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

The Kurdish Secret

Erbil, Iraq - Iraq today is a land of contrasts - mostly black and blacker. Travelling around the central Baghdad area the past few days, I saw little that really gave me hope that the different Iraqi sects can forge a social contract to live together. The only sliver of optimism I find here is in the one region where Iraqis don't live together: Kurdistan.

Imagine for a moment if one outcome of the US invasion of Iraq had been the creation of an AmericanUniversity of Iraq. Imagine if we had triggered a flood of new investment into Iraq that had gone into new hotels, a big new convention center, office buildings, Internet cafes, two new international airports and Iraqi malls. Imagine if we had paved the way for an explosion of newspapers, even a local Human Rights Watch chapter, and new schools. Imagine if we had created an island of decency in Iraq, with public parks, where women could walk unveiled and not a single American soldier was ever killed - where Americans in fact were popular - and where Islam was practiced in its most tolerant and open manner. Imagine ...

Well, stop imagining. It's all happening in Kurdistan, the northern Iraqi region, home to four million Kurds. I saw all of the above in Kurdistan's two biggest towns, Erbil and Sulaimaniya. The Bush team just never told anybody.

No, Kurdistan is not a democracy. It has real Parliamentary elections, but the region's executive branch is still more "Sopranos" than "West Wing," more Singapore than Switzerland - dominated by two rival clans, the Talibanis and the Barzanis. It has a vibrant free press, as long as you don't insult the leadership, and way too much crony-corruption. But it is democratizing, gradually nurturing the civil society and middle class needed for a real democracy.

On Oct. 17, the new American University of Iraq will open classes in Sulaimaniya. "The board wanted three campuses, one in Kurdistan, one in Baghdad and one in Basra, but this is the only part of the country where an American University can open and function safely," said Owen Cargol, the school's chancellor.

Iraq is a disaster in so many ways, but at least America's invasion midwifed something really impressive in Kurdistan. And in the best way: we created the opening and the Kurds did the rest. But while the Kurds liberated their region from Saddam's army in the 1990s - with U.S. air cover - their current renaissance was only possible, they say, thanks to the overthrow of Saddam, their mortal enemy.

"Saddam's eyes were always on this region," said Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister regional government. Once he was toppled, "it gave us psychological hope for the future. Those who had even a limited amount of money started to invest, start small businesses or buy a car, because they thought they could see the future. The uncertainty was removed. ... We have to thank the American people and government. But we are a lover from only one side. We love that you see." Why is Kurdistan of the Kurdistan America, but nothing in response. They don't want to give the perception that they are helping us."

Added Hoshyar Omar, a 23-year-old student-translator: "My father was buried alive [by Saddam's men] when I was 3. I want to thank Mr. George Bush personally. ... He may have made some bad decisions, but freeing Iraq was the best decision he has ever made. ... We had nothing and we built this KurdistanAmerica's best-kept secret success? Because the Bush team is afraid the Kurds will break away. But the Kurds have no interest in splitting from Iraq now. Iraq's borders protect them from Turkey, Iran and Syria.

The Kurdish autonomous zone should be our model for Iraq. Does George Bush or Condi Rice have a better idea? Do they have any idea? Right now, we're surging aimlessly. Iraq's only hope is radical federalism - with Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds each running their own affairs, and Baghdad serving as an A.T.M., dispensing cash for all three. Let's get that on the table - now.

Months after Saddam's capture, a story made the rounds that he was asked, "If you were set free, could you stabilize Iraq again?" He supposedly said it would take him only "one hour and 10 minutes - one hour to go home and shower and 10 minutes to reunify Iraq." Maybe an iron-fisted dictator could do that. America can't.

"No one here accepts to be ruled ever again by the other," Kosrat Ali, Kurdistan's vice president, told me. "If you get all the American forces to occupy all of the towns and the cities of Iraq, you might be able to centralize Iraq again. That is the only way." Otherwise, "centralized rule is finished in Iraq."

