5. Maliki's Corruption and Road to ISIS During 2011-2013, Baghdad was unrecognizable, divided by concrete walls into sectarian neighborhoods, with Maliki pursuing sectarian policies targeting Sunni figures while building government on corruption and patro

Season 1 Episode 2  ยท  Oct 19, 2025, 03:05 AM

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5. Maliki's Corruption and Road to ISIS During 2011-2013, Baghdad was unrecognizable, divided by concrete walls into sectarian neighborhoods, with Maliki pursuing sectarian policies targeting Sunni figures while building government on corruption and patronage. Military became money-making machine with "ghost soldiers," weakening army before ISIS emerged. Al-Qaeda resurrected amid Syrian chaos while Sunni leaders aligning with jihadis during 2012 "Friday of Anger" demonstrations proved disastrous as Maliki's forces collapsed, allowing ISIS to present as "liberator."

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6. Ramadi's Infighting and ISIS Infiltration Ramadi saw tragic infighting among Sunni tribal elders utilizing outside powers to increase influence, unable to form coherent political project while US treated them monolithically. Market scenes devolved into
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