30/12/07

Iraq sees no unrest as Saddam’s death marked
Xinhua – China
Janabi said he has a mixed feeling toward Saddam because on the one hand he brought disasters to Iraq by his wars, and on the other hand, …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/31/content_7342467.htm

Garofalo to Host Iraq War Play
By Diana
Janeane Garofalo (along with Bebe Neuwirth and David Strathairn) will host the revival of “At War: American Playwrights Respond To Iraq.” The show is described as “an evening of alternately moving, haunting, and funny material by noted …
www.24headquarters.com/2007/12/30/garofalo-to-host-iraq-war-play/

No place in Iraq is safe, says US military
AFP –
BAGHDAD (AFP) — Despite a drop in violence across Iraq, there is still no place in the country that is safe from attack by extremists, the US military …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gAwr6pz7RcAl0c1v7qpTzaYcA7EQ

Drug firms probed over Iraq cash
BBC News – UK
GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca have been asked to hand over papers as part of a probe into bribes allegedly paid to Saddam Hussein’s former Iraq regime. …
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7164677.stm

Iraq PM medical tests in London “reassuring” – govt
Reuters – USA
BAGHDAD, Dec 30 (Reuters) – Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki underwent medical tests in a London hospital on Sunday and his office described the results …
www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSKHA044976

Kurdish rebels in Iraq vow to carry out more attacks against …
International Herald Tribune – France
AP QANDIL MOUNTAINS, Iraq: A Kurdish rebel leader in northern Iraq vowed to take the group’s battle for autonomy deep inside Turkey if its cross-border…
www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/30
/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Turkey-PKK.php

News of the Day for Sunday, December 30, 2007
By Cervantes(Cervantes)
Saddam Hussein loyalists gathered at the ousted dictator’s graveside for the first anniversary of his execution, with security tight in the regions of Iraq where he drew his most fervent support. (AFP/Ali Yussef) …
warnewstoday.blogspot.com/2007/12/news-
of-day-for-sunday-december-30-2007.html

One year ago today
By Sahar IIS
And how in any scenario could there be a scarcity of fuel in Iraq ? ! We have despaired of warm homes. We have despaired of hot water. We have forgotten how to sit relaxed in our homes. I walk into the living room looking for my son and …
washingtonbureau.typepad.com/iraq/2007/12/one-year-ago-to.html

Bin Laden warns Sunni Arabs in Iraq to back Al Qaeda
International Herald Tribune – France
AP CAIRO: Osama bin Laden has warned the Sunni Arabs in Iraq against fighting Al Qaeda and vowed to expand the terror group’s holy war to Israel in a new …
www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/30/africa/binladen.php

Iraq on Alert for Saddam Anniversary
The Associated Press –
Iraq army Brig. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi said security forces were “ready and prepared for any emergencies that might happen.” In Saddam’s hometown of Tikrit …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkx-3oYe
FwuWKCusr2jrojs98w8wD8TRNNKO0

Iraq On Alert On Anniversary Of Hussein’s Execution
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty – Prague,Czech Republic
Iraqi officials have warned that security forces were prepared to deal with any civil unrest in the heartland areas of Sunni Iraq north and west of Baghdad. …
www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/12/0cb32
668-e258-419c-b288-057d5d7838a0.html

FEATURE-Iraq’s Kurd villagers see no hope after air strikes
Reuters – USA
By Sherko Raouf SANKASAR, Iraq, Dec 30 (Reuters) – Since Turkish warplanes turned her village home into a heap of rubble last week, mother of eight Aziya …
www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSKHA921272

Dahr Jamail’s analysis of the war in Iraq in 2007
By VINEYARDSAKER:(VINEYARDSAKER:)
By autumn, there were over 175000 US military personnel in Iraq. This is the highest number of US troops deployed yet, and while the US government continues to talk of withdrawing some, the numbers on the ground appear to contradict …
vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2007/12/
dahr-jamails-analysis-of-war-in-iraq-in.html

Juan Cole: Top 10 myths about Iraq 2007
In a recent ABC News/ Washington Post poll, Iraq and the economy were virtually tied among voters nationally, with nearly a quarter of voters in each case saying it was their number one issue. The economy had become more important to …
hnn.us/roundup/entries/45936.html

