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POPSObama Victory Alters the Tenor of Iraqi Politics Over all, however, there was a new tone of optimism. “The atmosphere is positive with the American attempt to preserve the sovereignty of the Iraqi nation,” the government’s spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, told the news channel Al Arabiya. He praised the inclusion of a new provision stating that Americans would not launch attacks on Iraq’s neighbors from Iraqi soil. “There’s going to be a significant presence, but they are not going to be ‘combat’ forces,” said the administration official. “The other thing we witnessed through the Bush period was that when the Iraqi politicians couldn’t reach a compromise, Bush interfered,” Mr. Habeeb said. “I don’t think Obama will do that; he will not try to set the Iraqi agenda,” he said. “I think the politicians will have to be mature enough to solve their own problems and dare to make compromises.”
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POPSIraq Condemns U.S. - Demands Quick Withdrawal
It's clearer now that Bush's false war for false reasons is going down the toilet. It seems one of the oldest civilizations in the world is not falling for USA junk food treaties. Apparently the people who started the skill of writing can read. There's much more to this story/clip than just the headline: all big time, bad news for Bush. For what the Bush Administration and military wanted: The rest of the article is even worse, . #1. Iraq wants U.S. troops out by the end of 2009. It how now firmly rejected a clause the U.S. Military wanted, an option to extend the occupation to 2011. #2 It wants sole discretion to put U.S. soldiers on trial for any crimes they might commit -- something the U.S. will never agree to. #3. It wants to inspect U.S. military shipments into Iraq, another things the U.S. military or Navy would never agree to. These terms, right here in this clip, spell out F-A-I-L-U-R-E for Bush's War in Iraq and it's ongoing scams for Oil. It'
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POPSUS special forces attack in Syria-more details Syria's Foreign Ministry said it summoned the charges d'affaires of the United States and Iraq to protest against the strike. "Syria condemns this aggression and holds the American forces responsible for this aggression and all its repercussions. Syria also calls on the Iraqi government to shoulder its responsibilities and launch and immediate investigation into this serious violation and prevent the use of Iraqi territory for aggression against Syria," the government statement said.
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POPSPact May Open US Troops to Iraqi Prosecution Bush administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the evolving diplomacy on the so-called Status of Forces Agreement, said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other top Bush aides will soon to begin briefing key members of Congress on the draft. In case American troops are arrested for such offenses, they would be transferred to U.S. custody but made available to Iraqi authorities for questioning and trial, the officials said. The negotiating teams have decided they cannot improve on the proposal and have sent it to higher-ups for a political decision as time runs out on both the Bush administration and the U.N. mandate. (T)he State Department confirmed that a draft agreement had been finalized but refused to discuss any details...
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POPSHuge Weapons Cache Found West Of Baghdad The pic looks like a bunch of .50 barrels. BFD… comment by thebronze “The cache included 269 122 mm rocket rounds and 200,000 heavy machine-gun rounds.” “The cache included 269 122 mm rocket rounds.” Those rockets would be great IEDs. Or if they have a launcher they could use them against other areas. I take heavy machine gun rounds to mean at least .50. It is something of a big deal. comment by Hard Right
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POPSWhen is a holocaust not a holocaust? (cont.)Thus, the number of people available for being killers or victims is markedly reduced. Moreover, extensive ethnic cleansing has taken place in the country (another good indication of progress, n'est-ce pas?). Sunnis and Shiites are now living more in their own special enclaves than before, none of those stinking mixed communities with their unholy mixed marriages, so violence of the sectarian type has also gone down; and the powerful movement of Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr has had a cease-fire in effect for many months, unconnected to the surge. On top of all this, US soldiers, in the face of numerous "improvised explosive devices" on the roads, have been venturing out a lot less (for fear of things like ... well, dying), so the violence against our noble lads is also down. Remember that insurgent attacks on American forces is how the Iraqi violence all began in the first place.
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POPSU.S. Perpetuates Mass Killings In Iraq
I couldn't care less who wins the elections. Looking at both candidates, it seems America isn't the least bit interested in real change. Is anyone asking the candidates about what they are going to do about the US' slow but steady slide into fascism? Or about limiting presidential power? Or about banning torture? Or about the return of Habeus Corpus? Or about extraordinary renditions and secret prisons? Or about preemptive aggression? Or about making your war criminals pay for their crimes? Hmm? Anyone? No. No. Let's just keep it entertaining, low key and unsubstantial. Let's talk about lipstick! Yeah! Blacks vs whites, Democrats vs Republicans, pro-life vs pro-choice, Christians vs atheists blah blah blah... "Divide and conquer!". The power elite working behind the scenes have that pat down and the US citizenry is blissfully (perhaps willingly) oblivious... *shaking my head in disbelief* Oops! No time to comment any more! The O'Reilly Factor's on! No spin! Really!
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POPSEight reasons for voting against Unfit McCain: 8. Finally, Senator McCain's first important decision as a presidential candidate showed bad judgment on his part by selecting unqualified Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as a "one heartbeat away" commander-in-chief. To learn why she is not suited for the vice presidency, click on the McCain VP pick button above. Also presented on the VP page is a testimonial letter by Anne Kilkenny of Wasilla, Alaska, Palin's mayorial town, who has known her since 1992. After reading Kilkenny's devastating letter, you will be convinced that Palin should never get near Washington, D.C., in any capacity.
