PICNIC IN BASRA
"The students had begun to lay out their picnic in the spring sunshine when the men attacked... shouting at us that we were immoral, that we were meeting boys and girls together and playing music and that this was against Islam... they had a duty to stop the students’ “dancing, sexy dress and corruption”. Police were guarding the picnic... but allowed the armed men in without any resistance. One brought a video camera to record the sinful spectacle of the picnic... Two students... were shot — one in the leg, the other twice in the stomach. The latter was said to have died of his injuries. Fellow students say that the girl later committed suicide. Another girl who was severely beaten around the head lost her sight..."
"... (one student) reached a police station and asked for help. “What do you expect me to do about it?” a uniformed officer asked."
" ... (the student then) went to the British military base... and pleaded with the duty officer at the gate (who said) “You’re a sovereign country now. We can’t help."
"... Colonel Kareem al-Zeidy, Basra’s police chief, pleaded helplessness. “What can I do? There is no government, no one to give us authority..."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1537512_1,00.html
Sunday, March 20, 2005
AUSTRALIA TO BE ASKED TO REPLACE PULL OUT
"The Italian announcement follows similar staged troop-withdrawals planned by Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and The Netherlands from the British-controlled area of southern Iraq before the end of the year. With 3000 Italians, 1700 Poles, 1500 Ukrainians, 1400 Dutch troops - as well as Polish armoured and Ukraine mechanised divisions - pulling out of the south, defence analysts warn the exodus will have to be covered by British or Australian troops. Former deputy defence department secretary Hugh White told The Australian that, given the Italian withdrawal, Britain and the US would undoubtedly again ask Australia for extra troops."
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12571169-421,00.html
"The Italian announcement follows similar staged troop-withdrawals planned by Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and The Netherlands from the British-controlled area of southern Iraq before the end of the year. With 3000 Italians, 1700 Poles, 1500 Ukrainians, 1400 Dutch troops - as well as Polish armoured and Ukraine mechanised divisions - pulling out of the south, defence analysts warn the exodus will have to be covered by British or Australian troops. Former deputy defence department secretary Hugh White told The Australian that, given the Italian withdrawal, Britain and the US would undoubtedly again ask Australia for extra troops."
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12571169-421,00.html
Thursday, March 17, 2005
AUSTRALIA TO BE ASKED TO REPLACE PULL OUT
The Italian announcement follows similar staged troop-withdrawals planned by Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and The Netherlands from the British-controlled area of southern Iraq before the end of the year. With 3000 Italians, 1700 Poles, 1500 Ukrainians, 1400 Dutch troops - as well as Polish armoured and Ukraine mechanised divisions - pulling out of the south, defence analysts warn the exodus will have to be covered by British or Australian troops. Former deputy defence department secretary Hugh White told The Australian that, given the Italian withdrawal, Britain and the US would undoubtedly again ask Australia for extra troops.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12571169-421,00.html
The Italian announcement follows similar staged troop-withdrawals planned by Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and The Netherlands from the British-controlled area of southern Iraq before the end of the year. With 3000 Italians, 1700 Poles, 1500 Ukrainians, 1400 Dutch troops - as well as Polish armoured and Ukraine mechanised divisions - pulling out of the south, defence analysts warn the exodus will have to be covered by British or Australian troops. Former deputy defence department secretary Hugh White told The Australian that, given the Italian withdrawal, Britain and the US would undoubtedly again ask Australia for extra troops.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12571169-421,00.html
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
COALITION WITHDRAWAL
"... (Italy will) begin pulling its more than 3,000 troops troops out in September... A batch of Dutch troops arrived home on Monday. The Ukrainians will be withdrawn by October. The Ukrainian presence has totalled some 1,600 troops, the Dutch about 1,400... Bulgaria, too, has now said it is looking at pulling its 450 troops out by the end of the year... there have been some acrimonious pullouts before - like those of the Philippines in response to the taking of Filipino hostages in Iraq, and Spain, after the Madrid bombings..."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4350573.stm
"... (Italy will) begin pulling its more than 3,000 troops troops out in September... A batch of Dutch troops arrived home on Monday. The Ukrainians will be withdrawn by October. The Ukrainian presence has totalled some 1,600 troops, the Dutch about 1,400... Bulgaria, too, has now said it is looking at pulling its 450 troops out by the end of the year... there have been some acrimonious pullouts before - like those of the Philippines in response to the taking of Filipino hostages in Iraq, and Spain, after the Madrid bombings..."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4350573.stm
Sunday, March 13, 2005
EUROPEAN JIHADIS IN IRAQ
"... There's no question the war in Iraq... has been exploited by radical propagandists to try and recruit for terrorism... the conflict in Iraq may be temporarily absorbing volunteers and energy from Europe... it is playing a major role in radicalisation, with signs of a new generation of young Europeans going to Iraq to fight..."
