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

Joint Military Operations by Turkey and Iran is Looming in Qandil Area

The Iranian forces spread leaflets threatening villagers of Kurdistan region to evacuate their homes, particularly in Qandil and Haji Omaran area and that deadlines of military operations are near for attacking the Iranian Kurdistan Free Life Party and PKK guerrillas, a close source told PUKmedia on August 21.in the recent nights the Iranian forces deployed several tanks, artillery pieces ,military vehicles and troops in Badinawi ,Konelajan ,Gali Haji Braim, Piran Shahir ,Shno ,Salmas areas.During night they are turning off electricity supplies from those areas which they are deploying military troops and arms. Local citizens of the areas saw large numbers of Turkish troops deploying during nights to Badinawi area, causing panic to the local citizens.

Local citizens recently think that Qandil area is targeted, but it may include all the other areas, the source added.

That military operation stretching to the triangle border among Iraq, Iran and Turkey frontiers, but Qandil may be more important for turkey and Iran. As a result they deployed all their military capacity in the area, surly they plant land mines all over the area for securing their borders, ending in the local citizen’s disadvantage.

Currently large numbers of local citizens, having read those leaflets or heard news, evacuated their areas and fled to the safe areas.

PUKmedia :: English - Joint Military Operations by Turkey and Iran is Looming in Qandil Area

Military commanders tell Brown to withdraw from Iraq without delay

Senior military commanders have told the Government that Britain can achieve "nothing more" in south-east Iraq, and that the 5,500 British troops still deployed there should move towards withdrawal without further delay.

Last month Gordon Brown said after meeting George Bush at Camp David that the decision to hand over security in Basra province – the last of the four held by the British – "will be made on the military advice of our commanders on the ground". He added: "Whatever happens, we will make a full statement to Parliament when it returns [in October]."

Two generals said last week that the military advice given to the Prime Minister was, "We've done what we can in the south [of Iraq]". Commanders want to hand over Basra Palace – where 500 British troops are subjected to up to 60 rocket and mortar strikes a day, and resupply convoys have been described as "nightly suicide missions" – by the end of August. The withdrawal of 500 soldiers has already been announced by the Government. The Army is drawing up plans to "reposture" the 5,000 that will be left at Basra airport, and aims to bring the bulk of them home in the next few months.

Before the invasion in 2003, officers were told that the Army's war aims were to bring stability and democracy to Iraq and to the Middle East as a whole. Those ambitions have been drastically revised. The priorities now are an orderly withdrawal, with the reputation and capability of the Army " reasonably intact", and for Britain to remain a "credible ally" . The final phrase appears to refer to tensions with the US, which has more troops in Iraq than at any other time, including the invasion, as it seeks to impose order in Baghdad and neighbouring provinces.

American criticism of Britain's desire to pull back in southern Iraq has recently become public, with a US intelligence official telling The Washington Post this month that "the British have basically been defeated in the south". A senior British commander countered, " That's to miss the point. It was never that kind of battle, in which we set out to defeat an enemy." Other officers said the British force was never configured to "clear and hold" Basra in the way the Americans are seeking to do in Baghdad.

Immediate American discontent is said to centre on the CIA's reluctance to leave Basra Palace, an important base for watching Iran, which may explain why Britain has held on to the complex until now. But last week it was reported that US intelligence operatives were in the process of pulling out. Further ahead, the US is concerned over the security of its vital supply line from Kuwait, with some American commanders saying that if the British withdraw, American troops will have to be sent south to replace them. As the hub of Iraq's oil industry, Basra is also a tempting prize for the Shia militias battling each other for control.

There are fears that the bloody power struggle in Basra will escalate sharply if and when British troops depart, but commanders point out that up to 90 per cent of the violence is directed against their forces. They are understood to believe it was never the role of occupation troops to intervene in a "turf war" among factions from the same community, all of which have links to the government coalition in Baghdad.

Mr Brown will have to take these wider concerns into account, in reaching a decision that has political as well as military implications. At Camp David he stressed that "we have duties to discharge and responsibilities to keep" in support of the Iraqi government and "the explicit will" of the international community. The 15 September report on the progress of the security "surge" by the US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and the American ambassador to Baghdad, Ryan Crocker, will be crucial to British as well as US military plans.

