Thread: Iraq/Dinar News. 09/05 to 01/14/07

Originally Posted by Nomrah I

I watched it too. I actually find it fascinating watching history unfold. I feel better about my investment after watching it too. I can't believe how incredibly difficult it must be to create a democracy from ground zero. We sure as hell didn't do it from ground zero here in America, yet we want results NOW, and are impatient that it isn't up and running smoothily all ready. If we look at what has been accomplished and what the long term effects of democracy in Iraq will be for the Middle East - heck, for the world, it is breathtaking. And no, I'm not talking about the RV. It's all about perspective. Ask my kids, they hear me say it all the time, "patience, perspective, perseverance, and prayer" that's mom's motto.

i am soooo glad to see someone else say it too. thanks u2.

US not to cut and run from Iraq
30 November 2006 (Aljazeera)

The US president has praised the Iraqi prime minister as a "strong leader", vowed that US will keep troops until the "job is complete", and said that joint talks had partly focused on increasing the training of Iraq's security forces.

George Bush, speaking at a news conference with Nuri al-Maliki in the Jordanian capital Amman on Thursday, also said the Iraqi leader told him any partition of Iraq would only increase violence.

Bush said: "He is a strong leader and wants a free and democratic Iraq to succeed."

The US president's show of support came after US officials insisted on al-Maliki was not offended by a critical White House memo and had not snubbed Bush in Amman on Wednesday when the two had been expected to meet.

Bush said he and al-Maliki agreed in high-stakes talks that Iraq should not be partitioned into separate, semi-autonomous zones.

"The prime minster made clear that splitting his country into parts, as some have suggested is not what the Iraqi people want, and that any partition of Iraq would only lead to an increase in sectarian violence," Bush said after nearly two and a half hours of discussions aimed at stabilising violence-wracked Iraq.

"I agree," he said.

Al-Maliki denied that Iran had any influence over Iraq or any part of the embattled capital Baghdad.

He also said Iraq will never allow any foreign control of his war-wracked country. "We have repeatedly said, and we reaffirm once more, that we will never allow anyone to control any part of Iraq," al-Maliki said, when asked about alleged Iranian interference in Iraq.

"There are [foreign] interferences but any talk about [foreign] control is exaggerated," he said.Iraq's prime minister and US president George Bush have met to discuss future strategy on Iraq, amid conflicting reports over why the schedule of the meeting was changed.

Three-way talks cancalled

Original plans for three-way talks were abandoned at the last minute but talks between Bush and al-Maliki went ahead in Jordon on Thursday.

Instead, al-Maliki and Bush met for a working breakfast at Bush's hotel.

Explanations for the change to the scheduled talks between Bush, al-Maliki and king Abdullah were confused.

White House officials said the Jordanians and the Iraqis jointly decided three way talks were not the best use of time as both parties would be meeting the president separately.

Redha Jawad Taqi, a senior aide of Shia politician Abdulaziz al-Hakim, however, said the reason for the change had been because the Iraqi's believed king Abdullah wanted to broaden the talks to include the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

At the same time, two senior officials travelling with al-Maliki said the Iraqi prime minister had been reluctant to travel to Jordan in the first place and decided, once in Amman, that he did not want a "third party" involved in talks about subjects specific to the US-Iraqi relations.

Meanwhile, in Iraq 30 lawmakers and five cabinet ministers loyal to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr boycotted parliament and suspended their participation in the national unity government in protest at the meeting.

A statement released by the group said Bush's talks with al-Maliki were a "provocation to the feelings of the Iraqi people and a violation of their constitutional rights".


US not to cut and run from Iraq | Iraq Updates

US panel for gradual Iraq exit
30 November 2006 (Aljazeera)

The Iraq Study Group has decided to recommend that the US military shift from a combat role to a support role in Iraq, according to a source familiar with the panel's deliberations.

The panel also decided to call for a regional conference that could lead to direct US talks with Iran and Syria, the source said on Wednesday.

Separately, the New York Times website said the panel had unanimously agreed to a report that would call for a gradual pullback of American combat troops but stopped short of setting a firm timetable for withdrawal.

Earlier reports said the committee had reached a consensus agreement.

The Iraq Study Group is an advisory panel of Democrats and Republicans examining alternatives to US policy towards Iraq.

Led by James Baker, the former US secretary of state, the group's recommendations are likely to carry significant weight with the White House, and with the public.

The United States Institute of Peace said in a press release that the panel will present its report to the US president and Congress on December 6.

