Baylor in Northern Iraq During Operation Iraqi Freedom

This book is about helping our neighbors in a war-torn country. During the first five years of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Baylor educators and friends made five journeys into Northern Iraq to help prepare for education in the context of democracy, civil rights, and freedom. The fourth and fifth journeys included oral history interviews and humanitarian assistance for the survivors of Saddam’s cruelty. Mitchell’s interviews of the internal refugees capture not only the suffering but also human resilience and courage under deplorable times. 


“Many universities have admirable engagements in public and community service, but only occasionally do such projects entail extraordinary risk and require masterful collaborative creativity to achieve. The most courageous such project I know was entirely faculty-generated; under the superb leadership of Bill Mitchell the Baylor University faculty teams attempted and accomplished what many at the time thought impossible. This story to assist and uphold university education in war-torn Iraq is told with modesty and grace. This is an inspirational account of commitment in war-time, a testimony to self-denying, practical Christian love for the hurting world.”

—David Lyle Jeffrey,

Distinguished Professor of Literature and Humanities, Baylor University 


“William Mitchell recounts five remarkable journeys to Northern Iraq made by Baylor faculty and friends in the midst of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Their goal was to support higher education and democracy in Iraqi Kurdistan. Ten years later, when we are witnessing an even greater refugee crisis in the Middle East and beyond, their courage, vision, and commitment is an inspiring example of the possible.”

—Jeffrey S. Hamilton,

Professor and Vice Provost for Global Engagement, Baylor University 


William A. Mitchell is Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Baylor University, and former Professor of National Security Affairs, Air War College. Colonel Mitchell, USAF, (Ret.) served 33 years military service including the Vietnam War and the First Gulf War.