General Petraeus is expected to report mixed results, and to plead for more time for the surge to work. But the White House, under pressure from Republicans facing disaster in the 2008 elections, is likely to announce at least some troop reductions. British commanders, and some US commentators, believe that will enable the Prime Minister to spell out plans for a British withdrawal when MPs return in October, although the process may last well into next year.

Military commanders tell Brown to withdraw from Iraq without delay - World news - News - Belfast Telegraph

Syria and Iraq to rehabilitate oil transport pipelinesTuesday, August 21, 2007 - 09:30 PM

DAMASCUS, (SANA)-Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Sufian al-Alaw on Tuesday said Syria and Iraq agreed to take necessary procedures to rehabilitate a crude petroleum transport pipelines between Iraqi city of Kirkuk and Syrian coastal city of Banyas.

"The two states agreed to develop the exchange of oil products to a maximum degree in the interest of both countries," Alaw said during a visit to a Gas station south Damascus along with Iraqi counterpart Hussein Shahrstani.

The Iraqi Minister expressed his country's readiness to cooperate with Syria and develop available capabilities in the interest to both peoples, pointing out to new opportunities and horizons of cooperation in the oil and gas fields.

The two ministers listened to an explanation to the Arab Gas Pipelines project which stretches from north Egypt to the Syrian-Turkish borders through Jordan with 1231 KM length.

Syrian Arab news agency - SANA - Syria ::

President Al-Assad Underlines Syria's Support to Political Process in Iraq
Damascus, (SANA) – President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday underlined Syria's support to the current political process in Iraq during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Malki.
President al-Assad stressed the need to intensify efforts and preparing the suitable groundwork for achieving national reconciliation among different Iraqi parties in order to guarantee Iraq's unity and independence and consolidate its Arab and Islamic identity.

President al-Assad condemned the terrorist attacks targeting Iraqi people, institutions and places of worship.

For his part, al-Malki and the accompanying delegation expressed relief over the stances of President al-Assad regarding Iraq and his commitment to its security and stability.

Talks during the meeting discussed bilateral relations between Syria and Iraq and means of strengthening them in the interest of both peoples. Talks also dealt with the standing security cooperation between the two countries and the need to bolster it, in addition to economic relations and the importance of achieving economic integration between Iraq and Syria.

The meeting was attended by Vice President Farouk al-Shara, Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri, Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem and the official delegation accompanying al-Malki.

Later, Vice President Farouk al-Shara continued discussions with Prime Minister al-Malki in a separate meeting.

In a statement to reporters following the meetings, al-Malki described atmospheres of talks as positive, saying "the two countries seek to establish bilateral relations on all levels."

"Talks concentrated on the economic domain in order to provide opportunities of cooperation in this field," Iraqi Premier added, noting "Iraq needs Syrian efforts and Syrian companies to contribute to the rebuilding process in all fields."

"Security file in Iraq is considered the golden key to the developments and positive points we are searching for, so this file was one of the main issues during dialogues and we found Syrian understanding in this regard," al-Malki underlined

He denied conveying a message from anyone to Syria, saying "I convey the message of Iraq… I convey files for understanding… I believe that Iraq's neighboring countries are concerned in controlling security and stability, we found an understanding and support to the political process and national reconciliation."

As for agreements between both states, al-Malki stated that the two sides want all memos of understanding and agreements to come into effect and implementation.

On Iraqi refugees in Syria, Iraqi Prime Minister said this issue is human and needs a cooperation with Syria to tackle this question and stand by those refugees during this ordeal as well as providing them with stability opportunities or the return to their homeland after security condition is stable there. H. Sabbagh, Mazen

Syrian Arab news agency - SANA - Syria ::

Bush says replacing Maliki up to Iraqis
Published: Tuesday August 21, 2007

US President George W. Bush on Tuesday noted some "frustration" with political leaders in Baghdad, but said it was up to Iraqi voters whether to replace Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

"There's a certain level of frustration with the leadership in general," Bush said after two senior US lawmakers called on Iraq's parliament to remove Maliki's government if it fails to make progress on political reconciliation.

