LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Iraq: Al-Iraq
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What all this means is that the Bush administration's decision to surge the forces in Iraq is good news for al-Qaida. Moreover, the US military has now re-engaged in Somalia, not with ground troops in a stabilisation role but using air power and highly destructive area-impact munitions with inevitable civilian casualties (see Harun Hassan, "Somalia at the crossroads [18]", 10 January 2007). If this continues, then the prospect is there for a progressive radicalisation of Islamic opinion in the Horn of Africa. With the Iraq and Somalia decisions coming in the first ten days of January, the year 2007 could turn out to be a very good year for the al-Qaida movement.
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Iraq, with other members of the Arab League, participated in 1948 in the unsuccessful war against Israel. Premier Nuri al-Said dissolved all political parties in 1954, and a new parliament was elected. A national development program, financed mostly by oil royalties, was undertaken; the United States extended technical aid, and after 1956, military assistance. In external affairs, Iraq continued adamant opposition to Israel and pledged loyalty to the Arab League. The USSR's support of Kurdish nationalism caused a break in relations in 1955. Later that year Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan, Iran, and Britain formed the Baghdad Pact.
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Pro-Iran al-Da‘wa party claims responsibility for attempted assassination of Tariq Aziz, Iraqi deputy PM, in Baghdad, in revenge for the execution of its members; Iraq blames Iran. 40,000 Iranian-born Shi‘is expelled from Iraq; & Saddam Husayn orders the secret execution of Ayatollah Sadr & his sister Bint al-Huda (8Apr): when revealed, Khomeini calls for the overthrow of the Ba‘th regime. Iraq encourages rebellion in Khuzestan; Iran aids KDP Kurdish rebels.
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Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq and the most-wanted terrorist in the country, was killed by a U.S. bomb. Zarqawi was responsible for many of the most brutal and horrific attacks in Iraq. But his death seemed to have no stabilizing effect on the country. The UN announced that an average of more than 100 civilians were killed in Iraq each day. During the first six months of the year, civilian deaths increased by 77%, reflecting the serious spike in sectarian violence in the country. The UN ... reported that about 1.6 million Iraqis were internally displaced, and up to 1.8 million refugees have fled the country.
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Between 1941 and 1958 Iraq was basically ruled by two British-oriented rulers: Nuri al-Saʿid, who assumed the office of prime minister several times; and Abd al-Ilah, the regent. From 1932 to 1958, Britain exercised significant influence over the ruling elite. During this time, modern secular education was expanded and became accessible to the general public in a limited way. Economic development was slow but gained some steam in the early 1950s when oil revenue increased. Political life was
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Since March 2006, the Government of Iraq has been a broad coalition led by a Shi’ite legislative bloc known as the United Iraqi Coalition (UIC) or the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA). The UIC currently holds 128 of 275 seats in the Council of Representatives. The UIC is currently composed of ISCI, the al-Sadr movement, al-Da’wa al-Islamiyya, Da’wa Tanzim al-Iraq, Jama’at al-Fadilah, and various independents. Politicians with Sunni religious affiliations, including the Tawaffuq and Hewar groups, presently hold 59 seats in the Council of Representatives. The Kurdish bloc known as the Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan (which includes the KDP & PUK) holds 53 legislative seats. Ayad Allawi’s Iraqiyya or Iraqi National List (INL) holds 25 seats.
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