18/12/07

Thad Cochran On Iraq
By BarbinMD
Republican Senator Thad Cochran, speaking from the Senate floor on spending for Iraq:. What I do know is that Congress should never yield its right or its power to make annual spending decisions and include those decisions in the …
feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/202396178/5144

Turkish troops conduct limited incursion into northern Iraq, Kurds say
The Canadian Press –
KIRKUK, Iraq – Turkey sent hundreds of troops about three kilometres into
northern Iraq early Tuesday in an operation against Kurdish rebels but then
…
canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeq
M5hg9MaSa8B4t8CuLyZLkQkUklWUnw

Oil prices dip as Turkey leaves Iraq
The Australian – Sydney,Australia
OIL prices ended at a one-week low overnight, closing slightly down as Turkish troop withdrawal from northern Iraq and continued concern over the US economy …
www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,2
5197,22947983-20142,00.html

UN Extends US-Led Force in Iraq
The Associated Press –
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The UN Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to extend the US-led multinational force in Iraq for one year, a move that Iraq’s …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gYsrnLSjB1
jHUki1IDvcQuFBzvRQD8TK49Q00

eBay Iraq relic auction stopped
BBC News – UK
Swiss authorities have blocked the sale of an ancient clay tablet, thought to have been smuggled from Iraq, on the internet auction site eBay. …
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7150622.stm

New York Times in Iraq: “Blackwater shot our dog”
Reuters – USA
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The US embassy in Iraq is investigating another deadly shooting incident involving its Blackwater bodyguards — this time of the New …
www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL1819755220071218

Unhappy Holidays in Northern Iraq
For a while, the crisis between Turks and Kurds in northern Iraq looked like it was going to hibernate for the winter. There had been no major clashes between the Turkish army and the Kurdish Works Party (or PKK) — a radical group …
time-blog.com/middle_east/2007/12/
unhappy_holidays_in_northern_i.html

Officials: Turkey Withdraws From Iraq
Guardian Unlimited – UK
From AP By YAHYA BARZANJI AP Writer KIRKUK, Iraq (AP) – Turkey sent hundreds of troops about 1 miles into northern Iraq early Tuesday in an operation …
www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7162216,00.html

Turkish incursion overshadows Rice visit to Iraq
AFP –
ARBIL, Iraq (AFP) — Turkish troops crossed into northern Iraq Tuesday in the first ground incursion against Kurdish rebels, overshadowing a visit to Iraq by …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQSqBxAF4CLzLFQ0tNuToCZp1IcQ

US thrashes out Iraq war funding
AFP –
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Despite deep differences over the Iraq war, the White House and the US Congress on Tuesday groped towards a year-end budget deal that …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gLw2EaahA6zHNw-yR4GJWuTof_xw

Suicide bombing kills 14 in Iraq cafe
Xinhua – China
… when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a popular cafe near the volatile city of Baquba in central Iraq on Tuesday, a local police source said. …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/19/content_7277087.htm

Oil Falls More Than $1 as Turkish Troops Begin to Leave Iraq
Bloomberg – USA
18 (Bloomberg) — Crude oil fell, erasing a gain, as Turkish troops began to withdraw from Iraq and on speculation that warmer weather in the eastern US …
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206
01087&sid=aa49Ksd_BhmE&refer=home

Turkey’s Iraq Surge
By Council on Foreign Relations
December 18, 2007. Turkish military strikes on Kurdish rebels in Iraq have ratcheted up tension between Ankara and Baghdad. The unsettled matter of Kirkuk also feeds insecurity.
feeds.cfr.org/~r/cfr_main/~3/20223
5878/turkeys_iraq_surge.html

Turkish Troops Enter Northern Iraq to Target the PKK (Update6)
Bloomberg – USA
18 (Bloomberg) — Turkey sent 700 soldiers into northern Iraq and had 20 tanks ready to follow them in an assault on Kurdish militants who have carried out …
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=2
0601103&sid=aPW1JWiJwAbQ&refer=us

Turkish incursion overshadows Rice visit to Iraq
Africasia – London,UK
Turkish troops crossed into northern Iraq Tuesday in the first ground incursion against Kurdish rebels, overshadowing a visit to Iraq by US Secretary of …
www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?
area=mideast&item=071218154347.cc17ac7d.php

Poland seeks to pull troops from Iraq by Oct 2008
Reuters – USA
The request for a final extension of Poland’s military mission in Iraq until the end of October 2008 was presented as a compromise. …
www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSL18259120

