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The Confederated State of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert. Iraq is bordered by Jordan to the west, Syria to the northwest, Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, and Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the south. Iraq has a narrow section of coastline measuring 58 km (35 miles) on the northern Persian Gulf. The capital city, Baghdad is in the center-east of the country. Two major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, run through the center of Iraq, flowing from northwest to southeast. These provide Iraq with agriculturally capable land and contrast with the steppe and desert landscape that covers most of Western Asia.
Prior to the 2006 nuclear explosion in the United States, Iraq was a nation in the shaky process of getting its footing beneath itself after a US-led invasion in 2003 toppled the regime of then dictator Saddam Hussein under the premise of liberating the Iraqi people and continuing an ongoing war against terrorism.
The 2006 explosion in New York City was felt strong in the political turmoil brewing overseas at the time. Iraq, while occupied, was still nowhere near any semblance of order, and American military forces looked like they would be occupying the country well into the next decade. Predictions to that end were, perhaps, too conservative.
Between November 8, 2006 and February 18, 2007 American control over the nation of Iraq backslid dramatically. Militant groups took what was seen by many as a terrorist attack of unprecedented level on US soil as a sign of weakness and began striking back at American military entrenchment in the country. The months between the Midtown event and Senator Petrelli's famous speech marked the highest level of violence and American casualties since the invasion in Iraq began in 2003.
The shockwave of New York Senator Nathan Petrelli's announcement of the Evolved in February of 2007 set off a firestorm of activity across the world. Just three months following the announcement, after a lull in violence in Iraq, the organization known as Mazdak made its first publicized attacks against foreign occupation of the country of Iraq. Comprised of Iraqi nationals and foreign interests, Mazdak is a pro-evolved militant organization that adheres to the notion that the Evolved are the rightful rulers of the world, though their belief-structure is largely non-denominational, many Mazdak members happen to be Muslim, leading to an erroneous assumption by many outsiders that it is a Muslim-centric group. Such is not the case.
Mazdak began its attacks with demands that the United States remove itself from occupation in Iraq, which only entrenched the already deeply invested US Government in the country. Backing out of Iraq following the destruction at home would be a crippling blow to the perception of its military strength around the world. Following the institution of the Linderman Act in America and pending legislation to bring it to Iraq, Mazdak began an aggressive campaign of anti-Registration sentiments across the country.
Foreigners and natives alike were targeted by the group, and a troop surge in late 2007 coupled with increased fighting and focus on Iraq over the war in Afghanistan led to a slowdown in the skirmishes fought in major metropolitan areas after weeks of heightened violence. It was seen by many as the calm before the storm, or the eye of a hurricane. The chaos of Mazdak's attacks and other factional organizations vying for power in the nation have led to a total collapse of the interim Iraqi government and by July of 2008 the country was in total anarchy.
Many members of the Iraqi military had branched off on their own, pulling away from American support and joining the fractioned splited-groups each carving up portions of the country for themselves. Thousands of American troops were deployed to the country to reinstate law and order under military rule, and many called the move an "Annexing" of Iraq. In all but name, that tongue-in-cheek sentiment seems to have come true.
By 2010 it became clear that the United States did not have the capability to focus on as many foreign conflicts as it was. With the liberation of Madagascar on the table and criticism of the necessity of continued efforts in Afghanistan in light of more pressing military concerns, the United States pulled its forces out of Afghanistan, dividing them up between efforts in Iraq and efforts in the island nation of Madagascar.
From 2010 onward, Mazdak pushed against US and coalition occupation until in 2013 — with the United States broken by civil war and its military in tatters — Mazdak finally drove the remaining US forces out and claimed the nation of Iraq as its own. Between 2013 and 2016 Mazdak pushed Iraq into a confederacy, culminating in a swift and largely bloodless conquest of Syria, which now stands as the second confederated state in Mazdak's growing international power.
Iraq is now governed by a triumvirate of SLC-Expressive ex-military politicians who instated broad liberties for SLC-Expressive citizens regardless of nationality. Though preferential treatment is given to native peoples, Mazdak's role within the Iraqi government has been to ensure a supremacy for all SLC-Expressive citizens.
The Lay of the Land
Since the 2013 reclamation by Mazdak, Iraq has rapidly regained its footing on an international stage. Foreign governments have reluctantly begun to recognize the new Iraqi government and can no longer ignore the power that Mazdak represents behind the scenes. Leveraging not only its significant oil reserves, but also the ability for an Evolved workforce to accomplish industrial tasks at a faster rate, and large biotechnology developments made via captured Pinehearst research assets, Iraq has re-emerged on the global scene as a rapidly growing economic force. With the state of the US, Iraq threatens to eclipse that collapsed nation's economic power within the next 5 to 10 years.
