Iraq's Insurgency and the Road to Civil Conflict [2 volumes] (Praeger Security International)

The war in Iraq has expanded from a struggle between Coalition forces and the remnants of former regime loyalists to a multi-faceted conflict involving numerous Sunni groups, Shi'ite militias, Kurdish nationals, and foreign jihadists. IraQ's Insurgency and the Road to Civil Conflict is Anthony Cordesman's latest assessment of the Iraqi conflict and documents its entire evolution, from the history of ethnic tensions through the current U.S. surge. He identifies each actor in the arena, analyzes their motivations, and presents a detailed record of their actions, tactics, and capabilities. Cordesman's exhaustive study, based on meticulous research, is the most thorough account of the war to date. Beginning with the consequences of imperial colonialism and touching upon the ethnic tensions throughout SaddaM's regime, Cordesman examines and details the confluence of forces and events that have paved the way toward IraQ's current civil conflict. He analyzes major turning points, including elections, economic developments, and key incidents of violence that continue to shape the war. Finally, he outlines the lessons learned from this history and what can and cannot be done to stabilize the nation. Cover......Page 1 Volume 1......Page 4 CONTENTS......Page 6 FIGURES......Page 18 Acknowledgments......Page 24 CHRONOLOGY OF MAJOR EVENTS IN IRAQ: May 1, 2003-June 2007......Page 26 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION......Page 32 CHAPTER 2: DEFINING THE PLAYERS......Page 56 CHAPTER 3: POSTCONFLICT TO INITIAL INSURGENCY: MAY 1, 2003–END 2003......Page 73 CHAPTER 4: SERIOUS FIGHTING IN THE PRE-TRANSFER OF POWER PERIOD: JANUARY–JUNE 28, 2004......Page 107 CHAPTER 5: THE RETURN OF IRAQI SOVEREIGNTY AND SHIFTS IN THE NATURE OF THE INSURGENCY: JUNE 29, 2004–JANUARY 29, 2005......Page 135 CHAPTER 6: THE JANUARY 30, 2005, ELECTION AND GROWING CIVIL CONFLICT: JANUARY 30–DECEMBER 14, 2005......Page 165 CHAPTER 7: THE IMPACT OF THE DECEMBER 15, 2005, ELECTIONS: DECEMBER 15, 2005–FEBRUARY 21, 2006......Page 248 CHAPTER 8: THE ATTACK ON THE ASKARIYA SHRINE AND THE INCREASE IN LOW-LEVEL CIVILWAR: FEBRUARY 22–MAY 20, 2006......Page 281 CHAPTER 9: THE FOURTH IRAQI GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL CONFLICTS: SUMMER 2006......Page 339 Volume 2......Page 405 Contents......Page 407 Figures......Page 419 Acknowledgments......Page 425 Chronology of Major Events in Iraq: May 1,2003–June 2007......Page 427 CHAPTER 10: THE SECTARIAN AND ETHNIC WAR FOR CONTROL OF SPACE: FALL 2006–JANUARY 9, 2007......Page 434 CHAPTER 11: THE DYNAMICS OF THE INSURGENCY AND CIVIL CONFLICT IN 2007—THE "SURGE," THE "BATTLE FOR BAGHDAD," THE "TRIBAL AWAKENING," AND POLITICAL ACCOMMODATION......Page 532 CHAPTER 12: CHANGES IN THE INSURGENCY AND FORCES SHAPING CIVIL CONFLICTS IN 2007......Page 622 CHAPTER 13: EVOLVING INSURGENT AND MILITIA TACTICS......Page 699 CHAPTER 14: MEASURING THE COST IN BLOOD: OVERALL PATTERNS IN CASUALTIES......Page 778 CHAPTER 15: THE LESSONS OF COMPLEXITY, UNCERTAINTY, AND RISK......Page 792 NOTES ......Page 815 ABOUT THE AUTHORS ......Page 905 Saddam Hussein's "powder keg" The history of Iraqi Shi'ite tensions with the Hussein regime and the Sunnis The Iran-Iraq War The Gulf War and its immediate aftermath 1991 to the U.S.-led invasion America's strategic mistakes in going to war Sunni Islamist extremists and neo-Salafi versus "nationalist" insurgents Shi'ite militias Kurdish parties and the Kurdish militias The role of Iraqi political developments in creating the insurgency The role of de-Ba'thification and dissolution of the Iraqi Army The emergence of Sunni insurgents Foreign volunteers and the role of Syria The evolution of criminal gangs and militias Early Iraqi public opinion Early insurgent strategy, and tactics Early patterns of attack US and coalition strategy after the end of major combat operations Initial US efforts to train Iraqi forces Initial US aid efforts The November 15 agreement and the decision to end the CPA Nation building, insurgency, and civil conflict Documents the entire evolution of the Iraqi conflict from its historical roots through the latest U.S strategy to stabilize Baghdad