Oil Jumps on Turkish Iraq Incursion
The Associated Press –
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices jumped sharply Tuesday after Turkish forces entered northern Iraq in search of Kurdish rebels, raising fears that the conflict …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i5TtajgUpS
m7KY5jf-lCJGHBB-tAD8TJU7VO2

Omnibus Spending Bill May End Showdown
U.S. News & World Report – Washington,DC,USA
Lawmakers “then voted 206-201 to add $31 billion for military operations in Afghanistan, but the bill includes no money for the war in Iraq. …
www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_071218.htm

Turkish troops enter northern Iraq: Kurdish official
AFP –
ARBIL, Iraq (AFP) — Around 300 Turkish troops entered northern Iraq on Tuesday in the first ground incursion targeting Kurdish rebels since tensions between …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hU-zTfwRSQL6kwm2W8zIUOkC4UOg

Rice visits hot spot in northern Iraq
CNN International – USA
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Tuesday and dropped in on the volatile northern Iraqi …
edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/12/18/iraq.rice/

Report: US Military Deaths In Iraq Reach 3895
AHN – USA
Baghdad, Iraq (AHN) – The latest updated death count of US Military in the Iraq war has reached 3895 as of Monday, December 17, 2007, according to the AP. …
www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7009485175

House Passes Omnibus Spending Measure
NPR – USA
If the Senate can add $40 billion to the bill to fund troops in Iraq, the White House is likely to approve it. Senate leaders would like to wrap up debate …
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17344691

Iraq war hobbling US budget debate
United Press International – USA
18 (UPI) — The US House of Representatives has approved a $515 billion budget bound to meet resistance in the US Senate for not funding the war in Iraq. …
www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/12/
18/iraq_war_hobbling_us_budget_debate/6202/

Zawahir: Iraq Main field of Jihad Attacks Iran, Muqtada, Nasrallah
By Juan Cole(Juan Cole)
Zawahiri identifies Iraq as the primary field for jihad or holy war and defends the Islamic State of Iraq (radical Sunni Muslims in Iraq) from charges of having been especially vindictive and destructive. Zawahiri also again slams the …
www.juancole.com/2007/12/usg-open-sour
ce-center-summarizes-main.html

BACK TO THE FUTURE IN IRAQ
By John Robb
The rate of attacks in Iraq (for all types) has stabilized at the levels of 2004/2005, which were prior to the bombing of Askariya. During this earlier period, Iraq’s open source insurgency was highly decentralized. …
globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2007/12/back-to-the-fut.html

Rice visits Iraq’s Kirkuk to back UN reconciliation bid
AFP –
KIRKUK, Iraq (AFP) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday visited Kirkuk in northern Iraq on a mission to support UN reconciliation efforts in …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jV2wv3QMoDv96qee-86VWKKSasLw

US deaths in Iraq
The Plain Dealer – cleveland.com – Cleveland,OH,USA
As of Monday, at least 3895 members of the US military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. …
www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/
base/news-1/1197971120267740.xml&coll=2

House Approves Domestic Spending
Washington Post – United States
The House then voted 206 to 201 to approve an amendment that includes $31 billion for fighting in Afghanistan but none for the war in Iraq. …
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/
12/17/AR2007121702041.html?hpid=topnews

Britain Bows Out of 5-Year Iraq War; US…No Timetable?
By Swaraaj Chauhan
“Britain handed over security in Basra province yesterday, bringing a formal end to its ill-starred attempt over almost five years to control southern Iraq. The great majority of people in Basra were glad to see the British go. …
themoderatevoice.com/politics/bush-administration/16566/
britain-bows-out-of-5-year-iraq-war-usno-timetable/

Teachers’ Strike
By Correspondent Hussein
As this step is for the benefit of them , teachers of Basra, Anbar , Mosul , Baghdad and the other provinces in the south , west , east and centre of Iraq carried it out hoping to get its result so soon. The aim of this strike is to …
washingtonbureau.typepad.com/iraq/2007/12/teachers-strike.html

Rice in Unannounced Stop in Iraq
The Associated Press –
KIRKUK, Iraq (AP) — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit Tuesday to the city that Iraq’s Kurds call their Jerusalem, …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hKO6E2Vs5M
ktD_-DXHsbQ6tnT1-QD8TJNG580

