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*IRAQ: latest news and developments

Cleric urges withdrawal from Iraq's holy cities

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's most respected Shiite cleric urged U.S. soldiers and a radical cleric's militia Tuesday to withdraw from two Shiite holy cities where fighting has raged near some of Shia Islam's holiest shrines. A statement released in Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani's name urged Iraqis not to travel to Najaf to join protests called by cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Instead, he said, Shiites should join rallies elsewhere to demand that Najaf and Karbala "be rid of all armed manifestations." However, the statement, which al-Sistani's aides distributed to reporters after nighttime skirmishes in Najaf, did not include the ayatollah's personal seal nor was it posted on his Web site, as is customary with religious decrees, or fatwas, which are binding on his followers.

An aide to al-Sistani, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the ayatollah wants both the Americans and al-Sadr's al-Mahdi Army out of the holy cities in southern Iraq but has avoided an explicit call because he knows neither side is prepared to accept it.
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Thousands in Tehran anti-US march

Thousands of Iranians have marched on the streets of Tehran to protest against US and UK policy in Iraq. Demonstrators also hurled petrol bombs at the British embassy but no serious damage was reported. The protesters held placards and chanted slogans denouncing coalition troops for fighting in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, sacred to Shias. The marchers were summoned by a call from Iran's Shia clergy - a frequent critic of the Iraq occupation. The BBC's Jim Muir in Tehran says several hundred protesters initially gathered at the British embassy. Their ranks were swelled by up to 3,000 more, some of whom then broke away from the main demonstration.
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Jazeera's Iraq coverage hits U.S. raw nerve

DOHA (Reuters) - Dogged by scandal, insurgency and rising anti-U.S. sentiment in the Middle East, the United States has lashed out at the popular Arabic network Al Jazeera whose graphic coverage of Iraq seems to have hit a nerve. During the 2003 U.S.-led Iraq war, the 24-hour television news station made its name by beaming pictures of bloodied Iraqis, bombed Baghdad buildings and slain U.S. and British soldiers into millions of Arab homes, providing an image of the war not often seen in the Western media.

The U.S. administration has repeatedly criticised the Qatar-based channel's coverage of Iraq as "inaccurate and anti-American" but at the same time, U.S. officials have appeared several times on the station. But earlier this month, U.S. President George W. Bush snubbed Jazeera and gave interviews about the abuse of Iraqi detainees to its rivals while his secretary of state raised concerns about the station with Qatar's foreign minister, saying its "inflammatory" coverage was clouding bilateral ties.

.........

"We did not create these photos or these images," Jihad Ballout, the station's communications and media relations officer, told Reuters. "We are reporting what's on the ground, we are reflecting the reality."

"When the station emerged, everybody was full of praise because we shed the clutches of the censor and broke major taboos in the region, such as hosting Israeli spokespeople. This (recent) criticism has come about as a result of political expediency," he added.
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This is a good read - The Neo Cons going all wobbly and starting to look for people to blame. (Youll need to register, but it only takes 2 mins.)

The Hawks Loudly Express Their Second Thoughts

After the setbacks in Falluja and Najaf, followed by the prisoner abuse scandal, hawks are glumly trying to reconcile the reality in Iraq with the predictions they made before the war. A few have already given up on the idea of a stable democracy in Iraq, and many are predicting failure unless there's a dramatic change in policy - a new date for elections, a new secretary of defense, a new exit strategy.

Most blame the administration for botching the mission, and some are also questioning their own judgment. How, they wonder, did so many conservatives, who normally don't trust their government to run a public school down the street, come to believe that federal bureaucrats could transform an entire nation in the alien culture of the Middle East?

....

Robert Kagan and William Kristol, two influential hawks at the neoconservative Weekly Standard, warned in last week's issue of the widespread bipartisan view that the war "is already lost or on the verge of being lost." They called for moving up the election in Iraq to Sept. 30 to hasten the transition and distract attention from American mistakes.

"There's a fair amount of conservative despair, which I respect," Mr. Kristol, the magazine's editor, said in an interview. "My sentiments are closer to anger than to angst. My anger is at the administration for having made many more mistakes than it needed to have made. But we still have to win and we still can win."
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See, that's the problem - they never thought any mistakes would be made so then didnt plan for any. Then when things go tits up, the blame George and the boys for it all. :p
 
From what I can make out, the Bush regime is turning away from its Neo-Con allies and turning to Daddy Bush.

