Thread: Archive Latest News - Think Tank - 16/08/07 - 03/11/07

President Talabani Tackles Political Development with Croaker and Osilvan

Today 20/08/2007 at his resident president Talabani received a US delegation including the US ambassador in Baghdad Mr. Ryan Croaker and the special envoy of the US president to Iraq Ms. Megan Osilvan. During the meeting the political developments and current challenges were discussed. President Talabani presented the new political events to the guests and construed progress of the meetings of Iraqi political parties inside the Parliament to work out the obstacles and suspended issues.

The president pointed out the promising outcome of the past two days meetings between all members of presidential board, the prime minister, President of Kurdistan region, and the preparatory committee of the summit and that the political board of national security has joined these meetings. Mr. Talabani explained that all political parties deliberated the current issues and obstacles in a transparent and brotherhood sense which is encouraging to sort out most dilemmas in the political process.

The US delegation in its part emphasized the significance of these meetings to be successful and the political parties to reach mutual understanding that will resolve suspended issues of essential laws and constitutional modifications. They valued the efforts of Mr. Talabani and his persistence in this regard to work out the current political crisis.

PUKmedia :: English - President Talabani Tackles Political Development with Croaker and Osilvan

Iraq PM on first visit to US foe Syria
DAMASCUS -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki is due in Damascus Monday, on his second visit to a US foe this month after a trip to Syria's main regional ally Iran.

It is Maliki's first visit to Syria since he became premier, early last year, although he was based in Damascus in the 1990s when in exile during the rule of executed dictator Saddam Hussein.

Maliki will be accompanied on the three-day visit by his ministers of oil, trade, the interior, and water resources, his office in Baghdad said.

Syria and Iraq only restored diplomatic ties last November, 26 years after they were broken under Saddam over Syria's support for Iran in its eight-year war with Iraq.

The rapprochement paved the way for a week-long visit to Syria in January by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, another formerly-Damascus-based exile, who secured a promise from his opposite number, Bashar Al Assad, to work to "eradicate terrorism."

The United States had been strongly critical of the role in Iraq of both Iran and Syria since its 2003 invasion.

But Maliki's Shiite-led government has friendly relations with Iran and, earlier this month, the prime minister drew White House criticism after he held cordial meetings with Iranian officials.

Washington accuses Tehran of providing sophisticated weaponry to Shiite militias, and Damascus of turning a blind eye to infiltration of its borders by Sunni insurgents, charges both governments deny.

Last month, the United States announced massive new multi-billion-dollar military pacts for its allies in the region, including Israel, in a bid to counter Iran and Syria.

Maliki's visit follows a meeting in Damascus, earlier this month, of the Iraqi Neighbors' Border Security Working Group, in which many of Iraq's neighbor states, including Iran and Syria, agreed to support his government's efforts to rein in the sectarian violence gripping the country.

The Iraqi premier is also due to discuss the plight of the 1.5 million of his countrymen and women who have sought refuge in Syria from the bloodshed at home.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees warned, last month, that health and education services in both Syria and Jordan were coming under increasing strain from the volume of Iraqi refugees.

An estimated 30,000 Iraqis arrive in Syria every month, something Vice-President Faruq Al Shara has called an "economic, social, and political burden."

Shara said August 14 that Syria was ready to cooperate closely with Iraq if Maliki showed a "sincere Iraqi position that leads to comprehensive reconciliation, and sets a timetable for the departure of US forces."

Sunni majority Syria has called for more action from Maliki's government to win over Iraq's disenchanted Sunni Arab minority.

But Shara denied that Syria differed with Iran in its policy toward Iraq, insisting both governments "want an Iraq that is unified, independent, Arab, and free from all occupying forces."

Iraq PM on first visit to US foe Syria - Region - Middle East Times

Second Iraqi governor killed as Shiite rifts deepen
SAMAWA, Iraq -- Bombers killed an Iraqi provincial governor for the second time in two weeks Monday, amid mounting tensions between rival Shiite armed factions in the country's southern cities.

