Unlike the bulk of military officers , Qasim did not come from the Arab Sunni north - western towns .
He Qasim not military officers ' their enthusiasm for pan-Arabism Qasim he was of mixed Sunni - Shia parentage from south - eastern Iraq .
Unlike the bulk of military officers , Qasim did not come from the Arab Sunni north - western towns nor did he share their enthusiasm for pan-Arabism : he was of mixed Sunni - Shia parentage from south - eastern Iraq .