Senate Tackling $516 Billion Budget Bill
The Associated Press –
Democrats are generally far more supportive of military operations in Afghanistan than they are of the unpopular war in Iraq. Republicans generally opposed …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h6dZR6Ran4Svz
DtMx_YPyrtO3qkQD8TJO2080

Poverty in Iraq – 2007 & Post First Gulf War
By joncharles
The Iraq where basic amenities and infrastructures such as drinking water and basic sanitation has been destroyed, and yet to be rebuilt? The Iraq where people have to work two jobs to cope with the increasing costs of living while …
aussgworldpolitics.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/
poverty-in-iraq-2007-post-first-gulf-war/

US Helps Turkey Hit Rebel Kurds In Iraq
Washington Post – United States
The American role in aiding Turkey, a NATO ally, could complicate US diplomatic initiatives in Iraq, particularly efforts to push Iraqi political leaders to …
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/
12/17/AR2007121702150.html?hpid=topnews

US House passes fiscal 2008 funding compromise
Reuters South Africa – Johannesburg,South Africa
Bush has demanded that the budget bill contain at least some money for the Iraq war, without any of the conditions for ending it that Democrats have been …
africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnN17445949.html

Iraq Ops Update
Coalition forces killed six suspected terrorists, detained 29 others & destroyed 5 weapons caches.
www.globalsecurity.org/military/library
/news/2007/12/mil-071217-afps01.htm

Iraq: In Memoriam, Ali Shafeya Al-Moussawi
By Salam Adil
Ali was someone who did God’s work — showing people around the world what life was actually like in Iraq for Iraqis. He showed us the reality of the Iraqi condition in his life, and he shows us the reality of the Iraqi condition in his …
www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/12/18/iraq-
in-memoriam-ali-shafeya-al-moussawi/

Iraq snapshot
By Common Ills(Common Ills)
Serving in Iraq strengthened Aguayo’s religious beliefs. (And to be clear, religion is not a requirement for CO status. The criteria for religion is what Aguayo fits, however.) Chambers notes that Aguayo is appealing the CO refusal to …
thecommonills.blogspot.com/2007/12/iraq-snapshot_17.html

Violence in Iraq Still Falling, but Pace of Decline Slows
Washington Post – United States
By Karen DeYoung Overall violence continues to decline in Iraq, although the rate of decrease has slowed since September and a few indicators have actually …
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/
article/2007/12/17/AR2007121701915.html

US Military Deaths in Iraq at 3895
The Associated Press –
17, 2007, at least 3895 members of the US military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gqgQCcv26kB
1dkgZRZNHmbn_1J8gD8TJH9TO2

House Passes $516 Billion Spending Bill
The Associated Press –
President Bush has signaled he’ll ultimately sign the measure — assuming up to $40 billion more is provided by the Senate for the Iraq war— despite …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h6dZR6R
an4SvzDtMx_YPyrtO3qkQD8TJJUB00

Could Iraq’s oil output ease global supply concerns?
By Joseph Lazzaro
While the policy debate on the political merits and national security impact of the Iraq war continues at full-throttle in the United States — the issue is almost certain to be a factor in the 2008 US president election, many political …
www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/17/could-iraqs-
oil-output-ease-global-supply-concerns/

Turkey’s US-Backed Strike in Iraq
TIME – USA
A villager walks through a rubble in Qlatooka, near Iraq’s border with Turkey on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007. Turkish war planes bombed Kurdish rebel targets …
www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1695506,00.html

US commander warns against quick troop cut in Iraq
Reuters – USA
By Kristin Roberts WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) – The outgoing commander of US forces in Baghdad warned on Monday against pulling American troops from Iraq …
www.reuters.com/article/middleeastCrisis/idUSN17423061

Obama tries to get more aggressive on Iraq
Los Angeles Times – CA,USA
Barack Obama has been taking increasing heat from liberal bloggers for not being more assertive in pushing for an end to the war in Iraq. …
latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/
2007/09/obama-tries-to-.html

Democrats, Bush Edge Closer on Budget
Wall Street Journal – USA
By DAVID ROGERS WASHINGTON — Ending months of confrontation, President Bush appears prepared to accept the Democrats’ year-end spending package once Iraq …
online.wsj.com/article/SB1197930103222351
23.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

US reviews Afghanistan mission amid fears of losing battle against …
The Canadian Press –
American officials are reviewing all facets of their operation and President George W. Bush, under pressure to shift American troops from Iraq, …
canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM
5jxdbRPcW46LbTXilANF_bbsxQdoQ