Iraq: Coup de Razzak

The Middle East has seen just about every sort of coup, from ordinary coups d'état to incredibly swift coups de Jarnac.* But last week Iraq's Premier Aref Abdel Razzak made coup history by trying to overthrow his own government.

Razzak had held the premiership only 18 days. Formerly a brigadier and commander of the air force, Razzak was appointed to form a new Cabinet on Sept. 6, the eve of President Abdul Salam Aref's departure for the Arab League conference at Casablanca. With the President out of the country, Razzak decided to make Aref's absence permanent. Backed by his...

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