Oil Exploration Conflict With Iraq Corners SK Energy
Korea Times – South Korea
As such cautions weren’t acknowledged, Iraq’s oil ministry reportedly informed SK Energy via telephone recently that it may suspend oil exports to Seoul if …
www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2007/12/123_16422.html

Iraq on alert for anniversary of Saddam’s execution
AFP –
AWJA, Iraq (AFP) — Saddam Hussein loyalists gathered at the ousted dictator’s graveside on Sunday for the first anniversary of his execution, with security …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iIGL3uJjuL_G3Cp4Z4z_fS_iuoTQ

Iraq’s Kurd villagers see no hope after air strikes
Reuters – USA
By Sherko Raouf SANKASAR, Iraq (Reuters) – Since Turkish warplanes turned her village home into a heap of rubble last week, mother of eight Aziya Rasheed …
www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSKHA92127220071230

The ‘Success’ of the Surge in Iraq
By Brent Herbert
Public support for the war in Iraq has been steadily falling and for this reason the Bush administration desperately required a good news story coming out of Iraq rather than just more reports of a never ending quagmire. …
portland.indymedia.org/en/2007/12/370487.shtml

OSC: Bin Ladin Vows Jihad for ‘Liberation of Entire Palestine …
By Juan Cole(Juan Cole)
This is to be added to the media campaigns aimed at misrepresenting the Islamic State of Iraq for which the Riyadh rulers, their scholars, and their media outlets are to blame.” Bin Ladin adds: “Amir Abu-Umar (al-Baghdadi) and his …
www.juancole.com/2007/12/osc-bin-lad
in-vows-jihad-for-liberation.html

Iraq violence drops to summer 2005 levels
Baltimore Sun – United States
By Tina Susman and Alexandra Zavis December 30, 2007 BAGHDAD – Although overall violence in Iraq has dropped to levels not seen on a sustained basis since …
www.baltimoresun.com/news/world/ir
aq/bal-te.iraq30dec30,0,2260515.story

Premier leaves Iraq for checkup
Los Angeles Times – CA,USA
He is expected to return to Iraq within days, said Yassin Majid, the prime minister’s media advisor. In video broadcast on state-run Al Iraqiya television, …
www.latimes.com/features/health/la-fg-maliki
30dec30,1,1710980.story?coll=la-headlines-health

Iraq tense on Saddam execution anniversary
Belfast Telegraph – United Kingdom
Iraq is on alert today on the first anniversary of the execution of Saddam Hussein. Supporters of the former President are expected to gather at his power …
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking
-news/ireland/article3294031.ece

Baghdad women defy extremists
Baltimore Sun – United States
To those outside Iraq, the prospect of being killed just for frequenting a hair salon might seem a convincing reason not to go. But despite being targeted …
www.baltimoresun.com/news/world/iraq
/bal-te.salons30dec30,0,7373559.story

Bin Laden Tape Shows Fear of Losing Support in Iraq, US Says
Bloomberg – USA
29 (Bloomberg) — Osama bin Laden’s latest audiotape suggests the leader of the al-Qaeda terrorist network fears losing the support of Sunni Arabs as Iraq …
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=
20601087&sid=a209a0W9iyfA&refer=home

US congresswoman proposes troop redeployment from Iraq to Pakistan …
Xinhua – China
29 (Xinhua) — The US troops in Iraq should be redeployed to Pakistan and Afghanistan to focus on countering terrorist threats there, a US lawmaker said …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/30/content_7340579.htm

Drug firms face Iraq bribes probe
The Press Association –
He said: “GSK does not believe that its employees or its agents in Iraq knowingly engaged in wrongdoing regarding the oil-for-food programme. …
ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iehjVwNEico9SZ3YG7Dxb2kBy-Rw

2007 is the deadliest year of Iraq war for US, but it ends in a …
Kansas City Star – MO,USA
In August, the worst bombings of the war struck two villages in northern Iraq, claiming more than 300 lives. Three car bombings in Amarah, in southern Iraq, …
www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/423053.html

