With a new war in the Middle East brewing I thought this was rather poignant. During August northeastern tribes caused a major revolt against the British. They held Baquba and other towns to the north of the Diyala River for one month. The British withdrew to consolidate. “Faced with a nationwide insurgency the British had no choice but to reinforce their overstretched military in Iraq“1.
During September and October with one hundred thousand troops the British reconquered Iraq. At their disposal they had heavy artillery and used aerial bombardments to inflict heavy casualties. Regaining Faluja in September they continued on through the Diyala River and into Central Euphrates. “The British were relentless in pursuing the insurgents and refused all negotiations. The officers had no other interest than our extermination or putting us on trial”2.
When Najaf and Karbala fell in October it was all over. What about the cost? According to British sources 2,200 men on the British sided were killed or wounded and 8,450 Iraqis.
The year…1920. Bear in mind that Al-Qaeda didn’t exist back then, there was no terrorist threat to the west. A little known fact I felt the need to share.
1. Eugene Rogan. The Arabs.
2. Martin Hartmann. The Arabic Press of Egypt. (London Luzac 1899).
Charliecountryboy's Blog 
Hi. I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Blog Award. You can find you nomination here: http://palomasharma.wordpress.com/?p=860
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Well, this is embarrassing. It appear I’ve posted the wrong link. I’m terribly sorry about that. Here’s the right one: http://palomasharma.wordpress.com/2012/07/14/the-sunshine-blog-award/
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hey, thanks for the comment you left on my blog. i appreciate all your insights and apologize for the lack of capital letters (now i’ll be pegged as an anti-capitalist). regarding what you’ve written here, you might want to check out a great book by stephen kinzer called “overthrow: america’s history of regime change from hawaii to iraq”. i don’t know many middle eastern people, but the ones i’ve met have been lovely and charming. i think they’d probably be better off without “our” help. south america seems to be doing ok without so much “guidance” from their nosy neighbors to the north, as is southeast asia. but what do i know? i’m just the product of an imperial practical joke played on the planet by a sadistic god (kudos to gloucester in “king lear”: “as flies to wanton boys are we to the gods; they kill us for their sport.” i’m sure a lot of aghanis, pakistanis, palestinians, and iraqis can identify with that sentiment, not to mention native americans, aborigines, africans, maoris, etc.). keep in touch!
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Thanks for the comment I’ll check that book out. I’m no expert myself but enjoyed the Eugene Rogan book. You can add the Irish and Scottish to that list
😉
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