--Gijs De Vries, the EU's counter-terrorist co-ordinator.
"... the evidence so far of Europeans fighting in Iraq points to a worrying trend."We know from the people captured and killed in Fallujah that they were very young - 18, 19 or 20 - which means on 11 September, they were between 14 and 16. It's a new generation of jihadists which is just coming out. Before Iraq, usually the average age of the jihadists was between 25 and 30."
--Claude Moniquet, French counter-terrorism expert.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4340315.stm
"... There's no question the war in Iraq... has been exploited by radical propagandists to try and recruit for terrorism... the conflict in Iraq may be temporarily absorbing volunteers and energy from Europe... it is playing a major role in radicalisation, with signs of a new generation of young Europeans going to Iraq to fight..."
--Gijs De Vries, the EU's counter-terrorist co-ordinator.
"... the evidence so far of Europeans fighting in Iraq points to a worrying trend."We know from the people captured and killed in Fallujah that they were very young - 18, 19 or 20 - which means on 11 September, they were between 14 and 16. It's a new generation of jihadists which is just coming out. Before Iraq, usually the average age of the jihadists was between 25 and 30."
--Claude Moniquet, French counter-terrorism expert.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4340315.stm
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
SHIITES TO ASK U.S. TO LEAVE
"Les forces étrangères devront partir d'Irak aussi tôt que possible", déclare le chef de l'Alliance chiite... Des bases américaines permanentes en Irak ?... "Ha, ha ! Non. Personne en Irak ne souhaite l'établissement de bases étrangères permanentes sur notre terre. Les résolutions du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies sont claires : il appartiendra au gouvernement irakien élu de donner, le moment venu, à ces forces une date précise pour leur départ. Aussi tôt que possible."
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3218,36-400625,0.html
"Les forces étrangères devront partir d'Irak aussi tôt que possible", déclare le chef de l'Alliance chiite... Des bases américaines permanentes en Irak ?... "Ha, ha ! Non. Personne en Irak ne souhaite l'établissement de bases étrangères permanentes sur notre terre. Les résolutions du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies sont claires : il appartiendra au gouvernement irakien élu de donner, le moment venu, à ces forces une date précise pour leur départ. Aussi tôt que possible."
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3218,36-400625,0.html
Monday, March 07, 2005
TO END TERRORISM
"You want to end terrorism? End unjust military occupations. By all means have Syria conduct an orderly withdrawal from Lebanon if that is what the Lebanese public wants. But Israel needs to withdraw from the Golan Heights, which belong to Syria, as well. The Israeli military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank must be ended. The Russian scorched earth policy in Chechnya needs to stop. Some just disposition of the Kashmir issue must be attained, and Indian enormities against Kashmiri Muslims must stop. The US needs to conduct an orderly and complete withdrawal from Iraq. And when all these military occupations end, there is some hope for a vast decrease in terrorism. People need a sense of autonomy and dignity, and occupation produces helplessness and humiliation. Humiliation is what causes terrorism."
Juan Cole, Informed Comment, Monday, March 07, 2005
http://www.juancole.com/
"You want to end terrorism? End unjust military occupations. By all means have Syria conduct an orderly withdrawal from Lebanon if that is what the Lebanese public wants. But Israel needs to withdraw from the Golan Heights, which belong to Syria, as well. The Israeli military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank must be ended. The Russian scorched earth policy in Chechnya needs to stop. Some just disposition of the Kashmir issue must be attained, and Indian enormities against Kashmiri Muslims must stop. The US needs to conduct an orderly and complete withdrawal from Iraq. And when all these military occupations end, there is some hope for a vast decrease in terrorism. People need a sense of autonomy and dignity, and occupation produces helplessness and humiliation. Humiliation is what causes terrorism."
