iraq link to syllabus link to chronology link to brookings iraq indexiraq index...
Post on 18-Dec-2015
220 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
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: 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
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.
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 $10 billion/month
US Troops were ~150,000. Surge in 2007 involved 30,000.
Troops from other countries initially was ~25,000; now zero.
US troop deaths ~4,300.
Estimates of Iraqi deaths; 100,000 to 1,000,000
US troops out by end of 2011.
Iraqi Governments, Post-US Invasion (2003)
• Coalition Provisional Authority• Interim Iraqi Government 2004 led to elections
in Jan. 2005: President Jalal Talabani (Kurd), • Prime Minister was Ibrahim al-Jaafari (pushed out
because of weakness towards Kurds), succeeded by Nuri al-Maliki (also of the Dawa party, described as Shi’a Islamist). Was re-elected
Nouri al-Maliki, 1950 -
Educated in Baghdad, has an MA in Arabic Literature. His grandfather was Minister of Educ. under King Faisal I.
Prime Minister since 2006, replacing Ibrahim al-Jaafari. Had long opposed Saddam Hussein. Leader of the Islamic Dawa Party, which is part of theUnited Iraqi Alliance,
predominantly Shia. As Prime Minister, he has exceeded most observers’ expectations. Potential for re-appointment in 2014.
Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Al-Sistani. 1930-
Born in Mashhad, Iran into a family ofreligious scholars. He came to Iraq tostudy in Najaf under Ayatollah Abul-Qassim Khoei. He was accorded the senior rank of mujtahid in 1961, and wasrecognized as the pre-eminent Shi’a cleric in Iraq in 1992.
His office oversees the annual spending of hundreds of millions of dollars for education and charities.
Moqtada al-Sadr 1973 -
Born in Baghdad into a prominent family of Shi’a religious figures, some of whom are Lebanese. He himself lacks the religious training to be considered a senior religious scholar (mujtahid).
The leader of the Sadrist movement, which
is strongest among poor Shi’i in Baghdad and southern Iraq.
This movement had a low presence in the 2009 municipal elections.
Why? Sadrist defeat by Iraqi army in 2008? tactical withdrawal,
waiting for departure of US troops?
Iraq: GDP/Capita (2005 US$)
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 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.
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)
top related