The event would be followed by a news conference.

Citing people familiar with the panel's deliberations, the Times said the Iraq Study Group will recommend that Bush make it clear that he would start the troop withdrawal "relatively soon", indicating sometime next year.

That recommendation would be a compromise between calls from some Democrats for a timetable to withdraw the nearly 140,000 US forces in Iraq and Bush's insistence that forces should remain until the mission to stabilise Iraq was completed.

The Times said the report did not state whether the 15 combat brigades making up most of the US fighting forces in Iraq would be brought home or pulled back to bases in Iraq or neighbouring countries.

But the pullback of the 15 combat brigades could still leave more than 70,000 American trainers, logistics experts and members of a rapid reaction force in Iraq, the Times said.

Consensus

On Tuesday, the group's co-chairman, Lee Hamilton, told the liberal Center for American Progress: "We reached a consensus."

But he refused to provide details saying the results would be revealed at the December 6 news conference.

George Bush's fellow Republicans lost control of the US Congress earlier this month largely because of public dissatisfaction over the war, in which 2,885 US forces have died since the March 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

Impetus

Many in Washington believe the group's report may provide the impetus for a change in policy or, at the very least, recommendations on how to move forward that may attract support from Democrats and Republicans.

The panel of five Republicans and five Democrats has been studying critical questions such as whether the US should begin to withdraw some of its nearly 140,000 troops from Iraq amid accelerating sectarian violence.

One source close to the panel's deliberations said, "There were very intense debates and they came up with some compromises to get everybody on board."

US panel for gradual Iraq exit | Iraq Updates

Jordan's king: Only political process can save Iraq
AMMAN, 30 November 2006 (Middle East Online)

Jordan's King Abdullah II on Wednesday told Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki that Sunni and Shiite leaders had to find political answers and reconciliation as the only way out of Iraq's bloodshed.

"There is no other solution to the crisis in Iraq than a political process and national reconciliation among all the Iraqi factions," the king told Maliki, according to a court statement.

The meeting was held just hours before the scheduled arrival in Amman of US President George W. Bush for a crucial summit to seek ways of quelling the sectarian violence which 150,000 US have failed to suppress.

King Abdullah II who is hosting the summit insisted that "Sunni and Shiite Muslim leaders must shoulder their responsibilities and adopt a common position to denounce crimes committed against Muslims" in Iraq.

Thousands of Iraqi civilians are being killed each month in the sectarian attacks with UN reports saying a total of more than 13,000 died in the past four months.

The monarch also expressed hope that Maliki's talks with Bush over breakfast on Thursday "will help set up a clear mechanism to put an end to the deteriorating security situation in Iraq".

This was essential, the king said, in order "to help the Iraqi police and army take control over the country", the statement added.

In addition "the international community as well as Arab and Muslims countries must back Iraq more than ever", the king said, reiterating his concern over the rise of violence across the border.

For his part Maliki expressed his gratitude for Jordan's hosting of his talks with Bush which he said were aimed at "averting a dangerous security situation in Iraq", the court statement said.

Maliki will hold a brief three-way meeting with Bush and the king on Wednesday evening but has not been invited to attend a working dinner between the American president and the Jordanian monarch.

The beleaguered Iraqi prime minister is under pressure to contain spiralling violence between Iraq's Sunnis and Shiites which are increasingly being perceived as a civil war -- a term Bush resists.

According to a statement from Maliki's office in Baghdad, the premier's Thursday meeting with Bush will be "to discuss Iraq's political situation and the abilities of Iraqi forces to take over security in the country".

"The visit is part of increased deliberations and negotiations to discuss the situation in Iraq," the statement added.

Jordan's king: Only political process can save Iraq | Iraq Updates

The Jordanian monarch to meet with the chairman of the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq
He met with the Jordanian monarch, King Abdullah II yesterday evening Wednesday in Amman, head of the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, It was during the meeting discussed developments of the situation in Iraq. Al-Hakim during the meeting, according to the official Jordanian news agency (Petra) reported that "the return of Iraq is back and we look forward to supporting Iraq in the Arab world and to stand by his people, He expressed his hope for the support of the Arab states to Iraq. He added Hakim "is in the interest of the Arabs not to pull back from Iraq, and they must understand the nature of the circumstances that the country is undergoing Iraq also prides attaches significance to its Arabism." For his part, the Jordanian monarch warned of the danger of sectarian fighting in Iraq reiterated Jordan's support for all efforts to bring Iraq the cycle of violence experienced by the return to play active and vital role in the region.