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POPSIraqi PM Maliki questions US troop deal "Iraqis have shown flexibility and we hope that the American side shows more flexibility," he said. "If they implement our demand quickly, the deal will be signed soon, but if they refuse our demands, it will face obstacles and could lead to new negotiations." The US said last week that negotiations on the deal were ongoing.
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POPSArming Iraq Front page story from the Wall Street Journal lays out both business and national security implications of the potential deal, notably underscoring the importance of Middle Eastern market for defense contractors. Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, General Electric, and United Technologies get mentions.
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POPSIraq Takes Aim at Leaders of U.S.-Tied Sunni Groups Cont.... Even before the new pressure from the government, many Awakening members were growing frustrated — and at an especially delicate time. United States and Iraqi negotiators have just completed a draft security agreement that next year, Iraqi officials say, would substantially pull American forces back from cities and towns to be replaced by Iraqi security forces. Awakening members complain, with rising bitterness, that the government has been slow to make good on its promises to recruit tens of thousands of its members into those security forces. General Perkins said only 5,200 members had been recruited in a force of about 100,000.
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POPS Limited US attack on Iranian Revolutionary Guards Bases in Sight Tehran would view a US attack on the IRGC bases as a casus belli and might react in ways and on a scale unanticipated in Washington. Two days ago, Iran’s defense minister Gen. Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar warned: “Iran’s Armed Forces are fully prepared to counter any military attack with any intensity and to make the enemy regret initiating any such incursions.” According to DEBKAfile’s Iranian and military sources, the IRGC had by mid-May completed their preparations for a US missile, air or commando assault on their command centers and bases in reprisal for Iranian intervention in Iraq. These preparations encompass al Qods’ arms, most of them undercover, in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Sudan. At home, the Revolutionary Guards have evacuated their key bases together with manpower and equipment to regular army sites or temporary quarters in villages located in remote corners of eastern and northern Iran.
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POPSU.S. Military Hoped for Virtually Unlimited Freedom of Action in Iraq This was reported in June... According to Cockburn's reporting, "President Bush wants to push through by the end of so he can declare a military victory and claim his 2003 invasion has been vindicated." (Note 13) A prime beneficiary of the acceptance of a military agreement that the Iraqi people do not believe respects their rights or serves their interests would probably be the vast, privatized U.S. military/intelligence complex, positioned to profit from repressing the resistance sure to follow. If the Bush administration's goal is achieved through secret deals and pressure tactics it would only confirm the widespread view that its commitment to democracy is primarily self-serving. In Iraq as elsewhere there are many who would welcome a genuine American commitment to liberty and human rights but believe that U.S. actions contradict its rhetoric. So much to decipher here!
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POPSJohnny, we hardly recognize you John McCain insists that we must "win" the war in Iraq. There is no "win" here, only giving the Iraqi people back what is left of their country.
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POPSDefining “Victory” In Iraq Part of the problem here is that the war in Iraq is usually thought of as a single war in Iraq. But there have been at least three wars in Iraq since 2003 – the U.S.-led war against Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party regime, the civil war between Sunni and Shia militias, and the insurgencies against government and international forces waged by a constellation of guerrilla and terrorist groups. All three wars are distinct from each other, and two of the three are already over. The war against Saddam Hussein and his government ended when the regime was overthrown and what remained of its army was disbanded. You might say it didn’t officially end until he was captured in December of 2003, but he effectively lost when he was demoted from absolute dictator to fugitive. No matter what else might happen, Saddam Hussein will never be considered victorious.
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POPSCoalition, Iraqi Forces Detain Five, Find Weapons Coalition and Iraqi forces located weapons caches during separate operations July 21 and 22 in Baghdad. In all, the troops found more than 2,000 AK-47 rounds, 300 automatic machine gun rounds, 50 mortars, 13 homemade bombs and two rocket-propelled grenades, officials said. (Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
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POPSThe Democrats' Fairy Tale
And the improvements in Anbar could never have been sustained without aggressive American military efforts — efforts that were more effective in 2007 than they had been in 2006, due in part to the addition of the surge forces. Last year’s success, in Anbar and elsewhere, was made possible by confidence among Iraqis that U.S. troops would stay and help protect them, that the U.S. would not abandon them to their enemies. Because the U.S. sent more troops instead of withdrawing — because, in other words, President Bush won his battles in 2007 with the Democratic Congress — we have been able to turn around the situation in Iraq. And now Iraq’s Parliament has passed a de-Baathification law — one of the so-called benchmarks Congress established for political reconciliation. For much of 2007, Democrats were able to deprecate the military progress and political reconciliation taking place on the ground by harping on the failure of the Iraqi government to pass the benchmark legislation
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POPSObama is wrong While the United States has an interest in preventing the resurgence of the Afghan Taliban, the country's strategic importance pales beside that of Iraq, which lies at the geopolitical center of the Middle East and contains some of the world's largest oil reserves. If Mr. Obama's antiwar stance has blinded him to those realities, that could prove far more debilitating to him as president than any particular timetable.
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