Juan Cole, Informed Comment, Monday, March 07, 2005
http://www.juancole.com/
GIULIANA SGRENA
"Giuliana (Sgrena) had information, and the US military did not want her to survive..."
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=38029
Snatches of Guliana from her writings:
January 14: "The various embassies in Iraq, under American pressure, had already instructed the journalists based there before the bombing began on the 20th March 2003, to abandon camp. The injunction was without effect, however, and the war was covered, for better or worse, both by journalists having to submit to the control of the Iraqi Ministry of Information, and by the embedded journalists censured by the Pentagon. The further deterioration of the situation in Iraq has made it even more difficult to provide information. The journalists are hostages to all the perverse effects of the military occupation and the privatization of the war.
"The hostility of the Iraqis to the military occupation has extended to all foreigners present in the territory, contractors, journalists and workers in humanitarian organizations. It's no longer enough to be French, given the French opposition to the war and the occupation, to get special treatment. And when a military occupation is dressed up as a peace mission as the Italian government has done, it is hardly surprising that subtle distinctions are not made.
29 December 2004: " 10,000 prisoners are still locked in American and British prisons in Iraq. Most are Iraqis but there are also 350 foreigners. The figures were supplied by the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights, Bakhtiar Amin. These numbers are in strong contrast with the claims made some time ago by the Americans that the number of prisoners had been considerably reduced after the releases following the scandal of Abu Ghraib. Apparently the number of prisoners has been swelled by numerous arrests of the survivors of the attacks on Samarra, Falluja and Mosul.."
"26 November This month of November will be remembered as one of the bloodiest of the occupation. Since the beginning of the month, which is not yet finished, 109 Marines have been killed, a figure already greater than that of the earlier attack on Fallujah, last April. But it is above all the Iraqis who are paying the highest tribute : 2,085 killed in the attack according to the information given out by Iraqi Security Minister Quassim Daud, without specifying the number of civilians. The problem, says the Minister, is that of identification, as many of the victims were not carrying documents. But many observers say that the problem is that many of the bodies were unrecognizable because they were so carbonized that the use of napalm was suspected.
"At the same time as the victim count from Fallujah, more disturbing news is arriving from Oslo in the form of the report of an investigation conducted by the Iraqi Health Ministry, in conjunction with the Norwegian FAFO Institute for applied international studies and UNDP, into the health of Iraqi children. The report states that since the beginning of the war (March 2003) the number of Iraqi children under the age of 5 suffering from acute malnutrition has doubled, passing from 4 to 7.7%. Further, over 400,000 are suffering from chronic diarrhea and protein deficit."
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0306-22.htm
"Giuliana (Sgrena) had information, and the US military did not want her to survive..."
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=38029
Snatches of Guliana from her writings:
January 14: "The various embassies in Iraq, under American pressure, had already instructed the journalists based there before the bombing began on the 20th March 2003, to abandon camp. The injunction was without effect, however, and the war was covered, for better or worse, both by journalists having to submit to the control of the Iraqi Ministry of Information, and by the embedded journalists censured by the Pentagon. The further deterioration of the situation in Iraq has made it even more difficult to provide information. The journalists are hostages to all the perverse effects of the military occupation and the privatization of the war.
"The hostility of the Iraqis to the military occupation has extended to all foreigners present in the territory, contractors, journalists and workers in humanitarian organizations. It's no longer enough to be French, given the French opposition to the war and the occupation, to get special treatment. And when a military occupation is dressed up as a peace mission as the Italian government has done, it is hardly surprising that subtle distinctions are not made.
29 December 2004: " 10,000 prisoners are still locked in American and British prisons in Iraq. Most are Iraqis but there are also 350 foreigners. The figures were supplied by the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights, Bakhtiar Amin. These numbers are in strong contrast with the claims made some time ago by the Americans that the number of prisoners had been considerably reduced after the releases following the scandal of Abu Ghraib. Apparently the number of prisoners has been swelled by numerous arrests of the survivors of the attacks on Samarra, Falluja and Mosul.."
