Archive | John Cookson

Tuesday is Next Deadline, but don't Hold your Breath!

By John Cookson. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The session on Tuesday to choose a new leadership to rescue Iraq from meltdown on was arguably one of the most important Iraqi MPs had ever attended. Roads within a 2 kilometres of […]

What is a Caliphate?

By John Cookson. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's extraordinary history has turned another page. Jihadists - who only 3 weeks ago swept into northern Iraq - have now declared thousands square kilometres between Aleppo jn Syria and the governorate of […]

John Kerry: Mission Impossible?

By John Cookson. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. US Secretary of State John Kerry's whistle-stop swing through the Middle East and Europe will likely include a meeting this week with Iraq's embattled caretaker prime-minister Nouri al-Maliki. At the Baghdad summit we […]

Can 300 US Military Advisers save Iraq?

By John Cookson. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. President Obama opposed the 2003 US-led war which toppled Saddam. He based his run for the White House on ending wars rather than starting them. So his decision announced at a press conference […]

ISIS Fights Virtual War in Cyber Horror Show

By John Cookson. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Gruesome images and videos from Iraq have sparked revulsion around the world as ISIS militants video executions and upload them on the internet. Grisly stills and videos appear on jihadist websites often days […]

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Oil Price Surges amid Iraq Turmoil

By John Cookson. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Traders will tell you the price of oil is a speculative market based on expectations. Most of Iraq's oil production is from the mega fields in the south, far from any fighting. But […]

And the Winners are? The Kurds

By John Cookson. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Checking back through e-mails I am amazed it was only 4 days ago on June 10th I messaged an editor pal of mine that something momentous was happening in Iraq. ISIS had occupied […]

Risky Business in Iraq

By John Cookson. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. As ISIS prepares to advance on Baghdad and Iraq slips towards civil war, the world's oil corporations are updating plans to evacuate worried staff, from Dohuk in the north to the southern powerhouse […]

Can Al-Maliki save Iraq?

By John Cookson. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The exact origin of the proverb "cometh the hour, cometh the man" are unknown, but there can be no doubt the man tasked with saving Iraq from disintegration at this dangerous hour is […]

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The Fall of Mosul: Is it Time Washington Woke Up?

By John Cookson. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Today's audacious jihadist attack on Mosul by Al Qaeda affiliate ISIS must surely be a massive wake up call in Washington that Iraq needs urgent help. Hundreds of jihadists seized key government offices, […]