Month: April 2007

DAMASCUS – Refugees from Baquba, Iraq, who have now found shelter in Damascus describe their hometown as a “dead city” where armed men roam the streets and al-Qaeda reigns. Baquba, capital of Iraq’s Diyala province, is located 50 km northeast of Baghdad on the Diyala River. In 2002 the estimated population was 280,000. The city … Continue reading “Small Iraqi Province in
Big Trouble”

Updated at 12:47 a.m EDT, April 17, 2007At least 69 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 39 more Iraqis were injured in violent attacks today. Six American soldiers were also reported killed in separate events in Iraq. It was also a politically interesting day with protests coming from both followers of Moqtada al-Sadr and … Continue reading “Monday: 6 GIs, 69 Iraqis Killed; 39 Iraqis Wounded”

As the World Bank handed out a communiqué that talked about "transparency" and "equity," beleaguered bank President Paul Wolfowitz deflected a barrage of questions from journalists seeking more information about allegations of nepotism involving a bank employee who is personally involved with him. But despite his diminishing credibility at the helm of the bank, Wolfowitz, … Continue reading “Wolfowitz Deflects Questions About Role in Scandal”

Anyone who had illusions about the Democratic Party as the electoral vehicle of choice for the antiwar movement has got to be dispirited by the "big three" presidential wannabes: John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton. None have come out clearly and unequivocally for withdrawal from Iraq, and all refuse to rule out military action … Continue reading “Democratic Illusions”

Mortar attacks on the Green Zone, the American-controlled and massively fortified citadel in the heart of Baghdad, were already on the rise when, late last week, a suicide bomber managed to penetrate the parliament building inside the Zone and kill at least one legislator, while wounding others, in its cafeteria. Some parliamentary representatives were soon … Continue reading “Can Sadr and Sistani
Handle Bush?”

Updated at 12:25 a.m. EDT, April 16, 2007A second day of heavy violence gripped Iraq. At least 109 Iraqis were killed or found dead today and another 173 were wounded in attacks. Another 36 people were kidnapped in three separate events. Also, military sources reported the deaths of five U.S. and two British servicemembers in … Continue reading “Sunday: 5 GIs, 109 Iraqis Killed; 173 Iraqis Wounded; 2 Britons Killed as Copters Collide”

Paul Wolfowitz, the embattled World Bank president, is receiving new support from conservative politicians and right-wing publications that previously backed his notorious role as an architect of the war in Iraq, but missing from the regrouping attempts are answers to two important questions. Paul Wolfowitz, the embattled World Bank president, is receiving new support from … Continue reading “Wolfowitz’s Allies Regroup but Leave Questions Unanswered”

with Jim Lobe Of the top five outside international appointments made by embattled World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz during his nearly two-year tenure, three were senior political appointees of right-wing governments that provided strong backing for U.S. policy in Iraq. The latest appointment came just last month when former Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher … Continue reading “Top Wolfowitz Postings Went to Iraq War Backers”

Updated at 12:07 p.m. EDT, April 15, 2007An extremely violent day in Iraq left at least 164 Iraqis dead and 345 injured, with numbers sure to rise in the coming hours. A bombing at a bus station in Karbala and another on a bridge in Baghdad had the heaviest tolls; however, numerous attacks occurred all … Continue reading “Saturday: 164 Iraqis Killed, 345 Injured, 26 Kidnapped”

On March 7, 2003, Mohamed ElBaradei, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, reported [.pdf] to the UN Security Council that "After three months of intrusive inspections, we have to date found no evidence or plausible indication of the revival of a nuclear weapon program in Iraq.” After conducting a total of 218 inspections at … Continue reading “Conspiracy, Collusion, War”