Registration in Iraq and its Impact
Following the reclamation by Mazdak and the ousting of US and coalition forces, Iraq's registry of the Evolved was dismantled. Prisons designed for "Tier-2" rated SLC-Expressive humans under the American-enforced Linderman Act were liberated and no registry replacement was put in place. Iraq citizens can volunteer information about their status and ability to the government, often in exchange for placement in government or other high-prominence positions.
Biotech Research, the New Black Gold
Iraq isn't wanted just for its vast oil reserves. It was discovered in September of 2009 following the fall of the Pinehearst corporation that a laboratory had been performing research on the Evolved inside of the country. Initially discovered by Rachel Mills, Pinehearst's experiments were spread out between seven facilities across eastern Iraq and western Iran, focused on the development of biological weapons designed to affect the Evolved, as well as a program to develop a synthetic Formula to imbue Evolved abilities in Non-Evolved individuals.
One of these seven facilities, just past the Iran/Iraq border was destroyed by Mills and her team while in pursuit by Pinehearst operatives. Following the collapse of Pinehearst, the United States sought to take control of their operations. The Institute coordinated with the US military and began seizing facilities in and around Iraq. However, the central research facility had been discovered by Mazdak, along with locations of other remote Pinehearst research facilities.
The United States was unable to prevent Mazdak from getting its hands on this research material, and now Iraq holds a bright torch of research and innovation in biotechnology, forwarded by an SLC-Expressive workforce pushing the limits of research and development in medical science and genetic engineering.
Major IC Events
2004
Locations
Iraq in the News
September 2010
Associated Press
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
WASHINGTON D.C. — After months of speculation the question to whether or not the United States Military would remain an armed presence in the country of Iraq has finally been decided. Secretary of Defense Gerard Rutland has outlined the United States Military's plans for the continued occupation of Iraq through 2012. Amidst a flurry of criticisms for the handling of both the Iraq and Afghanistan military operations, the President Nathan Petrelli has also been highly scrutinized for the mobilization of United States Armed Forces for the liberation of the island nation of Madagascar in the winter of 2009.
According to Secretary Rutland, the US military will retain its 15,000 active service members in Iraq through to the end of 2012 when the operation will likely be given another review following the 2012 Presidential elections. Secretary Rutland outlined the two year plan for the reinforcement of US military bases in Iraq after the 2007 Mazdak rebellion in Baghdad which left 250 American servicemen dead and hundreds more injured.
President Petrelli has stated that assisting the burgeoning Iraqi government in rooting out the insurgent Mazdak terrorist organization will be crucial to establishing a sense of stability in the Middle East.
Following this declaration of intent in Iraq, Secretary Rutland informed the gathering at the press conference that a decision had been made in light of the choice to bolster operations in Iraq to begin a one year plan to withdraw from the United States' operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Unfavorable public opinion towards the engagement hunting the Taliban presence has likely contributed to this decision.
Secretary Rutland confirmed that troops removed from Afghanistan would be divided between soldiers allowed to return home from their extended tours of duty as well as troops moved between the resurgence of activity in Iraq and the restructuring operations in Madagascar.
This decision comes just weeks following the string of terrorist bombings in New York City and the instatement of the full national registry of the Evolved and Non-Evolved under the Linderman Act.
December 2010
IRAQ — Violence rocked the city of Baghdad yesterday when an attack by the terrorist organization Mazdak resulted in the deaths of 8 American military officers and 13 members of the Baghdad police force. Just shortly after 9:00pm local time, five members of Mazdak, under cover of an SLC-Expressive ability to bend light, infiltrated a security checkpoint along highway 5 to Baqubah. Reports are unconfirmed of the destructive force of the abilities used, but the hit-and-run tactics of the Mazdak membership resulted in zero losses on their side of the brief conflict.
General Stephen Yates, commander of the American forces inside of occupied Iraq, explained that with the movement of US forces out of Afghanistan earlier this year further focus and pressure will be put on finding and eliminating the threat represented by the Mazdak movement in the Iraqi region.
Defense analysts fear that the increasing number of attacks made by the Mazdak group may be indicative of intentions by that organization to make attacks on US soil in opposition to the United States occupation of Iraq which has been ongoing since 2003.
March 2011
IRAQ — Sources within the United States Army positioned within Iraq are leaking word of an alleged biological weapons attack on US soldiers in the city of Baqubah just 25 miles outside of Baghdad.
According to the sources, Mazdak operatives unleashed an airborne biological weapon on Forward Operating Base Gabe some time in the early morning hours on February 27th. While reports vary in the details of the attack, the source described the victims of the attacks as having "severe chemical burns" and described some soldiers as "unidentifiable" due to their tissue damage.
The Department of Defense has not acknowledged these reports yet. When asked about the attack on Army forced in Baqubah, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell stated that the incident is "under investigation to be certain of the nature of the attacks." Morrell stated that no further information was available at this time.
The Department of Defense had revealed an attack on Baqubah but not that biological weapons had been utilized. Confirmation of the attack's nature is presumed to be forthcoming, however speculation as to where Mazdak may have obtained access to chemical weapons raises questions about the nature of the terrorist organization and their backing.
