Facts About Iraq
Saddam Hussein from 1979 to 1990
In July 1979 the president, Ahmed Hasan Al-Bakr, was replaced by Saddam Hussein, his vice president, chosen successor, and the true ruler of Iraq. Saddam then assumed both of the vacated offices and purged political rivals in order to assure his position. Once more the political situation flared into hostilities with Iran. On September 17, 1980 Saddam declares the Iraqi/Iranian borders agreement (Algiers Agreement) null and void, claiming the whole of Shatt el-Arab back to Iraq. The Iran-Iraq War, which began 5 days later on September 22, 1980, lasted for eight years and had a crippling effect on the economy of both countries; in which after eight years of war no territory had been gained by either side but an estimated one million lives had been lost. In July 1988, Iran accepted the terms of UN Resolution 598, and the cease-fire came into force on 20th August 1988. Before Iraq had a chance to recover economically, it was once more plunged into war, this time with its invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
In July 1979 the president, Ahmed Hasan Al-Bakr, was replaced by Saddam Hussein, his vice president, chosen successor, and the true ruler of Iraq. Saddam then assumed both of the vacated offices and purged political rivals in order to assure his position. Once more the political situation flared into hostilities with Iran. On September 17, 1980 Saddam declares the Iraqi/Iranian borders agreement (Algiers Agreement) null and void, claiming the whole of Shatt el-Arab back to Iraq. The Iran-Iraq War, which began 5 days later on September 22, 1980, lasted for eight years and had a crippling effect on the economy of both countries; in which after eight years of war no territory had been gained by either side but an estimated one million lives had been lost. In July 1988, Iran accepted the terms of UN Resolution 598, and the cease-fire came into force on 20th August 1988. Before Iraq had a chance to recover economically, it was once more plunged into war, this time with its invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
Saddam Family in Power
In May 1995 Saddam sacked his half-brother, Wathban, as Interior Minister and in July demoted his notorious and powerful Defense Minister, Ali Hassan al- Majid, known popularly as ‘Chemical Ali’ because of his role in gassing operations in Kurdistan. These personnel changes were the result of the growth in power of his two sons, Udai and Qusai, who were given effective vice-presidential authority in May 1995. They have been able to remove most of Saddam’s loyal followers and it is clear that Saddam feels more secure protected by his immediate family members. In August Major General Hussein Kamil Hassan al-Majid, his Minister of Military Industries and a key henchman, defected to Jordan, together with his wife (one of Saddam’s daughters) and his brother, Saddam, who was married to another of the president’s daughters, and called for the overthrow of the regime. In response, Saddam promised full co-operation with the UN commission disarming Iraq (UNSCOM) in order to pre-empt any revelations that the defector could make.
In May 1995 Saddam sacked his half-brother, Wathban, as Interior Minister and in July demoted his notorious and powerful Defense Minister, Ali Hassan al- Majid, known popularly as ‘Chemical Ali’ because of his role in gassing operations in Kurdistan. These personnel changes were the result of the growth in power of his two sons, Udai and Qusai, who were given effective vice-presidential authority in May 1995. They have been able to remove most of Saddam’s loyal followers and it is clear that Saddam feels more secure protected by his immediate family members. In August Major General Hussein Kamil Hassan al-Majid, his Minister of Military Industries and a key henchman, defected to Jordan, together with his wife (one of Saddam’s daughters) and his brother, Saddam, who was married to another of the president’s daughters, and called for the overthrow of the regime. In response, Saddam promised full co-operation with the UN commission disarming Iraq (UNSCOM) in order to pre-empt any revelations that the defector could make.
British government decided to draw up a new plan for the state of Iraq
The British government had laid out the institutional framework for Iraqi government and politics; the Iraqi political system suffered from a severe legitimacy crisis; Britain imposed a Hashimite (also seen as Hashemite) monarchy, defined the territorial limits of Iraq with little correspondence to natural frontiers or traditional tribal and ethnic settlements, and influenced the writing of a constitution and the structure of parliament. The British also supported narrowly based groups–such as the tribal shaykhs–over the growing, urban-based nationalist movement, and resorted to military force when British interests were threatened, as in the 1941 Rashid Ali Al-Gaylani coup.
The British government had laid out the institutional framework for Iraqi government and politics; the Iraqi political system suffered from a severe legitimacy crisis; Britain imposed a Hashimite (also seen as Hashemite) monarchy, defined the territorial limits of Iraq with little correspondence to natural frontiers or traditional tribal and ethnic settlements, and influenced the writing of a constitution and the structure of parliament. The British also supported narrowly based groups–such as the tribal shaykhs–over the growing, urban-based nationalist movement, and resorted to military force when British interests were threatened, as in the 1941 Rashid Ali Al-Gaylani coup.
9th century House of Wisdom in Baghdad
By the 9th century, al-Mamun was the caliph who was largely responsible for cultural expansion. The caliph al-Mamun was responsible for the translation of Greek works into Arabic. He founded in Baghdad (bait al-hikma) the Academy of Wisdom, which took over from the Persian University of Jundaisapur and soon became an active scientific center. The Academy’s large library was enriched by the translations that had been undertaken. Scholars of all races and religions were invited to work there. Its first director Hunayn ibn Ishaq translated the complete medical and philosophical works of Galen, the physics of Aristotle, and the Greek Old Testament, before his death in 873. Hunayns many students completed the translation of Plato, Hippocrates, Ptolemy, Euclid, and Pythagoras into Arabic, and made great original discoveries in mathematics, particularly in integral calculus and spherical astronomy.
