Iraq+prior

material from Iraq shuttle Where is Iraq what are its neighbors

South Western Asia and the Middle East []

Country Profiles (BBC News): Iraq

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14542954 Map

[]

IRAQ

Ancient land, new nation. Complicated country. At fault line of two sects of Islam (Shia and Sunni) At fault lines of the Middle East (Arab, non-Arab—Iran, Turk) Neighbors are not helpful.

Is Iraq even viable as a political entity?

Removal of dictator Hussein unleashed centrifugal forces

Complexity of the various groupings (Shiite, Sunni, Kurd) and factions within those groupings

War: Asymmetrical; Insurgency; Counter-insurgency; Civil war

Who's who in Iraq: Ayatollah Sistani http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3033306.stm

Saddam Hussein (BBC News profile) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1099005.stm

Profile: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi [Islamic State] http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27801676

At War: Notes from the front lines (New York Times) http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/

Saudis Must Stop Exporting Extremism ISIS Atrocities Started With Saudi Support for Salafi Hate http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/23/opinion/isis-atrocities-started-with-saudi-support-for-salafi-hate.html

Islamic State: Radical shifts needed to combat threat http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28900096

Next Leader May Echo Maliki, but Iraqis Hope for New Results http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/20/world/middleeast/sectarian-grudges-color-record-of-man-who-may-lead-iraq.html?mabReward=RI%3A6

Why the war has taken its toll on Iraqi women http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-womens-blog-with-jane-martinson/2012/dec/10/war-taken-toll-iraqi-women

NGO Coordination Committee for Iraq (NCCI) http://www.ncciraq.org/en/

On the Road to Samarra, Glimpses of Iraq’s New Fractured Reality http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/world/middleeast/iraq-samarra-shiite-militias-isis.html

A Point of View: Isis and what it means to be modern http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28246732

Ali Khedery Iraq's last chance http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/17/opinion/sunday/iraqs-last-chance.html

David Kilcullen A Framework for thinking about Iraq Strategy (written in 2007) http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/a-framework-for-thinking-about-iraq-strategy

U.S. Actions in Iraq Fueled Rise of a Rebel: Baghdadi of ISIS Pushes an Islamist Crusade http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/11/world/middleeast/us-actions-in-iraq-fueled-rise-of-a-rebel.html

Islamic State ‘now controls resources and territory unmatched in history of extremist organizations’ http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/08/04/islamic-state-now-controls-resources-and-territory-unmatched-in-history-of-extremist-organizations/?tid=hp_mm

Islamic Militants in Iraq Are Widely Loathed, Yet Action to Curb Them Is Elusive http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/07/world/middleeast/islamic-militants-in-iraq-are-widely-loathed-yet-action-to-curb-them-is-elusive.html

Robert Scales Terrorist armies are fighting smarter and deadlier than ever http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/terrorist-armies-are-fighting-smarter-and-deadlier-than-ever/2014/08/01/3998ae00-18db-11e4-9e3b-7f2f110c6265_story.html?hpid=z3

Peace and war: the space between http://warontherocks.com/2014/08/peace-and-war-the-space-between/

Women in the Military | Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) http://iava.org/content/women-military

Woman at Arms (New York Times collection of articles) http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/us/series/women_at_arms/index.html?ref=us

Soldier Girls http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/12/books/soldier-girls-by-helen-thorpe-explores-3-experiences.html

Failed Efforts and Challenges of America’s Last Months in Iraq (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/world/middleeast/failed-efforts-of-americas-last-months-in-iraq.html?_r=1&hpw&pagewanted=all

Emma Sky: Iraq war: six lessons we still need to learn http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/mar/11/iraq-war-lessons-intervention

Next COIN manual tries to take commanders beyond Iraq and Afghanistan http://www.stripes.com/news/next-coin-manual-tries-to-take-commanders-beyond-iraq-and-afghanistan-1.278332

Iraq: The Road to Chaos http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2014/apr/15/iraq-road-chaos/

6 Strategies for Syria and Iraq [great example of logical analysis] http://warontherocks.com/2014/07/6-strategies-for-syria-and-iraq/

The Next Act of the Neocons: Are Neocons Getting Ready to Ally With Hillary Clinton? http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/06/opinion/sunday/are-neocons-getting-ready-to-ally-with-hillary-clinton.html?_r=0