"26 November This month of November will be remembered as one of the bloodiest of the occupation. Since the beginning of the month, which is not yet finished, 109 Marines have been killed, a figure already greater than that of the earlier attack on Fallujah, last April. But it is above all the Iraqis who are paying the highest tribute : 2,085 killed in the attack according to the information given out by Iraqi Security Minister Quassim Daud, without specifying the number of civilians. The problem, says the Minister, is that of identification, as many of the victims were not carrying documents. But many observers say that the problem is that many of the bodies were unrecognizable because they were so carbonized that the use of napalm was suspected.
"At the same time as the victim count from Fallujah, more disturbing news is arriving from Oslo in the form of the report of an investigation conducted by the Iraqi Health Ministry, in conjunction with the Norwegian FAFO Institute for applied international studies and UNDP, into the health of Iraqi children. The report states that since the beginning of the war (March 2003) the number of Iraqi children under the age of 5 suffering from acute malnutrition has doubled, passing from 4 to 7.7%. Further, over 400,000 are suffering from chronic diarrhea and protein deficit."
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0306-22.htm
Saturday, March 05, 2005
ITALIAN JOURNALIST WOUNDED BY U.S. TROOPS
"The companion of freed Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena... (said) the shooting had been deliberate."The Americans and Italians knew about (her) car coming... They were 700 meters (yards) from the airport, which means that they had passed all checkpoints." The shooting late Friday was witnessed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's office which was on the phone with one of the secret service agents... Then the US military silenced the cellphones... Giuliana had information, and the US military did not want her to survive..."
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0305-05.htm
"Hostage fears troops targeted her... Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena has suggested US troops deliberately tried to kill her moments after she was released by her kidnappers in Baghdad..."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4323361.stm
"The companion of freed Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena... (said) the shooting had been deliberate."The Americans and Italians knew about (her) car coming... They were 700 meters (yards) from the airport, which means that they had passed all checkpoints." The shooting late Friday was witnessed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's office which was on the phone with one of the secret service agents... Then the US military silenced the cellphones... Giuliana had information, and the US military did not want her to survive..."
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0305-05.htm
"Hostage fears troops targeted her... Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena has suggested US troops deliberately tried to kill her moments after she was released by her kidnappers in Baghdad..."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4323361.stm
Friday, March 04, 2005
KURDS HAVE OWN INEPENDENT GOVERNMENT
"Kurds voted January 30... for Kurdish parliament and local government through the governorate councils... amount(ing) to independence-like autonomy... to rule on the internal affairs of Kurdistan. The Kurdish parliament will rule on all matters except foreign policy and diplomatic representation, security and defense, and fiscal matters including currency.... The Kurdish parliament will have the power to resist any domestic policies coming from Baghdad and central government decisions will apply to Kurdistan only if they are ratified by the Kurdistan parliament..."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/GC03Ak02.html
"Kurds voted January 30... for Kurdish parliament and local government through the governorate councils... amount(ing) to independence-like autonomy... to rule on the internal affairs of Kurdistan. The Kurdish parliament will rule on all matters except foreign policy and diplomatic representation, security and defense, and fiscal matters including currency.... The Kurdish parliament will have the power to resist any domestic policies coming from Baghdad and central government decisions will apply to Kurdistan only if they are ratified by the Kurdistan parliament..."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/GC03Ak02.html
AMERICAN JAILS IN IRAQ BURSTING
The American military's major detention centers in Iraq have swelled to capacity... the military is holding at least 8,900 detainees in the three major prisons, 1,000 more than in late January... in Abu Ghraib... 3,160 people are being kept, well above the 2,500 level considered ideal... The largest center, Camp Bucca in the south, has at least 5,640 detainees... never before has the system had to grapple with so many detainees..."
http://nytimes.com/2005/03/04/international/middleeast/04detain.html?hp
The American military's major detention centers in Iraq have swelled to capacity... the military is holding at least 8,900 detainees in the three major prisons, 1,000 more than in late January... in Abu Ghraib... 3,160 people are being kept, well above the 2,500 level considered ideal... The largest center, Camp Bucca in the south, has at least 5,640 detainees... never before has the system had to grapple with so many detainees..."