By the 9th century, al-Mamun was the caliph who was largely responsible for cultural expansion. The caliph al-Mamun was responsible for the translation of Greek works into Arabic. He founded in Baghdad (bait al-hikma) the Academy of Wisdom, which took over from the Persian University of Jundaisapur and soon became an active scientific center. The Academy’s large library was enriched by the translations that had been undertaken. Scholars of all races and religions were invited to work there. Its first director Hunayn ibn Ishaq translated the complete medical and philosophical works of Galen, the physics of Aristotle, and the Greek Old Testament, before his death in 873. Hunayns many students completed the translation of Plato, Hippocrates, Ptolemy, Euclid, and Pythagoras into Arabic, and made great original discoveries in mathematics, particularly in integral calculus and spherical astronomy.
Most of the Iraqi tribes were Christian at the time of the Islamic conquest
The first battle of the Muslims became known as Dhat Al-Salasil (the battle of the Chains) because Persian soldiers were reportedly chained together so that they could not flee. Muslims offered the inhabitants of Iraq an ultimatum: “Accept the faith and you are safe; otherwise pay tribute. If you refuse to do either, you have only yourself to blame. A people is already upon you, loving death as you love life”. Most of the Iraqi tribes were Christian at the time of the Islamic conquest. They decided to pay the “jizya”, the tax required of non-Muslims living in Muslim-ruled areas, and were not further disturbed. The Persians rallied briefly under their hero, Rustum, and attacked the Muslims at Al-Hirah, west of the Euphrates. There, the Muslims soundly defeated them.
The first battle of the Muslims became known as Dhat Al-Salasil (the battle of the Chains) because Persian soldiers were reportedly chained together so that they could not flee. Muslims offered the inhabitants of Iraq an ultimatum: “Accept the faith and you are safe; otherwise pay tribute. If you refuse to do either, you have only yourself to blame. A people is already upon you, loving death as you love life”. Most of the Iraqi tribes were Christian at the time of the Islamic conquest. They decided to pay the “jizya”, the tax required of non-Muslims living in Muslim-ruled areas, and were not further disturbed. The Persians rallied briefly under their hero, Rustum, and attacked the Muslims at Al-Hirah, west of the Euphrates. There, the Muslims soundly defeated them.
The first evidence of batteries comes from archaeological digs inBaghdad, Iraq
The first evidence of batteries comes from archaeological digs inBaghdad, Iraq. This first “battery” was dated to around 250 B.C. andwas used in simple operations to electroplate objects with a thinlayer of metal, much like the process used now to plate inexpensivegold and silver jewelry. One of the first uses for batteries.Batteries were re-discovered much later by a man named AlessandroVolta after which the unit of electrical potential was named, thevolt. The jar was found in Khujut Rabu just outside Baghdad and iscomposed of a clay jar with a stopper made of asphalt. Stickingthrough the asphalt is an iron rod surrounded by a copper cylinder.When filled with vinegar – or any other electrolytic solution – thejar produces about 1.1 volts
The first evidence of batteries comes from archaeological digs inBaghdad, Iraq. This first “battery” was dated to around 250 B.C. andwas used in simple operations to electroplate objects with a thinlayer of metal, much like the process used now to plate inexpensivegold and silver jewelry. One of the first uses for batteries.Batteries were re-discovered much later by a man named AlessandroVolta after which the unit of electrical potential was named, thevolt. The jar was found in Khujut Rabu just outside Baghdad and iscomposed of a clay jar with a stopper made of asphalt. Stickingthrough the asphalt is an iron rod surrounded by a copper cylinder.When filled with vinegar – or any other electrolytic solution – thejar produces about 1.1 volts
Cities with the name Baghdad
1. Bagdad , Arizona, USA
2. Bagdad , Florida, USA
3. Bagdad , Kentucky , USA
4. Bagdad , louisiana , USA
5. Bagdad , Pennsylvania , USA (2 small cities in this state with the same bagdad name)
6. Bagdad , California , USA (2 cities)
7. Bagdad , New York , USA
8. Bagdad , Virginia , USA
9. Washigton DC , there is a part called “Bagdad junction”Outside USA,
1. Baghdadi, Georgia
2. Baghdada, Pakistan
3. baghdadi , Iran
4. baghdadi, Syria
5. Baghdadie , Mali
6. Bagadadji , Guinea
7. Bagadadji, Sengal
8. Bagdad , Uzbekistan
9. Bagdad , Australia
10. Bagdad , Romania
11. Bagdad , French Guiana
12. Baghdad , Afghanistan
13. Bagdad , Morocco
1. Bagdad , Arizona, USA
2. Bagdad , Florida, USA
3. Bagdad , Kentucky , USA
4. Bagdad , louisiana , USA
5. Bagdad , Pennsylvania , USA (2 small cities in this state with the same bagdad name)
6. Bagdad , California , USA (2 cities)
7. Bagdad , New York , USA
8. Bagdad , Virginia , USA
9. Washigton DC , there is a part called “Bagdad junction”Outside USA,
1. Baghdadi, Georgia
2. Baghdada, Pakistan
3. baghdadi , Iran
4. baghdadi, Syria
5. Baghdadie , Mali
6. Bagadadji , Guinea
7. Bagadadji, Sengal
8. Bagdad , Uzbekistan
9. Bagdad , Australia
10. Bagdad , Romania
11. Bagdad , French Guiana
12. Baghdad , Afghanistan
13. Bagdad , Morocco
