The hottest Iraq Substack posts right now

Saddam Hussein was a remarkable figure who rose to power through hard work and intelligence, despite his brutal actions.
Saddam's past as a teenager foreshadowed his future behavior as a leader, showing the impact of his upbringing on his decisions.
The Middle East faced limited ideological paths, with Saddam's choices influenced by this environment and his conspiratorial worldview.

The conflict in Israel-Palestine continues with tensions between Biden and Netanyahu.
The Ukrainian military faces challenges in the conflict with Russia.
An attempted coup interrupts the inauguration of the Guatemalan President-elect.

The Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in a high number of casualties and intense bombing, leading to a significant death toll.
There is uncertainty about a potential ground invasion by Israel in Gaza, with pressure on both sides to negotiate or escalate the situation.
The far-right Swiss People's Party saw a rise in support in Switzerland's federal election, while in Argentina, the presidential election is headed to a runoff between Sergio Massa and Javier Milei.

It's the twentieth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq.
Thomas Friedman made controversial comments celebrating the invasion.
The podcast discusses the lack of consequences for key figures involved in the Iraq War.

The Israeli army is poised to enter Gaza amidst a relentless bombardment with high death tolls on both sides.
The Biden administration has influenced the easing of the Israeli siege to allow water back into Gaza, although comprehensive aid efforts are still hindered.
In Ecuador, the presidential election resulted in a victory for Daniel Noboa over leftist candidate Luisa González, which could have significant implications.

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Syrian Democratic Forces faced resistance in eastern Syria's Deir Ezzor province despite claiming control
Iraq relocating Iranian Kurdish opposition to comply with agreement, amid threat of Iranian attacks
Japanese government appoints active duty official to defense attache in Taiwan, potentially escalating tensions with China

Katharine Gun exposed a leak about the US and British governments trying to influence the UN Security Council for the 2003 Iraq invasion.
She was inspired to act after reading work that convinced her there was no real evidence for the war.
Gun's actions may have prevented authorization for the invasion, but it proceeded with support from Bush, Blair, and Biden.

The U.S. built a corrupt petrostate in Iraq after the war
The democracy-building project in Iraq was flawed and didn't engage with most Iraqis
Corruption is the main obstacle to achieving genuine democratization in Iraq