Here's an interesting article illustrating how this new attitude of the Neo-Cons may well be a pre-emptive defence. They know all about that concept, of course.

Asia Times - Baker's return

The return of Baker - long-time consiglieri to the Bush family whose last mission was to secure all of Florida's electoral votes for George W in 2000 regardless of the state's actual voting laws or how people actually voted - made an already bad week for administration hawks much, much worse.

One unnamed "senior administration official", quoted by The New York Times noted that Baker wields vastly greater influence over the Bushes than Secretary of State Colin Powell, his fellow-realist, could ever hope to have. "Baker is Bush,"the official said. "Other countries know that Powell doesn't win all the [intra-administration] battles. If you deal with Baker, you know you're going to get what you need," said the official source in a line that must have sent chills down the spines of the neo-conservatives and their right-wing fellow-travelers, most notably Cheney himself.

Of course, it is not yet known how much Baker, the master diplomatic puppeteer of the first Gulf War in 1991 and Ronald Reagan's former White House chief of staff and treasury secretary, intends to weigh in on policy decisions that go beyond his specific brief.

But the fact that he is now in the White House and dealing directly with all of Washington's major allies in Europe, Asia and the Middle East on the future of Iraq, if not the entire region, places him in the thick of the administration's foreign policy, to put it mildly. From now on, very little is likely to be decided on anything that affects Iraq or US alliances without his "input".
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General: Iraq violence likely to get worse before it gets better

The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East said Wednesday that he may need more than the 135,000 troops already in Iraq once political control is handed back to the Iraqis on June 30 because the insurgency is likely to grow even more violent then. Summoned to testify before Congress on prisoner abuse, Gen. John Abizaid also addressed broader issues, making clear that he believes time is running short to make a viable handover of sovereignty to the Iraqis on June 30.

President Bush warned that Iraq could remain dangerous and unstable after the transfer of political power.
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What on earth is going on here?
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I genuinely think that this is part of the removal of the Neo-Cons and their creatures. Chalabi belongs to Rumsfeld and Cheney. Powell and his lot always prefered Adnan Pachachi and were pushing him.

Chalabi is a fall guy, the man who told the administration that Iraq had WMDs. His destruction forms part of their political exit strategy. Bush, Powell and Rice are insulating themselves.

No honour amongst thieves.
 
More Blair drivel.

Blair: Criticising US would hurt British troops in Iraq

British Prime Minister Tony Blair told his cabinet Thursday that any open disagreement with the United States over Iraq would imperil the morale of British troops occupying the south of the country.

The point was also underlined by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon during the weekly closed-door power huddle at Downing Street, Blair's spokesman told reporters afterwards.

"They underlined the negative impact they thought any show of disagreement would have on morale" among the 8,000 British troops who occupy the oil-rich south, the spokesman said.
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Fierce fighting in Iraqi holy cities

American gunships and tanks pounded militia positions near two shrines in the centre of the Iraqi holy city of Karbala today,The US military said it killed 18 fighters loyal to a rebel cleric. Hospital officials said the dead included two Iranian pilgrims. US forces withdrew from a mosque in the city centre that had been used by insurgents as a base of operations, but said patrols in the city would continue.

The fighting began after insurgents fired several rocket-propelled grenades at US tanks that were patrolling on the outskirts of the Old City, a maze of alleyways and cluttered buildings. The tanks returned fire, and more than two hours of heavy fighting followed. Smoke billowed from burning buildings.Much of the fighting was near the Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas shrines, which US forces allege are being used by militiamen as firing positions or protective cover.

Fighting between American forces and cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s militia was also heavy in Najaf and neighbouring Kufa, south of Baghdad.Explosions rocked the centre of Najaf, near local government buildings, and Friday prayers were cancelled because of the violence. A huge fire blazed in a vegetable market.
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It seems the Italians aren't too happy with their PM!

Demos rock Rome after Prime Minister Berlusconi decides to extend troops’

Demonstrations were held in Italy’s capital Rome protesting Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s decision to extend the stay of the country’s troops in Iraq. Berlusconi announced the decision after meeting US President George Bush. Berlusconi told the Italian Parliament that it will be Italy’s duty to stay in Iraq terming it an honour with those making sacrifices.