Power Struggles in Middle East Exploit Islam’s Ancient Sectarian Rift http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/06/world/middleeast/power-struggles-in-middle-east-exploit-islams-ancient-sectarian-rift.html?_r=0

Why we stuck with Malaki--and lost Iraq http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-we-stuck-with-maliki--and-lost-iraq/2014/07/03/0dd6a8a4-f7ec-11e3-a606-946fd632f9f1_story.html

For Iraq, a potential leader (Chalabi) with a tarnished past http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/01/world/middleeast/for-iraq-potential-leader-with-a-tarnished-past.html

After years off-stage, Iraq's Sistani takes charge http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/29/us-iraq-security-clerics-insight-idUSKBN0F30KX20140629

Iraq crisis forces old battle lines to be redrawn http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28045054

The Iraq-ISIS crisis in maps [excellent interactive] http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/06/12/world/middleeast/the-iraq-isis-conflict-in-maps-photos-and-video.html

Redrawn lines seen as no cure in Iraq conflict http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/27/world/middleeast/redrawn-lines-seen-as-no-cure-in-iraq-conflict.html?_r=0

ISIS recruits Kurdish youths, creating a potential new risk in a peaceful part of Iraq http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/isis-recruits-kurdish-youth-creating-a-potential-new-risk-in-a-peaceful-part-of-iraq/2014/06/23/2961ea2e-defd-4123-8e31-c908f583c5de_story.html

Isis, Isil or Da'ish? What to call militants in Iraq http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27994277

After Opening Way to Rebels, Turkey Is Paying Heavy Price http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/25/world/europe/after-opening-way-to-rebels-turkey-is-paying-heavy-price.html

Questions Rebels Use to Tell Sunni From Shiite http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/25/world/middleeast/questioning-helps-rebels-tell-sunnis-from-shiites.html

Iran Secretly Sending Drones and Supplies Into Iraq, U.S. Officials Say http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/26/world/middleeast/iran-iraq.html?_r=0

Who Lost Iraq? And How to Get It Back (Emma Sky) http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/141594/emma-sky/who-lost-iraq

The apparent return of Iraq’s three most notorious men http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/06/24/the-apparent-return-of-iraqs-three-most-notorious-men/?wpisrc=nl_wv

In Iraq, former militia program [Sunni Awakening] eyed for new fight http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/in-iraq-former-militia-program-eyed-for-new-fight-1.290513

Jihadist expansion in Iraq puts Persian Gulf States [especially Saudi Arabia] in tight spot http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/jihadist-expansion-in-iraq-puts-persian-gulf-states-in-a-tight-spot/2014/06/13/e52e90ac-f317-11e3-bf76-447a5df6411f_story.html

Petraeus: U.S. must not become the Shia militia's air force http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/18/petraeus-u-s-must-not-become-the-shia-militia-s-air-force.html

Iraq's military seen as unlikely to turn the tide http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/23/world/middleeast/iraqs-military-seen-as-unlikely-to-turn-the-tide.html

Iraq's Path Hinges on Words of Enigmatic Cleric Sistani [written in 2004] http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/25/world/struggle-for-iraq-reconstruction-iraq-s-path-hinges-words-enigmatic-cleric.html

Iraqi Shiite Cleric Sistani Issues Call to Arms [in June 2014] http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/14/world/middleeast/iraq.html?hpw&rref=world

Answering a cleric's call, Iraq's Shiites take up arms http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/22/world/middleeast/iraq-militia.html?ref=world

In Iraq crisis, a tangle of alliances and enmities [use as an overview article for first assignment] http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/06/13/world/middleeast/in-iraq-crisis-a-tangle-of-alliances-and-enmities.html

Iran's Qasem Soleimani wields power behind the scenes in Iraq http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27883162

Iran's leader says Tehran and Washington not aligned on Iraq http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/irans-leader-says-tehran-and-washington-not-aligned-on-iraq/2014/06/22/45a496b8-2d5b-47fa-917b-9f2d61a1ccbe_story.html

In chaos, Iraq's Kurds see a chance to gain ground http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/20/world/middleeast/in-chaos-iraqs-kurds-see-a-chance-to-gain-ground.html

It's not too late to reengage with Iraq http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-not-too-late-to-reengage-with-iraq/2014/06/19/d2a437d6-f644-11e3-a3a5-42be35962a52_story.html

Chasing Saddam's Weapons (FRONTLINE) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/wmd/

Transcript http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/wmd/etc/script.html

++Frequently Asked Questions (Chasing Saddam's Weapons) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/wmd/etc/faqs.html

Interview: David Kay http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/wmd/interviews/kay.html

Interview: Hans Blix http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/wmd/interviews/blix.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/truth/
 * Truth, War, and Consequences** (**FRONTLINE**)

Who was Osama bin Laden? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1551100.stm

Transcript http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/truth/etc/script.html

++Why did the US go to war? What went wrong? http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/truth/

++Nation-building 101 (James Dobbins) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/truth/stake/dobbins.html

IRAQ

Go through these three excellent photo collages about Iraq.