Brigadier General Kadhim Al Jayashi, chief of police in the city of Samawa, said the governor of the southern province of Muthanna, Mohammed Ali Al Hassani, was killed by a roadside bomb on his way to work.

"Police leaders have imposed a curfew on Samawa after the assassination," he said. "We have formed a committee to investigate."

Hassani is the second Shiite governor to be killed within a fortnight, amid growing signs of conflict between rival political and militia factions within the country's majority community.

On August 11, the governor of the neighboring province of Qadisiyah, Khalil Jamil Hamza, was killed in a multiple bomb attack on his convoy as it passed through his capital Diwaniyah.

Both Hamza and Hassani were members of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), one of Iraq's most powerful parties, and a bitter rival of another Shiite movement led by radical cleric Moqtada Al Sadr.

Sectarian violence between Shiite and Sunni factions have dominated the headlines since the US-led invasion of March 2003, but tensions inside both rival communities have also, sometimes, erupted in bloodshed.

Recent months have seen mounting reports of intra-Shiite violence between SIIC's militia, the Badr Organisation, and Sadr's Mehdi Army. Fighting broke out between the factions in Samawa in July.

Many Badr fighters have been recruited into Iraq's new security forces, while the Mehdi Army is a loosely-controlled militia movement that can field tens of thousands of gunmen drawn from the Shiite underclass.

Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki received news of Hassani's "martyrdom" with sadness, and warned of an attempt "to destabilize our beloved southern Iraq".

"We call on our people in Muthanna province to exercise self control, and avoid falling into the trap of this painful experience," he said.

Hamid Al Saedi, a SIIC member of parliament, blamed Monday's killing on former members of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein's ruling party and "parties hostile to Iraq."

In July 2006, Muthanna was the first province in Iraq to be handed back to the control of Iraqi security forces, as British and Australian troops scaled back their operations in the relatively-peaceful south.

Since then, however, local power struggles have triggered occasional violent clashes in many Shiite cities, leaving hundreds dead.

Violence between rival Shiite militias is, now, rife in Iraq's second city, Basra, where British troops deployed there since the invasion are preparing to withdraw from their last base in the city, and re-deploy to a desert airbase.

The situation has been exacerbated, US commanders allege, by Iranian agents training and arming hard-line Shiite militia units known as "Special Groups" to carry out kidnappings and attacks on US-led forces.

Major General Rick Lynch, commander of US forces in central Iraq, told reporters Sunday that around 50 members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard have infiltrated Iraq to train Shiite extremists.

Tehran has always vehemently denied trying to destabilize Iraq, and Maliki's government maintains close ties with its larger Shiite neighbor.

The slain governors' party, formerly known as the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, was founded in Tehran, under the auspices of the Iranian government, as an Iraqi opposition force in exile.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is planning to make his first visit to Iraq, the ISNA news agency reported. Meanwhile, Maliki arrived Monday in Syria for a visit to another US foe and ally of Iran.

The latest political violence in southern Iraq coincided with meetings between French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner and the country's divided political leaders to learn about the crisis.

Kouchner's visit is the first by a senior French official since the US-led invasion and, while he brought no concrete offers of assistance, it has been welcomed by Iraqi leaders keen for international support.

Maliki's Shiite-led ruling coalition has crumbled in recent months with the loss of 17 ministers, and emergency talks are underway to cobble together a power-sharing deal, and save the government from collapse.

Meanwhile, five people were reported killed in further Iraq violence, security oficials said.

Second Iraqi governor killed as Shiite rifts deepen - Region - Middle East Times

Saudi still planning Iraq mission says official
RIYADH -- Saudi Arabia is still preparing to send a mission to Iraq as a precursor to reopening its embassy in Baghdad, de****e a delay in the timeframe, a foreign ministry official said Monday.

"There are preparations and contacts between Saudi and Iraqi officials to undertake the visit soon," the foreign ministry official said, requesting anonymity. He did not give an exact date.

