Mid.Ea.News

2008-04-08T16:57:00.004+02:00

It's hard to be a Saint in the (Eternal) city

Andrea Loquenzi Holzer

On that given morning, May 13 1981, Mehmet Ali Aðca shot various rounds toward the Great Polish Man - John Paul II. Afterwards he justified his action by stating the following: "To me the Pope was the incarnation of all that is capitalism;" clearly at the time he had no idea that his effort was to fail.

Agca did not know then that even Padre Pio from Pietralcina foresaw that the young priest from Poland he met in 1948 would have gone on to become Pope. In fact, no one in the 1940s would have bet a penny on such a possibility. Wojtyla himself one stated: " I, John Paul II, have never thought that I would have become the Pope...providence has brought me here and therefore, I shall let providence decide the day it will end". John Paul II died, in fact, exactly when he was supposed to. It was three years ago that God called him. On the third anniversary of his death Pope Benedict XVI held a mass in St. Peter's Square to commemorate Wojtyla's death. His successor had these words to say about his predecessor, "Among [his] many human and supernatural qualities, he had an exceptional spiritual and mystical sensibility".

Mircea Eliade, the famous Romanian religious historian, described his sanctity as "equivalent to a power, and in the last analysis, to reality." We can't say that John Paul II is a saint, but he did have, in fact, a power. He was capable to "immerse himself in God," says Navarro Valls before continuing, "He could pray while asleep, every breath he took was an ode to God itself." But not only: John Paul II also allegedly cured a French nun from Parkinson's disease.

"I am cured. It is the work of God, through the intercession of Pope John Paul II", said the French Sister Marie Simon-Pierre (46) last year. "It's something very strong, very difficult to put into words," she added. "All I can tell you is that I was sick and now I am cured. It is for the Church to say and to recognize whether or not it is a miracle".

Someone else was capable of such miracles, apart from Padre Pio and, of course, the French and English dynasties of the thaumaturgist kings there was Yehoshua, or if you prefer, Jesus of Nazareth. If someone wants to have an idea of what being "immersed in God" means and how to recognize a "perennial prayer" such as John Paul II, he should read the book "Quarantine" by Jim Crace, there isn’t a better description, in my opinion, on how a devoted Christian should pray his God.

The word "miracle" derives from the late Latin mirari which means "to stare at" and its significance in modern English would sound something like this: "An extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs." That would fit the story of the French nun of course. Although many non-believers might end up thinking that these are only good stories to tell in front a fireplace during the winter or when it's raining outside because they have no scientific explanation whatsoever.

Apart from miracles, we prefer to think that John Paul II apart from being able to "immerse himself in God" could not only transmit his beliefs to others people, but has also effectively changed the course of the events of the last century. That matches Eliade's description of holiness. But that is not all. He also demolished some crucial stereotypes about the Catholic Church. For example here's what the former Chief Rabbi of Rome, Elio Toaff, said about him: " [He's] a great man, an honest spirit, loyal and free. A man of God, whose holiness, according to Catholic Church parameters, is crystal clear for the entire world to see". A Rabbi saying that the Pope is "a man of God" may not be a miracle, but is certainly a step towards reconciliation between Judaism and Catholicism.

Here's another "quasi-miracle" from Wojtyla - making someone believe in God. Rita Megliorini , a personal nurse to Pope John Paul II during his last days at Gemelli Hospital said, "He brought me back to my faith. He said to me, 'Do not be afraid, God forgives.' He remembered me and dedicated a caress to me in the most precious moment of his life...when he was going back to the Lord".

We don't even need to know if the French Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, allegedly cured from Parkinson's disease thanks to John Paul II, is telling the truth or not. In any case, this Great Man from Poland, who already looked old when he was twelve; who traveled all over the world to spread the faith he believed in; who did not give up the cross even in times of troubles and convinced people to change their minds, deserves canonization. Perhaps, for no other reason, to quote David Bowie, "It's hard to be a Saint in the city."

Ali Agca couldn't known that Pope John Paul II would have survived his bullets. That said, perhaps we should ask him how it feels to be forgiven by the person he wanted to kill. Ask him how it feels to attempt to assassinate a Saint.

2008-03-31T15:52:00.002+02:00

The Sensational conversion of Magdi Cristiano Allam

By Andrea Loquenzi Holzer

It strange how the entire world is staring at this tiny man. As if he is the new David, fighting Goliath with a piece of paper and a pen. Although he might look tiny on the outside, Magdi Cristiano Allam does not lack of courage. “I want to belong to God”, said the deputy director of Il Corriere della Sera to his religious mentor, father Gabriele Mangiarotti, just before his sensational conversion. Clearly that was not Allah...

The only problem being: Magdi Allam is one of the most authoritative person in Europe when it comes to speak out loud against radical Islam. And, most of all, he was a Muslim himself. Allam is already surrounded by big guys (his personal bodyguards assigned to him by the Italian government on the ground that his life is constantly at risk) so, when he arrives at a conference or in a public place, you won’t immediately notice that he has in fact arrived. Magdi Allam is also the kind of guy you won’t notice because he just does not like to be at the center of attention. He gave a speech against a unintelligent anti-semite cartoon published on the leftist newspaper Il Manifesto which represented Magdi’s friend Fiamma Nirenstein . There were four speakers at the press conference (organized by the Magna Carta Foundation) and Allam spoke for just about five minutes with a calm and low voice. It was almost like he wasn’t invited for the speech. Almost like he begged someone for letting him speak.

When Allam told Mangiarotti that he wanted to become a catholic, the priest got worried. Magdi is already at risk and the move would have caused a wave of treats from the major Islamic association around the world, both moderate (according to Allam, though, there is no such thing) and radical. One would think: “well, Allam certainly knows that the conversion will put him even more at risk and he might get scared”... instead Magdi’s answer to father Mangiarotti’ concerns was: “You should worry about the Pope, not me”.

“I am not afraid of death, I am convinced that we must go ahead. We should go on the road of truth and liberty”, said Cristiano Allam in an interview published by the Italian newspaper Libero . “I don’t want to give up, neither I want to be intimidated in anyway. I know I am right”.

Now, his conversion has in fact caused a wave of protests coming from the Islamic world. The international daily newspaper Al Quds al Arabi wrote: “The pope provokes the indignation of Muslims by baptizing an Egyptian journalist who attacks Islam and defends Israel”. Some others have said that Allam has added more fuel on the fire of the so-called clash of civilizations . But there were answers to this criticism: Michael Leeden wrote on his blog that , “Magdi’s very public conversion, and his baptism by Benedict, is an act of defiance against those who have already forced him to live the life of a recluse”. He also told us that the “the whole point of radical Islam is to silence all other voices”. That involves a personal choice as well.

Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi ,a well known Iranian political activist living in NYC, has an articulated opinion on Allam’s conversion . She points out how Allam’s conversion can be perceived as a loss from another point of view: “I love and respect all those whose faiths makes them better people - says Zand-Bonazzi - ...people who are principled, righteous and truly tolerant, just like Magdi...who is one of the sweetest and almost saintly people I know. But I feel a loss for us secular and liberal Muslims because his voice, fighting from within Islam has a kind of intense impact...first in terms of his stance toward the diabolical Islamo-imperialists, then in terms of those who remain Muslim and are liberal and dare not speak out for fear of reprisal from the diabolical Islamists and finally for those westerners (non-Muslims) who absolutely refuse to believe that Islamo-Imperialists are the biggest threat to modernity and liberal life...So of course speaking from within the faith in order to have an impact...and I'm glad that he stayed till the tender age of 56 but still...his voice has been a darn valuable one and that's what makes it a loss for us liberal Muslims around the world who need pioneering voices such as Magdi's”.

Although certainly the most famous, this is not Magdi’s first conversion. A previous conversion is worth mentioning as well. Allam, in fact, did not start his career writing against radical Islam. He started out by writing on the leftist newspaper La Repubblica about multiculturalism and how this value could have saved the world. He was pro-Muslim at the beginning and not pro-Western. After 9/11, though, he changed his mind. Completely. So, he has been a supporter of Islam and later decided to give up with this beliefs. Therefore, one cannot claim that he doesn’t know about Muslims. That he hasn’t thought about his religion and he is a ignorant. In fact Allam represents everything that radical Islam fights against: the freedom to choose and the ability to change your mind. If a terrorist will hurt Magdi, he would hurt the freedom itself. He would hurt Magdi’s future and past at the same time, not just a person. In this way he will show the world the true nature of radical Islam and the terrorism, namely: the negation of liberty and freedom of choice.

2008-03-12T16:04:00.003+01:00

Iran: Time for a military action?

According to the much discussed report made last year by the National Intelligence (NIE) on the Iranian nuclear issue: “…in fall 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program”. As pointed out by Henry Kissinger on the Wp, though, it was only the construction of atomic warheads, a secondary aspect of the nuclear program that was stopped: namely the building of missiles that are supposed to contain the highly enriched uranium necessary and sufficient for an atomic bomb.

Not only. The NIE document estimated that Iran should not be regarded as a credible threat, due to the lack of a proper technology for producing enriched uranium, at least until 2015.
The recent experiment/simulation carried on by the Joint Research Committee of the European Union, instead, has toppled the NIE theory with a series of new designed experiments based on the “Theoretical Centrifuge and Cascade Simulator” (TCCS) which is useful for calculating the uranium enrichment capability through gas centrifuges like the ones in the Iranian nuclear plant of Natanz, for example.