Iraq War's 10th Anniversary: Invasion - In Focus - The Atlantic (1 of 3) http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/03/iraq-wars-10th-anniversary-the-invasion/100475/

Iraq War's 10th Anniversary: Occupation and Insurgency - In Focus - The Atlantic (2 of 3) http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/03/iraq-wars-10th-anniversary-occupation-and-insurgency/100476/

Iraq War's 10th Anniversary: After the War - In Focus - The Atlantic (3 of 3) http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/03/iraq-wars-10th-anniversary-after-the-war/100477/

//**A. Background sources on Iraq:**//

Struggle for Iraq (BBC News home page for Iraq) []

Iraq Profile: Overview (BBC News) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14542954

Iraq Profile: Facts (BBC News) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14544541

Iraq Profile: Timeline (BBC News) []

Country Study: Iraq (Library of Congress) []

Iraq http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/iraq.htm

//**B. Maps**//

Map: Iraq's major ethnic and religious groups http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/insurgency/map/

//**C. History**//


 * 1**. Ancient land; Iraq places in the Bible

http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/a-tour-of-iraqs-ancient-sites/ http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/04/04/ancient-site-unearthed-in-biblical-home-abraham/ http://www.penn.museum/sites/iraq/?page_id=24 http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=3385


 * 2**. New nation. Complicated country.

a) At fault line of the two major divisions within Islam (Shia and Sunni)

Muslim Distribution http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_maps/muslim_distribution.jpg

Quick Guide: Sunnis and Shias (BBC News) [short version] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16047709

Religions: Sunni and Shia (BBC News) http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/subdivisions/sunnishia_1.shtml

Karbala and Najaf: Shia Holy Cities http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2881835.stm

b) At fault lines of the Middle East (Arab, non-Arab—Iran, Turk)

c) Within Iraq: Kurdish issue

Iraqi Kurdistan: State in the Making? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24708736

Kurdistan timeline (BBC News) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15467672


 * 3**. Saddam Hussein: he becomes the major bad guy for the United States

Saddam Hussein: profile (BBC News) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1100529.stm

Baath party http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2886733.stm

Saddam Hussein: obituary (BBC News) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1099005.stm


 * 4**. Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988)

Iranian Revolution took place in 1979.

US actually helped Iraq during this war. Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam Hussein http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/

The Iran-Iraq War 25 years on (BBC News) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4260420.stm


 * 5**. Gulf War:

U.S.-led coalition kicked Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait

Summary of the war (BBC News) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/861164.stm

Gulf War (FRONTLINE) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gulf/ Maps http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gulf/maps/

Fog of War (Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/fogofwar/fogofwar.htm


 * 6**. Decade between the end of the Gulf War (1991) and our invasion of Iraq in 2003

FRONTLINE The War Behind Closed Doors []

11 September 2001 changed everything for the United States.

2001 US invasion of Afghanistan

2003 US invasion of Iraq

Removal of dictator Hussein unleashed centrifugal forces

The Struggle for Iraq 10 years on (BBC News) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special_reports/struggle_for_iraq/

Struggle for Iraq (BBC News) updated regularly http://www.bbc.com/news/24758587

Photos: 10th Anniversary of the invasion of Iraq http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2013/03/13/photos-10th-anniversary-us-invasion-of-iraq-2003/5925/

The 150 most memorable photos from the Iraq War | Plog The Denver Post []

Iraq War Timeline as Told Through Front Pages http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/the-iraq-war-timeline-as-told-through-front-pages

Iraq War Offers Lessons for Syria and Iran (NY Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/20/world/middleeast/iraq-war-offers-lessons-for-syria-and-iran.html?hp&_r=1&pagewanted=all&

Iraq War's 10th Anniversary: Invasion - In Focus - The Atlantic (1 of 3) http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/03/iraq-wars-10th-anniversary-the-invasion/100475/

