Wikio Blogs - iraq

[Iraq] Militia ceasfire in Baghdad, offensive against al Qaeda in Mosul (PrairiePundit)

PrairiePundit — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:40:56 GMT

AP /Fox News: Shiite militants agreed on a ceasefire in Baghdad's embattled neighborhood of Sadr City, an aide to a high level cleric said Saturday, holding out hope that weeks of clashes in the capital could be at an end. In the northern city of Mosul, an Iraqi army commander announced the start of a long anticipated offensive against Al Qaeda in Iraq's last urban stronghold. Sheik Salah al-Obeidi, an aide to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, said the cease-fire will go into effect Sunday. The cease-fire may not necessarily end seven-week-old clashes in Sadr City, the stronghold of al-Sadr's Mahdi Army. The U.S. military has blamed clashes on groups who broke away from the main organization. It remained unclear who will abide by the cease-fire deal. It is not believed that the bulk of the 60,000-string Mahdi Army has participated in the clashes, but mostly just splinter groups that have refused to honor a general cease-fire ordered by al-Sadr last August. Al-Sadr has directed his supporters to only fight when attacked. ... "A 10-point agreement has been reached between members from the United Iraqi Alliance and Sadrist movement in Baghdad and we are informed that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is committed to it," al-Obeidi said in the southern city of Najaf. He said "the agreement stipulates that Mahdi Army will stop fighting in Sadr City and will stop displaying arms in public. In return, the government will stop random raids against al-Sadr followers and open all closed roads that lead to Sadr City." ... "This document does not call for disbanding al-Mahdi Army or laying down their arms," al-Obeidi said, rejecting a previous call by al-Maliki. ... This sounds more like a hudna than a real agreement. The militia was getting beat and needed some breathing room to regroup. It is not clear whether this agreement would effect the barrier on Qods street where most of the fighting has taken place. This barrier was needed to stop the militia attacks on the Green Zo

Fox News : Commander: U.S.-Backed Forces Launch Al Qaeda Offensive ...
Investor's Iraq Forum : Army Commander: U.S.-Backed Forces Launch Offensive Against Al Qaeda ...

blogs : Time,Fox News,Houston Chronicle,Investor's Iraq Forum,Democratic Underground...
(8 posts, last update: 10/05/2008 20:40)

[Iraq] Got a Big Al Qaeda Fish in Iraq (Little Green Footballs)

Little Green Footballs — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:10:00 GMT

Not completely confirmed but looking good: Leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq Arrested in Mosul . BAGHDAD — The leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, was arrested in the northern city of Mosul, the Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman said Thursday. Spokesman Mohammed al-Askari said the arrest of al-Masri, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, was confirmed to him by the Iraqi commander of the province. There was no immediate confirmation or comment from U.S. forces on the arrest. The U.S. military in Baghdad said “we are currently checking with Iraqi authorities to confirm the accuracy of this information.” Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said that Mosul police “arrested one of Al Qaeda’s leaders at midnight and during the primary investigations he admitted that he is Abu Hamza Al-Muhajir.”

Fox News : Report: Leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq Arrested in Mosul ...
Queer Conservative : Got Another One Of The Bastards! (Maybe...) ...

blogs : Time,Fox News,Infidels Are Cool,Democratic Underground,NoisyRoom.net...
(41 posts, last update: 09/05/2008 04:10)

[Iraq] Ending Iran's Influence Inside Iraq (The Captain's Journal)

The Captain's Journal — Sat, 10 May 2008 08:28:38 GMT

Concerning actions in Sadr City, we have noted before that the emplacement of concrete barriers was initially intended to prohibit the firing of mortar rounds into the Baghdad Green zone, and we recommended pressing the campaign forward into Sadr City proper. There are further reports about the difficulty of completing the wall due to combat [...]

Hot Air : Big push coming in Sadr City ...
SWJ Blog : 10 May SWJ News, Op-Ed, Events & Blog Roundup ...

blogs : The Captain's Journal,SWJ Blog,The Strata-Sphere,Hot Air...
(4 posts, last update: 10/05/2008 10:28)

[Iraq] Max Boot Compares Walled Baghdad Neighborhoods To American Gated Communties (Think Progress)

Think Progress — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:30:50 GMT

Today, Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Max Boot continued to cheerlead for the “success” of the surge in Iraq in an online debate. Boot insisted that Iraq has met two-thirds of the original 18 benchmarks, that the government's offensive in Basra was successful, and that the so-called Sons of Iraq will always remain loyal [...]