As we can read in the document given to us by Berta Duane of the JRC: “The TCCS is being developed to simulate gas centrifuge enrichment plants. The results of these simulations are needed for studying safeguards of such facilities. The TCCS foresees two modules: The first uses engineering data (e.g.: centrifuge diameter, rotor material, …) to determine optimum centrifuge characteristics (e.g. position of the feed point, internal circulation rate, total separation factor, …). The second module then designs an optimum cascade configuration for a given number of available centrifuges”.

The scientists of the JRC – by taking in consideration the nuclear plant in Natanz - were capable to determine that, in the” worst” case scenario, Iran could have enough highly enriched uranium to produce a nuclear warhead by the end of 2010. Also considering the fact that – according to recent reports -Teheran’s regime could change the current aluminum centrifuges with new ones made in carbon fiber, a switch that could improve Iran’s uranium enrichment capability and save time in the meanwhile.

Andrea Loquenzi Holzer: In the face of the threat represented by Iran the International community is using “scarecrows” such as Un sanctions and the AIEA, is it an appropriate reaction ?

Michael Ledeen: Not nearly good enough. The main threat from Iran is terrorism, of which the mullahs are the leading supporters, and this matter is not being addressed at all. If Iran had a freely elected government it would most likely be pro-Western and "civilized," in the sense of wanting to live in peace with its neighbors. That should be the goal of Western policy.
Danielle Pletka: The international community must do all it can to ensure the effectiveness of the sanctions regime in order to maximize the impact on Iran. If the sanctions regime is weak, or opposed by important nations such as China and Russia, it significantly increases the likelihood that the military option will be the only choice left available to those who will not tolerate a nuclear weapon in the hands of the Tehran regime.

Paolo Casaca: An international system of sanctions coupled with an active IAEA supervision seem to me to be an important tool for facing the threats of those who want to use nuclear weapons. Anyway, I think that before discussing the strategy to face the problem we should start by characterising the problem.

Iran has consistently worked in a secret nuclear programme whose rationality can be no other than producing a nuclear bomb.

This is indeed a vital element of the problem, but if we do not add three other elements we will not understand why it became so important at the World level.

The first element is the fanatic ideology of the regime and its sponsor and praise for suicidal terror acts. Iran is the only country that boasts publicly about having an army of volunteers ready to commit terror-suicide operations. Iran is the only country that employed thousands - perhaps tens of thousands - of its children as live cannon fodder in its war to "conquer Quods through Karbala". Iran is the only country where its own former President boasted that to suffer the loss of three or four million of its citizens would not mean the annihilation of the country, but it would mean the end of Israel.

The second is the expansionist ideology and policy of the Iranian regime. Iran is active in transforming itself in the ruler of the Middle East, transforming into satellites in the first movement Iraq, Syria and Lebanon and the Gulf countries.

Thirdly, Iran, although grossly mismanaged, is from a variety of points of view a fairly developed country that can make a difference at the World level.

A.L.H. : Does a tangible risk of collaboration between North Korea, Russia, Iran and Syria upon nuclear issues exists? The Knesset recently found evidence regarding the presence of north Korean nuclear experts in Syria, while the cooperation between Putin and Ahmadinejad is common knowledge…

M.L.: Absolutely. I have been writing about the North Korean connection for years, and the "Russian connection" is public knowledge.

D.P. : Historically, rogue nations have worked together and shared technology and material on WMD projects. The AQKhan project is a good example of the network that draws together proliferators. It is well known that North Korea has worked with a variety of nations on missile questions, and has likely also provided nuclear know how. The accusation is a plausible one, though there is considerably less evidence that Russia is helping Iran’s WMD programs.

P.C.: The most difficult thing to put in this puzzle is the Russian policy. As regards China - without the authorisation of whom I believe North Korea would not get involved in the Iranian nuclear plan - it probably thinks that the benefits of disrupting Western interests outweigh the risks of fuelling a fanatic Muslim centre at its borders.

Regarding Russia, probably someone is making the same sort of calculations over there, but it is so suicidal for the immediate Russian interests to do so, that I am not convinced that Russia will consistently cover up Iranian plans.

Regarding Syria, I do not think they have much of room for an independent policy regarding Iran.

Daniel Diker: Israel has been concerned about the Syria North Korea connection with Regards to Nuclear materials. There is heavy suspicion of North Korea shipping nuclear materials to – Syria in order to advance nuclear development. We also Know for a fact in Israel that Syria is the number one address for chemical missiles in the Middle East/ There is a large concern over Russian involvement in Supplying Syria high grade weapons systems, including the anti aircraft systems that were penetrated by the western alliance on September 6th, 2007. Former US Ambassador to UN John Bolton told us when he was recently in Israel that he believes that Iran and North Korea are directly involved in developing Syrian nuclear program.

A.L.H.: Should the role of Israel in all this being more central, in your opinion? Especially considering the reiterated threats aimed at the Jewish State and coming (not only)from Nasrallah and Ahamadinejad?

D. P.: Israel must do what its leaders believe necessary to ensure its national security. Whether it is within the capacities of Israel to neutralize the Iranian nuclear program without considerable negative repercussions is an important question to which there is no satisfactory answer at this moment.

P.C.:The role of Israel has been central, although perhaps a bit too late as an effort. Israel now seems to have understood the message better than anyone else (and with the clear language of Ahmadinejad it would have been difficult not to) and they are doing what they can to explain that the end of Israel would be the beginning of the end for our civilization.

A.L.H.: What should the Us and Europe do to solve the problem? Is a Podhoretz style (The case for bombing Iran) solution desirable?

M.L.:I think military action against Iran is highly undesirable. Regime change, via political support for Iranian pro-democracy organizations and individuals, is much better.

D.P.: Bombing Iran is highly undesirable, and will not be a silver bullet. The only long term answer is the removal of the regime now in power; however, we have made no progress in that direction and will be confronted by the question of what to do about an Iranian bomb before we see a revolution in Tehran. Military strikes may be the only remaining option at a certain moment, but they will not be a perfect or an especially satisfying option in the long term.

P.C.: I do not believe at war as a first hand scenario, although things might be heading that way with unpredictable results. Before one gets there, there are a plethora of other things that should start to be done, namely:

1. Empower the Iranian people in several ways (civil society, cultural and ideological war, firm and clear commitments) namely by taking out of the terrorist list the main organisation of Iranian opposition. If you take out the huge but largely inorganic opposition from the civil society, the minorities opposition - important, but not sufficient in itself - and a plethora of so-called "reformists" that are not a real opposition, the PMOI is the single nation-wide opposition significant organization. Furthermore, I believe that the accusations of "terrorism" are groundless.

This does not mean that the West should allow the PMOI to develop armed actions out of its own soil, or even to use it as a weapon in a war against Iran (although I think this would be smarter than just bombing Iran). To allow an armed group to develop violent activities in other country is the first step to engage in a war.

We just should allow Iranians to do what they think it's best for them to do, and that means withdrawing the terror label out of the PMOI.

2. Isolate Iran in the World and especially in the region. It is unbelievable that the US and its closest allies developed a war in Iraq to install those who are the instruments of Teheran in power. This should not continue.

Iraq is the most obvious example, but a consistent policy of confronting Teheran should be developed in the Greater Middle East, and of course through the rest of the World.

D.D.: I believe that a Podhoretz approach is the correct one if a complete isolation of Iran fails. That means that, the US must lead the Western Alliance in a complete embargo of goods, Services, materials currency to Iran. This means total and complete isolation of Iran. IF that fails then, aggressive military action is unavoidable. US Republican Presidential candidate John McCain said the only worse option that bombing Iran is if Iran gained a nuclear capability. The US must engage Europe in a complete embargo of Iran and only then if that fails, move to the military option. The Islamic world appreciates the US when it uses massive force not when it shows weakness like the NIE.

A.L.H.: Isn’t it time for the head of AIEA ,Mohammed El-Baradei, to leave office, given the results of his activity?

M.L.: It is long past time.

D.P.: It was time for Mohamed ElBaradei to go a long time ago.

P.C.: Mr. Mohammed El-Baradei has really not been very helpful. But then again, the authors of the latest NIE made worse than whatever Mr. El-Baradei has been doing in the last few years. If I would establish some priorities on whom to sack first, I think the US (not to mention the EU and in particular the UK) would be a more fertile ground than the IAEA.

D.D.: Yes he should resign and they should put someone like Berlusconi, Aznar, Merkel, Sarkozy, or the President of Georgia (Mikheil Saakashvili, ndr) in charge of the AIEA

2008-03-10T16:35:00.002+01:00

Iran Launches Kidney Donation Drive to Raise Cash to Kill Jews

Kamangir was first to report on this very odd kidney drive yesterday.The regime in Iran held a rally today where a price was put on the heads of the top ranking Israeli security officials as revenge for killings in Gaza and the assassination of arch terrorist Imad Mugniyah...

