Iraq now, the quagmire for the US, and Iraq's future

Iraq from 2008:

Health care in Iraq 2003-2007 (16 Jan 2008 Medact report) 

This report describes how the 2003 war and its aftermath continue to have a disastrous impact on the physical and mental health of the Iraqi people. It highlights the failure of the occupying forces and their governments either to protect health, or to facilitate the rebuilding of a health system based on primary health care principles. Download PDF.

Before 2008:

Human cost  

The 650,000 death toll due to the invasion & occupation - October 2006.
One Million excess deaths and other costs for US and Iraq - an evaluation by Gideon Polya, February 2007. 

ORB survey shows a million Iraqis died: "How many members of your household, if any, have died as a result of the conflict in Iraq since 2003"? January 2008. (Original article from Sept 2007.) 
Estimating Excess Mortality in Post-invasion Iraq. 31 Jan 2008 New England Journal of Medicine 358:445-447.- a thoughtful evaluation of various reports. 

Balance Sheet (PDF file) of the war and occupation 

Peace Tasmania has evaluated cost and benefit. 

British defeat in the south.   &  The Calm before the Storm - 2 articles Feb 2007.  

CSIS article 21 Feb: Anthony H Cordesman argues that Britain is leaving because it is already defeated and that the USA has no meaningful strategy. 
Washington Institute article: Michael Knights and Ed Williams argue that the south of Iraq is already in the hands of the militias. 

Bush has become the new Saddam (20 September 2007) 

A detailed account of the living, political and violence situation from an experienced observer Patrick Graham. 

Campaign to stop the war profiteers 

To end the "corporate invasion of Iraq"

CIA bleak analysis of Iraq 

A 12 November 2003 report found more civilians there are supporting the resistance.

Cost of the US occupation of Iraq 

The cost of the war is estimated by William Harding in March 2004. 
This cost continues to rise, as does the civilian death toll 
February 2007 evaluation by Gideon Polya of $$$ and human costs. 

Death squads return 2006 

The campaign of terror by death squads armed and trained by the US, which attack Sunnis and Shias alike. The goal is the incitement of a real civil war and the break-up of Iraq. The ministry of the interior in Baghdad, which is run by the CIA, directs the principal death squads. Their members are not exclusively Shia, as the myth goes. The most brutal are the Sunni-led Special Police Commandos, headed by former senior officers in Saddam’s Ba’ath Party. 

Depleted Uranium munitions - the kinds used and resulting problems for humans 

An August 2004 report of uranium isotope analysis. A video is available.

Electronic Iraq 

A news portal on the US-Iraq crisis published by veteran antiwar campaigners Voices in the Wilderness and respected Middle East supplementary news publishers, the Electronic Intifada. 

Falluja - monument to brutality 

This 2005 article from The Guardian likens Falluja to Guernica. 

History (May - October 2003) of the occupation and exposure of the WMD lies 

This e-books historical account is a useful reference, having references also to background, analysis and peace movement. 

Human cost The 650,000 death toll due to the invasion & occupation - October 2006. 

The Lancet has updated its November 2004 report on deaths, injury and illness due to the war and occupation. The 2004 report is evaluated in an informative ZNet commentary. See also Medact's 11/11/03 report. 

Human Rights Monitoring Net (MHRI) in Iraq 

a Blog and reports. 

Information from (about) occupied Iraq 

Italian-hosted information site having recent stories and commentary. 

Institute for Policy Studies - Iraq evaluation 

Their August 31, 2005 study highlights the cost to Iraq, to the US and to the world.. 

Interim Constitution - March 2004 

Evaluation by Iraqi legal and Muslim scholars - a report from AlJazeera. 

International Solidarity Project 

A Canadian initiative. Reports from Andrea Schmidt in Baghdad are on En-Camino. 

Iraq Analysis 

An index of information sources about post-invasion Iraq.
It has a March 2005 PDF report on napalm fire-bombing in Iraq by the US forces. 

Iraq Action Coalition 

An online media and activists' resource center for groups and activists who are working to end the war against the people of Iraq. 

Iraqi Crisis Report 

of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting has up-to-date reporting. 

Iraqi Press Monitor 

of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting is a daily survey of the main stories in Iraq's newspapers 

Iraq Index: Measures of Reconstruction and Security 

An in-depth, non-partisan assessment of American efforts in Iraq by the Brookings Institution. 

Iraq Occupation Watch 

The impact of military and economic occupation, and what people are saying 

Iraq Revenue Watch 

will monitor Iraq's oil industry
Auditors can't account for spent funds. 

Iraqi Resistance Reports 

An independent political newsletter that comes out only in cyberspace once every few weeks. the Free Arab Voice is critical, analytical, unconventional, and is run completely by volunteers. Its "Iraqi Resistance Reports" are most informative. 

