Abdul Qadir Obeidi
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Abdul Qadir Al-Obeidi | |
---|---|
31st Defence Minister of Iraq | |
In office June 2006 – December 2010 | |
President | Jalal Talabani |
Prime Minister | Nouri al-Maliki |
Preceded by | Saadoun al-Dulaimi |
Succeeded by | Nouri al-Maliki (acting) |
General Commander of the Iraqi Ground Forces (IGF) | |
In office 2004–2006 | |
President | Jalal Talabani |
Prime Minister | Ibrahim al-Jaafari |
Preceded by | Position created |
Succeeded by | Lt. General Ali Ghaidan Majid |
General Commander of the Iraqi Armored Corps | |
In office 1988–1991 | |
Iraqi Institute of Armored Sciences Dean | |
In office 1986–1988 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 1947 (age 76–77) Iran-Iraq War |
General Abdulqadir Mohammed Jassim Al-Mafraji (
Life and education
Alobeidi was born in Baghdad 1947 for a mid class family in Al-Fadil city (مدينة الفضل), which is located in Alrisafa district. His tribe Almafraji is one of the famous Iraqi tribes that resides in southern Karkuk (Alhaweeja district) and Salah Aldeen provinces. This tribe includes the famous Iraqi families schu as Al-Buniya, Al-Jidda, and Al-Aftan. The name Al-Obaidi came from a common claim that states Almafraji tribe was part of Al-Obaidi tribe before it became an independent tribe; in fact, the Al-Obaidi and Almafraji tribes both reside in Alhaweeja district.
He is one of the major generals in the Iraqi army during Saddam Husain's ruling time. He finished all his education (primary, mid, and graduated from Alnidal high school) in Baghdad.
In 1966 he attended the Iraqi Military Academy (الكلية العسكرية), graduated with honor in 1968 / class 47 (الدورة ٤٧) as a second lieutenant to serve in the Iraqi Armed Forces.
In 1973, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense sent him to study in the Soviet Union to earn a Master's of Science degree in Aerodynamics of tanks weapons from Vestrel academy of military science; graduated in 1975.
In 1977, he attended the Iraqi Staff College (كلية الأركان العراقية) and graduated in 1979.
Military service
Alobeidi is considered one of the Iraqi military officers who greatly participated in developing the Iraqi Armored Corps; moreover, he became the general commander of the Iraqi Armored Corps from 1988-1992. Prior to this position, he was the dean of the Iraqi Institute of Armored Sciences (معهد الدروع) from mid 1986 to 1988. That institute was considered one of the best Institutes in the Middle East.
He has several publications and studies regarding the Tanks and Ballistics. One of his positions during the Iran-Iraq war (at the earliest time of the war) was a tank battalion commander in the 10th armored brigade ( اللواء المدرع العاشر ), which was one of the elite armored brigades in the Iraqi Armed Forces, especially when that armored brigade achieved a superior victory by completely destroying and captivating the Iranian Golden Division ( 80th armored division ) in Alkhafjia battle (معركة الخفاجية سوزنجارد1982). He then became a brigade commander in one of the armored divisions. He also served several times in the Iraqi Ministry of Defense headquarters in Baghdad as the secretary of the Minister of Defense to
In 2004, he joined the new Iraqi army, serving first as the commander of the operations center and then commander of military operations in western Iraq. Prior to his appointment as Minister on 8 June 2006, he was the commander of the Iraqi Ground forces (IGF).
At the end of 2004, he was mandated to establish the Iraqi Ground Forces Command exactly after the Second Battle of Fallujah; thus, he was the first IGF's commander.
Political life
After the Gulf War of 1991, he started to criticize Sadam's regime, and opposed the 1990 invasion of Kuwait; as a result, he was demoted and sentenced to seven years in prison with confiscation of his movable and immovable assets. Nevertheless, he was under security surveillance after releasing from the prison and banned from leaving Iraq.
Alobaidi was the first Iraqi military commander to lead new Iraqi military forces that was participated alongside American troops to liberate Fallujah city from terrorists and outlaw armed groups in November 2004. As a result, Abd al-Nasir al-Janabi, who was one of Iraqi Council of Representatives members (later in March 2007 the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council requested that the Council of Representatives lift Abd al-Nasir al-Janabi's parliamentary immunity to face charges of kidnappings and terrorism), accused him of being a "war criminal" in the military campaign of Fallujah during his confirmation hearing in the Council of Representatives.
Alobaidi is not affiliated with any political party and was known with his independency and impartiality in dealing with the Iraqi conflicts during his ministry. However, his appointment was strongly backed by the
References
- 1.Key Iraq ministers get approval, BBC News, 8 June 2006
- 2.A Glance at Iraq's new security ministers, Associated Press, 8 June 2006
- 3.
USG Open Source Center Profile
- 4 Iraq Papers Thur: Defense Minister Speaks Out, Zaman via IraqSlogger, 2007-03-21, accessed on 2007-04-17
- 5. [1]
- 6. [2]
External links
Media related to Qadir Obeidi at Wikimedia Commons