Bush's Speech in Abu Dhabi

2008-01-14T16:24:00.000+01:00

President Bush Discusses Importance of Freedom in the Middle East

"...As freedom and justice advance in this part of the world, elections are important, but they're only a start. Free and just societies require strong civic institutions, such as houses of worship, universities, professional associations, local governments and community groups. Free and just societies require habits of self-government that contribute to the rule of law. And free and just societies ultimately depend on the emergence of an engaged public whose citizens feel they have a real stake in their nation's future. All these developments contribute to the bond between government and the governed, between a people and their nation..."

George W. Bush

The White House

2007-12-14T17:37:00.000+01:00

Misreading the Iran Report

Why Spying and Policymaking Don't Mix

By Henry A. Kissinger Thursday, December 13, 2007; Page A35

The extraordinary spectacle of the president's national security adviser obliged to defend the president's Iran policy against a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) raises two core issues: How are we now to judge the nuclear threat posed by Iran? How are we to judge the intelligence community's relationship with the White House and the rest of the government? ...

Washington Post

2007-09-24T15:26:00.000+02:00

Anatomy of Syrian-Israeli Tensions: A Background Analysis
Jerusalem Center Strategic Affairs Unit

The Syrian-Israeli military balance has been characterized by a gross asymmetry in Syria's favor in standing active-service formations along the Syrian-Israeli border. In October 1973, Israel was forced to repel a massive Syrian ground assault with only 177 tanks against a total Syrian force of 1,400 tanks, providing an advantage for Syrian armor of more than eight to one...

This analysis about the Israeli-Siryan crisis is worth reading, go to:

Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs

2007-09-10T16:21:00.000+02:00

Iran's covert plan in Lebanon
By Amir Taheri, Special to Gulf NewsPublished: September 05, 2007, 00:59

While being squeezed out of the global markets because of sanctions imposed by the UN, Iran's banks have landed new business opportunities in Lebanon.

Operating through front men and companies, they are financing land purchases that could, in time, redraw Lebanon's complex ethnic and religious map.

The Gulf Times

2007-06-14T13:11:00.000+02:00

In the name of the law

The popular perception of sharia law is one of brutal punishments carried out by hardline states. But, as Dan Bell discovers, the backstreets of Britain are full of Islamic courts ruling on everything from banking and alcopops to forced marriage and divorce...

The Guardian

2007-06-01T11:39:00.000+02:00

Even if it's necesseray to pay for it, once in a while i'd like to suggest everyone who can pay a few dollars to read the article about Tariq Ramadan recently pubblished by The New Republic and written by Paul Berman. It represents a good opportunity to understand what is behind al-Quaeda and it's allies...

The Islamist, the journalist, and the defense of liberalism.
Who's Afraid of Tariq Ramadan?

by Paul Berman Post date 05.29.07 Issue date 06.04.07

Tariq Ramadan is a charismatic and energetic Islamic philosopher in Europe who has become popular and influential among various circles of European Muslims during the past fifteen years--originally in Geneva, where his father founded the Islamic Center in 1961; then in Lyon, the French city closest to Switzerland, where Ramadan attracted a following of young people from North African backgrounds; then among French Muslims beyond Lyon; at the Islamic Foundation in Leicester, in Britain, where he spent a year on a fellowship; among still more scattered Muslim audiences in Western Europe, who listened to his audio recordings and packed his lecture halls, normally with the men and the women sitting demurely in their separate sections; among Muslims in various Francophone countries in Africa--and outward to the wider world...

The New Republic

2007-05-22T15:17:00.000+02:00

Iraq Makes Plans for Quick U.S. Pullout
By ROBERT H. REID
Associated Press WriterMay 21, 2007

BAGHDAD — Iraq's military is drawing up plans to cope with any quick U.S. military pullout, the defense minister said Monday, as a senior American official warned that the Bush administration may reconsider its support if Iraqi leaders don't make major reforms by fall...

Associated Press- Spokesman Review

2007-04-20T18:05:00.000+02:00

The Islamic State of Iraq

I personally think that it would be undeniably interesting to take a look at what this Blog named The Caliphate Voice (Sawt al-Khilafa in Arab) has published recently...

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
News analysis from Caliphate Voice Channel about the the establishment of the "Islamic State of Iraq".

In a long waited step, for which sacrifices were granted & martyrs bloods were shed to achieve its path; the Mujahideen Shura Council in Iraq has announced the establishment of the "Islamic State of Iraq", "the state of Islam that will rule the law of Allah "Shaiaah" on people & lands, that will protect the core (center) of Islam and acts as a solid shield for the Sunni people on the land of Iraq" ; as per the announcement of the Spokesman of the Ministry of Information in the Islamic State of Iraq said
Caliphate Voice would like to present a preliminary analysis for the recent events in Iraq and the clear failure that crusade invaders and their tails suffer trying to stop the Mujahideen crawling

US troops and their Safawies (Shiite) alliances gambled after killing the leader Abu Musaab Al Zaraqawi to weaken Al Qaidah Organization in Iraq and their alliance of Mujahideen Shura Council, but the Organization succeeded to absorb the hit and elect Shaikh Abu Hamzah Al Muhajir for the leadership of the Organization after Al Zaraqawi, which made the enemies lose their minds.

The crusader media tried from the first day of the election of the new leader to offense him and fabricate fake stories concerning his personality, not to present him but to hit the cords of "Siks & Bicko" agreement "how the leader is an Immigrant (expatriate) from out of Iraq" retrieving its repeated lie that the Iraqi people are not against the invasion and the democracy of Washington is not that beauty because of those few stranger Immigrants
In order to continue this ugly scenario that was prepared by a trainee clown in the White House, they have announced a meeting between a flock of traitors and people who are fabricated under the invasion claiming that they are leaders of Al Anbar clans and Al Malki the Iraqi Prime Minister appointed by the invader
Which was prepared by a White house amateur, They announced a meeting of a group “herd” of occupation made traitors, claiming they are tribes’ sheikhs
And AlMaliki, occupation appointed Iraqi prime minister, Quick was the perishment of falsehood, And the sons of Alanbar and its true sheikhs announced that those who met with AlMalike are not the tribes’ sheikhs of Alanbar, the Jihadist and steadfast (province), But they are spineless puppets, acting upon the direct order of the green zone Occupiers have lost it. Turning into defeat and failiure after their games proved failure.

What enforced their failure and awkwardness is AlMuJahideen Shura Council’s declration of the blessed Al-Motayebeen Alliance, Between Al-Mujahideen and a large group of tribes’s sheikhs and supporters of jihad
This declration instigated the enemy to expose what have remained of its loosing cards, in an attempt to save what could be saved The Crusaders showed a third level (mediocre) masked actor (impersonator/imboster), claiming he was one of Al-Mujahideen leaders Reading the best their ingenious intelligence pshcological warfare experts can come up with It would have been to their best not show their bad performance and poor minds It was imperative for muslims in Iraq to declare their state at this time particularily For the purpose counter attacking the outcome of the fierce attack that aimed to mixing cards and stealing the outcome of Jihad and robbing off martyrs’ sacrifices
Shortly after the crusaders announced, at the tongue of their senior criminals, Bush, that they oppose division of Iraq.

The U.S. president in an interview with the Zionist Fox News channel, argued that division of Iraq may lead to fighting between Sunni extremists and Shiite hardliners, according to his understanding However, several observers explained that Bush’s statement was a swift American counter attack on AlMujhideen Shura council and its decrlaration of Islamic State.
After the American administration was advocating prationaing Iraq And backs Kurdistan seculars and southern Rawafid (Shiite) seperationists to form independent states And pave the way to portioning through endorsing “federalism” in constitution which the administration has put together Americans have found themselves facing a risky challenge after the decrlation of estblashiment of the Islamic State in Iraq It has become clear that dividing Iraq will result in an Jihadist Islamic state shaking the positions of the enemy and be, because of its unique geographical location, a start point for the Islamic nation fore fighters in the battle to liberate Palestine from the Zionist entity.

Which has forced Washington to re calculate its plans to dividing Iraq and investigate the situation again after the declaration of the estblashiment of Islamic State in Iraq and industrious work of Al-Mujahideen to strengthen this state and supply it with all means of existence such as administration, organization and providing civil services.
A ligt was shed at this plan in Abu Hamza AlMuhajir message, Ameer of AlQaida in mesopitimia, to Muslim clerics and professionals in all discipline to join their brothers and take part in establishing this new state.

This declaration was not uncalculated step nor a reactionary. Almujahideen have prepared that and Abu Mosab Alzarqawi, May Allah grant him martyrdom, had sent the cheerful news before his death This declaration was a surprise move that was not expected by Washington’s politicians nor their coat tails in baghad.

After so, it was necessary for them to call upon their last defense line, calling their “fifth column” of detractors constantly propagate doubts against the people of Islam who carried their souls on their shoulders for the Cause of Allah Not aware that the times of fooling has gone forever.
And the Ummah (Islamic Nation) understands well the tru situation in Mespotimia; It is the final conquer of the unbelievers and the complete disintegration of the American Crusade project. And then, the belivers will celebrate in joy Allah’s victory and those unjust will know their ending.

2007-04-10T13:56:00.000+02:00

Combating Terrorism Center

"Fourth Generation Governance--Sheikh Tamimi Defends the Islamic State of Iraq "

By Brian Fishman (brian.fishman@usma.edu)

Download the report

2007-04-03T15:26:00.000+02:00

Iraq Adviser Departs Optimistic
O'Sullivan Has 'Enormous Confidence' in New U.S. Strategy

By Peter BakerWashington Post Staff Writer

Meghan O'Sullivan, the president's deputy national security adviser who has overseen the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through a particularly tumultuous period, has decided to leave the White House after helping reformulate policies in both countries to deal with rising violence...

