29 October 1936 -- In the face of British-friendly Prime Minister Yasin al-Hashimi's attempts to consolidate dictatorial powers, and out of animosity toward the British, the Iraqi Army staged the Arab world's first coup, the Bakr Sidki coup.
Iraq went through a period of instability, experiencing six political coups (extra-judicial transfers of power) until 1941, at which point a group of Nationalist Officers along with Prime Minister Rashid Ali al-Kilani came to power, setting up a security government in April 1941.
The new government, fiercely anti-British, aligned with Nazi Germany and launched a rebellion against the British occupiers. The British put down the uprising and executed the four main leaders of the revolt in 1942. Thus ended the 2nd military government of Iraq.
The British move helped Nuri al-Sai'd and the regent of Iraq return to Baghdad, whereupon they created a government loyal to Great Britain and purged the officer corps of the military.
On 23 November 1952, following the failed war against Israel in 1948 and repeated orders from the King to intervene in Iraq's internal affairs (put down uprisings), the Chief of the General Staff (Lt. Gen. Nur al-Din Mahmud) instituted a military government.
That government ruled until 14 July 1958, the so-called July 14 coup, led by 'Abd al-Karim Qasim, which brought down the monarchy once and for all. The newly-developed Iraqi armored corps took part in the coup, proving instrumental to its success.
Qasim ruled until 8 February 1963, when he was deposed in a coup led by the Ba'ath Party. Once again, the leadership of the Iraqi army was purged.
A few months later, on 18 November 1963, the Ba'ath themselves were overthrown in yet another military coup, led by 'Abd al-Salam 'Aref. Initially claiming to be pro-Nasserist Egypt, 'Aref eventually began purging the Iraqi officer corps of pro-Nasser personnel.
The result? An attempted coup in September 1965. The coup was a failure, and its leader, 'Ared 'Abd al-Razzak, fled to Cairo. As a result of the coup attempt, the Iraqi government devolved into bouts of infighting, leaving Iraq internally weak in 1967 (during the 6-Day War)
The Iraqi Army, frustrated by the leadership of the country, staged a coup on 17 July 1968. During the coup, a group of rebels took control of the Republican Guard Brigade's tank regiment and attacked the presidential palace. The first tank to enter the palace was driven by...
...a relatively-young Saddam Hussein. The coup was successful, and Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr was installed as president of Iraq. Saddam, a security/enforcer-type guy in the Ba'ath party, began purging the officer corps of disloyal elements.
In July 1973, head of the General Security service Nazim Kazar attempted to stage a coup against al-Bakr and Hussein, who was by then the Vice President. This arrangement survived until al-Bakr was forced to resign by Hussein in 1979, who was named president on 17 July.
Saddam's obsession with internal security and coup-proofing his regime was borne of this history. The Iraqi army has a long history of standing against what they and the people see as ineffective civilian leadership. This is important to keep in mind with recent developments
in Basra. Iraqi Army units have been spotted taking part in the uprising, and what may begin as a civilian revolt against toxic water may in fact end with an attempted coup, or clashes between the Iraqi Army and units of the Hashd al-Shaabi.
(By @AramShabanian, who is currently suspended for saying "Stupid" on @Twitter dot com)