PUKmedia :: English - The Kurdish Secret

KRG Tries to Resume Air Flights between Sulaimani and Europe

After the air flights between Sulaimani city and Europe was halted because of unwanted reasons ,a source on condition of unanimity told PUKmedia on Monday ,September the 3rd that KRG continuously tries to resume air flights between Sulaimani and Europe through Sulaimani international airport.

KRG via the Iraqi ambassadors and KRG representatives in all the European countries incensed their efforts for the resumption of air flights from Sulaimani international airport to the European countries.
Worth mentioning that after a Swedish airplane came to Sulaimani sky and returned, later misinterpreted as allegedly the plane was shot in Sulaimani airspace on August the 8/9th, since then the international journeys between Sulaimani and Europe has been closed.

PUKmedia :: English - KRG Tries to Resume Air Flights between Sulaimani and Europe

President Talabani meets with President Bush

President Bush made a surprise visit to Iraq on Monday, using the war zone as a backdrop to argue his case that the buildup of U.S. troops is helping stabilizing the nation.

The president secretly flew 11 hours to Iraq as a showdown nears with Congress over whether his decision in January to order 30,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq is working. He landed at an air base in Anbar province west of Baghdad.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived ahead of Bush and conferred with senior U.S. officials, including Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, before a session with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, President Jalal Talabani, and other top Iraqi officials from Baghdad.

To a large degree, the setting was the message: Bringing al-Maliki, a Shiite, to the heart of mostly Sunni Anbar province was intended to show the administration's war critics that the beleaguered Iraqi leader is capable of reaching out to Sunnis, who ran the country for years under Saddam Hussein.

Now in Iraq, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric traveled with Petraeus this week to Fallujah in Anbar province, once a stronghold of the insurgency, and reports the troop surge appears to have helped quell much of the violence there.

Mr. Bush has held up Anbar as an example of recent progress, especially on the security front, although the province is still economically deprived and not yet stable enough to turn over to full Iraqi control.

Next week, Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and Crocker testify before Congress. Their assessment of the conflict, along with a progress report the White House must give lawmakers by Sept. 15, will help determine the next chapter of the war.

The United States cannot sustain the troop buildup indefinitely. And with Democrats calling for withdrawals and a rising U.S. death toll that has topped 3,700, the president is hardpressed to give al-Maliki much more time to find a political solution to the fighting.

On the same day Mr. Bush made his visit, U.S. command announced the death Sunday of another U.S.Baghdad, injuring three others. No names were released, pending notification of next of kin.

Mr. Bush stopped in Iraq ahead of his visit to Australia for an economic summit with Asia-Pacific leaders. The trip was a closely-held secret for obvious security reasons, although speculation about the trip arose late last month when first lady Laura Bush said she was staying home to tend to a pinched nerve in her neck.

BS News White House Correspondent Peter Maer says the idea for the president to visit Anbar was hatched about six weeks ago. Officials confirm the drop-by is part of the administration's lead-up to next week's status report on the war. But Maer says officials brushed aside any suggestion that the trip is a publicity stunt.

Officials say the president, who also went to Iraq at Thanksgiving 2003 and in June 2006, wanted to meet personally not only with the commanders but also with Prime Minister al-Maliki and other Iraqi officials.

For security reasons, planning for the trip was "tightly held." Aides were told only on a "need to know" basis. And instead of flying to Andrews Air Force Base on his Marine One helicopter, the president slipped out a side door of the White House and went to Andrews by car, absent the usual motorcade.

The president was scheduled to leave for Australia on Monday, but he departed more than 12 hours before his announced time. Meanwhile, cell phones, computers, Blackberries and other electronic devices carried by members of the traveling White House pool were confiscated when reporters arrived at Andrews Air Force Base. Window shades on Air Force One were drawn as the plane rolled out of its hanger to the runway for take-off - for Anbar.