http://nytimes.com/2005/03/04/international/middleeast/04detain.html?hp
Thursday, March 03, 2005
BANNED WEAPONS USED ON FALLUJAH
"... assigned by the (Ministry of Health) to assess the health conditions in Fallujah... an official... said that the U.S. military used internationally banned weapons during its deadly offensive... He said that the city is still suffering from the effects of chemical substances and other types of weapons that cause serious diseases over the long term... Fallujah residents reported that they saw “melted” bodies in the city, which suggests that U.S. forces used napalm... The United States... is the only nation in the world still using the deadly weapon."
http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=7216
"... assigned by the (Ministry of Health) to assess the health conditions in Fallujah... an official... said that the U.S. military used internationally banned weapons during its deadly offensive... He said that the city is still suffering from the effects of chemical substances and other types of weapons that cause serious diseases over the long term... Fallujah residents reported that they saw “melted” bodies in the city, which suggests that U.S. forces used napalm... The United States... is the only nation in the world still using the deadly weapon."
http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=7216
Monday, February 28, 2005
INSURGENCY TO LAST 7-12 YEARS
"The insurgency in Iraq is not likely to be put down in a year or even two since history shows such uprisings can last a decade or more, the United States' top military commander said on Friday. Air Force Gen. Richard Myers said that in the past century, insurgencies around the world have lasted anywhere from seven to 12 years, making a quick fix to the problem in Iraq unlikely..."
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7746184
"The insurgency in Iraq is not likely to be put down in a year or even two since history shows such uprisings can last a decade or more, the United States' top military commander said on Friday. Air Force Gen. Richard Myers said that in the past century, insurgencies around the world have lasted anywhere from seven to 12 years, making a quick fix to the problem in Iraq unlikely..."
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7746184
SYRIA A PHASE AFTER IRAQ?
"Assad (said) Washington's rhetoric against Damascus is reminiscent of the saber-rattling that preceded the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. "The language of the White House leads one to predict a campaign like that that preceded the conflict against Saddam. Will we be the next target of Israel and the White House? All of this has been written for a long time. Iraq was the first phase, then it will be Iran's and Syria's turn. But it's not a given that things will go that way."
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=12835
"Assad (said) Washington's rhetoric against Damascus is reminiscent of the saber-rattling that preceded the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. "The language of the White House leads one to predict a campaign like that that preceded the conflict against Saddam. Will we be the next target of Israel and the White House? All of this has been written for a long time. Iraq was the first phase, then it will be Iran's and Syria's turn. But it's not a given that things will go that way."
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=12835
Saturday, February 26, 2005
UKRAINE AND OTHERS TO WITHDRAW FROM IRAQ
"Ukraine plans to pull all of its 1,650 troops out of Iraq by the end of the year, the country’s new defense minister said Thursday... around 700 Ukrainian troops among the 1,650-strong contingent serving in a Polish-led multinational division would probably leave Iraq by the end of April... The Ukraine contingent is the sixth-largest in the U.S.-led coalition..."
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=682430&C=europe
Other withdrawals:
"Poland's decision to pull out a third of its 2,400 troops this month and the announcement that it will withdraw the rest this year due to strong domestic rejection to the deployment. Portugal quietly pulled out its 150 soldiers this month. Next month, the Netherlands will begin withdrawing its 1,700 troops, one of the largest contingents. Australia has also withdrawn a big part of its forces..."
Raed in the Middle, Friday, February 25, 2005
http://raedinthemiddle.blogspot.com/
"Ukraine plans to pull all of its 1,650 troops out of Iraq by the end of the year, the country’s new defense minister said Thursday... around 700 Ukrainian troops among the 1,650-strong contingent serving in a Polish-led multinational division would probably leave Iraq by the end of April... The Ukraine contingent is the sixth-largest in the U.S.-led coalition..."
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=682430&C=europe
Other withdrawals:
"Poland's decision to pull out a third of its 2,400 troops this month and the announcement that it will withdraw the rest this year due to strong domestic rejection to the deployment. Portugal quietly pulled out its 150 soldiers this month. Next month, the Netherlands will begin withdrawing its 1,700 troops, one of the largest contingents. Australia has also withdrawn a big part of its forces..."