Washington Post

2007-03-30T16:12:00.000+02:00

How about a War Against Iran?

Someone is already considering to start a conflict against the Islamic Republic of Iran, is the seizure of Uk marines connected in anyway with a possible war? This article from the Times online seems to be explicative enough.

Times online

2007-03-28T16:00:00.000+02:00

Us senate: troops home by March 2008

As reported by Shailagh Murray, a Washington Post staff writer, the defection of Rep. Chuck Hagel from Nebraska has helped democrats to pursue their goal of contrasting President Bush's new deal on the Iraq war. The victory obtained yesterday (48/50) strengthens the anti-war position, but the White House is going to oppose its veto on the resolution...

Washington Post

2007-03-23T18:11:00.000+01:00

Democrats to vote on Iraq withdrawal bill

by Mark Tran

Congressional Democrats will today mount their most forceful challenge to George Bush on the Iraq war, with the House of Representatives voting on a bill setting a deadline for a withdrawal of combat troops...

Guardian Unlimited

2007-03-23T18:06:00.000+01:00

Islam and Europe

By Bernard Lewis

The Muslim attack on Christendom . . . has gone through three phases. The first is from the very beginning of Islam, when the new faith spilled out of the Arabian Peninsula, where it was born, into the Middle East and beyond. It was then that the Muslims conquered Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and North Africa--all at that time part of the Christian world--and went beyond into Europe, conquering a sizable part of southwestern Europe and occupying for a while parts of France...

AEI

2007-03-23T18:02:00.000+01:00

Can a Conventional Army Vanquish a Terrorist Insurgency?

Major-General (res.) Yaakov Amidror

The backdrop of Israel's 2006 war with Hizballah, and the U.S.-led campaign against the Sunni insurgency in Iraq, has led many analysts to conclude that conventional military forces cannot vanquish terrorist groups waging an insurgency campaign. This approach has encouraged a large degree of defeatism in many Western countries that have preferred to withdraw from such confrontations instead of standing their ground...

JCPA

2007-03-19T15:30:00.000+01:00

President Bush and the Quods force Controversy: Lesson Learned
By Dan Diker

President Bush, Defense Secretary Gates, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Pace have not been willing to say that the U.S. has specific intelligence indicating that Qods Force operations in Iraq have been approved by the Iranian leadership...

JCPA

2007-03-09T12:07:00.000+01:00

Using The Army is not enough: we need politcs to succes in Iraq

The newly appointed Major General David Petraeus said during his first press conference on Thursday that the military force alone will not be a solution without a strong diplomatic and politic action.

Articles from CNN and Times Online

2007-03-06T14:38:00.000+01:00

Iran: Can a military strike work?

Gordon Corera Security correspondent, BBC News

A new report from a respected British nuclear weapons scientist warns that a military strike on Iran could speed up rather than slow down Iran's production of a nuclear bomb...

BBC NEWS

BBC's correspondent is questioning the effectiveness of a possible Us air raid against nuclear reactors in Iran

2007-03-02T18:32:00.000+01:00

The Tehran Option

Democrats criticize Bush's Iran policy, but theirs is almost identical.

By Shmuel Rosner

It was 2004, and the Democrats were looking for a way to counter the Bush administration's national-security-driven campaign without being perceived as weak...

Go to Slate.com

2007-02-27T15:31:00.000+01:00

Iraqi cabinet approves national oil law
By Edward Wong
Published: February 27, 2007

BAGHDAD: The Iraqi cabinet approved a draft of a law that would set guidelines for nationwide distribution of oil revenues and foreign investment in the immense oil industry...

Read the article-International Herald Tribune

2007-02-21T18:59:00.000+01:00

Writing for the Wrong
editorial by Barry Rubin

Among the saddest things about the Middle East is how Arab intellectuals are so overwhelmingly on the side of the dictatorships and extremist ideologies, which cause so much suffering in the region...

GLORIA (Global Research in International Affairs)

2007-02-16T13:17:00.000+01:00

Bush Declares Iran’s Arms Role in Iraq Is Certain
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG and MARC SANTORA
Published: February 15, 2007

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 — President Bush said Wednesday that he was certain that factions within the Iranian government had supplied Shiite militants in Iraq with deadly roadside bombs that had killed American troops...

NyTimes

2007-02-16T13:12:00.000+01:00

Remarks by the President on the Global War on Terror
By George W. Bush
SPEECHES-AEI Online

I appreciate the chance to come and share some thoughts with the men and women of AEI. I admire AEI a lot--I'm sure you know that. After all, I have been consistently borrowing some of your best people...

Go to Aei

2007-02-10T11:30:00.000+01:00

Nine Essential Points for Talking About the War on Terrorism
By james A. Philips and James J. Carafano

Americans hear conflicting messages about how to think and talk about terrorism. As a result, the message of freedom and justice is often muted or muddled. Americans can do better...

The Heritage Foundation

Choosing Victory: A Plan for Success in Iraq

2007-02-09T11:37:00.000+01:00

Here's a very interesting article from Frederick W. Kagan:

Choosing Victory: A Plan for Success in Iraq

Victory is still an option in Iraq. America, a country of 300 million people with a GDP of $12 trillion and more than 1 million soldiers and Marines, has the resources to stabilize Iraq, a state the size of California with a population of 25 million and a GDP under $100 billion...

Go to Aei

2006-02-01T13:36:00.000+01:00

Bush: We are addicted to oil

The US president George Bush has called for training 70,000 mathematics and science teachers to improve US competitiveness with booming Asian nations and declared that America must break its dependence on Middle East oil.

"America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world,"
he said.

Aljazeera

2006-01-30T22:26:00.000+01:00

Zawahiri: Bush is a Butcher

A new video footage shows the al-Qaida's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri calling U.S. President George Bush a butcher and threatening a new terroristic attack against the invaders.

"US airplanes ... launched a raid on a village in near Peshawar after Eid al-Adha in which 18 Muslim men, women and children were killed in what they call the war against terror. They said this was intended to kill myself and four brothers but now the whole world has discovered their lies ...", Zawahiri said.

"Butcher of Washington, you are not only defeated and a liar, but also a failure. You are a curse on your own nation," he said, referring to Bush. "Bush, do you know where I am? I am among the Muslim masses," he continued.

al-Jazeera

2005-11-16T14:47:00.000+01:00

New Russian T-72 tanks belonging to the 1st Tank Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division are lined up in Taji. Seventy tanks recently arrived from Hungary to help strengthen the Iraqi security forces for the upcoming elections. Pic: SPC Charles Gill, U.S. Army

Iraq Pictures

2005-11-16T11:32:00.000+01:00

USA Used White Phosphorous Against Insurgents In Fallujah

The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that U.S. troops were using White Phosphorous bullets against insurgents in the battle for Fallujah. Lt. Col. Barry Venable, a Pentagon spokesman, said that WP "was not used against civilians," but only to mark targets at night.

"There is a great deal of misinformation feeding on itself about U.S. forces allegedly using `outlawed' weapons in Fallujah," said Venable, adding that, "The facts are that U.S. forces are not using any illegal weapons in Fallujah or anywhere else in Iraq."

Venabel was responding to the Italian Tv "Rai24 International" which showed a documentary about the Fallujah's battle last week that reported an intense and indiscriminate use of WP by the U.S. troops.

CNN

2005-11-15T12:08:00.000+01:00

Karachi Car Bomb: Six Dead

A powerful car-bomb has struck the center of Karachi on Tuesday morning, killing at least six people and wounding twelve. The KFC Fast Food restaurant seemed to be the target of terrorists, this time. But the entire area has was damaged by the explosion.

"We have two confirmed deaths. Initially there were reports that four to six people were killed in the blast, but luckily only two people were killed," said Manzoor Mughal, an investigator from the Pakistani police.

Aljazeera

CNN

2005-11-14T18:14:00.000+01:00

U.S. Army Specialist Ryan Crabtree of the 172 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, Alpha Company, creates rapport with local shop owners while conducting a patrol in Mosul. Pic: Staff Sgt. James L. Harper Jr., USAF

Iraq Pictures

2005-11-09T11:46:00.000+01:00

Iraqi Soldiers participates in a squad infantry tactics in East Fallujah. Pic: Cpl. Bryson K. Jones, USMC

Iraq Pictures

2005-11-09T11:37:00.000+01:00

Four Policemen Killed, Nine Wounded

At least four iraqi policemen were killed and nine injured by a suicide bomber in the city of Baquba, on Wednesday. The attack came immediately after the positive solution of operation "Steel Curtain", launched last Saturday by the US in an attempt to prevent insurgents from entering in Iraq from the Sirian border and the Euprhates Valley. ...

BBC

2005-11-04T17:54:00.000+01:00

Checkpoint Ambush: Six Killed

Six Iraqi policemen were killed and at least ten wounded in an ambush at the checkpoint of Buhriz, near Baquba (55 km from Baghad) on Friday. ...