Mr. Bush was joined by his top advisers, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was traveling there separately, and was joined by Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Adm. William Fallon, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East.

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said the session at al-Asad would be the last big gathering of the president's war advisers with Iraqi leaders before he makes a decision on a way forward in Iraq.

The al Asad air base, the second-largest air base in Iraq and home to some 10,000 U.S. troops, is a parched, sunny, dusty place. Troops here say temperatures today are about average for this time of year-about 115 degrees. After his tarmac greeting, Mr. Bush, wearing a dark blue short-sleeved shirt and slacks, posed for pictures before being driven in a motorcade to a concrete building on base where a Marine gave him a short briefing.

Mr. Bush leaned slightly forward, both hands on a makeshift table, as the Marine with a pointer in hand gave an overview. About 20 troops in fatigues framed the president during the briefing (making for better pictures, no doubt).

The Marine was heard saying there was progress being made with Iraqi security forces in Anbar. They are handling more urban duties, allowing the Marines to hunt for insurgents in the desert. The Marine did say that there is a problem with the short home leaves-five months, which he said strains training, not to mention family life.

As we were being ushered out, Mr. Bush was heard to ask, “Morale? How is morale?”
“Very high, sir,” was the response from the Marine, whose name is unknown.

From there, it was back to the heat and the motorcade. Mr. Bush was taken to a part of the base where troops from Regimental Combat Team-2, Marine Wing Support Combat Patrol had their vehicles - humvees and other light armored vehicles - in line. The Marines stood by the side of their vehicles as Mr. Bush came, shook hands and posed for pictures with them, sometimes asking aides to use the Marines’ cameras for snap shots.

From there, the president left for his meeting with Petraeus, Crocker, and others. Mr. Bush is expected to make a joint statement later with Maliki, followed by a session with tribal leaders and remarks to the troops. The length of the stopover was anticipated to be about six hours.

The White House arranged Mr. Bush's trip at a pivotal juncture in the Iraq debate. Some prominent GOP lawmakers have broken with Mr. Bush on his war strategy, but so far, most Republicans have stood with the president. In exchange for their loyalty, they want to see substantial progress in Iraq soon.

Making his case before the Sept. 15 report deadline, Mr. Bush recently delivered a series of speeches to highlight how the temporary military buildup has routed out insurgents and foreign fighters.

The president has described what he calls "bottom-up" progress in Iraq and often cites a drop in violence in Anbar Province, once a hotbed of insurgency. The turnaround occurred when Sunni Arab leaders joined forces with U.S. troops to hunt down members of al Qaeda, although it's unclear whether they'll back a unified Iraqi government as well.

Critics of the war argue that while the troop buildup may have tamped down violence, the Iraqis are making almost no headway toward political reconciliation. They cite a handful of gloomy progress reports trickling out of Washington that show some success in curbing violence, but little progress toward political power-sharing agreements.

There are now 162,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, including 30,000 that arrived since February as part of Mr. Bush's revised strategy to provide security so Iraqi leaders could build a unity government.

his same weekend, British turned over control of Basra to Iraqi security forces, indicative of final preparations, according to CBS News correspondent Larry Miller, of Britain's withdrawal from Iraq, possibly as early as next month. Britain currently has 5,500 troops in the country.
Mr. Bush met on Friday with his top military chiefs at the Pentagon who expressed concern about a growing strain on American troops and their families from long and often multiple combat tours.

During Mr. Bush's last trip to Iraq, on June 13, 2006, he met with Maliki to "look him in the eye" and voice his administration's commitment to the fledgling Iraqi government.

"I have expressed our country's desire to work with you, but I appreciate you recognize the fact that the future of the country is in your hands," Mr. Bush said.

"The decisions you and your cabinet make will determine as to whether or not your country succeeds, can govern itself, can defend itself, can sustain itself," he added.