Foreign minister Prince Saud Al Faisal told reporters August 7 that a Saudi mission would "head for Baghdad, next week, to look into security conditions there and ... the modalities of opening the embassy," more than four years after the US-led invasion.

The official said the delay had nothing to do with the wrangling between Iraq's fractious leaders that has left the Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki teetering on the brink of collapse.

"These are Iraqi internal matters in which the kingdom does not meddle ... The delay in the delegation's visit has nothing to do with these developments. When preparations [for the trip] are completed, the delegation will visit Baghdad as soon as possible," he said.

The reopening of the embassy would mark a new stage in ties between the two countries.

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia has been suspicious of the Maliki government, fearing it is under the influence of its Shiite regional rival Iran.

Iraq reopened its embassy in Saudi Arabia last February. It had been closed in December 1990 on the eve of the 1991 Gulf War, when ties were broken off by Saddam Hussein's regime.

The two countries restored diplomatic relations in July 2004, a year after the US-led ouster of the Iraqi dictator. But Saudi Arabia's embassy in Iraq remains shut because of insecurity in the country.

Saudi still planning Iraq mission says official - Region - Middle East Times

Sorry if already posted.

Oil giants rush to lay claim to Iraq

The world's oil majors will descend on two key conferences about Iraqi oil next month, seizing their last chance to jockey for position before the expected passing of the country's hydrocarbon law sets off a scramble for its vast energy resources.

Iraqi officials, including oil minister Hussein Shahristani, will attend the gatherings in Dubai in September to meet international oil executives. All the big players will be there, including BP, Shell, Exxon and Chevron, as well as minnows such as Addax Petroleum, some of which have operations in Iraq.

David Horgan, managing director of Petrel Resources, an Irish explorer with a presence in Iraq since 1999, said: 'All the oil companies have been salivating at the prospect of Iraq for years. There is a good chance of very large discoveries. Nowhere else in the world offers that.'

Horgan said that once the oil law was passed, oil executives would rush to sign exploration and production deals, de****e Iraq's security situation. Under severe US pressure, the Iraqi administration is now expected to push through the oil law before the end of September.

The majors have stayed away from Iraq, which has the world's third largest oil reserves, because there was no legal framework for investing in its energy sector. Unusually for the Middle East, the oil law will provide generous rates of return and production sharing agreements that allow companies that have had to write down their reserves, such as Shell, to book massive new reserves.

Muhammad-Ali Zainy, from the Centre for Global Energy Studies in London, said: 'Why do international oil companies rush in to divide the loot at a time when Iraq is submerged in blood? Iraqis will not benefit from this.'
Iraq has discovered reserves of 115bn barrels, of which only 40bn barrels have been developed. There are large parts of the country that remain unexplored.

Separately, Russia has lobbied successfully to set up an energy cartel which it hopes will rival Opec. At the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, leaders of Central Asian countries, China and Russia last week agreed to create a 'unified energy market' in the region that is home to some of the biggest producers of oil and gas.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made clear at the conference that Tehran was prepared to join the club, which would see the world's first, second and fourth largest gas producers form a powerful bloc, potentially ranged against Western interests.

Christopher Langton, an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said: 'Russia is seeking to have an organisation tilt the competition in its favour.'

The move coincides with the apparent decline of US influence in the region, where both the Trans-Caspian pipeline project and the diversion of Turkmen gas via Russia to Europe have stalled.
Ariel Cohen, a regional expert at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, said: 'The resource control in Russia's hands will benefit President Putin tremendously'.

Oil giants rush to lay claim to Iraq | Business | The Observer

Originally Posted by Seaview

Foreign Policy Survey: Iraq surge failing

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 A bipartisan majority of foreign policy experts surveyed say the U.S. troop surge in Iraq is failing, Foreign Policy magazine said Monday.

The magazine said two-thirds of the more than 100 foreign policy experts called for a troop withdrawal in 18 months. Twenty-five identified themselves as conservative, 39 as moderate and 44 as liberal.

The surge was the additional deployment of about 20,000 U.S. soldiers, mainly concentrated in the Baghdad area, to launch offensives against insurgents.