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Saudi prepares to intervene in Iraq
WASHINGTON, 30 November 2006 (Middle East Online)

Using money, weapons or its oil power, Saudi Arabia will intervene to prevent Iranian-backed Shiite militias from massacring Iraqi Sunni Muslims once the United States begins pulling out of Iraq, a security adviser to the Saudi government said on Wednesday.

Diplomats and analysts say Iraq's Sunni Arab neighbors, led by heavyweight Saudi Arabia, fear that the sectarian violence could spill into large-scale civil war between Shiites and Sunnis and set off a political earthquake far beyond Iraq.

Nawaf Obaid, writing in The Washington Post, said the Saudi leadership was preparing to revise its Iraq policy to deal with the aftermath of a possible US pullout, and is considering options including flooding the oil market to crash prices and thus limit Iran's ability to finance Shiite militias in Iraq.

"To be sure, Saudi engagement in Iraq carries great risks - it could spark a regional war. So be it: The consequences of inaction are far worse," Obaid said.

The article said the opinions expressed were Obaid's own and not those of the Saudi government.

"To turn a blind eye to the massacre of Iraqi Sunnis would be to abandon the principles upon which the kingdom was founded. It would undermine Saudi Arabia's credibility in the Sunni world and would be a capitulation to Iran's militarist actions in the region," he said.

An official Arab source sought to play down the comments.

"Saudi Arabia is worried about a new Iran imposing its political agenda on the region. We don't want Iran and its allies to have a free hand and free control," he said.

"Iran knows that it is vulnerable and that Saudi Arabia has the upper hand and maintains real weight and power."

Three options

A Western diplomat based in Riyadh said Saudi Arabia was already funding Sunni tribes in Iraq.

"I don't doubt for a second that they do pump money to the tribes, that's the Saudi way of doing things. But if they sent in troops it would be a bloodbath," he said.

President Bush will meet Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Jordan on Wednesday to discuss a surge in Sunni-Shiite violence in Iraq.

Bush has said he does not support calls for a US pullout from Iraq, but he is expected soon to receive proposals for possible changes in US policy in Iraq from a bipartisan panel.

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter and a close US ally, fears Shiite Iran has been gaining influence since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq ousted Saddam Hussein.

Obaid said if the United States begins withdrawing from Iraq, "one of the first consequences will be massive Saudi intervention to stop Iranian-backed Shiite militias from butchering Iraqi Sunnis."

Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said any intervention could only be determined by the course of events.

"Until we see what happens and how the situation is going to develop and the implications for those countries it is important to consider the possibilities but who will do what will be determined by the course of events," he said.

Obaid listed three options being considered by the Saudi government:

- providing "Sunni military leaders (primarily ex-Baathist members of the former Iraqi officer corps, who make up the backbone of the insurgency) with the same types of assistance," including funding and arms.

- establishing new Sunni brigades to combat the Iranian-backed militias.

- or the Saudi king "may decide to strangle Iranian funding of the militias through oil policy. If Saudi Arabia boosted production and cut the price of oil in half ... it would be devastating to Iran ... The result would be to limit Tehran's ability to continue funneling hundreds of millions each year to Shiite militias in Iraq and elsewhere."

Saudi prepares to intervene in Iraq | Iraq Updates

Bush and Maliki begin talks on Iraq
President George Bush held talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Jordan today, Thursday, on ways of ending the violence and achieving security in Iraq. The meeting came a day after a breakfast of the American officials to postpone the meeting, which was due to be held on Wednesday evening. Al-Maliki was met upon arrival Amman yesterday Jordanian King Abdullah II and discussed with him the latest situation in Iraq Ttat.

(9:11 Baghdad time)

A study of Iraq issued its report next Wednesday.
An American, "a study of Iraq." that is the assessment of the American policies in Iraq. its report will be issued next Wednesday. The source explained that the committee decided to recommend that moves from the American army to fight to play a supportive role in Iraq. He pointed out that the committee unanimously agreed to the report calls for a regional conference could lead to direct American talks with Iran and Syria, which the United States accuses cause of violence in Iraq.