A source within the Pentagon revealed that Iran is a high consideration for weapon delivery to Mazdak, despite their intense political relations. This may be an attempt to curry favor from the organization, despite Iran's staunch anti-evolved political stance.
The United States Military will be sending 8,000 more soldiers to Iraq over the summer. Combined US Military and private contractors in Iraq are now estimated to number over 180,000.
October 2011
IRAQ — For the fifth consecutive week, US Armed Forces in Iraq have sustained heavy losses against Evolved soldiers rallying from the city of Halabja. Soldiers in the Mazdak Liberation Front crushed a US counteroffensive and pushed the remaining American coalition forces back to the border of Kuwait. Baghdad has remained under Mazdak control since August and the organization shows no sign of relenting their defense of the city. General Sebastian Autumn spoke at length with the White House press corps earlier today about the activity in Iraq, citing "a clear advantage of Mazdak's Evolved forces." Autumn has proposed the deployment of US-based FRONTLINE assets to the war effort in Iraq, but has been met with staunch opposition from across both party lines. Mazdak has allowed United Nations observers into Baghdad as of last week to begin an assessment of the organization's treatment of the local population, but word of that assessment is still forthcoming. If Mazdak can continue to hold Baghdad, the US may be forced to fully withdraw from Iraq or commit more soldiers to the region. Sources in Washington speculate that the dialing down of military assets in nearby Madagascar may be a lead-up to a second Iraq surge.
July 2019
AL JAZEERA
July 11, 2019
ERBIL, Kurdistan — Turkish troops have been locked in days of clashes with Mazdak fighters in the Sidekan area of Erbil province. Neither side has disclosed casualty figures.
Sidekan is a mountainous region close to the Kurdistan Region's shared border with Turkey and Iran. Mazdak fighters use the area as a safe haven from which they can launch attacks across the Turkish border. Turkey meanwhile regularly launches cross-border strikes and raids.
Erbil has accused both Mazdak and Baghdad of undermining the region's sovereignty and endangering the lives of residents.
In a statement published by its affiliated media, Mazdak said its fighters attacked the "Turkish invading army on May 19 at 05:00 pm in Khakurk area."
The Turkish defense ministry confirmed a skirmish had taken place on Sunday after its forces targeted a suspected Mazdak weapons depot.
Ihsan Chalabi, the mayor of Sidekan, told Al Jazeera the clashes have not stopped for five successive days, but said "no civilian has been killed or injured so far."
Chalabi also said two Turkish SLC-Expressive combat units were involved in Sunday's bombardment.
Ashqi Zuber, a resident of Alaka village in Sidekan, submitted a video to Al Jazeera appearing to show a Turkish bombardment on Mount Del. He witnessed the helicopter attack while returning home with his parents and saw SLC-Expressive Mazdak fighters on foot disable and pull the helicopter out of the sky.
Turkey has intensified its attacks on alleged Mazdak positions at home and inside Iraq.
Mazdak claims to fight for the sovereignty and security of all SLC-Expressive people and vehemently opposes Turkey's restructive SLC-E registration policies. Ankara considers Mazdak terrorists.
According to the International Crisis Group (ICG), 4,356 people have been killed in the conflict between July 2017 and July 2019 alone.
During his first official visit to Turkey last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Nur al Huda Rawhah Attia said the struggle against Mazdak's fighters will continue until Turkey relaxes its Registration policies.
January 2020
REUTERS
January 24, 2020
ANKARA, TURKEY — For the eight straight day Turkish military forces in the city of Gaziantep clashed with Mazdak fighters entering the country from Syria.
According to sources on the ground, Mazdak's offensive consisted of a primarily SLC-Expressive strike force of multiple units hitting military installations throughout the city. SLC-Expressive fighters are believed to be responsible for the destruction of two long-range missile batteries just outside the city on Wednesday. Friday's fighting culminated in the destruction of more than thirty Turkish tanks and five warplanes downed by electrokinetic activity coming from the rooftop of a downtown hotel.
According to one Turkish military official who wished to remain nameless, the Turkish military employed Geneva-convention banned negation gas on the Mazdak fighters, but according to this source the gas had no effect in spite of the fighters' not being sufficiently protected from exposure to the gas.
Military analyst William Arkin of the New York Times pointed to Mazdak's collection of biochemical research in the late 2010s prior to the solidification of the Confederated State of Iraq. Arkin suggested that Mazdak may have developed a counter-agent to the negation gas, which was heavily deployed against anti-Mitchell forces in the recent civil war in the United States.
An emergency session of the UN was called late Friday to discuss concerns surrounding Mazdak's movement into Turkey echoing their initial foray into Syria prior to that nation's collapse in 2016 and subsequent absorption into Iraq.
It is unclear if Mazdak is operating on directives from Iraq or if these attacks are unrelated.