Del Wilber, In The Shadow Of The Swords, The Baghdad Police Academy, Casemate, 2020

Wilber, Del, In The Shadow Of The Swords, The Baghdad Police Academy, Casemate, 2020

 

In The Shadow Of The Swords by D.W. Wilber might be one of the only 1^st hand accounts about the Americans’ attempt to rebuild the Iraqi police. Wilber was a former St. Louis police officer who volunteered to be a trainer. It’s a very interesting read even though less than half of it is about the actual police academy. It points out some of the major flaws with the strategy.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 4 King Ghazi’s death announced to public Queen Aliya said it was Ghazi’s wish that his cousin Ilah be made regent

 

1927 UK official wrote Foreign Sec Chamberlain saying UK got Mosul by trick Promised 25 yr Iraq

Mandate Now pushing Iraq independence

Sadr Won’t Participate In Iraq’s Upcoming Elections

After much speculation Moqtada al-Sadr announced that he would not take part in this year’s parliamentary elections. This is good news for the ruling Coordination Framework because it doesn’t have to worry about its biggest rival. On the other hand it will be a hit for the country’s political system as it will likely result in the lowest voter turnout since 2003.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 3 King Ghazi died in a car accident King Faisal II took power but was only 3 His cousin Abd al-Ilah became Regent

 

1929 Shah and King Faisal passed notes that legal barriers over Persian nationals In Iraq had been

lifted

March 2025 Only 1 Insurgent Incident In Iraq

The Islamic State continued its slow death in Iraq in March 2025. There was only one incident during the month by the militants.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 2 Iraq closed border with Iran declared Kurdish revolt over Barzani and 150,000 people fled to Iran

 

1941 Regent of Iraq arrived at UK airbase at Habaniya Anbar after Golden Square officers tried to

arrest him after coup Regent tried and failed to organize resistance to coup in Basra Then fled to Jordan

(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s First Battle Of Fallujah 1941)

(Musings On Iraq interview World War II In Iraq and Syria Interview With Case Western’s Prof Broich)

(Musings On Iraq review Persian Gulf Command, A History of the Second World War In Iran and Iraq)

(Musings On Iraq review Rashid Ali al-Gailani, The National Movement in Iraq 1939-1941)

(Musings On Iraq review The Role of the Military In Politics, A case study of Iraq to 1941)

(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny)

Pro-Iran Factions And Tehran Planning Attacks Upon Syria?

There are worrying reports that pro-Iran groups in Iraq want to intervene in Syria again to undermine or overthrow the new government in Damascus. This is because many were invested in defending the Assad government and Tehran’s interests and want to re-establish their influence in the country.