Berlusconi said the power transition in Iraq will be smooth and expressed hope that the UN will have a bigger role post transition. But opposition is mounting against the decision and demonstrators in Rome wanted an immediate pullout of the country’s 2,700 troops from Iraq. The death of an Italian soldier last week has left the opponents even furrier. The demonstrations were held near the Italian Parliament, while Berlusconi was briefing lawmakers. Riot police have been called in to control the angry demonstrators.
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Interesting they are using Larium as an anti-Malarial drug. Its well known to cause massive hallucinations in some people. Just what you need as a soldier!

Updates from last couple of days

05/21/04 AP: Heavy fighting overnight in Iraqi city of Karbala
American AC-130 gunships and tanks pounded militia positions early Friday near two shrines in the center of the holy city of Karbala, and the U.S. military said it killed 18 fighters loyal to a rebel cleric.

05/21/04 Reuters: Spanish Journalist Held by Shi'ite Group in Najaf
A Spanish radio journalist has been held in the Iraqi city of Najaf by a Shi'ite group linked to rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, state radio reported on Friday.

05/21/04 AFP: Al-Jazeera cameraman, eight others killed in Iraq
An Iraqi cameraman working for the pan-Arab satellite television station Al-Jazeera was among nine civilians killed during a night of fighting between US troops and Shiite militiamen in the Iraqi holy city of Karbala

05/21/04 Reuters: Gunmen kill four Iraqi security forces
Gunmen opened fire on a checkpoint near the northern Iraqi city of Baquba on Friday, killing four members of Iraq's security forces, medics and witnesses said.

05/21/04 DFP: Soldier learns to cope with artificial hand
He lost his right hand; his left hand was mangled; his chest was burned, and his eardrums were perforated. Twice, his heart stopped at hospitals in Iraq.

05/21/04 CJTF: Marine Dies in Vehicle Accident
A Marine assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force died May 20 in a vehicle accident in the western most region of the Al Anbar Province, while conducting security-and-stability operations.

05/20/04 CNN.com: Military's Use of Malarial Drug In Question
Although grieving families and some experts suspect a link between Lariam and the deaths, the Pentagon said it isn't sure.

05/20/04 WaPo: U.S. Troops Raid Chalabi's House
U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police raided the residence of Iraqi politician Ahmad Chalabi on Thursday ...

05/20/04 Geo: Fresh skirmish claimed 10 lives in Iraq
Nine civilians were killed and 16 others wounded overnight in the central Iraqi city of Karbala whereas US operation continues against Al Sadr militia in Najaf.

05/20/04 Bulgarian News: Mortar Shells Fall On Bulgarian Camp
Two mortar shells slammed into the Bulgarian troops’ camp in the Iraqi city of Karbala early Thursday causing no injuries, the defense ministry in Sofia said.

05/20/04 DOD: National Guardsman Dead of Illness
Staff Sgt. William D. Chaney, 59, of Schaumburg, Ill., died May 18, in Landstuhl, Germany due to a non-combat related injury.

05/20/04 CJTF: One 1st ID Soldier Killed and One Wounded by IED
One 1st Infantry Division Soldier was killed and one was wounded when their combat patrol was attacked with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire near Samarra at 5:28 p.m. May 19.

05/20/04 CNN: Spanish troops attacked in Iraq
A Spanish security patrol has came under fire from Iraqi insurgents after it accompanied Spanish forces leaving Iraq for Kuwait.

05/20/04 Xinhuanet: US soldier killed, 3 wounded in grenade attack in Baghdad
One US soldier was killed and three others wounded in a grenade attack Thursday in central Baghdad, the US military said.
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Another journo dead - Is there anyone the US troops wont shoot? :(

Aljazeera crew member killed in Iraq

An Aljazeera television worker, Rashid Hamid Wali, has been killed while filming clashes in the flashpoint Iraqi city of Karbala. The assistant was shot dead in the early hours of Friday morning, reported Aljazeera. Wali, 44, was standing next to the Aljazeera cameraman who was filming fierce clashes between US occupation forces and followers of Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr from the fourth floor of the hotel where the crew is staying, reported journalist Abd al-Adhim Muhammad.

"He looked up to try to locate the place of the US military vehicles, but he was shot in the head by machine guns," said Muhammad. He died instantly. There was a power cut followed by a heavy exchange of fire as US vehicles rumbled by, he said. "We could not confirm the source of the fire but it was directly pointed at us," said Muhammad. Another nine civilians were killed in the fighting.
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Six dead in blast at Iraqi official's home

The attacks on Iraqi "quislings" continue.

