The Mosul uprising and subsequent unrest Abd al-Karim Qasim

tumultuous military parade in baghdad, july 14, 1959

during qasim s term, there debate on whether iraq should join united arab republic, led gamal abdel nasser. having dissolved arab union hashemite kingdom of jordan, qasim refused enter iraq federation, although government recognized republic , considered joining later.

qasim’s growing ties communists served provoke rebellion in northern iraqi city of mosul led arab nationalists in charge of military units. qasim, in attempt mitigate against potential coup had encouraged communist backed peace partisans rally held in mosul on 6 march 1959. 250,000 peace partisans , communists thronged through mosul’s streets on date, , although rally passed peacefully, on 7 march, skirmishes broke out between communists , nationalists. degenerated major civil disturbance on following days. although rebellion crushed military, had number of adverse effects impacted on qasim’s position. first, increased power of communists. second, encouraged ideas of ba’ath party’s (which had been steadily growing since 14 july coup). ba’ath party believed way of halting engulfing tide of communism assassinate qasim.

of 16 members of qasim s cabinet, 12 ba ath party members. however, party turned against qasim due refusal join gamel abdel nasser s united arab republic. strengthen own position within government, qasim created alliance iraqi communist party, opposed notion of pan-arabism. later year, ba ath party leadership put in place plans assassinate qasim. saddam hussein leading member of operation. @ time, ba ath party more of ideological experiment strong anti-government fighting machine. majority of members either educated professionals or students, , saddam fitted in group. choice of saddam was, according historian con coughlin, hardly surprising . idea of assassinating qasim may have been nasser s, , there speculation of participated in operation received training in damascus, part of uar. however, no evidence has ever been produced implicate nasser directly in plot.

the assassins planned ambush qasim @ al-rashid street on 7 october 1959: 1 man kill sitting @ of car, rest killing in front. during ambush claimed saddam began shooting prematurely, disrupted whole operation. qasim s chauffeur killed, , qasim hit in arm , shoulder. assassins believed had killed him , retreated headquarters, qasim survived.

the growing influence of communism felt throughout 1959. communist-sponsored purge of armed forces carried out in wake of mosul revolt. iraqi cabinet began shift towards radical-left several communist sympathisers gained posts in cabinet. iraq’s foreign policy began reflect communist influence, qasim removed iraq baghdad pact on 24 march, , later fostered closer ties ussr, including extensive economic agreements. however, communist successes encouraged attempts expand on position. communists attempted replicate success @ mosul in kirkuk. rally called 14 july intended intimidate conservative elements. instead resulted in widespread bloodshed. qasim consequently cooled relations communists signalling reduction (although no means cessation) of influence in iraqi government.