Hoffmania! : At What Point Do His Readers Finally Say "He's Officially Fucking Nuts"? ...
The Hollywood Liberal : Max Boot Compares Walled Baghdad Neighborhoods To American Gated Communties ...

blogs : Think Progress,The Hollywood Liberal,Hoffmania!...
(3 posts, last update: 08/05/2008 13:30)

[Iraq] Leader of Al-Qaeda In Iraq Identified With Photo (Gateway Pundit)

Gateway Pundit — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:23:00 GMT

Al-Arabiya television in Iraq has released what it says is a photo of Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Omar al-Baghdadi. FOX News reported: Al-Arabiya television reports it has identified the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq and the network broadcast his photograph. The Dubai-based network, citing an Iraqi police official, said the real name of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi , who allegedly heads the Islamic State of Iraq, is Hamid Dawoud al-Zawi . Originally from Haditha, al-Baghdadi served in the Iraqi army under Saddam Hussein, then joined Al Qaeda in 2003, the police official told Al-Arabiya. The terrorist website Jihad Unspun has a letter from Sheikh Abu Omar Al-Baghdadi posted from late April. "Omar al-Baghdadi" translates as "Omar the Guy From Baghdad." The U.S. military spokesmen have said repeatedly that Omar al-Baghdadi does not exist.

Fox News : Report: Al Qaeda in Iraq Leader Identified With Photo ...
Eye On The World : Report: Al Qaeda in Iraq Leader Identified With Photo ...

blogs : Fox News,The Jawa Report,Alarabiya.net,Gateway Pundit,Get Mash...
(6 posts, last update: 07/05/2008 15:23)

[Iraq] More and “Better”? Blank Checks? (Firedoglake)

Firedoglake — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:42:30 GMT

As our representatives in congress are preparing to approve more funding for the occupation of Iraq, the people of Sadr City are being warned to leave their homes in the face of even larger attacks. Congress - instead of putting a stop to the horror - asks the Iraqis to pay for it.

The Fourth Rail : US, Iraqi forces kill 18 Mahdi fighters during clashes, raids in Baghdad ...
Alertnet : Dozens of Iraqi police detained in operation ...

blogs : The Two Malcontents,The Fourth Rail,Alertnet,Firedoglake,PrairiePundit...
(7 posts, last update: 09/05/2008 21:42)

[Iraq] Sadr City and The Folly of Fixed Fortifications (One Utah)

One Utah — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:00:20 GMT

Fixed fortifications are monuments to man's stupidity. – General George S. Patton, Jr. U.S. Army soldiers from 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division guard construction of a concrete wall running through the Shiite enclave of Sadr City, Baghdad, on Sunday, May 4, 2008. Why is the U.S. Army building [...]

The Fourth Rail : Mahdi Army takes a hit in Baghdad, Basrah ...
The Cool Blue Blog : Last ditch effort ...

blogs : The Fourth Rail,One Utah,The Cool Blue Blog,Stryker Brigade News...
(4 posts, last update: 06/05/2008 13:00)

[Iraq] Wife of Iraqi President Unharmed After Motorcade Is Bombed (NoisyRoom.net)

NoisyRoom.net — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:51:10 GMT

From Fox News: BAGHDAD — A bomb hit a motorcade carrying the wife of Iraq’s first lady through Baghdad on Sunday, while the U.S. military said a roadside explosion killed four Marines in the deadliest attack in western Anbar province in months. The motorcade bombing in Baghdad's Karrada district injured four of Hiro Ibrahim Ahmed's bodyguards [...]

Fox News : Iraq's First Lady OK After Motorcade Is Bombed ...
appletree : News from Iraq: May 5, ‘08 ...

blogs : Fox News,Seattle Times,The Daily Vidette,International Herald Tribune,Democratic Underground...
(13 posts, last update: 05/05/2008 20:51)

[Iraq] Freed from Gitmo, he blows himself up in Iraq (Jihad Watch)

Jihad Watch — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:00:00 GMT

We have seen Gitmo recidivism before, and it's no surprise. When the inmates there see American soldiers handling the Qur'an with gloves, in implicit acknowledgment of their unclean status as non-believers as per Qur'an 9:28, what is disabusing those inmates...

"We Have Some Planes" : Jihad Watch: Freed from Gitmo, he blows himself up in Iraq ...
The Broken Chair : Freed from Gitmo, Man Promptly Blows Self Up ...

blogs : Alertnet,"We Have Some Planes",Democratic Underground,Alarabiya.net,Jihad Watch...
(7 posts, last update: 02/05/2008 22:00)

[Iraq] Bill Roggio's, Long War Journal Account Of Recent Sadr City Battles (Investor's Iraq Forum)

Investor's Iraq Forum — Sat, 03 May 2008 03:57:00 GMT

Quote: US troops kill 28 Mahdi fighters in Sadr City By Bill Roggio The apparent respite in yesterdays fighting was illusionary as US forces killed an additional 27 Mahdi Army fighters and a senior Special Groups leader during a series of engagements in the afternoon and throughout the night in Sadr City. One of the larger clashes occurred as US force were attacked while constructing the barrier that divides the southern portion of Sadr city where US and Iraqi troops have established a foothold. The fighting began just before noon as Mahdi Army fighters attacked US troops with rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire as they were building the concrete security barrier in Sadr City. US soldiers responded and killed three Mahdi fighters. Ten minutes later, US troops killed seven Mahdi Army fighters as they attacked the soldiers with mortars and machine guns. No US casualties were reported killed in either incident. US troops killed another 17 Mahdi Army fighters in a series of engagements throughout the day as they transported weapons, set up rockets for launching, planted roadside bombs, and attacked US troops in Sadr City. Please continue reading the rest of Bills report here: The Long War Journal Good stuff. :yes:

