Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Allawi Did Not Win
In spite of what many headlines have said, former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi did not win the recent election. More importantly, a recent Federal Supreme Court decision stating that political coalitions can be formed AFTER the election has in essence negated the results. Prior to this decision Iyad Allawi's secular Iraqiyah coalition would have formed the new Iraqi government.
Below are some highlights as to what is really occurring in Iraq's post-election period.
Allawi Accuses Tehran of Meddling in Iraqi Politics
Ayad Allawi, leader of the bloc that won the most seats in Iraq's parliamentary election, lashed out at Iran on Tuesday, accusing Tehran of interfering in the battle to form a new government in Baghdad.
Mr. Allawi's cross-sectarian political bloc secured a narrow victory over Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shiite-dominated slate in the March 7 vote, potentially upending the lock on power that the country's majority Shiites have had since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003. But Mr. Allawi didn't win a majority of seats in the 325-member parliament, and is battling the incumbent to lock in enough coalition partners to form a stable government.
Representatives from Mr. Maliki's State of Law slate and from the two most influential parties inside a Shiite umbrella slate that finished third all recently visited Tehran at the same time. Iran has exerted significant political and economic power in Iraq since shortly after Mr. Hussein's ouster, when Shiite Iraqis rose to power.
Asharq Al-Awsat Talks to Iraqi VP Tariq al-Hashimi
Tariq al-Hashimi, the Iraqi vice president and prominent leader in Al-Iraqiya List led by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi which won the legislative elections held on 7 March, has stated that Al-Iraqiya faced major challenges like "disqualification and Debathification" and also "the campaigns of distortion and tampering with the voters' will." He pointed out that his bloc was open to all the political forces to ally themselves with it but did not refer to an alliance with the State of Law Coalition [SLC] which is led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki who rejected the results of the elections. Al- Iraqiya List won 91 seats, two seats more than Al-Maliki's list.
Iraq election: Victorious candidates may be purged, boosting Maliki
Six winning candidates in Iraq elections will be stripped of their votes and lose their seats – which would cost secular politician Iyad Allawi's bloc its narrow victory – if a federal court upholds a broad purge of candidates who are suspected of past involvement with the late dictator Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath Party, Iraqi officials said Monday.
Maliki is block in Iraq coalition merger talks
Maliki's State of Law (SOL) coalition is negotiating a possible union with the Iraqi National Alliance (INA), which includes anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, to form the largest bloc in Iraq's next parliament. The Sadrists' strong election showing makes Sadr a potential kingmaker.
An alliance between the two major Shi'ite parties could push former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's cross-sectarian Iraqiya coalition, the top vote-getter in Iraq's March 7 election, to the sidelines. That could anger many Sunnis who voted for Allawi and deepen Iraq's sectarian divide.
Iran 'preventing’ Ayad Allawi from becoming Iraq’s prime minister
Tehran was interfering in the election process in Iraq, where his Iraqiya bloc won 91 seats in the 325-member Council of Representatives, two more than Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Alliance, he told the BBC.
“Iran is interfering quite heavily and this is worrying,” Mr Allawi told the broadcaster, accusing the Islamic republic of inviting all the major parties to Tehran apart from his bloc.
“They have invited everybody – but they haven’t invited us – to Tehran,” he said.
Asked directly whether Iran wanted to stop him becoming prime minister, Mr Allawi responded: “I think so, they made it very clear ... that they have a red line.
“We are concerned about respecting the will of the Iraqi people.”
Iraqi commission moves to disqualify winning candidates
Six winning candidates in Iraq's parliamentary elections will be stripped of their votes and lose their seats — which would cost secular politician Ayad Allawi's bloc its narrow victory — if a federal court upholds a broad purge of candidates who are suspected of past involvement with the late dictator Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath Party, Iraqi officials said Monday.
Monday, March 29, 2010
The President's Visit to Afghanistan
No word on what the President was able to eat during his visit. The U.S. war on American corporate food franchises rages on in Afghanistan. Oh and al Qaeda and the Taliban are still out there too.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Admin Note
Due to professional, academic, and personal commitments I will no longer post the Morning Readbook. For those that need an alternative I recommend the Small Wars Journal Roundup.
