The Election in Iraq

Although election of the Iraqi Interim National Assembly on 30 January 2005 was a step on the path toward democracy, it is too soon to judge it a resounding success. Further, it 7is important to keep in mind that the election is significant not only regarding the democratic process for the people of Iraq but also for the US and the future of US policy toward the Middle East.

Many Iraqis strongly desired democracy and some steps toward democratization showed resemblance to the democracy movement in Europe. However, the exclusion of popular political movements and the emergence of mistrust failed the political process.

At last, with the involvement of Grand Ayatollah Sistani, the election was realized. However, the Iraqi elections do not merit unreserved acclaim. This election allows, for the first time in Iraq's history, competition among ethnic and religious factions. Different attitudes among these groups toward the election and its results may further widen the gap separating them. In fact, the most important consideration regarding the election is what happens from now on.     

The Kurds in Iraq

The following briefs are edited versions of papers presented at the annual meeting of the Middle East Studies Association in Anchorage, Alaska, November 8, 2003. The editors were Hakan Yavuz and Michael Gunter, whose papers are included below. Why Kurdish Statehood is Unlikely , Michael M. Gunter, professor of political science, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee Transnational Networks: New Opportunities and Constraints for Kurdish Statehood , Denise Natali, visiting research fellow, Washington Kurdish Institute (WKI); director of WKI's transnational project Turkey and Kurdistan‐Iraq, 2003 , Robert Olson, professor of Middle East and Islamic history, University of Kentucky Could a Kurdish State Be Set Up in Iraq? , Nihat Ali Özcan, author of PKK (Kurdistan ýpçi Partisi) Tarihi, Ideolojisi ve Yönetimi (Ankara: Asam, 1999) Kurdish Reality in an Emerging Iraq , Khaled Salih, University of Southern Denmark Provincial Not Ethnic Federalism in Iraq , M. Hakan Yavuz, associate professor of political science, University of Utah     

The Iraq treaty, 1930

India's relations with the Gulf countries started to flourish in the 1990s after India succeeded in de-hyphenating Pakistan from its policy toward the Gulf. Though Pakistan remained a factor as it continued to raise Kashmir and internal situation in India at multilateral forums such as OIC to evoke anti-India sentiments, it did not remain an underlying factor in as was the case during the Cold War era. In the contemporary dynamics, when India-Gulf relations are progressing toward strategic partnerships, Pakistan has re-emerged as a factor but its nature has changed. As highlighted in the joint statements issued during the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to the Gulf countries since May 2014, India can now put pressure on Pakistan by highlighting its policy of sponsoring terrorism. This was evident when the Arab Gulf countries condemned the Pathankot (January 2016) and Uri (September 2016) terrorist attacks. India's relations with the Arab Gulf and other Middle Eastern countries are independent of their engagements with Pakistan and India-Pakistan tension, but New Delhi has stepped up efforts to raise the issue of cross-border terrorism and use of religion to incite terror activities against India during its engagements with these countries. It underlines the growing convergence between India and Arab Gulf countries over regional issues and the ability of India to isolate Pakistan over issues related to terrorism.     

Iraq

Lord Wavell (1883–1941). A military biography. By Major‐General R. J. Collins. Pp. 488. Illustrations. Hodder and Stoughton. 1948. 30s.

Meet the Arab. By John Van Ess. Pp. 228. Illustrated. The John Day Co., New York, 1943; Museum Press, London, 1947. 12s. 6d.

Introducing Yemen. By A. Faroughy. Pp. 123; 14 illustrations; 2 maps, 4½” × 7½. New York (Orientalia Inc.). 1947. $250 (14s. in U.K.).

Soviet Jewry, Palestine and the West. By Walter Zander. Pp. 109. 5” × 7¾”. Gollancz. 1947. 6s. net.

Arab Jewish Unity. By Judah Magnes and Martin Buber. Pp. 96. 5” × 7¾. Gollancz. 1947. 5s. net.

The Future of Palestine. Prepared by the Arab Office, London. August, 1947. Paper cover. Pp.166. 5¾” × 8”.

Foundations in the Dust. A story of Mesopotamian Exploration. By Seton Lloyd. Pp. xii and 237. Oxford University Press. 1947. 15s.

Arabian Days. An autobiography. By H. StJ. Philby. Illustrated. Pp. 336. London: Robert Hale. 1948: 21s.

The Alphabet. Dr. David Diringer. Hutchinson. 1948. 50s.

Mount Everest, 1938. By H. W. Tilman. Cambridge University Press. 1948.

Burmese Family. By Mi Mi Khaing. Illustrated by E. G. N. Kinch. Pp. 138. Longmans, Green and Co.

Journey to the End of an Era. An autobiography. By Melvin Hall. Pp. 438. 9” × 6”. Scribner, New York. 1947.

Raffles of Singapore. By Sir Reginald Coupland, K.C.M.G., C.I.E. Third Edition. Pp. 144. Collins. 1946. 7s. 6d.     

Northern Iraq

This article is about Western perceptions of Turkey at different periods. Following the “Young Turks” Revolution in 1908, British-Ottoman relations came under increasing strain as the logic of the Triple Entente played through. It also set British/German rivalry in a new context, captured by John Buchan in his celebrated novel “Greenmantle”. Present day Turkey is changing fast, developing socially and economically, while internationally it has become a regional player and a sort of ideological beacon for emerging Arab democracies. Yet, internally, some fear growing authoritarianism, while the situation in Syria means that any choices that Turkey makes will have consequences and costs. But the choices will be made by Turkey, not by outsiders. That is the measure of the progress already achieved.