From the Original Overview at the Air Force Air University, http://tuvok.au.af.mil/au/database/projects/ay1995/acsc/95-002/chap3/iraqovr.htm

MILNET Note: The United States has designated this country for sanctions under Federal regulation (Export Administration Act), due to the provisions of Executive Order 12947 which prohibits transactions and places sanctions on countries who either sponser terrorism or willfully interfere with the MidEast Peace Process.

Chapter 3: Persian Gulf, Arabian Peninsula

Iraq: Overview

Facts / Geography, Climate / Cities / Posture Statement Excerpt

Leadership / System Essentials / Infrastructure / Population / Fielded Forces / Table of Contents / MILNET Brief

Facts

Formal Name: Republic of Iraq
Short Form: Iraq
Area: 437,072 sq km (slightly more than twice the size of Idaho)
Citizens: Iraqi(s)
Population: 19.9 million (1994 est.)
Capital: Baghdad
Government: Dictatorship
GNP: $38 billion (1993 est.)

Political Overview

In 2003, a U.S. led coalition invaded Iraq with the stated purposes to:

effect the regime change essentially oustering Saddam Hussein, a cruel dictator and the Baathist party
provide the Iraqi people with an opportunity to create a democracy of the choosing
prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to halt any WMD programs in Iraq
add stability to the Middle East

In January of 2005, the nation of Iraq had its first election to create a general assembly which would draft the nation's first constitution. A 48% majority of Shiite Muslims won the assembly, with smaller percentages for Kurds and those representing the then Interim Government (Allawi Iraqi contingent). Since no one party won 2/3 of the vote, the assembly must work to create a coaltion government. The constitution may be vetoed by any province whose 2/3 majority vote against it -- allowing several provinces of Sunni Muslims to veto the constitution. Thus the assembly must negotiate a constitution that will satisfy the needs and desires of the Shiite, Kurds and Sunni muslims in Iraq.

The regime change was indeed effected, however insurgents and foreign terrorists came to Iraq to fight democracy in the Middle East. It became clear as the first elections loomed, that the proclaimations of the terrorists and insurgents against the "occupiers" were far off the mark -- voters - free Iraqis were the targets. After the successful election, Shiite Iraqis, who had won the election, became the targets of reprisals.

Shia cleric Ali- al-Sistani, one of five Grand Ayatollahs, will not take part in the government, never-the-less provides guidance to the Shiites in Iraq and has urged restraint and participation of all in Iraq in forming the new government. In fact he has called for early elections and a quick departure of coalition forces from Iraq.

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Geography

The country is divided into four major regions: desert in the west and southwest, rolling upland between the upper Euphrates and Tigris rivers, highlands in the north and northeast, and alluvial plain in central and southeast sections.

Climate

Cool summers and cold winters are typical in the mountainous northern portion of Iraq; long, hot summers and short, cool winters characterize central Iraq. Precipitation varies from considerable in the northeastern highlands to slight (6 in.) in the interior.

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Cities

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Posture Statement Excerpt

Iraq, under the current regime, remains an implacable obstacle to peace and stability in the Arabian Gulf region. It continues to ignore provisions of numerous UN resolutions, complying only grudgingly with others. Examples of President Saddam Hussein's intransigence include: government repression of Iraqi citizens (both in the north with an internal blockade on the Kurds, and in the south with frequent military operations against the Marsh Arabs), reluctant acceptance of the newly demarcated border with Kuwait, selective cooperation with UN weapons inspectors, lack of accountability for Kuwaiti MIA/POW's, and refusal to pay for damages incurred by the victims of Iraqi aggression. Iraq's belligerent statements and its October 1994 redeployment towards Kuwait, have resurrected concerns among its neighbors, and highlight the fact that the current regime is not ready to adhere to accepted norms of international behavior. Attempts by Iraq to convince the world that it is a victim of Western aggression, and that continued sanctions are a vindictive U.S. campaign to destroy the Iraqi people have met with some success in undermining European support for continued sanctions, but has found little support among regional nations that sit in Iraq's shadow. Until Iraq fully complies with all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, Saddam will remain a renegade whose actions must be closely monitored.

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