summarized article by Ernesto Londoro, Washington Post Staff Writer
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki talked to President Bush today concerning the new security plan that has been established in Baghdad and around Iraq to help quell the rash of recent sectarian violence "has achieved fabulous success." The three-day old measure involves a coalition of Iraqi and U.S. that have been sweeping through the city to root out the insurgents and bring back a sense of order. Little resistance has been offered to this point in those missions, and other aspects of the mission include more enforcement of civilians possessing weapons and making the borders more strict between Iran and Syria. U.S. Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil Jr., the commander of the 1st Cavalry Division in Baghdad, was much more cautious in his approach towards the new plan, saying that the enemy could be taken a break from militant action in an effort to size up where the new gaps are in the security of Iraq. From what it sounds like, Maliki is trying to save face here and be very upbeat about the situation to bring more positive sway to his side of the Iraq fight. The move is very smart because it starts to instill confidence in the civilians on the ground, but you have to really hope that his claims are legitimate. The U.S. General sounds much more realistic about the situation, but that could just be a result of his fear at what could happen next.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
Leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq Injured in Clash, Official Says
By Ernesto Londono, Washington Post Staff Writer
According to the Iraqi Interior Ministry, the current leader of al-qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, was injured and one his aides was killed in an incident yesterday. Masri took over for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi after he was killed in 2006 by a U.S. airstrike. The aide was considered a "personal escort" to Masri, but questions were raised concering whether the Iraqis had identified the right person as Masri was rumored not be even in the region. From this incident, it looks like the US/coalition forces are still focusing on eradicating al-Qaeda from Iraq despite the rapid rise of violence not associated to the terrorist group led by Osama Bin Laden. The conflicting reports about Masri's whereabouts in this case also create a question within me. Is this story being embellished or fabricated? Is this just a ploy to intill confidence? It'd be nice to have some real solid evidence in this case.
According to the Iraqi Interior Ministry, the current leader of al-qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, was injured and one his aides was killed in an incident yesterday. Masri took over for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi after he was killed in 2006 by a U.S. airstrike. The aide was considered a "personal escort" to Masri, but questions were raised concering whether the Iraqis had identified the right person as Masri was rumored not be even in the region. From this incident, it looks like the US/coalition forces are still focusing on eradicating al-Qaeda from Iraq despite the rapid rise of violence not associated to the terrorist group led by Osama Bin Laden. The conflicting reports about Masri's whereabouts in this case also create a question within me. Is this story being embellished or fabricated? Is this just a ploy to intill confidence? It'd be nice to have some real solid evidence in this case.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Iranian's Aid Militants, Bush Alleges
summarized article by Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
President George W. Bush announced yesterday that according to intelligence within Iraq, Iran is aiding the militants who are behind many of the attacks oon both civilians and US military interests. Bush was quick, however, to indicate that this statement was not an indication that the US was planning to go to war with Iran. He also stated that he has no direct evidence that the government in Tehran is providing the orders. Bush also touched on the Iraq situation in the press conference asking for Congress not to cut funding or set timetables for pulling out the troops due to new progress he felt has occured within Baghdad. Speaking on condition of anonymity, higher-ups in the US administration in Iraq claimed that this involvement from Iran comes from "high levels" of the Tehran government. Without a doubt, Bush needs to tread cautiously here as his credibility is already very very skewed due to the inaccurate intelligence he offered in the run up to the Iraq war. I would hope, with American lives on the line, that Bush is actually going to be intelligent about this situation and look for diplomacy, not violence.
Washington Post Staff Writer
President George W. Bush announced yesterday that according to intelligence within Iraq, Iran is aiding the militants who are behind many of the attacks oon both civilians and US military interests. Bush was quick, however, to indicate that this statement was not an indication that the US was planning to go to war with Iran. He also stated that he has no direct evidence that the government in Tehran is providing the orders. Bush also touched on the Iraq situation in the press conference asking for Congress not to cut funding or set timetables for pulling out the troops due to new progress he felt has occured within Baghdad. Speaking on condition of anonymity, higher-ups in the US administration in Iraq claimed that this involvement from Iran comes from "high levels" of the Tehran government. Without a doubt, Bush needs to tread cautiously here as his credibility is already very very skewed due to the inaccurate intelligence he offered in the run up to the Iraq war. I would hope, with American lives on the line, that Bush is actually going to be intelligent about this situation and look for diplomacy, not violence.
Armed Iraqis Way of Security Plan
summarized article by Ernesto Londoño and Joshua Partlow
Washington Post Staff Writers
Iraqis, used to carrying pistols and other weaponry on the streets of Baghdad since the invasion, will now face strict policies forbidding them in public places. The new rule comes as a result of a new security plan that is slowly being implemented as part of a massive effort to curtail raging violence in the country. Many Iraqi's, including the shop owner featured in this article, feel that carrying a pistol is neccesity for protection in everyday life inside the limits of Baghdad. "We don't like guns, but we have to have them. I think every house should have a gun," said one civilian. The new plan is expected to be bolstered by the 21,500 troops arriving from the US from now until May. Efforts are currently underway for this movement, nicknamed "Operation Law & Order", to increase checkpoints in Baghdad and solidfy the Iraqi border. A major US general was quoted as saying that this entire process of getting the Iraqi army to an efficient state will likely take more than 2 years. I can definitely see both sides to this story, because personal security in Baghdad and Iraq is at a very low point and the desire to protect yourself would be overwhelming. The right to possess weapons is a natural right in America, but there are obvious regulations as to how you can carry a gun in public. If this move proves to be successful and limits violence, then yes take the guns away, but if personal attacks and bombings keep increasing then personal security will not only be granted but will be taken into the hands of civilians. Hindsight is 20/20, however.
Washington Post Staff Writers
Iraqis, used to carrying pistols and other weaponry on the streets of Baghdad since the invasion, will now face strict policies forbidding them in public places. The new rule comes as a result of a new security plan that is slowly being implemented as part of a massive effort to curtail raging violence in the country. Many Iraqi's, including the shop owner featured in this article, feel that carrying a pistol is neccesity for protection in everyday life inside the limits of Baghdad. "We don't like guns, but we have to have them. I think every house should have a gun," said one civilian. The new plan is expected to be bolstered by the 21,500 troops arriving from the US from now until May. Efforts are currently underway for this movement, nicknamed "Operation Law & Order", to increase checkpoints in Baghdad and solidfy the Iraqi border. A major US general was quoted as saying that this entire process of getting the Iraqi army to an efficient state will likely take more than 2 years. I can definitely see both sides to this story, because personal security in Baghdad and Iraq is at a very low point and the desire to protect yourself would be overwhelming. The right to possess weapons is a natural right in America, but there are obvious regulations as to how you can carry a gun in public. If this move proves to be successful and limits violence, then yes take the guns away, but if personal attacks and bombings keep increasing then personal security will not only be granted but will be taken into the hands of civilians. Hindsight is 20/20, however.
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