Month: July 2009

As US Winds Down, Iraq Tilts Toward Iran

A raid by Iraqi security forces on a camp of Iranian dissidents is widely seen as a sign that Iraqi authorities are establishing their independence as the U.S. occupation winds down – and tilting instead towards Iran. There are unconfirmed reports of injuries and abuses coming from Camp Ashraf, the enclave populated by members of … Continue reading “As US Winds Down, Iraq Tilts Toward Iran”

Thursday: 17 Iraqis Killed, 63 Wounded

Updated at 9:09 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2009 At least 17 Iraqis were killed and 63 more were wounded in attacks across the country. No further deaths were reported at Camp Ashraf, but the Iraqi government finally admitted that some of the residents were killed. No Coalition deaths were reported.

Mr. Al-Jazeera Goes to Washington

The director of the Arab satellite television network al-Jazeera, Wadah Khanfar, is in Washington this week for the first time, part of a brief tour of the U.S. that will also take him to New York. The visit comes just weeks after a deal between al-Jazeera and U.S. cable distributors made al-Jazeera’s English-language channel accessible … Continue reading “Mr. Al-Jazeera Goes to Washington”

Child Rapist Police Return Behind US, UK Troops

The strategy of the major U.S. and British military offensive in Afghanistan’s Helmand province aimed at wresting it from the Taliban is based on bringing back Afghan army and police to maintain permanent control of the population, so the foreign forces can move on to another insurgent stronghold. But that strategy poses an acute problem: … Continue reading “Child Rapist Police Return Behind US, UK Troops”

The Old Bibi Is Back

JERUSALEM — "Reckless," "cavalier," "unscrupulous," "petty politician, not statesman"…these and such epithets applied to Benjamin Netanyahu by friends and foes alike — not that he ended up with many friends — when he was first Israel’s Prime Minister back in the late 1990s. Re-elected in February, Netanyahu seemed aware of the question on everyone’s lips … Continue reading “The Old Bibi Is Back”

Wednesday: 8 Iraqis, 8 Iranians Killed; 119 Iraqis, 425 Iranians Wounded

Updated at 1:00 p.m. EDT, July 29, 2009 At least eight Iraqis were killed and 119 more were wounded in attacks that included a raid on Camp Ashraf, where perhaps eight Iranians were also killed and 425 more were wounded. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is visiting Iraq, said that some U.S. troops may leave Iraq ahead of schedule and separately offered to mediate in the ongoing Kurd-Arab dispute. Also, the British foreign office warned families of two British hostages that their loved ones are likely dead.

Odds Against Nuclear Disarmament

At the G8 summit in L’Aquila, Italy, earlier this month, President Obama stated that the leaders of the G8 nations embraced the strategy he outlined in Prague in April to strengthen the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). But the NPT itself is problematic. As such, it may no longer be a useful instrument for encouraging nonproliferation. … Continue reading “Odds Against Nuclear Disarmament”

US Tightens Screws on Honduras

The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has revoked the visas of four senior officials of the de facto government in Honduras, the State Department announced Tuesday, in what was seen as the first of a series of new steps Washington is considering to force acceptance of a plan that would return President Manuel Zelaya … Continue reading “US Tightens Screws on Honduras”