Aljazeera

CNN

BBC

2005-11-01T13:17:00.000+01:00

An Iraqi child holds a Meal Ready-to-Eat given to him by members of the U.S. Army in Mosul. Pic: Staff Sgt. James L. Harper Jr, USAF

Iraq Pictures

2005-11-01T13:15:00.000+01:00

SPC Michael Gendron cleans flex chutes from an AH-64D Longbow Apache helicopter at Forward Operating Base Speicher,. Gendron is from Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, Fort Campbell, Ky. Pic: Tech. Sgt. Andy Dunaway, U.S. Air Force

Iraq Pictures

2005-10-31T10:27:00.000+01:00

Two Iraqi officials shot in Baghdad

Two Iraqi government officials have been shot in Baghdad, one day after a bomber killed 30 people after luring them to a truck bomb disguised as a date vendor's van.

In the latest of almost daily shootings in Baghdad, many of them targeting government officials, a cabinet adviser was killed when his car was attacked by armed men, and a deputy trade minister was wounded in attacks on Sunday. ...

Aljazeera

2005-10-27T13:26:00.000+02:00

Iran condemned over anti-Israel call

A call by the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for Israel to be wiped off the map has sparked widespread condemnation, with Israel urging Iran's expulsion from the United Nations.

France, Spain, Britain, Canada and Australia condemned the Iranian leader's remarks and the European trio said their foreign ministries would summon Iranian envoys and demand an explanation. ...

Aljazeera

2005-10-26T12:27:00.000+02:00

U.S. death toll in Iraq reaches 2,000

Iraqi election officials say voters approved new constitution

The U.S. military death toll in Iraq reached 2,000 Tuesday with the reports of three new deaths, and President Bush prepared the nation for more casualties, saying the "defense of freedom is worth our sacrifice." ...

CNN

2005-10-25T12:34:00.000+02:00

Blasts hit Kurdish Iraq city

Two explosions have struck the Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaymaniya, killing at least nine people.

The first explosion on Tuesday targeted the convoy of Mulla Bekhtyar, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, in the western Sarjnar area. ...

Aljazeera

2005-10-24T11:44:00.000+02:00

Syria: Al-Hariri report distorts truth

Syria's top political body has rejected a UN report implicating Damascus in the killing of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri as a distortion of the truth.

And President Bashar al-Assad has sent letters to UN Security Council members explaining Syria's position, ahead of a briefing to the 15-nation body on Tuesday by the German judge who wrote the report, Syrian state television reported without giving details. ...

Aljazeera

2005-10-24T11:42:00.000+02:00

U.S. Army infantrymen assigned to the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, Ft. Wainwright, Alaska, patrol a road in Mosul. Pic: Staff Sgt. James L. Harper Jr., U.S. Air Force.

Iraq Pictures

2005-10-22T11:00:00.000+02:00

Iraqi Policeman killed

A bomb blast has killed a policeman south of Baghdad while mortar fire targeting northern and western areas in the capital injured another. ...

Aljazeera
An Iraqi and U.S. Army Soldier provide security in Samarra. Pic: Tech. Sgt. Andy Dunaway, U.S. Air Force

Iraq Pictures

2005-10-22T10:57:00.000+02:00

Hussein co-defendant's lawyer killed

Attorney was abducted from his office

The attorney for one of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's co-defendants was found shot in the head hours after he was abducted by gunmen, police said Friday.

Sadoon Janabi was working in his office in Baghdad when five gunmen stormed in and abducted him, according to police. ...

CNN

2005-10-21T16:29:00.000+02:00

SSG Chuck Hipple cleans his weapon on a Stryker vehicle prior to providing an over watch while U.S. Army Soldiers and U.S. Marines look for weapons caches and insurgents east of the Syrian border by the Euphrates River.. Hipple is with the 4th Battalion, 14th Cavalry, 2nd Platoon, out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Pic: Tech. Sgt. Andy Dunaway, U.S. Air Force

Iraq Pictures

2005-10-21T16:27:00.000+02:00

Syria rejects UN report

Syria has rejected a UN investigation into the murder of a former Lebanese premier, calling it politically biased.

"It is a political statement against Syria based on allegations by witnesses known for their hostility to Syria," Mehdi Dakhlallah, Syria's information minister, told Aljazeera in the first official reaction from Damascus to the report. ...

Aljazeera

2005-10-20T16:22:00.000+02:00

Iraqi soldiers assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, Forward Operating Base Fallock, interview a local resident of Baqubah. Pic: Senior Airman Ave I. Pele, U.S. Air Force

Iraq Pictures -Pictures of soldiers, marines, air force, sailors, contractors and civilians serving in Iraq

2005-10-20T16:19:00.000+02:00

Iraqis sound off on Saddam's day in court
By Maki Al-Nazzal in Baghdad, Iraq

The televised trial of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein has done little to assuage Iraqis of their chronic insecurity and has left many of them divided as to his fate.

Some Iraqis seemed indifferent about Saddam being brought to court on 19th October to face charges of killing up to 148 Shia Arabs in Dujail in the Salah al-din province, 60km north of Baghdad. ...

Aljazeera

2005-10-19T11:55:00.000+02:00

Saddam Hussein on Trial for '82 massacre

Saddam Hussein is going on trial in Baghdad for crimes against humanity.

The former Iraqi leader, along with seven associates, is charged with ordering the killing of 143 Shia men in 1982 in Dujail. ...

BBC

CNN

Aljazeera

2005-10-18T12:29:00.000+02:00

Iraq poll panel to audit vote

Iraq's independent electoral commission has said it is verifying the ballot count from the country's constitutional referendum and will have to delay the announcement of a final result.

Figures provided by several governorates required "re-examination, comparison and verification because they are relatively high compared with international averages for elections" of this kind, a statement by the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq said on Monday. ...

Aljazeera

2005-10-17T00:22:00.000+02:00

Three killed in the West Bank

Three Israeli citizens were killed and four others wounded by a fighter in the Jewish settlement of Gush Etzion on Sunday. Meanwhile, an Islamic Jihad leader was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in a gun battle near the town of Jenin, in the northwestern West Bank.

According to Israeli sources, the attack took place at a bus stop situated about 15km south of Jerusalem. Israel Radio said that the attackers could be members of the "al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades".

An eye witness from the settlement, Shaul Goldstein, told Israeli Radio,

"A Palestinian passed by in a car, let off a burst of fire, and struck down people standing at the hitchhiking post. There are wounded and apparently fatalities too."

In a separate shooting incident, another Israeli was wounded. An Israeli task force was sent to the area of Bethlehem in order to find those who carried out the assault.

A similar attack happened in June this year, close to the settlement of Hebron, when another gunman killed two Jewish teenagers.

In the second West Bank attack, another Israeli citizen was reported seriously injured by the local rescue service in the settlement of Eli. The young Islamic Jihad leader in the town of Burkin, Nihad Abu Ghanim, (27) was shot dead near Jenin and according to the Palestinian hospital officials, he was hit in the head, abdomen and chest.

The incidents have broken a period of tacit cease fire decided by the Palestinian factions last year. Aljazeera underlines how the attacks happened shortly after the arrest of hundreds of suspects in and around the West Bank, and as a result, "Armed resistance groups had vowed revenge".

The withdrawal of settlers and troops from the Gaza Strip was completed in September after 38 years of occupation, but the Israeli government is enlarging its settlements in the West Bank while the Palestinian people are counting on that land as part of their future state.

BBC

Aljazeera

ALSO IN BLOGGERNEWS

2005-10-14T11:50:00.000+02:00

Sunni party office attacked in Iraq

Fighters determined to derail this weekend's historic referendum have bombed an office of Iraq's largest Sunni political party, police said, after the group dropped its opposition to the draft constitution...

Aljazeera

2005-10-13T12:19:00.000+02:00

Top Shia urges Iraq charter 'yes'

Iraq's most senior Shia cleric has called on the country's majority Shia community to vote "yes" in Saturday's constitution referendum. The statement was conveyed by aides of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani based at the shrines of Najaf and Karbala...

CNN

2005-10-12T12:45:00.000+02:00

Heavy rain slows earthquake aid in Asia

Heavy rain and hail grounded helicopters and stopped trucks loaded with relief supplies Tuesday, imposing more misery on hungry, shivering earthquake survivors as the United Nations warned of potentially lethal outbreaks of measles, cholera and diarrhea...

ChinaDaily

2005-10-12T12:23:00.000+02:00

Full Qaeda Letter to Iraq Ally Speaks of Group's Global Goal

By DOUGLAS JEHL

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 - A senior American intelligence official said Tuesday that a document obtained this summer by American forces in Iraq had provided the United States with "a comprehensive view of Al Qaeda strategy in Iraq and beyond" and a revealing glimpse into "the intentions of the enemy."...

The New York Times

2005-10-11T15:15:00.000+02:00

30 Iraqis killed by a bomb

A busy marketplace in the city of Tal-Afar was attacked by a suicide car bomber on Tuesday. At least 30 people were killed and 45 others injured.

Khasro Goran, governor of the Nineveh province, said that the attack happened at 11 a.m., when the bomber drove his explosive laden car, disguised as a taxi-cab, close to a group of shoppers...

CNN

2005-10-10T11:48:00.000+02:00

Violence threatens Middle East summit

Violence has threatened a crucial summit meeting intended to promote Middle East peace efforts after Israeli soldiers shot and killed three Palestinians next to the Gaza-Israel border fence...