Of the experts surveyed, 53 percent said the surge is having a negative impact, up 22 percentage points in the past six months. Ninety-two percent believe the war is having "a negative impact on U.S. national security."

Most of those asked opposed an immediate withdrawal, but more conservatives -- 25 percent -- called for an immediate pullout than liberals or moderates.

More than 80 percent predict another Sept. 11-scale attack on the United States in the next 10 years; 84 percent said they believe the United States is not winning the war on terror. Russia was selected as the ally least likely to aid U.S. interests, followed by Pakistan.

The Terrorism Index survey was conducted by Foreign Policy and the Center for American Progress. The report was published in the September/October issue of Foreign Policy.

Foreign Policy Survey: Iraq surge failing : World

SPECULATION: This is very contradictory, considering the reports by US Soldiers including the one just aired on C-Span showing how elated our troops were because of mutual cooperation and progress among tribal leaders and Iraqi police.

I wonder about this so called "Bi Partisan ship" when I think about coming elections and special interest groups, thus, I will reserve my opinion and side with the US Troops.

As for the potential future threats; this is just common sense considering the world we live in. There are lots of educated *****s that publish information out there. Remedy: a grain of salt, a glass of fine wine, and wait for the next report.

Government on the brink, says Shiite leader Al Sadr

London: A top Iraqi Shiite militia leader predicted Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's government was nearing its end because it has been tainted by its close work with American forces, a British newspaper reported on Monday.

Cleric Moqtada Al Sadr told The Independent newspaper that Al Maliki's government was on the brink of collapse, de****e efforts to bolster its base of support.

"Al Maliki's government will not survive because he has proven that he will not work with important elements of the Iraqi people," the cleric was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

"The prime minister is a tool for the Americans, and people see that clearly. It will probably be the Americans who decide to change him when they realise he has failed. We don't have a democracy here, we have a foreign occupation."

Al Sadr had been among Al Maliki's strongest supporters.Early this year, Al Sadr agreed to government appeals to tone down his anti-American rhetoric and not directly challenge the waves of US soldiers trying to regain control of Baghdad.

British defeated

However, he broke with Al Maliki, a fellow Shiite, in April and withdrew his five supporters from the Iraqi Cabinet to protest the prime minister's refusal to demand a timetable for the pullout of US forces from Iraq.

During the interview, conducted in the southern Iraqi city of Kufa, Al Sadr also declared that British forces had been defeated in Iraq and would be forced to pull out sooner than they planned.

He said resistance and a rising death toll among troops had forced a withdrawal.

"The British have given up and they know they will be leaving Iraq soon," Al Sadr was quoted as saying. "They are retreating because of the resistance they have faced. Without that, they would have stayed for much longer, there is no doubt."

Gulfnews: Government on the brink, says Shiite leader Al Sadr

Originally Posted by Seaview

Government on the brink, says Shiite leader Al Sadr

London: A top Iraqi Shiite militia leader predicted Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's government was nearing its end because it has been tainted by its close work with American forces, a British newspaper reported on Monday.

Cleric Moqtada Al Sadr told The Independent newspaper that Al Maliki's government was on the brink of collapse, de****e efforts to bolster its base of support.

"Al Maliki's government will not survive because he has proven that he will not work with important elements of the Iraqi people," the cleric was quoted by the newspaper as saying.



"The prime minister is a tool for the Americans, and people see that clearly. It will probably be the Americans who decide to change him when they realise he has failed. We don't have a democracy here, we have a foreign occupation."

Al Sadr had been among Al Maliki's strongest supporters.Early this year, Al Sadr agreed to government appeals to tone down his anti-American rhetoric and not directly challenge the waves of US soldiers trying to regain control of Baghdad.

British defeated

However, he broke with Al Maliki, a fellow Shiite, in April and withdrew his five supporters from the Iraqi Cabinet to protest the prime minister's refusal to demand a timetable for the pullout of US forces from Iraq.

During the interview, conducted in the southern Iraqi city of Kufa, Al Sadr also declared that British forces had been defeated in Iraq and would be forced to pull out sooner than they planned.