Iraq War's 10th Anniversary: Occupation and Insurgency - In Focus - The Atlantic (2 of 3) http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/03/iraq-wars-10th-anniversary-occupation-and-insurgency/100476/

Iraq War's 10th Anniversary: After the War - In Focus - The Atlantic (3 of 3) http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/03/iraq-wars-10th-anniversary-after-the-war/100477/

FRONTLINE Bush's War (Iraq)

Introduction http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/bushswar/etc/synopsis.html

Annotated Video Timeline [|http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/bushswar/cron]

FRONTLINE The Invasion of Iraq

Introduction http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/invasion/etc/synopsis.html

Timeline: []

Interview: James Fallows on the bitter closed-door battles between Rumsfeld and the U.S. Army over troop levels. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/invasion/interviews/fallows.html

Interview: Col. David Perkins on the Thunder Runs http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/invasion/interviews/perkins.html#thunder

Timeline: The Evolution of the Bush Doctrine [to go to war with Iraq] (**Bush's War FRONTLINE**) []

Timeline: Failure of Diplomacy (**Blair's War FRONTLINE**) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/blair/etc/cron.html

Rumsfeld's Life [This is really good!] http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/pentagon/etc/cronfeld.html

US does not take seriously the Ayatollah Sistani BBC News profile: Ayatollah Sistani http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3033306.stm

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki [let's look at how he was chosen--scroll down about 25% of screen] "Letter from Iraq: What we left behind (Dexter Filkins) http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/04/28/140428fa_fact_filkins?currentPage=all

Frequently Asked Questions (Chasing Saddam's Weapons) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/wmd/etc/faqs.html

U.S. forces clash again with powerful Shi's militia leader: Moqtada al-Sadr BBC News profile: Moqtada al-Sadr http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12135160

Emma Sky: 'We had to deal with people who had blood on their hands' (Guardian) []

Why did violence decline during the Surge? http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/why-did-violence-decline-during-the-us-%E2%80%9Csurge%E2%80%9D-in-iraq

The U.S. effort to train an Iraqi military as an exit strategy http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gangsofiraq/
 * Gangs of Iraq** (**FRONTLINE**)

Insight Into How Insurgents Fought in Iraq (part 1/2) http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/17/insight-into-how-insurgents-fought-in-iraq/?_r=0

The Most Lethal Weapon Americans Faced in Iraq (part 2/2) http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/18/the-most-lethal-weapon-americans-faced-in-iraq/?hp

A new, promising strategy emerges in Tal Afar (Interview with Col. H.R. McMaster) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/insurgency/interviews/mcmaster.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/20/AR2006032001897_pf.html
 * Note to myself**: make sure we cover the **"Reversal in Tal Afar"**

Plus what has happened in Tal Afar in 2014

A new plan and a new general (Petraeus replaces Casey) for Iraq http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/endgame/themes/petraeus.html

Interview: Gen. Jack Keane http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/endgame/interviews/keane.html

Frequently asked questions about private contractors http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/warriors/faqs/

Fixers http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gangsofiraq/notebooks/gaviria.html

Holy Shi'ite 'shrine is bombed, fueling sectarian violence http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/23/world/23iraq.html?pagewanted=all

Hadley's secret memo on Malaki (2006) http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/world/middleeast/29mtext.html?ei=5070&en=e0045fafccd48eea&ex=1181275200&pagewanted=all

Iraq's Militia Groups (Council on Foreign Relations) http://www.cfr.org/iraq/iraqs-militia-groups/p11824

Moqtada al-Sadr and his militia http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3604393.stm

Sadr declares new Iraq ceasefire [newly added assignment] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7258469.stm

Battle for Najaf (August 2004) http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/18/world/conflict-iraq-looking-back-8-day-battle-for-najaf-attack-stalemate.html?src=pm&pagewanted=2&pagewanted=all

Profile: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi http://www.cfr.org/iraq/profile-abu-musab-al-zarqawi/p9866

How Zarqawi was found and killed http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5060468.stm

Iraq signs up to the Awakening movement http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7226974.stm

Q & A: Iraq's Awakening Councils http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10677623

Iraq's militia leaders reveal why they turned on Al-Qaeda http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11417211

Interview: Sgt. Garcia http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/company/interviews/garcia.html

Interview: Pfc. Morgan http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/company/interviews/morgan.html

Interview: Capt. Whiteley http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/company/interviews/whiteley.html