(10:43 Baghdad time)

An American official confirmed that Iraq has not sliding into the abyss of civil war
Chief of the Staff of American General Peter Pace common that "Iraq is not sliding into the abyss of a civil war but the attacks by Al-Qaida aimed at this." Pace explained in a press statement that "the level of violence caused by Al Qaeda and similar aims specifically to create conditions can be controlled so that they can then these people can govern the way they want." He noted, "that the United States should focus on thwarting those efforts And how to defeat the enemy, which is trying to create civil war. "

(10:38 Baghdad time)

Throughout the meeting of the Commission to amend the Constitution next Tuesday
Postponed meeting of the Committee to amend the Constitution, which was scheduled to be held yesterday, Wednesday, to be held next Tuesday. A member of the Committee on the amendment of the constitution Accord Front Salim al-Jabouri said the decision to postpone the meeting was due to the absence of a large number of members. He explained that the target was destined for the conference to discuss the independent bodies, as the Electoral Commission and the Office of integrity. and the association and its authority.

(10:27 Baghdad time)

Prescott confirms that Britain is doing what it can to resolve the Iraqi crisis
Deputy British Prime Minister John Prescott that his government is making every possible effort "to find a peaceful solution" to the Iraqi crisis. Prescott stressed in a speech to the British House of the importance of making Iraq's neighboring countries all it can to stop the violence in the Iraqi territories by saying it "can do a lot." He noted, "it is not easy, but difficult to achieve this is because many of these countries play an important role in encouraging the armed attacks that injure and those countries can do a lot to prevent these things."

(9:23 Baghdad time)

Gates supported the idea of holding an international conference on Iraq involving Iran and Syria
The American Secretary of Defense Robert Gates supported the idea of convening an international conference on Iraq involving Iran and Syria. And Robert Gates said in his reply to a number of questions of the Armed Forces Committee in the Senate that he supported opening a dialogue with Damascus and Tehran. Gates pointed out that Washington had maintained a dialogue with the Soviet Union and China even during the worst Cold War epoch stressing that channels of communication have contributed greatly to the settlement of many complex and difficult situation, Gates said that it was not necessary to launch a dialogue with Syria as one can, for example, calling on Syria to participate in the regional conference, He also said that opening a dialogue with Iran may be in the framework of an international conference.

(9:21 Baghdad time)

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I don't believe any words that come out of this man's mouth, PLEASE IRAQ DON'T TRUST HIM


By Kordi

News
President of the Republic stresses that his visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran was successful, the results will of the Iraqi people soon

November 29, 2006

The President of the Republic, Jalal Talabani, The visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran was very successful, With Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the need to support the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki elected by the Iraqi people.

And President Talabani said in a joint press conference with Iranian President Nejad, on Wednesday, 11-29-2006 "I pray for the Iraqi people on the results of the visit will emerge soon."

Excellencies, pointed out that the Iraqi and Iranian sides reached understandings in many areas of security and economic and oil and Cultural Rights, He emphasized that it would lead to the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.

His Excellency added, "we have an agreement between the parties in full agreement." (better watch your back)
For his part, Iranian President pointed to the historical ties and cultural and religious common between the two countries and two friendly nations, and added, "There are deep ties and relations between the two peoples, from this standpoint, we say that no one can separate them. " He said that "Iran, the government and the people, will always on the side of the Iraqi people. " (LIES)

He and President Nejad noted that Iraq and Iran strongly linked to a strong and close ties of friendship will become a factor for the establishment of security, stability and peace in the entire region.

The Iranian President added, "Iran and Iraq are strong enemies of course, that Iraq today suffers from security problems, it is very clear that these problems are caused by forces do not want a strong and competent Iraq. and today we see that one of the most important duties entrusted to the Friends of Iraq is to support the government emanating from the Iraqi people. and we are convinced that the Iraqi government to help the people of Iraq would be capable of running the country's affairs. "

Nejad, the President expressed the hope that the Iraqi people to maintain unity, He said in this context that "the enemies of the Iraqi people are working to weaken in order to prevent Iraq emerge strong and able to understand that working to sow hatred between the sons of one people."

And the Iranian president warned of what he called extremists from undermining national unity in Iraq, saying, "We will not allow extremists to those who want to undermine national unity, whether consciously or not aware." He said in this context : "I say to countries that support terrorism in Iraq. you must recognize that support for terrorists is the worst that can be done and that this does not represent the help of the Iraqi people must be no contamination of these countries files by the Iraqi people, and people realize that this is good and when the ordeal would take that into account. "

He also stressed the need to give the Iraqi government elected by the Iraqi people to carry out its duties in the management of the country and in full receipt of the security file.