He said resistance and a rising death toll among troops had forced a withdrawal.

"The British have given up and they know they will be leaving Iraq soon," Al Sadr was quoted as saying. "They are retreating because of the resistance they have faced. Without that, they would have stayed for much longer, there is no doubt."


Gulfnews: Government on the brink, says Shiite leader Al Sadr

Yes, it is a situation where there is so much opposition to everything and so much negativity that one would think it is all falling apart. Yet, there are also many who want and need things to work out.

Given the History of the Shiite and Sunni's, there may never be peace; but, can there be advancement in the face of opposition? If not, then all is lost and we might as well pack it all in. Britain has allowed far too many immigrants, Europe has done the same, and the US borders have been open for far too long. Far too many radical elements are within all of our borders and given the terror threat of radicalism, none of us are safe. Shall we all stick our heads in the sand and hope the problem will just go away?

I still say, Remedy: grain of salt, glass of fine wine and wait for the next report. As long as the sun comes up tomorrow, tomorrow will arrive and then we shall see. If not, then it has been a fine party. (I wonder, is this a semblance of a quote from history lessons, long ago?)

Originally Posted by Seaview

British defeated

However, he broke with Al Maliki, a fellow Shiite, in April and withdrew his five supporters from the Iraqi Cabinet to protest the prime minister's refusal to demand a timetable for the pullout of US forces from Iraq.

During the interview, conducted in the southern Iraqi city of Kufa, Al Sadr also declared that British forces had been defeated in Iraq and would be forced to pull out sooner than they planned.

He said resistance and a rising death toll among troops had forced a withdrawal.

"The British have given up and they know they will be leaving Iraq soon," Al Sadr was quoted as saying. "They are retreating because of the resistance they have faced. Without that, they would have stayed for much longer, there is no doubt."

For what ever my opinion might be worth, I do not follow the news media.

We all know that the British defeated themselves because of internal conflicts and opposition within the UK, to include their financial difficulties. Thus, it does not matter what is stated in some middle eastern paper, or the British Tabloids.

The fact the British and the United States are having problems balancing the financial books is a major factor in the political arena. The fuse to this ticking time bomb are people who are leaning to governments for all their needs rather than learning to stand on their own two feet and will only aid in bankrupting nations.

What we need to look for within the bounds and confines of the Iraqi and middle eastern situation is the positive that can be pumped up rather than the negative that gets all the attention of the modern media's "he says, she says" "bs" that is prevalent on national news every day.

It seems that Churchill stated something about, "it is better to fight a battle when the cost is less," meaning, if the world pays attention to the needs of the world, it might just avoid a world war.

Islam as stated they would take over the world in 20 years and seven has already passed! If radical elements target major cities around the world with Nuke's, then they will win the battle, but those left over will organize and fight with what ever they have to fight with. It is the age old, "survival of the fitist" taken back two thousands years because of religious radicalism, bigotry, and hatred with no consideration for others who do not believe as they do. Is it any wonder we have not progressed any further as a human race.

Mohamed dyed, leaving no sons to carry on. One leader expected control, but the leadership went to a cousin and the division of the family began, "Shiite vs. Sunni, and it has been the same fight for control for thousands of years until it now threatens the rest of the world. Should the world allow this fight to continue? Does the rest of the world have a say so in world affairs that affect every country?

Tabloid news is no better than "Bad Comedy Routines!"

Just my opinion. Now, about that glass of wine:

Originally Posted by Lucky142

Islam as stated they would take over the world in 20 years and seven has already passed! If radical elements target major cities around the world with Nuke's, then they will win the battle, but those left over will organize and fight with what ever they have to fight with. It is the age old, "survival of the fitist" taken back two thousands years because of religious radicalism, bigotry, and hatred with no consideration for others who do not believe as they do. Is it any wonder we have not progressed any further as a human race.

I don't think Islam will take over the World in 13 years time. The Arabs are too emotional and don't know how to form a queue. Mayhem doesn't rule.