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| Iraq |
| Weekly Summary in Iraq |
| 2007-05-11 |
| Highlights. More charts and graphs at link. Operation Fardh al-Qanun: • U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Fox, a Multi-National Forces-Iraq spokesman, said May 2 that although the security situation in Iraq continues to be challenging, there are signs of progress being made in Operation Fardh al-Qanun including: a significant reduction in sectarian murders, • Despite these signs, however, security can ultimately only be achieved by building a loyal, capable, and professional Iraqi Security Force in and around Baghdad. • Operation Fardh al-Qanun is intended to improve security in the Baghdad area, providing the time and conditions for the Iraqi government to make progress in economic and political development. • Fox also said that securing Baghdad is the main effort, and Coalition Forces continue to establish joint security stations and combat outposts in the city and surrounding belts. Currently, there are 57 joint security stations and outposts in Baghdad. • Four out of the five US Army “surge” brigades are now in Iraq, along with two additional U.S. Marine Corps battalions. The remainder of the “surge” combat forces is scheduled to be operating in their areas by mid-June. Iraqi Military Takes Charge of Training: • The Taji Regional Training Center, Iraqi Signal School, and Taji Engineer School are now officially run by Iraqi forces, following transition of authority ceremonies at each location May 1. Iraqi Air Force Receives Helicopters: • The Iraqi Air Force received five additional Huey II helicopters May 2. This delivery brings the number of Huey IIs to ten of the scheduled sixteen that will make up the Iraqi Air Force 2nd Squadron’s helicopter fleet. In addition to the Huey IIs, the Iraqi Air Force also flies the C-130 transport, Mi-17 helicopters, Cessna Caravans, SAMA Ch2000s, Seabird Aviation Seekers, and Hawker-Beechcraft King Air 350s. If we were sure we were going to stay, we'd be teaching them to fly F-16's. That's really get the Iranian turbans in a knot. Committee to Submit Draft Constitutional Reforms: • Members of the Constitutional Review Committee established to reform Iraq’s constitution said May 8 that they hoped to submit recommendations to parliament next week, a major step towards meeting a political benchmark Washington has set for Baghdad. Iraqi Leaders Meet Over Threats to Quit Government: • Iraq's Sunni Arab Vice President, Tariq al-Hashimi, met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to ease tensions over threats that the entire Sunni bloc could pull out of the government. Hashimi had claimed that he would pull the Iraqi Accord’s 44 Parliamentarians out of the Maliki “national unity” government if Shia militias are not disarmed and revisions to the constitution do not begin by May 15. Winning through intimidation. It's the arab way. Declaration by the EU on the ICI: Even the EU likes what's happing in Iraq! • At the International Compact for Iraq (ICI) meeting held May 3 in Sharm al-Shaykh, Egypt, the EU Presidency reaffirmed its support for the GOI and commended it for the commitments it has made under the ICI for promoting reforms in the political, security, economic, and social fields. It announced that the EU’s financial support for Iraq is anticipated to reach 1.8 billion euros (including grants, debt relief and loans). The EU Presidency reaffirmed its strong support for the UN’s central role in Iraq and welcomed the opening of negotiations for a Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Iraq. Congress Fails to Override Presidential Veto of FY07 Supplemental: • In only the second veto of his presidency, President Bush vetoed House Resolution 1591, the Fiscal 2007 Emergency Iraq/Hurricane Supplemental Appropriations bill. By a vote of 233-203, the House failed to override the President’s veto, and as a result, the Senate will not hold an override vote of its own. Iraqi Court Seeks to End Lawmaker’s Immunity: Awwrite! They're going after the lawyers! • The main administrative body for Iraq’s courts, the Supreme Judicial Council, has asked the Iraqi Parliament to revoke immunity for a prominent Sunni lawmaker, possibly clearing the way for his arrest on charges of provoking sectarian violence. If the request is granted, Adnan al-Dulaimi will be the second Iraqi lawmaker to have immunity from prosecution lifted. The first, Mish’an al-Juburi, was a former member of Parliament who was indicted last year on charges of embezzling millions of dollars. Defense Closing Statements for Ali Hassan al-Majid: • The defense began closing statements in the trial of former regime officials accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity for their roles in the 1980’s campaign code-named Operation Anfal. The five accused henchmen of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, including defendant Ali Hassan al-Majid or “Chemical Ali,” are charged with using chemical weapons against Iraqi Kurds, killing 180,000 people. If convicted, the defendants could be sentenced to death by hanging. International Compact Conference and Expanded Neighbors Meeting Held in Sharm al-Shaykh, Egypt: Even the UN's getting on board. • UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon co-launched the International Compact with Iraq with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Sharm al-Shaykh, Egypt May 3. The Compact is a five-year national plan that includes benchmarks and mutual commitments from both Iraq and the international community, all with the aim of helping Iraq on the path towards peace, sound governance and economic reconstruction. Several countries made announcements of financial support at the Compact meeting and other countries made positive statements or commitments on debt, loans, and assistance. • Of 22 participants at the May 4 Expanded Neighbors Ministerial meeting, 18 were at the Foreign Minister level. Working Groups on border security, fuel and electricity, and refugees were launched at the meeting. The neighbors process is envisioned to help Iraq and its neighbors constructively deal with mutually important issues. Radio Station Attacked: • In the third attack against the radio station in five months, gunmen raided the offices of independent radio Dijlah, killing two employees and wounding five before bombing the building and knocking the station off of the air. • The station was created in 2004 as Iraq’s first independent talk radio station. Can't have that. Independent thought, and all that. Shiites Protest Al-Jazeera: • In Basrah and Najaf May 4, supporters of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani protested what they considered insults by al-Jazeera television against the Shiite cleric, carrying banners denouncing both the channel and its host nation, Qatar. The protests were fueled when a presenter of a talk show airing on the station questioned Sistani’s leadership credentials. Russian Journalist Killed: • A Russian journalist was killed in Iraq May 6 after a U.S. convoy came under attack by a ground bomb in Diyala. The journalist was accompanied by six American soldiers who were also killed by the roadside bomb. |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #2 The journalist was accompanied by six American soldiers who were also killed by the roadside bomb Good thing the journalist wasn't Italian or it still would have been a US conspiracy. |
| Posted by: gorb 2007-05-11 15:51 |
| #1 Thanks for posting this, Bobby. The perspective is very helpful. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-05-11 08:21 |