Aljazeera

2005-10-07T12:59:00.000+02:00

US forces kill 29 rebels in Iraq

US forces have killed at least 29 rebels in fighting in western Iraq over the past 36 hours, a US military statement said on Friday morning.

Times of India

2005-10-07T12:58:00.000+02:00

British troops detain 12 in Basra

British forces have detained 12 people in southern Iraq suspected of links to a surge in attacks against allied troops, the Ministry of Defence said...

CNN

2005-10-05T12:54:00.000+02:00

US military Operation in Western Iraq

The US military has launched a large-scale combat operation in the western al-Anbar province of Iraq in order to prevent al-Quaeda fighters in the area from terrorizing citizens.

A total of 2,500 American and Iraqi soldiers have been sent to the city of Haditha and other towns nearby in the Eupharates River Valley. The US military has recently announced the killing of at least 42 rebel fighters while five coalition force troops have died...

al-Jazeera

2005-10-03T11:47:00.000+02:00

Palestinian council to discuss infighting

The Palestinian Legislative Council is to meet in Ram Allah to discuss the security situation in the Palestinian territories.

This follows the death of three Palestinians, including a police officer, in clashes between Palestinian police and Hamas fighters in Gaza on Sunday...

al-Jazeera

2005-09-29T13:06:00.000+02:00

Three Palestinian fighters shot dead

Three Palestinian fighters have been killed during armed clashes with Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank city of Jenin, Aljazeera's correspondent in Jenin reports.

The killings possibly signal an end to the period of calm, with al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades leader in Jenin, Zakaria al-Zubaydi, on Thursday vowing to retaliate...

al-Jazeera

2005-09-28T12:11:00.000+02:00

Israeli missiles pound Gaza Strip

Israel has fired several missiles into Gaza, knocking out electricity in most of Gaza City.

Israeli sources said the aircraft struck targets including an office building of the mainstream Fatah faction and another in a refugee camp in central Gaza...

al-Jazeera

2005-09-27T11:21:00.000+02:00

Al Qaeda's No. 2 in Iraq killed

Insurgents dressed as police kill six teachers

A man believed to be al Qaeda's No. 2 operative in Iraq has been killed, a U.S. Defense Department official confirmed to CNN.

Abu Azzam was a "significant" figure in the al Qaeda network in Iraq, the official said...

CNN

2005-09-25T12:53:00.000+02:00

Israeli army given free reign in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has ordered continuous military strikes on Palestinian resistance fighters in response to rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.

The announcement comes after up to 12 Israeli air strikes over Gaza City on Saturday and Sunday left at least two people dead and up to 25 others, including children, injured...

al-Jazeera

2005-09-21T14:55:00.000+02:00

EU: Haul Iran before Security Council

The European Union has turned up the pressure on Iran with a draft resolution reporting Tehran's nuclear programme to the United Nations Security Council...

al-Jazeera

2005-09-13T12:17:00.000+02:00

Syria denies US accusation of helping terrorists in Iraq

The US has recently accused Damascus of supporting rebel fighters by letting them sneak into the country over its borders, while the Syrian Minister of Information, Mahdi Dakhlallah, denied any involvement in the issue.

"It is regrettable that such language should come from the ambassador of a great power who is supposed to show more commitment to the norms of international relations," said Dakhlallah in response to the American threat coming from the US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad.

"Our patience is running out with Syria...all options are on the table" and "I would not like to elaborate more, they should understand what I mean," said the diplomat, including a possible military operation against Damascus.

In response to this message, the Syrian Minister of Information underlined how the scenario resembled one from a different era, "There is a threat of aggression there, and a style which is reminiscent of colonial eras and cold and hot wars... Moreover, there are old, groundless accusations relating to the Iraqi-Syrian borders."

Dakhlallah explained further, "Syria has exerted efforts almost beyond its capacity as a small and developing country to protect the border because Iraq's stability is a Syrian concern, not just an Iraqi concern. Stability is indivisible and dangers most often come from two directions...In any event, we have got used to this language from the United States. It represents a clear escalation in a chain of successive pressures on Syria."

The US has been complaining about Damascus' ways of dealing with terrorists and does not trust the political choices of Syrian President Bashar Assad. American intelligence thinks it is possible that Syria is introducing Sunni extremists into Iraq to prevent moderates from signing the new constitution.

al-Jazeera

ALSO IN BLOGGERNEWS

2005-09-06T10:50:00.000+02:00

Gaza House Blast: five killed

A strong explosion caused the destruction of a house in Gaza city right after sundown on Monday, killing five Palestinians, wounding another 30 people and damaging several buildings nearby.

The Shajaiyeh neighborhood, close to the Israeli border, was woken up yesterday by a loud explosion in the home of Muhammad Farahat, a martyr fighter belonging to the al-Qassam Brigades. Eye witnesses saw many buildings nearby being damaged by the same bomb. Some medical sources from the al-Shifa hospital said that about 35 women and children were among the injured.

Some Hamas activists could be among the victims too but no further details were available about the issue. A Palestinian Interior Ministry spokesman, Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, defined the blast as "mysterious".

Hamas Position

Sami Abu Zuhri, an official Hamas spokesman, was instead sure about the dynamics of the tragedy;

"What occurred was an Israeli crime when an Israeli warplane launched a rocket at the targeted house, killing and wounding a large number of Palestinians...Resistance will continue, while the movement remains committed to the period of calm and is entitled to retaliate for this crime in the proper time and place."

He also added that he didn't know whether or not Muhammad al-Dhaif, general leader of al-Quassam Brigades, was among the victims.

al-Jazeera

ALSO IN BLOGGERNEWS

2005-09-02T12:27:00.000+02:00

Iraqis mourn stampede victims

Thousands of people have attended funerals for some of the hundreds of Shia pilgrims killed in a stampede on a Baghdad bridge during a religious procession...

al-Jazeera

2005-08-28T13:48:00.000+02:00

Iraq charter panel to present draft

A final version of Iraq's draft constitution has been signed by an overwhelming majority of the panel and should be presented later on Sunday to parliament for a vote, but Sunni negotiators are set to reject it...

al-Jazeera

2005-08-25T14:05:00.000+02:00

Five Palestinians killed in Israeli raid

Israeli troops have killed five Palestinians in a West Bank raid, an Israeli military source and Palestinian witnesses said on Thursday.

The killings in the Tulkarm refugee camp made it one of Israel's deadliest raids in the occupied territory in weeks...

al-Jazeera

2005-08-19T12:11:00.000+02:00

Troops evicting last few Gaza settlers

Israeli troops have stormed one of the last pockets of defiance to a Gaza pullout, breaking through burning barricades and surrounding a settlement synagogue where protesters were holed up...

al-Jazeera

2005-08-15T14:51:00.000+02:00

Settlers defiant, Israeli army moves in

Defiant Gaza settlers blocking the gates of their communities have vowed to prevent Israeli troops from delivering eviction notices...

al-Jazeera

Israel begins Gaza Strip pullout

Israeli troops have arrived at the biggest settlement in the Gaza Strip to serve eviction notices, as Israel starts implementing its pullout plan...

BBC

Police and settlers holding talks over eviction notices
By Jonathan Lis, Nir Hasson, Amos Harel and Amiram Barkat

Settlers at the main Gaza settlement of Neve Dekalim, negotiating with security forces Monday over whether soldiers will be allowed to distribute eviction notices to residents of the settlement, let 20 freight containers into the enclave to be loaded with personal property...

Haaretz

2005-08-13T15:14:00.000+02:00

US fire 'kills 15 Iraqi civilians'

An attack on a US military patrol followed by heavy US gunfire left 15 Iraqis dead and 17 wounded in a town west of Baghdad, residents have said...

al-Jazeera

2005-08-11T14:03:00.000+02:00

IAEA Draft resolution warns Teheran

IAEA drafts Iran nuclear reaction

The IAEA is set to hold a final day of crisis talks in an effort to agree on what action to take following Iran's decision to resume nuclear activities...

BBC

Iran opposes UN Council intervention

An Iranian official has warned Europe and the United States against referring Iran to the UN Security Council over the resumption of operations at its uranium conversion plant...

al-Jazeera

Draft resolution warns Iran

The U.N. nuclear watchdog is debating a draft resolution submitted by the European Union which asks Iran to fully suspend its nuclear activities and expresses "serious concern" about the country's nuclear program...

CNN

2005-08-10T11:02:00.000+02:00

Iraq: Sixteen Killed By Insurgents

Rebel fighters have repeatedly attacked the cities of Baghdad and Baquba between Monday and Tuesday, killing at least 16 people. Ten Iraqi National Guards were among the victims, as well as a US soldier.

On Tuesday afternoon a suicide bomber attacked a US military convoy in the central Tayaran Square in Baghdad, killing one American soldier and three other people. A military spokesman confirmed the death toll later and said also that 50 civillians were injured in the same attack.

During the morning, says CNN, a string of drive-by shooting attacks killed ten Iraqi policemen and wounded six others. This series of attacks took place between 7:30 and 9:30 in the morning (14:30 and 16:30 Washington Time).

A Shiite mosque near the capital was targeted by mortar rounds on Tuesday. Two civillians died and four others were wounded. A US troop, assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, was killed on Monday by small rifle wounds received during a combat operation in Ramadi, as the US military bulletin reported.

