19/12/07

Turkey and Iraq Raids across the border
Economist – UK
AS IF Iraq did not have enough problems of its own. On December 16th Turkish aircraft bombed what they said were Kurdish rebel positions deep inside …
www.economist.com/world/africa/
displaystory.cfm?story_id=10328318

Senate adds Iraq war funding to spending bill
FCW.com – Falls Church,VA,USA
By Matthew Weigelt The Senate added $70 billion for Iraq war funding to the $516 billion omnibus spending bill Dec. 18. The House is expected to debate and …
www.fcw.com/online/news/151137-1.html

Security Improves in Iraq During 2007, But Political Side Lags Behind
Voice of America – USA
By Al Pessin It has been an eventful year in Iraq, with a surge of US forces and sweeping changes in the security situation, but efforts at national …
www.voanews.com/english/2007-12-19-voa28.cfm

Adwatch: Richardson Raps Rivals on Iraq
The Associated Press –
SCRIPT: Announcer: “Is there a difference between the Democrats on Iraq? There’s a big difference. Bill Richardson’s the only major candidate with a plan, …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gYCFejQ
JPbm4D2vZjn4eUIcCKujQD8TKKO5G0

Sunnis Mark Eid in Iraq With Optimism
The Associated Press –
But violence across Iraq has fallen sharply, mostly because of an influx of US troops last summer, the freeze on activities of the Mahdi Army militia and …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gljadJxmn
ebty1ioPZUhqdUgDwiQD8TKITR80

Iranian Released From US Custody in Iraq
The Associated Press –
BAGHDAD (AP) — An Iranian detained in northern Iraq more than three years ago has been released by US authorities, Iran’s ambassador said Wednesday.…
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i02gFc0H
Sjs00XeM8a2khjKlU01wD8TKL5S00

US Friendly-Fire Deaths in Iraq
The Associated Press –
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two US soldiers who died in Iraq in February were killed by friendly fire, according to a military investigation that said improper …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ge71Br8
Jv4-1HT3fZkxmZAmTZ_3wD8TKK9TO0

Senate Caves to Bush on Iraq Funding
By AggieDemocrat
The Senate on Tuesday night handed President Bush a critical victory in the Iraq debate, approving billions of dollars for war operations and backing down from a months-long threat of withholding funding until the White House commits to …
feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/202523631/878

Barnes: An Astonishing Turnaround on Iraq
By Fred Barnes
An astonishing turnaround occurred in the Senate on Tuesday: 70 senators voted to fund the Iraq war with a fresh $70 billion and no strings attached. Think about this a moment. Last winter, after Democrats captured the Senate and House, …
www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/CampaignStan
dard/2007/12/barnes_an_astonishing_turnarou_1.asp

Rice warns against destabilising Iraq
Sydney Morning Herald – Sydney,New South Wales,Australia THE US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, has warned against any action that could destabilise northern Iraq after Turkey sent about 500 troops across …
www.smh.com.au/news/world/rice-warns-against
-destabilising-iraq/2007/12/19/1197740375862.html

Turkey chases rebels into Iraq
San Francisco Chronicle – CA, USA
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cautioned Tuesday against any action that could destabilize Iraq after Turkey sent about 300 troops across the border …
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle
/archive/2007/12/19/MNQAU10EQ.DTL&type=politics

Wheat board executives face $14m fines threat over Iraq
Melbourne Herald Sun – Australia
SIX former AWB executives could be fined up to $14.4 million after the corporate watchdog yesterday filed civil proceedings against them over the Iraq …
www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22951416-662,00.html

Pentagon reports drop in Iraq violence
Guardian Unlimited – UK
The Pentagon says the level of violence in Iraq is falling. Photograph: Ali Mohammed/EPA The level of violence in Iraq has fallen to its lowest level for …
www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2229750,00.html

Pentagon Says Iraq Government Slow in Taking Advantage of Improved …
Voice of America – USA
By VOA News A new US Defense Department report on Iraq says that despite a
significant reduction in violence over the past three months, …
voanews.com/english/2007-12-19-voa12.cfm

Outlets Twist Good News on Iraq Into Bad, Except ABC & LA Times
By Brent Baker
Viewers of ABC’s World News on Tuesday night learned of good news in the Pentagon’s latest quarterly report on conditions in Iraq, but the positive developments went unnoted on CBS while NBC, the New York Times, Washington Post, …
www.newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2007/12/19/
outlets-twist-good-news-iraq-bad-except-abc-la-times

Turk attack riles US, Iraq
Edmonton Sun – Alberta, Canada
By AP WASHINGTON — US officials complained yesterday that US military commanders in Iraq did not know Turkey was sending warplanes to bomb Kurdish rebels …
www.edmontonsun.com/News/World/
2007/12/19/4731707-sun.html

UN extends mandate of US military forces in Iraq
Belfast Telegraph – United Kingdom
The UN Security Council has voted to extend the mandate of the US-led coalition in Iraq for another year. The move comes at the request of Iraqi Prime …
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/
world/middle-east/article3264161.ece