Bin Laden issues warning on Iraq
AFP –
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden warned Muslims against supporting Iraq’s US-backed government and promised the “liberation of Palestine,” …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jcpuxrUWWZMWOMRydquN5qxZPP-g

Iraq Attacks Fall 60 Percent, Petraeus Says
New York Times – United States
By STEPHEN FARRELL and SOLOMON MOORE BAGHDAD — The top American military commander in Iraq said Saturday that violent attacks in the country had fallen by …
www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/world/middleeast/30iraq.html

29/12/07

Gen. Petraeus Positive, Cautious on Iraq Progress
Washington Post – United States
29 — The top US commander in Iraq, Gen. David H. Petraeus, delivered a positive but cautious assessment Saturday of progress in Iraq over the previous year …
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/
article/2007/12/29/AR2007122901169.html

Petraeus: Iraq Security Fragile
By rcade
Iraq has pulled back from the brink of civil war, but recent security gains are fragile and still reversible, the top US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, said on Saturday.
feeds.drudge.com/~r/retort/~3/20
8155213/petraeus-iraq-security-fragile

Bin Laden warns Iraq’s Sunnis against joining anti-Qaida tribal …
The Canadian Press –
CAIRO, Egypt – In a new audiotape on the Internet today, Osama bin Laden warns Iraq’s Sunni Arabs against joining tribal councils fighting al-Qaida or …
canadianpress.google.com/article/AL
eqM5gl047nqYFiUnPCzPN6Nw9Sm7cbWA

Economy Nudging Iraq Aside As Issue
The Associated Press –
WASHINGTON (AP) — Wide public discontent over the war in Iraq helped sweep Democrats to the control of Congress last year. But Iraq is becoming less of an …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hFOe
1rtLLwsKl3iNsKO66yR3ufMAD8TR6SK00

Iraq gains are “reversible”: Petraeus
Reuters – USA
In a message to his troops, he wrote: “A year ago, Iraq was racked by horrific violence and on the brink of civil war. “Now, levels of violence and civilian …
www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSL2973170020071229

Democrats: Redeploy Troops From Iraq
The Associated Press –
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States should redeploy troops from Iraq, allowing the military to focus on terrorist threats in Pakistan and Afghanistan, …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5galh4w
Ma2wAALoCnCARDlXN3guQQD8TR8BB01

Al-Qaeda in Iraq ‘reduced by 75%’
BBC News – UK
Three-quarters of al-Qaeda in Iraq has been destroyed over the last year, the Interior Ministry in Baghdad has said. Iraqi and American commanders said the …
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7164520.stm

Iraq’s Financial Surge
By podcasts@redstate.com (Redstate Network)
The price of a barrel of oil, of which Iraq is a leading producer, has had a pretty good year itself. Still, during the 2007 New Year prediction season, how many guessed that the dinar would outperform the communist Chinese renminbi (up …
www.redstate.com/stories/war/iraqs_financial_surge

Leaving Iraq will make America safer
Those who support the surge are making the same mistakes that war supporters have made all along: They fail to understand how the Iraq war sets back our security, and they fail to understand that there is no military solution in Iraq. …
www.barackobama.com/2007/12/
29/_leaving_iraq_will_make_americ.php

Difficult mission
By Correspondent Jenan
I hardly convince her of my story that talks about the changes that happened in Iraq through the 2007. Then talked to her about many stuff in her neighborhood she was very kind and generous in her description for her neighborhood. …
washingtonbureau.typepad.com/iraq/2007/12/difficult-missi.html

Iraq: al-Qaida 75 Percent Gone
The Associated Press –
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s interior ministry spokesman said Saturday that 75 percent of al-Qaida in Iraq’s terrorist network had been destroyed this year, …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkx-3
oYeFwuWKCusr2jrojs98w8wD8TR5DDG0

Petraeus: Iraq security fragile, gains reversible
Reuters – USA
By Ross Colvin BAGHDAD, Dec 29 (Reuters) – Iraq has pulled back from the brink of civil war, but recent security gains are fragile and still reversible, …
www.reuters.com/article/middleeastCrisis/idUSCOL921136

