Month: November 2007

Updated at 10:40 p.m EST, Nov. 4, 2007At least 93 Iraqis were killed or found dead and another 67 were wounded in the latest violence. Among the incidents was the discovery of a mass grave near Ramadi, and the shooting death of an Iranian pilgrim near Baghdad. Also, no Coalition soldiers were reported killed. Near … Continue reading “Sunday: 93 Iraqis Killed, 67 Wounded”

Updated at 7:00 p.m EDT, Nov. 3, 2007At least 29 Iraqis were killed and 41 more were wounded during the latest attacks. In Baghdad, three Iranian pilgrims were wounded as well. Also, two U.S. soldiers were killed in separate incidents. Meanwhile, tensions with Turkey over the PKK continue.Today, an MND-North soldier was killed in a … Continue reading “Saturday: 2 US Soldiers, 29 Iraqis Killed; 41 Iraqis Wounded”

The Iraqi government has let it be known that it doesn’t recognize any immunity for the private military company Blackwater USA, and it’s starting to look as if Blackwater’s contract to serve as bodyguards for U.S. State Department personnel in Iraq will be ended sooner rather than later, despite Blackwater taking on high-priced legal counsel … Continue reading “The Wars Will Be Outsourced”

A couple of weeks ago, Russian President Putin made a historic visit to Iran, nominally to attend a summit of the Caspian Sea littoral states – Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Iran. The summit, itself, resulted in a number of “milestone” agreements, including one prohibiting other countries (such as the United States) from using – … Continue reading “Go Ahead On – Start WWIII”

BAQUBA – The much touted “surge” of US troops in Baquba has caused more problems that it has solved, residents say. Baquba, capital city of Iraq’s Diyala province located 65 km northeast of Baghdad, has long been a volatile city plagued by rampant violence and administrative chaos. In January this year, the Bush administration announced … Continue reading “In Baquba, Better Security Brings No Reassurance”

Updated at 11:20 p.m. EDT, Nov. 2, 2007At least 21 Iraqis were killed and nine more were wounded during light violence. Near the Balad air base, three U.S. airmen were killed during combat operations. Also, one Polish soldier was killed and three more were injured when a landmine blasted their vehicle. According to the Interior … Continue reading “Friday: 3 US Airmen, 1 Polish Soldier, 21 Iraqis Killed; 9 Iraqis Wounded”

They’re ginning up another war, and the target is Iran. While the propaganda campaign started shortly after we invaded Iraq, with Rummy and the President ratcheting up the warlike rhetoric early on, the accusations and threats against Iran have lately taken on a new urgency. Whereas in the early Rumsfeld era we mainly restricted ourselves … Continue reading “‘Invade and Bomb With Hillary and Rahm’”

Put a straight-jacket on them. That seems to be Los Angeles Times columnist Rosa Brooks’s position on President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard Cheney. As she explains, “We’re in the middle of a disastrous war in Iraq, the military and political situation in Afghanistan is steadily worsening, and the administration’s interrogation and detention … Continue reading “Iran, World War III, and the Madness of President George”

Updated at 12:25 p.m. EDT, Nov. 2, 2007 At least 61 Iraqis were killed and 45 more were wounded during a series a bombings in the capital and elsewhere. Also, three American servicemembers were killed in separate events.Two GIs were killed and two more were wounded during an explosion in Ninewah province. Another soldier was … Continue reading “Thursday: 3 GIs, 61 Iraqis Killed; 45 Iraqis Wounded”

Amid growing contention among Democratic presidential contenders about US policy toward Iran, a senior Republican lawmaker has appealed to President George W. Bush to pursue “direct, unconditional, and comprehensive talks” with Tehran. The appeal, which was sent to Bush by Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel two weeks ago, noted that Washington’s diplomatic efforts to use economic … Continue reading “Republican Senator Calls for Unconditional Talks With Iran”