Iranian Bombs

Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld announced that some of the bombs that the insurgents were using were made in Iran. Even if Rumsfeld avoided theorizing a full involvment of Teheran's government in the issue, he seemed to be sure about the source of the bombs: "clearly, unambiguously from Iran."

"It's notably unhelpful for Iranians to be letting those weapons cross the border," he added, underlining how these new bombs are far more powerful than any possible "handcrafted" grenades or explosives the insurgents were frabricating by themselves.

Major of Baghdad Fired

Alaa al-Timimi was fired as the Major of the capital by the provisional council on Monday. Ex- provincial governor Hussein al-Tahaan will replace him temporarily, until another Major can be elected. Al-Timimi will resign on Wednesday in front of the Council of Ministries.

CNN

ALSO IN BLOGGERNEWS

2005-08-09T15:17:00.000+02:00

War Press Report International

Car bombs? In Iraq’s Kurdish zone, almost a joke
By Luke Baker

SULAIMANIYA, Iraq, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Asked when he last had to treat victims of a car bomb, Iraqi doctor Arif Anwar, an emergency room surgeon at Sulaimaniya’s main hospital, dismisses the question with a smile and then starts to laugh.

"Car bomb? Are you joking?" he chuckles, as his white-coated colleagues in the doctors’ lounge join the chorus of amusement...

Kurdishmedia

2005-08-09T15:14:00.000+02:00

Ex-U.N. Program Director May Face Charges
By EDITH M. LEDERER and NICK WADHAMS

NEW YORK -- The former head of the United Nations oil-for-food program in Iraq could face charges after a U.N.-backed committee investigating the scandal-tainted program said it had found enough evidence of a kickback scheme to support prosecution...

Newsday.com

2005-08-08T12:46:00.000+02:00

UN Inspectors in Iran

A group of UN inspectors from the IAEA arrived in Iran yesterday in order to monitor the uranium conversion facility at Isfahan. It will take a few days to complete the installation of the cameras and carry out the first inspection, a US spokesman has confirmed.

As announced by UN spokeswoman for the atomic agency, Melissa Fleming, in Vienna on Monday,

"Nothing's changed. The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) team still needs until the middle of this week to get the inspection system set up and in place before the facility could be restarted."

"We continue our request to Iran to refrain from breaking any seals until the safeguards are in place," she also said.

Meanwhile, Iranian authorities continue to repeat that the nuclear energy would only be an alternative to electricity and hope to be able to start the conversion of enriched uranium within the next days.

The so called "Big Three", Great Britain, France and Germany have already set a meeting with the IAEA which could pass the issue over to the UN Security Council. The risk of possible sanctions is not a problem, according to what Iranian authorities recently said. A state television has reported that the Isfahan plant will resume the conversion of uranium around twelve o'clock (0730 GMT) on Monday.

This scenario will bring the UN and Teheran into a close diplomatic fight. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has already said that they will not give up the development of nuclear energy in his country because it is considered a right.

Months ago, his predecessor, Uhmar Karami, had searched for the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who answered positively and offered his help.

al-Jazeera

ALSO IN BLOGGERNEWS

2005-08-06T11:47:00.000+02:00

Iran Rejects European Proposal To Stop Nuclear Plans

Iran rejected the EU's offer to stop the production of enriched Uranium.

"The proposals are unacceptable because Iran's right to enrich uranium is not included," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told IRNA news agency. "The Europeans' submitted proposals regarding the nuclear case are not acceptable for Iran," he added.

The European mediators, Britain, France and Germany, had offered Teheran a package of incentives in order to stop the nuclear activity. They also scheluded a meeting on Tuesday with the UN's nuclear agency, the IAEA. In the case that the IAEA decides positively, the issue could be passed over to the UN Security Council.

Asefi has also said that during the next week-end, his country could give a definitive answer on the matter.

In the meantime, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was being appointed as Iran's new Prime Minister by one of the most powerful political figures in this country: the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Ahmadinejad is now called to decide the names of the new Ministers to be appointed in his government, in order to accomplish the goals of social justice and peace.

He said, "we want justice, peace and honor for all" and "managers of the Islamic government have no duty but to serve the people," while holding the Quran during the parliamentary ceremony.

Speaking about the nuclear issue, Ahmadinejad remarked how his country need not be considered a menace by the Westerners:

"We are logical and respect international rules, but will not give in to those who want to violate our rights," and "The Iranian nation cannot be intimidated."

al-Jazeera

BBC

ALSO IN BLOGGERNEWS

2005-08-05T15:32:00.000+02:00

War Press Report International

-Above the rule of law
By Sidney Blumenthal

Britain should avoid any compromise with the dirty war that the Bush administration is waging against terrorism

-Tiny Italian island bears brunt of immigration fight
by KEN DILANIAN

-Rumsfeld admits US troops wrestle with tension

US Defense Secretary acknowledged dilemma over size of US force in Iraq, warns Syria against supporting insurgency.

2005-08-05T13:11:00.000+02:00

ISRAELI SECURITY FORCES IN ALERT

Task forces of Israeli soldiers were sent to the heavily Arab northern areas in order to avoid riots after Thursday's incident in which a young Jewish man killed four Israeli-Arabs.

Tension is now high in and around the site of the attack, the town of Shafa Amr. As a result, the government decided to declare a state of alert, as there is fear of "a possible wave of Arab unrest", said al-Jazeera.

A shrine in Jerusalem is another hotspot for possible attacks since prayers for the next Friday were scheluded to take place there.

Hamas has threatened to avenge the death of the four Arabs in a statement, while security agencies have warned about the possibility of having young Jews murdering Arab citizens in an attempt to delay the pull-back from the occupied territories.

Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon has defined the tragic event has "a despicable act by a bloodthirsty terrorist". His Palestinian counterpart, Mahmmoud Abbas, has instead blamed the Israeli authorities on the grounds that the settlers are free to own weapons, "because they are dangerous to the security and peace between the two people."

Another comment on the issue comes from a member of the Israeli Parliament, Muhammad Baraka:

"We are witnessing attempts by extreme right-wing people - terrorists - who want to set the region ablaze and feel they have freedom of action in light of the behavior of the security, political and judicial establishment," he told Israeli Radio.

The hardest challenge for the authorities is now trying to avoid clashes between Jewish and Arab civillians, as underlined by another member of the Arab Knesset, Ahmed Teibi, who said,

"This is the inevitable outcome of years of racist and fascist incitement against everything and anything Arab."

al-Jazeera

ALSO IN BLOGGERNEWS

2005-08-04T14:57:00.000+02:00

War Press Report International

-Taliban kill Afghan spy official in volatile south(Reuters)

-US challenged over 'secret jails'

-Iraqi leaders gear up to break constitution deadlock as violence continues(AFP)

2005-08-04T12:17:00.000+02:00

Bush Thinks Twice: We Are Staying in Iraq

US President George W. Bush announced that the troops are going to stay in Iraq until the end of the war. The decision was made after the death of fourteen marines yesterday in the city of Haditha.

Meanwhile, the American people are more pessimistic about the accomplishment of operation "Enduring Freedom", turning the nickname into "Enduring Struggle". The death toll of more than 1,800 US troops since the war started is now becoming a big problem for the government.

According to the BBC, a US general said: If we lose America, we lose the war.

"We're at war. We're facing an enemy that is ruthless. If we put out a (pullout) timetable the enemy would adjust their tactics," said Bush, speaking at a meeting in Texas.

"They want us to retreat. They will fail. They do not understand the character and the strength of the United States of America," he added, contradicting his general's opinion.

He also expressed the concept that the best way to honor the dead soldiers is to accomplish the mission in Iraq: spread democracy with weapons. It sounds like a joke but is not. Moreover, the president is always concerned about the draft of the new Iraqi constitution, scheduled for August 15 and the forthcoming December election.

The Ansar al-Sunna group has claimed responsibility for the Monday attack with an internet statement not yet verified.

Senior US officers privately told the press that their greatest concern is to avoid having a bad effect on public opinion because of the high death toll...

BBC

ALSO IN BLOGGERNEWS

2005-08-03T13:55:00.000+02:00

War Press Report International

-Iraq probes shady defence spending

-Hawkish US envoy meets Annan

-Germany sees Afghan force unaffected by Uzbek move

2005-08-03T11:39:00.000+02:00

AHMADINEJAD'S FIRST DAY AS THE NEW IRANIAN PRESIDENT

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his first day as the new Iranian President has to face mounting international pressure on the nuclear issue in his country. The 48 year-old extremist politician easily won the presidential election in June and was appointed as the new President by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Ahmadinejad was suspected of taking part in the attack of the US Embassy in Teheran in '79. He was recognized by some of the victims from the United States.

The USA is now accusing Iran of trying to estabilish a nuclear program in order to be able to make atomic bombs. Teheran says it intends a peaceful use of every nuclear activity. The ex-President Umar Karami successfully convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin to join their coalition and Moscow became an ally of Iran on the issue.

According to al-Jazeera, the reason why Ahmadinejad won the past presidential election is because he conviced the voters that he is a honest Muslim who cares about the economic problems of the people.

Having an anti-US President in Iran will be problematic and he probablywon't do anything to change the situation. Moreover, he already said that his country is strong enough even without any help from Washington.