Iraq Does Exist By Ghali Hassan
By dandelionsalad
The history of trying to obfuscate the truth and distort the image of Iraq has always been the aim of the US aggression against the people of Iraq. There is the added factor now of new breed of ‘journalists’ and ‘bloggers’ ever on the …
dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2007/12/
19/iraq-does-exist-by-ghali-hassan/

Turkish army deals ‘heavy blow’ to Kurd rebels in Iraq
AFP –
ANKARA (AFP) — Turkey’s military said it dealt a “heavy blow” to Kurdish separatist rebels based in neighbouring northern Iraq in a cross-border ground …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gAFJ2x9alGubPgBSFkvS-4eMDdnQ

Senate OKs $70B for Iraq, Afghanistan
Kansas City Star – MO,USA
By ANDREW TAYLOR AP Writer The Senate gave President Bush a big win on Iraq Tuesday night as it passed a massive $555 billion spending bill combining…
www.kansascity.com/449/story/409305.html

Decline in Iraq news may have boosted US opinion
Reuters – USA
By David Morgan WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (Reuters) – A recent decline in US news coverage from Iraq coincides with improved public opinion about the war just as …
www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN18463577

Richardson’s TV ad targets Iraq war
Arizona Republic – Phoenix,AZ,USA
Bill Richardson will begin airing a sharply drawn television ad today in Iowa and New Hampshire seeking to steer the campaign debate back to the war in Iraq …
www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1219richardson1219.html

US: Iraq handoff efforts dogged by problems
Newsday – Long Island,NY,USA
AP December 19, 2007 WASHINGTON – As violence continues to decline in much of Iraq, efforts to turn responsibility over to its security forces are still …
www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-woi
raq195507050dec19,0,1377491.story

Turkey Should Reach Political Settlement With Kurds, Iraq Says
Bloomberg – USA
19 (Bloomberg) — Turkey should seek a political settlement with its Kurdish minority and stop military action against rebels, Iraq’s ambassador to the US …
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=2060
1087&sid=aq46E474bXww&refer=home

Senate Backs $554 Billion Spending Bill With Money for Iraq War
Bloomberg – USA
17 that it would accept the budget legislation once lawmakers added the Iraq money. Democrats, seeing the end of the budget fight in sight, …
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=2
0601070&sid=al9ohszMGINA&refer=home

Skirting the Abyss in Iraq
Washington Post – United States
By David Ignatius KIRKUK, Iraq — With its volatile mix of Kurds, Turkmens and Arabs, this city is often described as a sectarian time bomb. …
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/
12/18/AR2007121801726.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Study Analyzes News Coverage of Iraq
The Associated Press –
NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly half the stories Americans read and saw about Iraq through most of the year were about the daily violence there, but journalists …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jpLcFgBX
D6AYC-iAaOs7l-5_2_JQD8TKACJO0

Polish Cabinet Wants Iraq Pullout Oct 31
The Associated Press –
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s new government formally asked the president Tuesday to approve the country’s withdrawal from Iraq by Oct. 31, 2008. …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iNb0n23t
1idpRPixT9ZFXfoPPqOQD8TK8SQO0

Judge Sets Trial Date in Iraq Killings
The Associated Press –
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A former Army private charged with raping a
14-year-old Iraqi girl and killing her and her family will go on trial in
April 2009, …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gS9-ssF
Gmse6OtSA4HV6De8XN6bQD8TK89L81

News & Views 12/18/07
By dancewater(Cervantes)
The event shines the spotlight on the willingness – and ability – of the central government and the Iraqi Army to exert their authority over Iraq ‘s most strategic and resource-rich city, which is now in the grips of feuding militias. …
warnewstoday.blogspot.com/2007/12/news-views-121807.html

Turkish Army Sends Soldiers Into Iraq
The Associated Press –
BAGHDAD (AP) — Turkey sent hundreds of troops across the border into the frigid mountains of northern Iraq on Tuesday, claiming it inflicted heavy losses on …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkx-3oYeFwu
WKCusr2jrojs98w8wD8TK5C780

Senate tackles $516 billion spending bill as Republicans seek Iraq …
International Herald Tribune – France
AP WASHINGTON: Senate Republicans were increasingly confident of winning a vote to provide $70 billion (EURO 48.56 billion) for US operations in Iraq and …
www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/19
/america/NA-GEN-US-Budget-Battle.php

Rice pushes “roadmap” as Turkish troops enter Iraq
Reuters – USA
By Arshad Mohammed and Shamal Aqrawi KIRKUK, Iraq (Reuters) – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on a visit overshadowed by a Turkish incursion into…
www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL0864778620071219

Senate OKs $70B for Iraq, Afghanistan
The Associated Press –
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted Tuesday to provide $70 billion for US military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, handing a victory to President Bush and …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h6dZR6
Ran4SvzDtMx_YPyrtO3qkQD8TK7NM82

Poland set for Iraq withdrawal
Financial Times – London,England,UK
By Jan Cienski Poland’s government has formally asked the president to withdraw Polish troops from Iraq by October 31. The step fulfils an election promise …
www.ft.com/cms/s/2e1e8016-add2-11dc-9386-0000779fd2ac.html