"The fundamental question is, will the government respond to the demands of the people? And if the government doesn't respond to the demands of the people, they will replace the government. That's up to the Iraqis to make that decision, not American politicians," he said.

Senators Carl Levin, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and John Warner, the panel's top Republican, said Monday after a two-day visit to Iraq that they were not optimistic about the prospects for compromise.

"We believe that the recent high-level meetings among Iraqi political leaders could be the last chance for this government to solve the Iraqi political crisis," they said in a joint statement.

"And should it fail, we believe, the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the Iraqi people need to judge the government of Iraq's record and determine what actions should be taken -- consistent with the Iraqi constitution -- to form a true unity government to meet those responsibilities."

In a teleconference with reporters, Levin said Iraqi leaders had failed to meet their own political benchmarks on sharing power and resources, modifying de-Baathification laws, scheduling provincial elections, or amending the constitution.

"So I hope that the Iraqi assembly, when it reconvenes in a few weeks, will vote the Maliki government out of office and will have the wisdom to replace it with a less sectarian and a more unifying prime minister and government," he said.

Bush insisted that his US troop escalation and security crackdown in Iraq had made it possible for what he described as a "bottom-up" political reconciliation driven by Iraq's people, not its political leaders.

"There is some progress being made," he said. "Clearly, the Iraqi government's got to do more through its parliament to help heal the wounds of having lived years under a tyrant.

"It's not easy to go from a tyrannical society where the tyrant brutalized his people and created deep suspicions into one in which people are willing to work more closely together," he said.
The Raw Story | Bush says replacing Maliki up to Iraqis

Otri: occupation responsible for insecurity in Iraq

Embattled Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki held talks with Syrian officials on Monday on his first visit to the US foe since taking office early last year.

The United States, which already criticised a similar trip by Maliki to US foe Iran earlier this month, said it hoped the premier was delivering a "strong message" to the Syrian leadership about its role in Iraq.

Maliki, accompanied on the three-day visit by his ministers of oil, trade, the interior and water resources, met Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Otri and was also due to meet President Bashar al-Assad, Vice President Faruq al-Shara and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.

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 Saddam's rule. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, another formerly Damascus-based exile, visited in January.

After his talks with Maliki, Otri called for a timetable of withdrawal for foreign troops in Iraq, state news agency Sana said.

"Syria, while recognising the importance of the support of neighbouring countries to the efforts of the Iraqi government to stop the bloodshed, violence and anarchy, believes that the establishment of a calendar for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq would increase the chances of reaching understanding between Iraqis," Otri said.

He "underlined the position of Syria which considers the forces of occupation (as) responsible for the deterioration of the security, economic and social situation in Iraq," and said that "their presence in this country has attracted extremist forces to Iraq and has exacerbated the blind violence which every day leaves dozens of innocent Iraqi victims."

Talks between the two prime ministers also touched on the plight of the 1.5 million Iraqis who have sought refuge in Syria, official media said. They also discussed reactivating commercial agreements that pre-date the US-led invasion of 2003.

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

In recent weeks, there has been increasing criticism from Washington of the Iraq role of US ally Saudi Arabia but Syria and its regional ally Iran remain the principal targets.

Washington accuses Damascus of turning a blind eye to Sunni insurgents slipping over its border with Iraq, and Syria's key regional ally Tehran of providing sophisticated weaponry to Shiite militias, charges both governments deny.

"I think it's important that they (the Iraqis) have good relations with Syria, but I also know that he'll ... likely deliver a strong message that a stable Iraq is in the interests of Syria," US national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

Earlier this month Damascus hosted a security meeting of all Iraq's neighbours except Saudi Arabia at which delegates expressed backing for the efforts of Maliki's government to quell raging sectarian violence.
The Iraqi premier was also to discuss the reopening of an oil pipeline to Syria that was closed after the cutting of ties in 1980.

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 the vice president has called an "economic, social and political burden."

Shara said on Tuesday that Syria was ready to cooperate if Maliki shows 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 Shiite-led government to win over Iraq's disenchanted Sunni Arab minority.

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

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is himself planning to make his first visit to Iraq, although no firm date has yet been set, Iran's ISNA student news agency reported on Monday.