Captain Jason Whiteley [review of his book] [thanks to Tyler for the link] Father of Money: Buying Peace in Baghdad http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/book-review-father-of-money-buying-peace-in-baghdad/

A sharp shift from killing to kindness http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33544-2004Dec3.html

Map: Iraq's major ethnic and religious groups [check out where Kurds are located] http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/insurgency/map/

KURDS

Interview with Jalal Talabani http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/saddam/interviews/talabani.html

Who are the Kurds? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/daily/feb99/kurdprofile.htm

Iraq's Kurd's focus on autonomy http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-24181951

Kurds' displacement tests Iraq's fragile unity http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/world/middleeast/displacement-of-kurds-tests-iraqs-fragile-unity.html?_r=0

Zalmay Khalilzad Get ready for Kurdish independence http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/14/opinion/iraqs-urgent-need-for-unity.html

Iraq crisis: Kurdistan’s female fighters take on Isis http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28308632


 * Surge related**

Frequently asked questions about private contractors http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/warriors/faqs/

Fixers http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gangsofiraq/notebooks/gaviria.html

A new, promising strategy emerges in Tal Afar (Interview with Col. H.R. McMaster) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/insurgency/interviews/mcmaster.html

A new plan and a new general (Petraeus replaces Casey) for Iraq http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/endgame/themes/petraeus.html

Interview: Gen. Jack Keane http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/endgame/interviews/keane.html

Holy Shi'ite 'shrine is bombed, fueling sectarian violence http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/23/world/23iraq.html?pagewanted=all

Iraq's Militia Groups (Council on Foreign Relations) http://www.cfr.org/iraq/iraqs-militia-groups/p11824

Moqtada al-Sadr and his militia http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3604393.stm

Hadley's secret memo on Malaki (2006) http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/world/middleeast/29mtext.html?ei=5070&en=e0045fafccd48eea&ex=1181275200&pagewanted=all

How Zarqawi was found and killed http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5060468.stm

Iraq signs up to the Awakening movement http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7226974.stm

Q & A: Iraq's Awakening Councils http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10677623

Iraq's militia leaders reveal why they turned on Al-Qaeda http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11417211

Emma Sky

Inside Iraq: 'we had to deal with people who had blood on their hands' (Guardian) []

Inside Iraq: the British peacenik who became key to the US military (Guardian) []

Iraq war will haunt west, says Briton who advised US military (Guardian) []

Briton who advised US in Iraq tells how tactics changed after bloody insurgency (Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/16/briton-advised-us-iraq-tactics?INTCMP=SRCH

Failed Efforts and Challenges of America’s Last Months in Iraq (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/world/middleeast/failed-efforts-of-americas-last-months-in-iraq.html?_r=1&hpw

At West Point, Asking if a War Doctrine Was Worth It (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/28/world/at-west-point-asking-if-a-war-doctrine-was-worth-it.html?_r=2&hpw&pagewanted=all

IRAQ

Reminder as we read:

Who are the key people [where are they today]? Where are the key places [how have they changed today]? Which events are likely to be discussed by historians?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Michael R. Gordon and Bernard E. Trainor. //Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq//. New York: Vintage, 2007. ISBN 978-1-4000-7539-3.

Thomas Ricks. //The Gamble: General David Petraeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2006-2008//. New York: Penguin, 2009. ISBN 978-0143116912.

Seth G. Jones. //In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan//. New York: Norton, 2010. ISBN 978-0393338515.

Other books I have read lately and recommend to you: plus other ones on my office shelf

Paul Rieckhoff. //Chasing Ghosts//. New York: Penguin, 2006. ISBN 978-0-451-22121-6.

Dexter Filkins. //The Forever War//. New York: Alfred Knopf, 2008. ISBN 978-0-307-26639-2.

Richard Engel. //War Journal: My Five Years in Iraq//. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2008. ISBN 978-1-4165-6304-4

Jeff Courter. //Afghan Journal: A Soldier's Year in Afghanistan//. Self Published. ISBN 978-1438259666

David Finkel. //The Good Soldier//. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009. ISBN 978-0-374-16573-4

Bing West. //The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq//. New York: Random House, 2008. ISBN 978-1-4000-6701-5

Ahmed Rashid. //Descent into Chaos: The U.S. and the Disaster in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia//. New York: Penguin Books, 2008. ISBN 978-0-14-311557-1

David Kilcullen. //The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One//. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-19-536834-5