Since then, more than 1,200 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq.Still, early indications are that the president intends to stick with his current approach - at least into 2008 - de****e pressure from the Democratic-led Congress and some prominent Republicans. Right now, the White House is working to keep Republican members of Congress in the president's fold to prevent Democrats from amassing the strength to slash war funds or mandate immediate troop withdrawals.

In a new book by journalist Robert Draper, "Dead Certain," President Bush - mindful of the discomfort the Iraq War is causing GOP (and some Democratic) presidential candidates, is quoted as saying that one of his remaining goals for his term in office is “to get us in a position where the presidential candidates will be comfortable about sustaining a presence” in Iraq and "stay longer."

PUKmedia :: English - President Talabani meets with President Bush

Three roads to save Iraq from collapse

There are three levels or reasons for the current crisis in Iraq. A solution to this crisis requires wisdom and statesmanship otherwise the alternative is nothing but total collapse.

Two of the roads to deliver Iraq from its predicament are part of the regional and international spheres the country finds itself in. I will defer the discussion of these two because they may be outside the reach and control of the politicians currently ruling Iraq.

Therefore, I will focus my attention on one basic and fundamental reason, i.e. the one which is purely within reach as it emanates from the local conditions the country and its people are suffering from.

The al-Qaeda organization is not at all an inherent part of Iraq’s local and social fabric. The group, its ideology and murderous tactics are alien to our society; therefore we cannot include it in any discussion of reconciliation or bringing the country back on its feet.

Who will be the most conspicuous in an Iraqi scene in which the Qaeda is excluded or exterminated?

For sure the scene will be dominated by armed groups and their penchant for violence which they vehemently pursue for political gains or the settling of sectarian or ethnic scores.

In the fight for money, surface numerous criminal gangs most of them practice their heinous crimes in collaboration with armed factional groups some of which are part of the political system.

In their struggle to impose their sectarian creeds by force and their political leanings on the government and parliament, these factional groups’ ideology borders on that of the Qaeda as both try to use religion and sectarianism as a means to exclude, uproot and exterminate those opposing them.

For this reason the argument by some politicians that an alliance between Muslim Shiite and Muslim Sunni parties would undermine the Qaeda in Iraq is too dangerous to translate into reality.

The reason is simple. These Islamic parties may temporarily forget their sectarian differences for the time being in the face of their common enemy, the Qaeda. But once the Qaeda threat is not there, they will turn against one another.

The other danger is that if these Islamic and extremist parties win the battle against the Qaeda, they will turn their back to Iraqi liberals and independents – in other words they will start fighting not only each other but anyone not yet under the umbrella of their political Islam and their strict and reactionary interpretation of Islamic tenets.

Azzaman in English

Bush OKs program to expand economic aid to Anbar

Anbar, Sept 3, (VOI) – President George W. Bush, marshaling arguments to maintain current troop levels in Iraq, has approved the acceleration of a new program to intensify economic assistance directly to Sunni Arab regions where former insurgents have joined U.S. forces in fighting extremist Sunni groups, senior U.S. officials say.

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Remarks by the President after Meeting with Prime Minister Maliki and Iraqi Leaders

"Today, Anbar is a really different place. The level of violence is down, local governments are meeting again, police are more in control of the city streets, and normal life is returning. The people of this province are seeing that standing up to the extremists is the path to a better life, that success is possible. And soon I'm going to meet with some of the leaders here in Anbar province who have made a decision to reject violence and murder in return for moderation and peace. I'm looking forward to hearing from the tribal leaders who led the fight against the terrorists and are now leading the effort to rebuild their communities. I'm going to speak with members of Anbar's Provincial Council, which has reestablished itself and returned to the capital city of Ramadi. I'm going to reassure them that America does not abandon our friends, and America will not abandon the Iraqi people. That's the message all three of us bring.

