provinces

Iraq has 18 provinces. The three Kurdistan provinces and Kirkuk did not participate in the January, 2009 elections. That left 14, four of them largely Sunni Arab and 10 with Shiite majorities.

Source: Juan Cole’s blog

Kirkuk

Arabian Family Trees

King Faisal 2

1935-1958

King 1953-58Kingdom was ruled in his name by his Uncle, the Regent.

Died in a military coup, in whichall his close family died.

Abd al-Karim Qasim

1914-1963. Went to Military College

Leader of the 1958 coup against Faisal II and the Hashemite regime. Was himself overthrownand killed in a 1963 coup, led by Baathists.His premiership marks an important transitionin Iraqi politics. He was said to be close to thepoorer sections of Iraqi society, and institutedan agrarian reform. People inside and outside (US, UK) the country felt he was too close to the Communist Party. This period also markedthe high point of Nasserist influence in Iraq.

Saddam Hussein

Born 1937 (or ’39) to a modest family in a village near Tikrit, 100 miles to the north of Baghdad. Entered the military. Joined Ba’ath in 1956.

Becomes President in 1979.

Iraq-Iran war 1980-88.

Iraq-Kuwait 1990/91

US-led invasion March 2003.

Hussein was captured in late 2003, and executed in late 2006.

Iran-Iraq War 1979-1987

Flashing sections indicate limits of occupation of enemy territory

Basic Data on US-Iraq WarLink Iraq War.doc

Link to summary of other countries’ positions on the Iraq War

Link to Brookings Institution’s Iraq Index http://www.brookings.edu/iraqindex (numerous statistical measures relating to the war in Iraq and its consequences) Cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (costofwar.com)

Total cost to US ~$700 billion, or about $10 billion/month

US Troops were ~150,000. Surge in 2007 involved 30,000.

Troops from other countries initially was ~25,000; now zero.

US troop deaths ~4,300.

Estimates of Iraqi deaths; 100,000 to 1,000,000

US troops out by end of 2011.

Iraqi Refugees, [BBC, Feb., 2007]

Iraqi Governments, Post-US Invasion (2003)

• Coalition Provisional Authority• Interim Iraqi Government 2004 led to elections

in Jan. 2005: President Jalal Talabani (Kurd), • Prime Minister was Ibrahim al-Jaafari (pushed out

because of weakness towards Kurds), succeeded by Nuri al-Maliki (also of the Dawa party, described as Shi’a Islamist). Was re-elected

Ethnic Cleansing in Baghdad

Ultimate source is, I believe, New York Times

Nouri al-Maliki, 1950 -

Educated in Baghdad, has an MA in Arabic Literature. His grandfather was Minister of Educ. under King Faisal I.

Prime Minister since 2006, replacing Ibrahim al-Jaafari. Had long opposed Saddam Hussein. Leader of the Islamic Dawa Party, which is part of theUnited Iraqi Alliance,

predominantly Shia. As Prime Minister, he has exceeded most observers’ expectations. Potential for re-appointment in 2014.

Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Al-Sistani. 1930-

Born in Mashhad, Iran into a family ofreligious scholars. He came to Iraq tostudy in Najaf under Ayatollah Abul-Qassim Khoei. He was accorded the senior rank of mujtahid in 1961, and wasrecognized as the pre-eminent Shi’a cleric in Iraq in 1992.

His office oversees the annual spending of hundreds of millions of dollars for education and charities.

Moqtada al-Sadr 1973 -

Born in Baghdad into a prominent family of Shi’a religious figures, some of whom are Lebanese. He himself lacks the religious training to be considered a senior religious scholar (mujtahid).

The leader of the Sadrist movement, which

is strongest among poor Shi’i in Baghdad and southern Iraq.

This movement had a low presence in the 2009 municipal elections.

Why? Sadrist defeat by Iraqi army in 2008? tactical withdrawal,

waiting for departure of US troops?

Iraq: GDP/Capita (2005 US$)

800

8,000

Data suggest that the country lost more due to the Iran/Iraq war, than US invasion.

Semi-log graph, made by merging WDI data from 1997 to present with earlier data assembled by Angus Maddison.

Iraq’s Economic Performance

Source:Yousif

Iraq’s current problems

The northern region is dominated by Kurds, who are acting very independently, and have ¼ of nation’s oil. Final status of Kirkuk not settled.Sectarian conflict (Sunni-Shia) in the western area (Anbar province) in Baghdad, and several other cities. Fueled by an al-Qaeda affiliate.There is also instability spilling over from the civil war in Syria.Lack of growth of democratic practices.

The oil industry has recovered, attracting significant interest from foreign companies.

Inflation is about 5%/yr.

Foreign Petrol

Companies in Iraq

Source: US EIA

Bringing the marshes back

Source: NYT March 8, 2005

Struggling to Reclaim the Wetlands

Source: NYT March 8, 2005

Iraq marshes map

Marketing Melons in Baghdad, 1932

Source: The Photography of Kamil Chadirji

Marsh girls. Near Baghdad, 1931

Source: The Photography of Kamil Chadirji

Iraqi Marshes, 1940s

Marshes 1

Marshes 2

Marshes 3

Marshes 5

Marshes 6

Marshes 7

Iraqi Benchmarks

Source: NYTSept 5, 2007

Iraqi Benchmarks II

Deaths in Iraq Since 2004

Source: NYT December 19, 2006

Doctors in Iraq

Source: Brookings Institution, “Iraq Index.” Downloaded November, 2009

Cobbler. Baghdad, 1928

Source: The Photography of Kamil Chadirji

Poll: Approval rating for Al-Maliki

Total: 43% 33% 40% 55%Source: Brookings Institution, “Iraq Index.” Downloaded November, 2009

Poll Feel safe in neighborhood?

Aggregate: 26% 26% 37% 59%Source: Brookings Institution, “Iraq Index.” Downloaded November, 2009

Iraq GDP/capita

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Re

al G

DP

/cap

ita

Year

Iraq

Source: WDI (WDI is currently (late 2009) providing minimal data)

Ethnic Cleansing inBaghdad.

Map of 19th Century Middle East