The Fourth Rail : US troops kill 28 Mahdi fighters in Sadr City ...
The Dignified Rant : Knights' Squeeze ...

blogs : The Fourth Rail,Investor's Iraq Forum,The Dignified Rant,Stryker Brigade News...
(4 posts, last update: 03/05/2008 05:57)

[Iraq] Antiwar Longshoremen Close West Coast Ports (Gateway Pundit)

Gateway Pundit — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:41:00 GMT

Dock workers shut down West Coast Ports today in protest against the War in Iraq. Protesters also gathered at the port in Oakland to try to persuade truckers to join them in their anti-empire protesting. ( NBC11 ) The longshoreman on the West Coast stayed home from work to protest the Iraq War today. The NBC11 reported: Terminal operators say West Coast cargo traffic has come to a halt as port workers stage daylong anti-war protests . Pacific Maritime Association spokesman Steve Getzug said thousands of dockworkers did not show up to work Thursday morning, leaving ships and thousands of truck drivers idle at ports from Oakland to Long Beach and to Seattle. Workers are expected to return to work for the start of the Thursday evening shift. Protesters were walking picket lines Thursday morning at the Port of Oakland in an effort to convince truckers to take part in the shutdown... Small groups of protesters are stopping trucks as they approach port facilities. They're trying to get truck drivers to participate in a work stoppage protesting U.S. military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The truckers are not being blocked from the facilities, but are being allowed to proceed if they wish. Thursday's picketing occurred after an arbitrator told the union that represents dockworkers at West Coast ports that workers must show up for their jobs Thursday. The Longshoremen passed a resolution opposing the War in Iraq. The resolution did not mention if they were for or against the War in Afghanistan. Today's action, which essentially shut down all major ports along the coast, culminates a series of events that began when ILWU members passed a resolution opposing the U.S. war in Iraq. Hopefully, some day these dock workers will find a war or a country they can support.

The Earth Times Online Newspaper : Anti-war dockworkers shut down US west coast ports ...
Redneck's Revenge : Anti-war dockworkers shut down US west coast ports ...

blogs : NBC11.com - Local News,BlueOregon,Investor's Iraq Forum,The Earth Times Online Newspaper,Redneck's Revenge...
(6 posts, last update: 02/05/2008 01:41)

[Iraq] Who Could Have Seen This Coming? Former Club Gitmo Guest Carries Out Suicide Bombing in Iraq (JammieWearingFool)

JammieWearingFool — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:11:14 GMT

I hope our friends at the ACLU rest comfortably tonight, knowing their efforts sprung this maggot so he could go back to doing what he was meant to do: murder innocent people. The blood is on their hands.A Kuwaiti man released from the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay in 2005 has carried out a suicide bombing in Iraq, his cousin told Al Arabiya television on Thursday. A friend of Abdullah Saleh

Hot Air : Surprise: Freed Gitmo detainee carried out suicide bombing in Iraq ...
Gateway Pundit : Former Club Gitmo Detainee Carries Out Suicide Mission in Iraq ...

blogs : Investor's Iraq Forum,JammieWearingFool,Hot Air,Gateway Pundit...
(4 posts, last update: 01/05/2008 22:11)

[Iraq] Bill O’Reilly's Dept. Of History Rewriting [Oliver Willis] (The Liberal Blog Network)

The Liberal Blog Network — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:35:00 GMT

According to Bill, “we didn't invade Iraq”. Really. REALLY.

Fox Attack : O’Reilly: “We Didn't Invade Iraq” ...
A Spork in the Drawer : STUNNING REVELATION!!!!! ...

blogs : Fox Attack,My Two Sense,A Spork in the Drawer,The Liberal Blog Network...
(4 posts, last update: 02/05/2008 01:35)

[Iraq] Scenes From An Iraki Childhood April 29th 2008 (Gorillas Guides)

Gorillas Guides — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:36:01 GMT

In this photo 2 year old Ali Hussein is seen being pulled from the rubble of his family's home in Sadr City Tuesday, April 29, 2008. Ali’s home was one of four destroyed by U.S. missiles. Ali died in hospital a few hours later. In this second photo 2 year old the body of 2 year old [...]

Main and Central : Slaying Strawmen... ...
appletree : News from Iraq: April 30, ‘08 ...

blogs : Main and Central,appletree,Gorillas Guides...
(3 posts, last update: 30/04/2008 14:36)

[Iraq] Why the Arab states won't get involved (missing links)

missing links — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:00:55 GMT

Abdullah Khalifa Al-Shayji, a political science professor at Kuwait University and a former adviser to the speaker of the Kuwaiti parliament, yesterday summed up the nub of Gulf-region thinking on the question of Iraq, where Condi today is urging more "support" for the Maliki government. (Others have pointed out that there are many reasons to smile and do nothing, including: (1) Lack of

Firedoglake : Condi Drops In On The Neighbors ...
One Utah : Arab States and Iraq: ‘Many reasons to smile and do nothing’ ...

blogs : One Utah,Firedoglake,missing links...
(3 posts, last update: 24/04/2008 00:00)