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

Otri: occupation responsible for insecurity in Iraq | Iraq Updates

Bush to make case for staying in Iraq

Washington - US President George W Bush plans to give two speeches in the next week to make his case for keeping American troops in Iraq de****e the unpopularity of the war at home, the White House announced Tuesday. Bush will address a war veterans group in Kansas City, Missouri on Wednesday to tie past successes and failures in US foreign policy to the war on Islamic extremism and cast it as an ideological struggle, according to excerpts released in advance by the White House.

Bush will highlight the US role in rebuilding Japan after World War II and defending South Korea from a communist invasion from the North while focusing on the human suffering that took place in Southeast Asia, including in Cambodia, after US troops pulled out of Vietnam.

"Whatever your position in that debate, one unmistakable legacy of Vietnam is that the price of America's withdrawal was paid by millions of innocent citizens whose agonies would add to our vocabulary new terms like "boat people," "re-education camps," and "killing fields," Bush's excerpts say.

Bush has faced increasing pressure to withdraw from Iraq, but has been able to rebuff attempts in the Democratic controlled Congress to set a timeframe for pulling out US troops. Bush's speeches are to come a month ahead of a crucial report by the US ambassador in Iraq, Ryan Crocker, and his top commander, General David Petraeus, on the political and military progress in Iraq.

Bush plans on delivering a second address August 28 to the American Legion convention in Reno, Nevada.

Bush to make case for staying in Iraq : US World

Bush cites 'frustration' with Iraq regime

OTTAWA, Aug. 21 U.S. President George Bush, speaking at the summit in Canada, conceded there is "frustration" with the Iraqi leadership's failure to get some things done.

"The Iraqi people made a great step toward reconciliation when they passed the most modern constitution in the Middle East and now their government has got to perform," Bush said Tuesday. "And I think there's a certain level of frustration with the leadership in general, inability to work Â… to get, for example, an oil revenue law passed or provincial elections."

Bush rejected a Democratic suggestion to remove support for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki because of perceived failures.

"The fundamental question is, will the (Iraqi) government respond to the demands of the people? And if the government doesn't Â… respond to the demands of the people, they will replace the government," Bush said. "That's up to the Iraqis to make that decision, not American politicians. The Iraqis will decide. They have decided they want a constitution, they have elected members to their parliament and they will make the decisions, just like democracies do."

Bush said "the Iraqi parliament has met and passed 60 different pieces of legislation. They do have a budgeting process that is Â… distributing a significant amount of money from the central government to the provincial governments and the money they are distributing is oil revenues. So there may not be an oil revenue distribution law but there's oil revenues being distributed."

Bush cites 'frustration' with Iraq regime : World

Government urged to stop U.S. violations

The Sadr City in Baghdad has been the scene of ongoing raids by U.S. occupation troops in the past weeks and its inhabitants have stage a huge sit-in in protest.

The city is the largest suburban area of Baghdad and home to more than 2 million people, predominantly Shiite Muslims.

The low-income neighborhood is one of the major strongholds of Shiite Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his military wing, the Mahdi Army. The U.S. says the raids are to force Sadr to disband his militias.

Mahdi Army militias have all but vanished from the city currently under the control of pro-Sadr civil servants who administer the city’s public services, schools and ho****als.

Angry inhabitants have staged sit-ins and demonstrations, building a human shield that makes it difficult for the invaders to enter the city and practically cuts it off from the rest of Baghdad.

Nassar Rubaie, a Sadr deputy in parliament, has acknowledged that the protests were organized by his group and urged the government not to remain silent in the face of ‘U.S. violations.’

The impoverished city is divided into tribal blocks where tribal chiefs hold tremendous sway. The tribes have traditionally been strong supporters of Sadr and his clerical family.

Rubaie said the government was under obligation to “stop raids and bombings by U.S. troops of the sons of Sadr City and other areas in Iraq and release Iraqi detainees.”

He said his group was aware of thousands of detainees held for more than two years without trial. Their families, he said, still have no idea whether they are still alive or dead.

“Iraq constitution stresses that judges must be alerted within 24 hours of any arrests but what we are seeing is that U.S. troops incarcerate people for years without trial.

“This is unconstitutional,” he said.

Azzaman in English

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