Page 67 - History of War - Issue 10-14

BRIEFING

Muslims but the prime minister held much “To this day he remains both a
more real power than the president in this era
of Iraqi politics, as he also held the titles of hero and a villain and historical
defence minister and commander in chief. Both
men relied heavily on the Iraqi Communist Party interpretation of his regime is mixed”
and the National Democratic Party (modelled
on the British Labour Party) for support and
so the government put their initial focus on traditional way of living, was not popular with hero and a villain and historical interpretation
reforms for the lower classes, while keen to many Iraqis. The period also signaled the of his regime is mixed. He successfully ousted
avoid alienating the wealthy. Historically, Sunni establishment of the Iraq National Oil Company the unpopular monarchy, but his leadership
Muslims were a minority in Iraq (an anomaly in (INOC). This black gold would fast become a saw a increase in class-inspired violence and
the Muslim world, as Sunnis vastly outnumber feature in the region’s fortunes. an undoing of social structures. These would
Shias in other nations) so with the monarchy As nationalist dissent grew, Prime Minister prove to be fertile for the discontent that fueled
gone and British involvement at minimal levels, Qasim’s popularity began to free-fall. In an extremist movements like ISIS.
the streets were patrolled by a communist attempted coup in March 1959, an attack was Post-revolution, a military government with a
militia known as the People’s Resistance made on his life by a young Sunni Ba’athist socialist leaning took charge. This was overall
Force and drastic reform was in the air. These called Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi Ba’ath unsuccessful, as three presidents entered
socialist militants aimed to dismantle the Party believed in pan-Arab unification and office in eight years, so merely formed a
near-feudal structure in the Iraqi countryside freedom from Western involvement – policies precursor to the Ba’ath Party’s rise to power
and modernise the nation by force. This can that would become the standard in Hussein’s in 1968. The new president was a Ba’athist
be seen as another factor leading to the rise forthcoming premiership. By 1961, revolts former army officer named Ahmad Hassan
of ISIS. The presence of a large communist had reached extreme levels as fighting broke al-Bakr. By 1970, he had established a new
force in the country, plus an upheaval of the out between Kurdish guerrillas and the Iraqi constitution that sidelined pan-Arabism in
army. After a series of internal conflicts, Qasim favour of welfare and land reform. These
was overthrown in the Ramadan Revolution of socialist leanings unpicked Iraq’s once strong
February 1963. To this day he remains both a ties with Iran and contributed to the growing

THE FACTIONS OF IRAQ

HOW POWER IS CURRENTLY ISF Control
DISTRIBUTED IN THE COUNTRY ISIS Control
When an area of Iraq is stated as Peshmerga Control
being ‘ruled’ by ISIS, it doesn’t
Iraqi Tribes
necessarily mean that it’s directly
governed by the extremist group. Contested Area
Many areas are a middle ground
between government (ISF, or Iraqi
Security Forces) and ISIS control,
or are ruled by Sunni faction
sympathetic to ISIS. Other forces
include Kurdish Peshmerga
fighters and tribal groups.

Baghdad

Kurdish Peshmerga
T-55 tank crew outside
Kirkuk in Iraq

1979 1980 2 August 7 August 28 February 2002
Saddam Hussein Iraq-Iran War begins and 1990 1990 1991 The first roots of ISIS
becomes the lasts nearly 10 years Iraq invades the Operation Desert A ceasefire is begin as Jordanian
president of Iraq after after over half a million neighbouring Shield begins. agreed as the Iraqi terrorist Abu Musab al-
being the de-facto deaths and no substantial oil-rich nation Ground troops would army is driven out Zarqawi forms the Tanzim
head for a number of military gains. Poison of Kuwait, kick- be introduced later of Kuwait. Saddam Qa’idat al-JihadfiBilad
years thanks to his gas is used by Hussein starting the first on in Operation Hussein’s regime al-Rafidayn, later known
growing influence. against the Iranians. Gulf War. Desert Sabre. remains in power. as al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI).

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