Below are the search terms and websites I would use to generate the morning readbook.
For Stories -
Google News
Search Terms - "Taliban" "Qaeda" "Afghanistan" "Pakistan" "Iraq" or any other country or topic grabbing headlines that week.
SAMPLE
Top story searching "taliban" -
India shifts Afghan policy, ready to talk to Taliban
For Photos -
Yahoo News World Photos
Search Terms - The country of choice generates the widest selection of photos. The exception would be anything related to CT in the United States. In that case I would search "homeland"
SAMPLE -
"Iraq"
Original can be found at this link.
For Video -
Al Jazeera English
I would embed the latest news bulletin at end the readbook.
SAMPLE
Also, I would search through any of their recent programs or segments to see if there was one of interest. There are many detailed stories that never make mainstream headlines but are very applicable to the current COIN/CT debates. Below is a perfect example.
Final Notes -
I plan on posting two more segments in the Basics of COIN series. The next one will deal with Chaotic and Complex scenarios.
As far as the current COIN/CT conflict are concerned, I am waiting to see if Maliki will actually step down from power and what the new Iraqi government will look like when it finally forms. Afghanistan is far too early to make a call without guessing.
More to follow...
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
March 23rd Morning Readbook
Karzai in talks with Taliban allies
World Digest: Afghanistan's Karzai talks to representatives of insurgent faction
President Hamid Karzai held talks in Kabul on Monday with representatives of one of the key insurgent groups battling his government, as the president continues his high-stakes push for an eventual reconciliation among all of Afghanistan's warring factions.
Pakistan army chief begins US strategic dialogue
Pakistan's army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani has met US defence leaders in Washington as the two countries begin a week-long strategic dialogue.
Pakistan asks court to let it reopen probe of nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan
The Pakistani government on Monday sought a court's permission in Lahore to reopen its probe into scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan and his role in nuclear weapons-related discussions and transactions with Iran and Iraq.
U.S. Officials Meet Iraqi Leader After Recount Call
The two top American officials in Iraq met Monday with Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki after his endorsement over the weekend of a recount in the parliamentary elections incited fears of a political crisis in a country not accustomed to peaceful transfers of power.
Iraq election front-runners court possible allies
With the complete results in Iraq's election just days away, there were signs Monday the two front runners were reaching out to other political parties, signaling the start of the jockeying to form the next ruling coalition.
U.S. judge orders release of Guantanamo detainee
A federal judge ordered on Monday that a man accused of having ties to some of the hijackers in the September 11, 2001, attacks, be released from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Netanyahu disrupted at Aipac gala
Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has been disrupted in Washington DC by activists protesting against Israeli policy in the Middle East.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
World Digest: Afghanistan's Karzai talks to representatives of insurgent faction
President Hamid Karzai held talks in Kabul on Monday with representatives of one of the key insurgent groups battling his government, as the president continues his high-stakes push for an eventual reconciliation among all of Afghanistan's warring factions.
Pakistan army chief begins US strategic dialogue
Pakistan's army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani has met US defence leaders in Washington as the two countries begin a week-long strategic dialogue.
Pakistan asks court to let it reopen probe of nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan
The Pakistani government on Monday sought a court's permission in Lahore to reopen its probe into scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan and his role in nuclear weapons-related discussions and transactions with Iran and Iraq.
U.S. Officials Meet Iraqi Leader After Recount Call
The two top American officials in Iraq met Monday with Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki after his endorsement over the weekend of a recount in the parliamentary elections incited fears of a political crisis in a country not accustomed to peaceful transfers of power.
Iraq election front-runners court possible allies
With the complete results in Iraq's election just days away, there were signs Monday the two front runners were reaching out to other political parties, signaling the start of the jockeying to form the next ruling coalition.