Raed in the Middle, Friday, February 25, 2005
http://raedinthemiddle.blogspot.com/
Friday, February 25, 2005
PROJECTED COST OF WAR
"... According to a report on the cost of the war in Iraq released last week by the Democratic staff of the House Budget Committee, the war and ongoing insurgency could cost the United States between US$461 billion and $646 billion by 2015... (over) half a trillion dollars... The lower figure is based on a US withdrawal of forces within four years..."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/GB25Ak01.html
"... According to a report on the cost of the war in Iraq released last week by the Democratic staff of the House Budget Committee, the war and ongoing insurgency could cost the United States between US$461 billion and $646 billion by 2015... (over) half a trillion dollars... The lower figure is based on a US withdrawal of forces within four years..."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/GB25Ak01.html
THE SEIGE OF BAGHDAD
" Insurgent attacks to disrupt Baghdad's supplies of crude oil, gasoline, heating oil, water and electricity have reached a degree of coordination and sophistication not seen before... the insurgents have a deep understanding of the complex network of pipelines, power cables and reservoirs feeding Baghdad... the choice of targets and the timing of sabotage attacks has... become what amounts to a siege of the capital... The overall pattern of the sabotage and its technical savvy suggests the guidance of the very officials who tended to the nation's infrastructure during Saddam Hussein's long reign..."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/21/international/middleeast/21sabotage.html?hp&ex=1109048400&en=42d988dc64929643&ei=5094&partner=homepage
" Insurgent attacks to disrupt Baghdad's supplies of crude oil, gasoline, heating oil, water and electricity have reached a degree of coordination and sophistication not seen before... the insurgents have a deep understanding of the complex network of pipelines, power cables and reservoirs feeding Baghdad... the choice of targets and the timing of sabotage attacks has... become what amounts to a siege of the capital... The overall pattern of the sabotage and its technical savvy suggests the guidance of the very officials who tended to the nation's infrastructure during Saddam Hussein's long reign..."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/21/international/middleeast/21sabotage.html?hp&ex=1109048400&en=42d988dc64929643&ei=5094&partner=homepage
KURDS WANT THEIR OWN AUTONOMOUS AREA
"Kurdish Demands Slow Iraq Search for New Govt... The Kurds came second in the Jan. 30 election... that makes them kingmakers... Kurds are insisting on control of oil-rich Kirkuk and other disputed northern areas as their price for agreeing to a deal on the formation of a new national government... a tough negotiating position which... could greatly complicate the process of forging a unified government..."
http://www.metronews.ca/reuters_international.asp?id=57984
"Kurdish Demands Slow Iraq Search for New Govt... The Kurds came second in the Jan. 30 election... that makes them kingmakers... Kurds are insisting on control of oil-rich Kirkuk and other disputed northern areas as their price for agreeing to a deal on the formation of a new national government... a tough negotiating position which... could greatly complicate the process of forging a unified government..."
http://www.metronews.ca/reuters_international.asp?id=57984
Thursday, February 24, 2005
NO TOWN HALL QUESTIONS FROM GERMANS ABOUT IRAQ
"During his trip to Germany on Wednesday, the main highlight of George W. Bush's trip was meant to be a "town hall"-style meeting with average Germans... Bush's strategists felt an uncontrolled encounter with the German public would be too unpredictable... Rice's staff insisted on screening and approving any questions to be asked by students... Was Bush afraid the event might focus on prickly questions about Iraq and Iran... (So) with the German government unwilling to permit a scripted event with questions approved in advance, the White House has quietly put the event on ice... "
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,343281,00.html
"During his trip to Germany on Wednesday, the main highlight of George W. Bush's trip was meant to be a "town hall"-style meeting with average Germans... Bush's strategists felt an uncontrolled encounter with the German public would be too unpredictable... Rice's staff insisted on screening and approving any questions to be asked by students... Was Bush afraid the event might focus on prickly questions about Iraq and Iran... (So) with the German government unwilling to permit a scripted event with questions approved in advance, the White House has quietly put the event on ice... "
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,343281,00.html
FRESH DOUBTS OVER LEGALITY OF IRAQ CONFLICT
"Fresh doubts are raised over the legality of Iraq conflict... The controversy was reopened by claims that Lord Goldsmith's crucial statement endorsing military action was drafted by Downing Street rather than himself... "
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=614141
"Fresh doubts are raised over the legality of Iraq conflict... The controversy was reopened by claims that Lord Goldsmith's crucial statement endorsing military action was drafted by Downing Street rather than himself... "
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=614141