A car bomb has exploded outside the home of the Iraqi deputy interior minister in Baghdad, killing at least six people and injuring ten others including the official.

The blast damaged the home of Abd Al-Jabbar Yusuf, located about 200 metres from the headquarters of the former Iraqi general security service.

More than an hour after the blast, Iraqi police were still picking up body parts and putting them in plastic bags for burial. Five cars were burnt out, two of them upside down.
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One interesting point:

Yusuf, one of three deputy interior ministers and a member of the Shia Dawa party, is reported to be in a stable condition.
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He appears to be a member of the same movement to which the last high profile car-bomb-victim belonged. Factional assassination rather than the patriotic execution of collaborators?
 
Gen. Zinni on the Iraq debacle Here's an American soldier firing on all cylinders.

Scathing about the hapless Pentagon. Waves McMaster's Dereliction of Duty at the brass. Expertly eyes the insurgent strategy: terrorism destabilises, ferments rebellion, leads to general civil war. Mao would be nodding approvingly.

If it's been posted before apologies.
 
Coalition raids mosque, enters holy city of Kufa

KUFA, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces raided a Kufa mosque Sunday where they said insurgents stored weapons, and the military said at least 32 fighters loyal to a radical Shiite cleric were killed during the first American incursion into the holy city. U.S. troops also clashed with militiamen loyal to cleric Muqtada Sadr in a Shiite district of Baghdad and in Najaf, Kufa's twin city. Nine U.S. soldiers were wounded Sunday around Baghdad, the military said, including four injured in a mortar attack in the east of the capital.

In another holy city, Karbala, militia fighters appeared to have abandoned their positions after weeks of combat.A U.S. Marine was killed and several other troops were injured when a bomb hidden in a parked car exploded as two American convoys passed by near Fallujah, the military said.........

.....American troops smashed the gate to the mosque complex with an armored vehicle and killed people inside, mosque employee Radhi Mohammed said.An Associated Press photographer saw bloodstains on the ground indicating that someone was dragged for at least 10 yards. There also was blood in mosque bathrooms.

The fighting around Shiite holy cities south of Baghdad, among the world's most sacred Shia sites, has enraged Shiite communities in Iran and elsewhere. In Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said Iran sent a "warning" message to the United States through the Swiss Embassy concerning American actions in Iraq. Switzerland looks after American interests in Iran. Asefi did not say whether the warning involved military actions around the holy cities.

"There were American forces in that local mosque last night," said Maj. David Gercken, spokesman for the 1st Armored Division. "They went in after the Iraqi forces."Sheik Mansoor Asadi, head of the central council of tribes in the Najaf area, said he was "astonished" by the Kufa raid, saying it undermined efforts by local leaders to resolve the standoff between Sadr and the coalition peacefully.
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Blast near coalition HQ in Baghdad

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A four-wheel drive vehicle has blown up near an entrance to Baghdad's "Green Zone" compound where the U.S.-led administration is based and soldiers at the scene say they suspect a car bomb.Witnesses said they saw three people in the car the moment before it went up in flames, but there was no official word on any casualties.

U.S. soldiers, Iraqi police and firefighters were quickly on the scene, dousing the burnt out white sport utility vehicle with water, sending clouds of steam and smoke into the air. Soldiers said the blast flipped at least one car into the air. The busy road, which is lined with shops and leads to the Green Zone and the nearby Foreign Ministry, was sealed off.
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Carry on killing? Looks that way as the Iraqis arent going to have the power to press charges in their own country.....

Troops immunity talks 'advancing'

British forces in Iraq are currently subject to UK laws. Negotiations on the handover of power in Iraq have reached an "advanced stage", said the UK government. Demands that coalition troops remain immune from prosecution by Iraqis after the handover of power will be dealt with in the new UN resolution.

BBC correspondent Jonathan Beale said UK and US forces want to remain under their own jurisdictions, even after the creation of a sovereign Iraq. A government source said a draft of the resolution could go out this week. But they stressed there was no agreement as yet on the question of immunity, which forms a small part of the overall negotiations.
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Iran tells US to pull out of Iraq

The Iranian foreign ministry has sent a warning message to the US, criticising its policy in Iraq. A spokesman said Iran wanted "the departure of the occupation forces as quickly as possible and the restitution of authority to the Iraqi people". Iran, a Shia republic, is worried by fighting in holy cities such as Najaf and Karbala in neighbouring Iraq.
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