Iranian diplomats and far right groups said the new president will probably not change his attitude toward the rest of the world, as Katmai did not.

A diplomat commented, "I ask if Iran could possibly be more hardline on nuclear policy than it is at the moment," and "the resumption of these nuclear activities seems to show that there will be continuity in policy."

al-Jazeera

ALSO IN BLOGGERNEWS

2005-08-02T13:12:00.000+02:00

King Fahd To Be Buried, Dignitaries Pay Visit

Born in 1923 in Riyadh and raised as one of the most influential political figures in Saudi Arabia, Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud led this country since 1982. His father, King Abdud Aziz Al Saud, had previously founded it in 1932.

A heart disease suffered in 1995 forced Fahd to leave the leading role to Crown Prince Abdullah. He died on August 1, 2005 and dignitaries from around the world are now going to pay a visit in his honor.

"We feel sorrow and pain over the death of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd. We have known this man for a long time... he showed support and commitment to the Palestinian revolution and to Fatah since the 1960s," said the first to arrive, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The Saudi Ambassador for the UK, Prince Turki al Faisal, wanted to underline some political goals reached by the monarch:

"[Fahd was responsible for] the establishment of human rights, stress on the fact that women should play an equal role in the development of Saudi Arabia as men, and also stressing of the fact that the practice of Islam in Saudi Arabia is a practice of the middle road, as the prophet Mohammed defined it."

French President Jacques Chirac said the king was an important diplomatic figure as well as a good mediator:

"King Fahd was also committed to the strong and trusting relations between France and Saudi Arabia. This old friendship, which began with an exceptional link established by General De Gaulle, took on a new dimension under his reign, helped by a shared vision of what was at stake regionally and internationally," said the French politician.

George W. Bush said:

"King Fahd was a man of wisdom and a leader who commanded respect throughout the entire world. He was a friend and strong ally of the United States for decades."

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's words appeared very sincere:

"King Fahd was a man of great vision and leadership who inspired his countrymen for a quarter of a century as king. He led Saudi Arabia through a period of unparalleled progress and development."

According to the heritage of Wahhabism, the funeral ceremony will be short and simple. Also the King, who died at the age of 84, will be buried among his half brothers Saud, Faisal and Khaled, at the al-Oud cemetery, near the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque.

"His grave will be like the grave of all Muslims... There is no difference between him and other Muslims," as Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh explained.

BBC

al-Jazeera

ALSO IN BLOGGERNEWS

2005-08-01T13:23:00.000+02:00

WAR PRESS REPORT INTERNATIONAL

-Oil prices briefly rise above $61 a barrel-GILLIAN WONG-Associated Press

-Tribunal denies reports Saddam attacked

-Iran threatens to restart nuclear activity -Ian Traynor- The Guardian

2005-08-01T11:31:00.000+02:00

IRAN TO RESTART NUCLEAR PLANS

The Iranian government announced on Sunday that they will partially restart the production of enriched uranium, due to the expiration of the August 1 deadline previously agreed with the international mediators.

The new Teheran cabinet will, however, continue talks with the European commission over the issue in an attempt to reach a new agreement. A political and economic offer from the so-called European "big three", France, Britain and Germany, is ready to balance the loss of the nuclear opportunity by Iran.

"We will continue our talks with the EU. Iran will not resume uranium enrichment," and "the Europeans have until 1700 (1230 GMT) today to submit their proposals," a spokesman for the Supreme National Security Council told Reuters.

Ali Aghamohammadi also added that, in case Iran does not receive any proposal from the EU,

"the only activity we will resume is to lift part of the uranium conversion facility at Isfahan and it will be only limited activities."

Meanwhile, London denies the existence of any deadline related to the issue on the grounds that they wanted to talk about the nuclear program with President Ahmadinejad and his cabinet on August 3.

Teheran has instead claimed its right to a peaceful nuclear program under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). But even if the ex-Iranian President Katami wanted to wait for the European approval, "we prefer to do it with their agreement", he said, the USA is still an arch enemy of the Middle Eastern state.

A European diplomat, speaking from the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, said that they were "warning about the consequences of breaking the suspension and that this will lead to the matter being taken to the UN Security Council." This seems a straight message to the new Iranian cabinet, which is now forced to make a decision on the matter in a short amount of time.

CNN

al-Jazeera

ALSO IN BLOGGERNEWS

2005-07-30T16:58:00.000+02:00

WAR PRESS REPORT INTERNATIONAL

2005-07-30T14:55:00.000+02:00

IRAQ: 30 RECRUITS KILLED BY SUICIDE BOMBER

Iraq, Baghdad (al-Jazeera)- At least 30 police recruits were killed and 40 wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up into a police center in Rubia. Al-Quaeda in Iraq has already claimed responsibility for the attack in an internet statement:

"A lion in a martyrdom brigade of al-Qaida in Iraq carried out a heroic operation in Rabia with an explosive belt. He entered a centre of National Guard volunteers, shouted: 'There is no god but God', then exploded."

Even if the authenticity of the statement is not officially certified, the same web site has been commonly used for this purpose by the insurgents.

Mosul Police General Said al-Juburi further explained how the toll number had yet to be defined:

"An initial toll put the number of those killed at 25 and the number of those wounded at 35," he told the press.

The town of Rubia is situated 80km northwest of Mosul, the third largest Iraqi city by population. The surrounding areas have recently been targeted by rebel fighters probably coming from the Syrian border. US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld had just suggested yesterday during his visit to the Iraqi authorities that they prevent terrorists from entering the country by the northern borders.

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is suspected to be behind many of the recent attacks in the area of Mosul. Anyway, the Jordanian ally of Bin Laden remains one of the most wanted men.

In the meantime, three other people were killed and seventeen wounded by a car-bomb. According to the Interior Minister, a group of Iraqi civillians were drinking alcohol near the Tigris river in the capital. The explosive-laden car exploded in a Sunni Muslim district of Adhamiyah.

Faisal Khazali, the shaikh of the Khazali tribe, was shot dead by a group of armed men when driving his car in the al-Alam neighborhood in southwestern Baghdad, also according to the Interior Ministry.

Meanwhile, according to the UK consolate, a vehicle from the British Embassy in Basra was hit by a roadside bomb, which killed two English workers.

al-Jazeera

ALSO IN BLOGGERNEWS

WAR PRESS REPORT INTERNATIONAL

2005-07-29T14:31:00.000+02:00

WAR PRESS REPORT INTERNATIONAL

IRAQ: 9 INSURGENTS KILLED BY MARINES

2005-07-29T14:05:00.000+02:00

IRAQ: 9 INSURGENTS KILLED BY MARINES

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN)--9 Insurgents were killed in clashes against US Marines on Thursday.

The battle took place in the town of Cykla, near Haditha. Five Syrians were among the dead. A US military statement said that the fighters "were using buildings as safe houses and firing positions."

A convoy of US and Iraqi security forces were patrolling the area covered by airplanes when the insurgents attacked them using rocket-propelled grenades and small machine-guns. "Three laser-guided bombs and one global positioning system-guided bomb successfully destroyed all three buildings and caused minimal collateral damage to the surrounding community," said the military report.

Other developments

A Human Rights Watch official urged the Irai cabinet to review some of the political issues regarding women in Iraq. The new draft of the Iraqi constitution is expected for August 15, as requested by the US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. At that time the draft is expected to fit the international laws concerning women rights. Janet Walsh, director of Human Rights Watch expressed her point of view in a letter to the president of the parliamentary committee for the constitution, Humam Hamoudi :

"provisions of the constitution currently being drafted may erode some of the rights Iraqi women have worked so hard to establish, and in fact may violate international law on women's human rights."

Menawhile, two people were killed and four wounded when a group of insurgents attacked a train in southern Baghdad on Thursday.

CNN

ALSO IN BLOGGERNEWS

War Press Report International

2005-07-28T16:31:00.000+02:00

War Press Report International

USA: WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ WITHIN ONE YEAR

2005-07-28T10:30:00.000+02:00

USA: WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ WITHIN ONE YEAR

The US top military commander in Iraq, General George Casey, yesterday announced a partial withdrawal of its soldiers from the Iraqi scenario within the next year. He talked about an approximate number of 135,000 troops to leave by December 2006.

"I do believe that if the political process continues to go positively and if the development of the security forces continues to go as it is going, I do believe we'll still be able to take some very substantial reductions after these elections in the spring and summer of next year," said Casey.

The announcement came during the unexpected visit of Defense Secretary General Donald Rumsfeld in Iraq. However, Casey has also explained how the Iraqi government needs to follow certain paths in order to ensure social security for its citizens.

"The level of attacks they've been able to generate has not increased substantially here over what we've seen in the last year," said Casey, adding that "[the] insurgency is not progressing".

In a meeting with Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, Donald Rumsfeld expressed his concern about the Iraqi borders:

"They need to be aggressively communicating with their neighbors to see that foreign terrorists stop coming across those borders and that their neighbors do not harbor insurgents and finance insurgents in a way that is destructive of what the Iraqi people are trying to accomplish."

Meanwhile, the Pentagon recently explained that the number of Iraqi soldiers is about 171,000, roughly the same amount of international coalition troops present in the country but only 2,500 of them would be able to face a terrorist attack without the help of foreign troops.

CNN

The Guardian

al-Jazeera

ALSO IN BLOGGERNEWS