Earlier, we just met with the leaders of Iraq's national government: President Talabani and Prime Minister Maliki, Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh, Vice President Abdul Mahdi, Vice President Hashimi and President Barzani of the Kurdish region. We had a good, frank discussion. We share a common goal: a free Iraq, that has a government that responds to the people. The government they represent, of course, is based in Baghdad -- but they're here in Anbar because they know the success of a free Iraq depends on the national government's support from the bottom up. They know what I know: that when you have bottom-up reconciliation like you're seeing here in Anbar, it'll begin to translate into central government action.

The national government is sharing oil revenues with this province, and that's a positive development. The challenges are great, and I understand the pace of progress is frustrating. It's frustrating for the American people; it's frustrating for the Iraqi people. These people are working under difficult circumstances, after having lived under the thumb of a brutal tyrant. Iraq's local and national leaders are working to ensure that the military success in places like Anbar is quickly backed up by real improvements in the lives of ordinary Iraqis. That's what we discussed today. Secretary Gates, Secretary Rice and I discussed with the Iraqi leaders that there has been some security success, and now it's important for government to follow up.

Our troops and diplomats and civilian experts will support the Iraqis in these efforts as they follow up. General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker gave us an update on how things are looking. They gave us an update on the way forward and I was pleased with what I heard. The strategy we put into place earlier this year was designed to help the Iraqis improve their security so that political and economic progress could follow. And that is exactly the effect it is having in places like Anbar.

We can't take this progress for granted. Here in Anbar and across Iraq, al Qaeda and other enemies of freedom will continue to try to kill the innocent in order to impose their dark ideology. But General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker tell me if the kind of success we are now seeing continues, it will be possible to maintain the same level of security with fewer American forces. These two fine Americans will report to Congress next week, and I urge members of both parties in Congress to listen to what they have to say. Congress shouldn't jump to conclusions until the General and the Ambassador report.

When you stand on the ground here in Anbar and hear from the people who live here, you can see what the future of Iraq can look like. That's why members of Congress from both parties who have visited Iraq have come back encouraged by what they have seen. For all the differences over the war, we can agree on what's working. And we can agree that continuing this progress is vital to making the strategic interests -- vital in meeting the strategic interests of our nation. It's vital to bring in -- it's vital that we work to bring America together behind a common vision for a more stable and more peaceful Middle East.

Thank you all very much."

Remarks by the President after Meeting with Prime Minister Maliki and Iraqi Leaders: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Remarks by the President to the Troops

"Thank you all. General, thank you very much. It's an honor to be with you.

As you know, today is Labor Day back home - (hooah) - so I thought I'd come by to thank you for all your hard work. (Hooah.) Every day - every day - you show bravery under incredibly difficult circumstances. Every day you're doing work on the sands of Anbar that is making it safer in the streets of America. And every day the United States of America is grateful for what you're doing. I want you to tell your families the Commander-in-Chief stopped by to say hello, and he said, I'm incredibly proud to be the Commander-in-Chief of such a great group of men and women. (Applause.)

I'm keeping pretty good company, as you can see. I brought out the A Team so they could be with the folks who are making a significant difference in this war against these radicals and extremists. In Anbar you're seeing firsthand the dramatic differences that can come when the Iraqis are more secure. In other words, you're seeing success.

You see Sunnis who once fought side by side with al Qaeda against coalition troops now fighting side by side with coalition troops against al Qaeda. Anbar is a huge province. It was once written off as lost. It is now one of the safest places in Iraq. (Hooah.) Because of your hard work, because of your bravery and sacrifice, you are denying al Qaeda a safe haven from which to plot and plan and carry out attacks against the United States of America. What you're doing here is making this country safer, and I thank you for your hard work. (Hooah.)

The surge of operations that began in June is improving security throughout Iraq. The military successes are paving the way for the political reconciliation and economic progress the Iraqis need to transform their country. When Iraqis feel safe in their own homes and neighborhoods, they can focus their efforts on building a stable, civil society with functioning government structures at the local and provincial and national levels. And that's important, because a free Iraq, an Iraq that's an ally against these extremists and murderers will be a major defeat for the terrorists.

