Iraq Link to syllabus Link to chronology Link to Brookings Iraq IndexIraq Index

Iraq: cities and roads

Iraq: Topographical map

Iraq: Population by Religion & Ethnicity ~2000. (millions, and %) NumberPercent Moslem Shi’a Sunni9.237 Christians1.35 Chaldeans0.42 Yazidis0.52 Arabs Kurds6.024 Assyrians1.35 Source: Encyclopedia of the Orient

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 I King Born in Mecca, worked with British and T.E. Lawrence against Ottomans. Rivalry with his brother Abdullah. Unsuccessful in earlier attempt at gaining control of Syria.

Gertrude Bell, Born into one of the wealthiest families of England. Received History degree from Oxford, in two years. Soon after she visited uncle, who was mayor of Tehran. Knew seven languages, including Arabic, Turkish, Persian. Traveled widely. Archeologist. Worked in intelligence for British government. Was central influence in drawing map of Iraq, keeping control from Kurds and Shi’ites. Supported Faisal as Iraq’s first leader. Active suffragette. Never married.

King Ghazi I King Born in Mecca. Becomes King on death of his father Faisal. Dies in an auto crash, under unusual circumstances. Was popular among Iraqis for his anti-British nationalism. Upon his death, Iraq is ruled by a regent until Faisal II comes of age.

King Faisal King Kingdom was ruled in his name by his Uncle, the Regent. Died in a military coup, in which all his close family died.

Abd al-Karim Qasim Went to Military College Leader of the 1958 coup against Faisal II and the Hashemite regime. Was himself overthrown and killed in a 1963 coup, led by Baathists. His premiership marks an important transition in Iraqi politics. He was said to be close to the poorer sections of Iraqi society, and instituted an agrarian reform. People inside and outside (US, UK) the country felt he was too close to the Communist Party. This period also marked the 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 Becomes President in Iraq-Iran war Iraq-Kuwait 1990/91 US-led invasion March Hussein was captured in late 2003, and executed in late 2006.

Iran-Iraq War Flashing sections indicate limits of occupation of enemy territory

Saddam Hussein and Donald Rumsfeld When Rumsfeld visited Iraq in 1983 to strengthen that country in its war against Iran. Juan Cole on the background of this visitbackground Video of the handshakeVideo of the handshake (National Security Archives).

Basic Data on US-Iraq War Link Iraq War.doc Link to summary of other countries’ positions on the Iraq Warpositions Link to Brookings Institution’s Iraq Index Index (numerous statistical measures relating to the war in Iraq and its consequences) Cost 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, 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 the United Iraqi Alliance, predominantly Shia. As Prime Minister, he has exceeded most observers’ expectations. Potential for re-appointment in 2014.

Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Al-Sistani Born in Mashhad, Iran into a family of religious scholars. He came to Iraq to study in Najaf under Ayatollah Abul- Qassim Khoei. He was accorded the senior rank of mujtahid in 1961, and was recognized as the pre-eminent Shi’a cleric in Iraq in His office oversees the annual spending of hundreds of millions of dollars for education and charities.

Moqtada al-Sadr 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$) 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

Exports and Imports, Source: Brookings Institution, “Iraq Index.” Downloaded November, 2009 WDI has no data on Iraqi exports or imports

Gov’t Budget, Source: Brookings Institution, “Iraq Index.” Downloaded November, 2009

Gov’t Spending Source: Brookings Institution, “Iraq Index.” Downloaded November, 2009

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 4

Marshes 4.5

Marshes 5

Marshes 6

Marshes 7

Shi’a Shrines in Iraq & Iran

Iraqi Benchmarks Source: NYT Sept 5, 2007

Iraqi Benchmarks II

Iraq: Land Use

Iraq: Ag Output

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

Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, Born and raised in Najaf (Iraq) into a family of prominent Shi’a religious figures. Seven of his brothers have been killed, six of them by order of Saddam Hussein. While in exile in Iran in 1980, he helped establish SIIC, whose military wing is Badr Organization. Is the leader of the United Iraqi Alliance. Visited George W. in December, 2006.

Appropriations for Operation Freedom Source: Brookings Institution, “Iraq Index.” Downloaded November, 2009

Progress of Political Benchmarks Source: Brookings Iraq Index (2009)

Political Benchmark Assessment (ii) Source: Brookings Institution, Iraq Index (January, 2010)

Polls: Has security situation improved? Source: Brookings Institution, “Iraq Index.” Downloaded November, 2009

Availability of Essential Services Source: Brookings Institution, “Iraq Index.” Downloaded November, 2009

Polls: Are things getting better? Source: Brookings Institution, “Iraq Index.” Downloaded November, 2009

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

Displaced Iraqis Source: New York Times December 8, 2006

Iraq GDP/capita Source: WDI (WDI is currently (late 2009) providing minimal data)

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

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

Ethnic Cleansing in Baghdad.

Map of 19 th Century Middle East