Iraq Uncensored 

Seven independent photographers and filmmakers have worked exclusively in Iraq documenting US troops and Iraqi civilians, resistance fighters and child labourers, imprisoned women and incarcerated youths. 

Krauthammer - Washington Post's War-mongering scribe - Michael Whitney 6 July 06. 

An interesting window on White House and "Neocon" policy development. 

Living conditions - UN survey finds them "worse than under Saddam". May 2005. 

Daily living conditions in Iraq are dismal, with families suffering from intermittent water and electricity supply, chronic malnutrition among children and more illiterate young than ever before, a new report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Iraqi Government shows. (Times summary May 05) They report that the total number of war dead is between 18,000 and 29,000.This is in the range of The Lancet's (smaller sample) study showing a possible range from 8,000 to 194,000 deaths.

Robert Fisk 

This site features the veteran middle East correspondent and analyst 

Shock treatment for Iraq (February 2004) 

A sombre evaluation by Joseph Stiglitz, of the Project Syndicate which is an international association of quality newspapers. 

United Iraqi Scholars Group formed on 8 May 2004

This Group, headed by Shaikh Jawad al-Khalisi and organizing since late 2003, represents a unified movement with roots in previous independence struggles. 
Aljazeera reports a meeting of 500 people to form this group. 

US United Methodist Council of Bishops Statement - 9 Nov 2007.

The UMC Council of Bishops calls for an immediate start to the withdrawal of troops. 

The Iraqi quagmire for all 

2003 - A disturbing year in the Middle East 

An evaluation of the situation in Iraq at year's end, from The Daily Star in Lebanon. 

7 Facts about Iraq - 22 August 2006 

By Michael Schwartz An incisive evaluation of Iraq and its future. 

Atrocities in Iraq: 'I killed innocent people for our government' 

A US Marine tells his story to a mainstream US newspaper, 16 May 2004. 

Attacks on British troops are approved by most Iraqis -

Report of a UK Ministry of Defence investigation. October 2005. 

Baghdad airport taxi 

The world's most expensive and terrifying taxi ride. The Times on Line 16 October 2004 

Bring Them Home Now! 

A coordinating committee of military families, veterans, active duty personnel, reservists and others "opposed to the ongoing war in Iraq and galvanized to action by George W. Bush's inane and reckless challenge to armed Iraqis resisting occupation to 'Bring 'em on.' "

David Hackworth, a prominent US military affairs specialist 

Keeps a Web site filled with angry reflections on conditions in Iraq for both the military and the local civilian population, and the government that put the troops there. 

Easier the victory, the harder the peace 

A perceptive forecast in April 2003 by Israeli journalist Uri Avnery. 

Environmental health in Iraq - Stonybrook University program 

An extensive medical programme, including a September 2005 health conference on Iraq. They have set up health centres in Iraq. 

Fallujah information November 2004

The Green Left Weekly has current reports November 2004.
Normalising the unthinkable - In the New Statesman 11 Nov 2004, John Pilger demonstrates how the attack on Fallujah has been 'normalised' by the media. 

Failed occupation - August 2004 

An evaluation by Jonathan Freedland in The Guardian. 

Iraq after the capture of Saddam 15 December 2003. 

Sami Ramadani in The Guardian reflects on the opposition to the occupation. 

Iraq Coalition Casualty Count 

Information on occupation casualties, right up-to-date. 

Security Council Resolution 1546 of 8 June 2004 - The UN News story 

The Resolution (PDF file for downloading). 

The Nashville Tennessean of 29 June 2003

is an example - the soldier's letter at the end of this long page is a powerful read.

Iraq's future

All about oil 18 October 2007. 

Article in London Review of Books by Jim Holt. The occupation of Iraq is a success in ensuring US control of oil for many years. 

A Practical Peace in Iraq 

A well-informed analysis of the July 2004 situation in Iraq and a presentation of a realistic way forward, from the Project on Defense Alternatives. 

Future of Iraq link portal 

Has a focus on what friends of Iraq and Iraqi ex-pats can do to support and empower the Iraqi people

Facilitating Iraqi control 

"A multinational team of facilitators agreed to by leaders of the major Iraqi communities is what the Iraqis need to take possession of their own land and resources." - Richard E Rubenstein argues for withdrawal of US forces from Iraq - 20 August 2003

 

The above documented civilian deaths are a small part of the total excess mortality of about 1.000,000 from the war and 4 years' occupation, with many more injured. 

August 2005 comprehensive accounting of the mounting costs and consequences of the Iraq War. 

March 2004 Balance sheet (PDF file)