Earlier today I met with some of the tribal sheiks here in Anbar. It was a really interesting meeting. And at the table were the leaders of the central government, as well. They told me that the kind of bottom-up progress that your efforts are bringing to Anbar is vital to the success and stability of a free Iraq. See, Iraqis need this stability to build a more peaceful future. And America needs this stability to prevent the chaos that allows the terrorists to set up bases from which they can plot and plan attacks on our homeland.

The very people that you helped the Iraqis defeat in Anbar swore allegiance to the man that ordered the attack on the United States of America. What happens here in Anbar matters to the security of the United States.

And so I thank you for your sacrifice. I thank you for volunteering in the face of danger. I thank you for your courage and your bravery. Every day you are successful here in Iraq draws nearer to the day when America can begin calling you and your fellow servicemen and women home.

But I want to tell you this about the decision - about my decision about troop levels. Those decisions will be based on a calm assessment by our military commanders on the conditions on the ground - not a nervous reaction by Washington politicians to poll results in the media. (Hooah.)

In other words, when we begin to draw down troops from Iraq, it will be from a position of strength and success, not from a position of fear and failure. To do otherwise would embolden our enemies and make it more likely that they would attack us at home. If we let our enemies back us out of Iraq, we will more likely face them in America. If we don't want to hear their footsteps back home, we have to keep them on their heels over here. And that's exactly what you're doing, and America is safer for it.

In Anbar you're doing this hard work every day. We've all come to say thank you. We've come to tell you the American people are standing with you. They're grateful for your sacrifice. As Commander-in-Chief, I'm proud to be in your presence on this Labor Day. I ask for God's blessings on you and your family, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you."

(Applause.)

Remarks by Bush

Bush leaves Iraq after surprise visit WASHINGTON: US President George W. Bush left Iraq Monday following a surprise trip to a sprawling desert base with top members of his cabinet and military commanders, the White House said.

Bush "has left Iraq within the last 20 minutes," or shortly before 2000 GMT, White House spokeswoman Cynthia Bergman said.

The president was heading on to a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders in Australia after his one-day visit to the Al-Asad air base in Anbar province, where he held talks with Iraqi leaders that were joined by senior US officials.

Bush leaves Iraq after surprise visit

Orascom Telecom in JV with Korek in Iraq

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Orascom Telecom Holdings SAE said it has agreed to form a joint venture with Korek Telecom, a Kurdish operator that was granted one of the three long-term mobile licenses in Iraq.

The venture will have 4 million subscribers, giving it a market share of over 40 pct, the company said.

Orascom will hold a 70 pct interest in the joint venture, which is valued at 2.2 bln usd.

Last month Orascom dropped out of an auction for Iraq's mobile license and announced that it would instead evaluate offers to join one of the license parties.

Orascom Telecom in JV with Korek in Iraq - Forbes.com

Iran denies shelling northern Iraq

Tehran - Iran on Monday categorically denied shelling Kurdish areas in northern Iraq, the Iranian deputy foreign minister said Monday.

'We categorically deny the charges over shelling northern Iraq and have already officially replied to the charges,' Mehdi Mostafavi told state news agency IRNA.

Iraqi Kurdish officials had charged Iran with continued shelling of border areas in northern Iraq, targeting the bases of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Party for Freedom and Life in Kurdistan (PJAK) from Iran.

While reiterating Tehran's 'excellent ties' with Iraq, Mostafavi reminded that the two states have a joint border committee 'to fight armed groups which are active against the interests of Iran, Iraq and Turkey.'

He did not mention the groups by name, but Mostafavi was referring to PKK and PJAK.

'The old and new border problems should be settled within the joint border committee,' Mostafavi said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said last month that Iran was hunting terrorists and weapons smugglers in northern Iraq who were responsible for the killing of a large number of Iranian border soldiers and for the illegal transfer of weapons into Iran.

Iran denies shelling northern Iraq - Middle East