Many Arabs saw Saddam Hussein as a strongman who stood up to the West, but most Iraqis despised his brutal authoritarianism. Twenty years after the 2003 United States-led invasion of Iraq which, in former US President George W Bush’s words, aimed to “free Iraqi people” of their ruler’s oppression, Saddam’s memory remains divisive and polarising. Arab ‘strongman’ and Gulf wars …
Ukraine’s invasion is a painful reminder for many Iraqis who have lost their hopes and dreams due to conflict. “And if Putin could learn anything from Iraq, that is this will be the beginning of his end.” ‘Where we could go’ Despite some fundamental differences between the war in Iraq and the one in Ukraine, one thing almost always remains …
BAGHDAD — Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. “There was no planning for the day after and no nation-building.” Agha’s words reflect the lingering anger and bitterness felt by many Iraqis over what they regard as a lost opportunity to remake their country following the ouster of Saddam, who ruled with an iron grip for almost 30 years. But …