Iraq to discuss border agreement with Iran
Reuters – USA
By Aseel Kami BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq will send a delegation to neighboring Iran in the coming days to seek slight changes to the agreement that defines …
www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL293924120071229

Iraq Moratorium
By Spadoman(Spadoman)
The Iraq Moratorium, found HERE, at Iraqmoratorium.org, is a National campaign to end the war in Iraq. The premise is simple. Hold a Peace Rally every third Friday of each month. Sing on to pledge that you will do just that. …
jspado1.blogspot.com/2007/12/iraq-moratorium.html

Citing Iraq, Bush to veto defense bill
Boston Globe – United States
WACO, Texas – President Bush said yesterday that he will veto the defense authorization bill because of Iraq’s concerns that the legislation could hinder …
www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles
/2007/12/29/citing_iraq_bush_to_veto_defense_bill

US toll in Iraq
San Francisco Chronicle – CA, USA
As of Friday, at least 3901 members of the US military had died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. …
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=
/c/a/2007/12/29/MNG9SU6NJG.DTL

In the shadow of a peace mural, bomb kills 8 in Iraq
Houston Chronicle – United States
In Seoul, South Korea’s Parliament voted Friday to extend the deployment of the country’s 650 troops in Iraq for another year, amid protests outside the …
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/world/5409687.html

A closer look at slain al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Abdullah
Earlier this week, Multinational Forces Iraq confirmed the death of Abu Abdullah, who was described as a senior al Qaeda leader. Not only was Abu Abdullah a close associate of Zarqawi, the regional emir of the region between western …
www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2007/12/a_closer_look_at_sla.php

News & Views 12/28/07
By dancewater(Cervantes)
Photo: Iraqi Shiite followers of anti-US cleric Muqtada al-Sadr gather for Eid al-Ghadeer at the Imam Ali shrine, Najaf, 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Baghdad , Iraq on Friday, Dec. 28, 2007. Eid al-Ghadeer is the anniversary …
warnewstoday.blogspot.com/2007/12/news-views-122807.html

Bush to veto US defense bill after Iraq objects
Malaysia Star – Malaysia
By Tabassum Zakaria CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) – President George W. Bush intends to veto defense legislation after Iraq objected to a provision that could …
thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/12/29/worldupdates
/2007-12-29T065932Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-311596-3&sec=
Worldupdates

Shame of Imported Labor in Kurdish North of Iraq
New York Times – United States
By MICHAEL KAMBER SULAIMANIYA, Iraq — The tiny Filipino woman’s hands trembled. She was in hiding, fearing capture at any moment. …
www.nytimes.com/2007/12/29/world
/middleeast/29kurds.html?ref=world

UK £70m arms sales to Saddam Hussein’s Iraq
By Gaime(Gaime)
ready to stage new raids against PKK in northern Iraq 28 Dec 2007 Turkey said Friday it would continue its military operations against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, after several attacks this month against members of the Kurdistan …
gaimelist.blogspot.com/2007/12/uk
-70m-arms-sales-to-saddam-husseins.html

14 die in Iraq market blast
Gulf Daily News – Manama,Bahrain
The US military said it had killed four heavily armed gunmen tied to Al Qaeda in Iraq near Muqdadiyah in Diyala. Another was killed in a predominantly Sunni …
www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?
Article=204138&Sn=WORL&IssueID=30284

US Military Deaths in Iraq at 3901
The Associated Press –
28, 2007, at least 3901 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/ALeqM5gqgQ
Ccv26kB1dkgZRZNHmbn_1J8gD8TQPA7G0

US General Addresses Troops in Iraq
The Associated Press –
WASHINGTON (AP) — The US military in Iraq must shift its focus toward helping the government restore basic services and boost the economy, …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hcWJu9
bbzrJZ7uNHjvMn0BuTGqHQD8TQNQEO1

War in Iraq
No description.
www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_reconstruction.htm

Video: CNN International reports on progress in Iraq
By Bryan
For about four years I lived in Japan and would often see CNN-I in hotels and whatnot. […] Read the rest
www.hotair.com/archives/2007/12/28/video-
cnn-international-reports-on-progress-in-iraq/