The Co and attended the signing of cooperation agreements between the two countries in the educational, industrial, terms of the agreements were signed by the ministers of education and industry in both countries.

And following the joint press conference, an official ceremony was held to bid farewell to the President of the Republic, Jalal Talabani, in the Iranian presidential palace. And Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the head of depositors.

Bush : American forces will stay in Iraq depends on the occasion of sleepless
The Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and the American President George Bush today, Thursday, held a joint press conference in the Jordanian capital Amman. Bush stressed during the conference that his country will continue to support the Iraqi government headed by Nuri al-Maliki chosen by the people. Pointing out that the government's success depends on the success of the security forces and that Washington looked forward to the government is capable of defending itself. And Bush indicated that the consultations Amman aimed at evaluating the current operation in Iraq because it is an important part of the Middle East. He pointed out that the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq depends on the existence of a proper atmosphere. For his part, al-Maliki said, "We are winning this stage when democracy and the principles and values that we believe in and we are determined to succeed and to meet the challenges." He interaction with the government of National Unity who move within the Constitution. Training and Hezbollah BENNANI for armed militias in Iraq, Al-Maliki said that the party denied this, He pointed out that the trend Sadri an important partner in the political process and an important part in the government of national unity.

(10:17 Baghdad time)

Allahibi : the withdrawal of mass chest currently has no influence and that there will resort to other blocks withdrawal
Deputy Accord Front Taha Allahibi that the suspension of membership bloc chest currently has no influence and that there will resort to other blocks withdrawal. Allahibi added in a press statement that "Sadrein close to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki a very strong relationship and that the latter would be based on them." Explaining that "bloc wanted to put pressure on Maliki to cancel his meeting with President George Bush for it is certain that during the meeting will discuss disbanding." Allahibi He pointed out that "today, Thursday, there will be similar positions to positions bloc chest by the front part of the dialogue and Accord Front." noting that "the withdrawal depends on the outcome of the meeting between Bush and Al-Maliki."

(8:40 Baghdad time)

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Powell: Iraq is in civil war
Dubai, 30 November 2006 (Gulf News)

Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell dropped a number of bombshells on Wednesday.

Among them was his acknowledgment that Iraq was in a state of civil war, that his speech to the UN in 2003 advocating an invasion of Iraq was based on erroneous information, and that stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), which were the basis for the invasion, probably never existed.

"It's time to face reality and recognise that Iraq is in a state of civil war," Powell said. "I think it meets the standard of a civil war."

The remark comes following recent debate in the US about the Iraqi insurgency. The Bush administration has refused to say that Iraq is embroiled in a civil war.

Powell also addressed the question of whether WMDs ever existed.

"We have to come to the conclusion that there were no stockpiles," he said. "The UN did a better job than we thought." He also discounted the idea that any WMD were buried or were moved to Syria.

Powell said that based on previous knowledge about Hussain, there was reason to believe that he would have produced them.

"There was every reason to infer that Saddam Hussain, who had used chemical weapons, who had used chemical weapons against Iran, and who had been found to have chemical weapons following the first Gulf War, would have had chemical weapons," he said.

Powell admitted that had he not argued that Hussain had WMD, there would not likely have been a war.

"If we had known that there were no WMD, then the whole equation would have been different," he said. Powell said that if the WMD had not existed, and Hussain has come forward with the information required by the UN, the war might have been avoided.

Powell also said that without the WMD, Cong-ress probably would not have passed the resolution that allowed the invasion to take place.

Addressing questions about the current state of Iraq, Powell admitted that the US failed to anticipate and eliminate the insurgency in Iraq.

"We did not handle that well," he said. "We did not bring order and security. We should have known an insurgency was possible. We were naïve."

Powell also said that the US should have had more troops on the ground, but noted that keeping current troops levels was unrealistic and also helped fuel the insurgency.

"We're security, but we're also part of the problem."

Powell also addressed criticism that US foreign policy advocated democracy but punished those who pursued it in ways unfavourable to the US.

"Hamas was elected, but Hamas is also a terrorist organisation that is dedicated to the destruction of its neighbour. We're not trying to overthrow Hamas," he said, adding that Hamas as a governmental body was still in place.

Powell said that given the Middle East peace pros-pects, his number one wish would be for the creation of Palestinian state.

"Give me a Palestinian state that can live side-by-side with the state of Israel," he said.

Powell: Iraq is in civil war | Iraq Updates