U.S. judge orders release of Guantanamo detainee
A federal judge ordered on Monday that a man accused of having ties to some of the hijackers in the September 11, 2001, attacks, be released from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Netanyahu disrupted at Aipac gala
Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has been disrupted in Washington DC by activists protesting against Israeli policy in the Middle East.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Sunday, March 21, 2010
March 22nd Morning Readbook
An Iraqi soldier stands guard in front of a poster of former Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi in Baghdad. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's calls for a recount of votes from Iraq's polls were on Sunday rebuffed by its election commission, amid a tight race to form the biggest bloc in parliament. (AFP/Ali al-Saadi)
Prime minister warns of violence, but election board rejects call for recount
As new results from this month's election continued to show a neck-and-neck race, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday issued a strongly worded warning that without a nationwide recount, the country could descend into violence. The electoral commission quickly rejected the request, saying a recount would be neither necessary nor feasible.
Iraq’s Premier Endorses a Recount of the Vote
Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki endorsed the mounting calls for a recount of Iraq’s parliamentary election, as the latest results on Sunday showed his main competitor with a slight lead.
Drone strike kills eight in North Waziristan
A US drone aircraft fired two missiles into an al Qaeda and Taliban hideout in North Waziristan on Sunday, killing eight terrorists, Pakistani intelligence officials said.
Afghan bomb attacks kill at least 12 civilians
A suicide bomber killed 10 civilians on Sunday when he detonated his explosives near a crowd in southern Afghanistan, while a roadside bomb in the east killed two others, officials said.
Iran's supreme leader says U.S. fails to act on promise for better ties
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday that the United States failed to act on its promise to establish better ties with the Islamic Republic, Iran's satellite channel Press TV reported.
Analysts say US-Israel Relationship Scarred by Settlements Dispute
Middle East analysts are expressing concern a disagreement between the United States and Israel over Jewish settlements in occupied East Jerusalem will leave scars in the relationship and may raise the risk of Israeli military strikes against Iran's nuclear program.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
"Israel...seen as the problem"
The Anti-Defamation League, known for defending Israel's interests in the United States by raising antisemitism awareness, attacked General David Petraeus earlier this week. Out of all the statements to come out of Israel's attempt to bully the U.S., this action shocked me the most.
*NOTE- As with most counter-arguements devoid of any fact or intellectual merit, to avoid the "hate card" I will say up front that I am not antisemitic. I simply do not place the security of any nation before the security and welfare of my own.
You can read the full statement here.
This is propaganda in its purest form; truth twisted to advance a political agenda. There are only four sentences in which I quoted so I will address each individual one.
I would like the ADL to identify an insurgent or terrorist group that does not link the challenges faced by the U.S. forces to perceived U.S.
This linkage is dangerous and counterproductive for Israel. Unfortunately, it is rooted in more fact that this statement.
Suffocating a man in the hotel of a foreign country using a falsified passport of an individual belonging to a supposed "ally" will add to this perspective.
These are three requests being asked by nearly every nation in the world, all rejected by Israel.
In order to better understand our takfiri enemy, we need to understand the messages that resonate with a moderate audience. It it their solutions that are extreme, not always the perspectives. The last word goes to al Qaeda as they demonstrate on video how they manipulate American policies to remain a relevant opposition terrorist group.
*NOTE- As with most counter-arguements devoid of any fact or intellectual merit, to avoid the "hate card" I will say up front that I am not antisemitic. I simply do not place the security of any nation before the security and welfare of my own.
You can read the full statement here.
Gen. Petraeus has simply erred in linking the challenges faced by the U.S. and coalition forces in the region to a solution of the Israeli-Arab conflict, and blaming extremist activities on the absence of peace and the perceived U.S. favoritism for Israel. This linkage is dangerous and counterproductive.
Whenever the Israeli-Arab conflict is made a focal point, Israel comes to be seen as the problem. If only Israel would stop settlements, if only Israel would talk with Hamas, if only Israel would make concessions on refugees, if only it would share Jerusalem, everything in the region would then fall into line.
This is propaganda in its purest form; truth twisted to advance a political agenda. There are only four sentences in which I quoted so I will address each individual one.
Gen. Petraeus has simply erred in linking the challenges faced by the U.S. and coalition forces in the region to a solution of the Israeli-Arab conflict, and blaming extremist activities on the absence of peace and the perceived U.S. favoritism for Israel.
I would like the ADL to identify an insurgent or terrorist group that does not link the challenges faced by the U.S. forces to perceived U.S.
This linkage is dangerous and counterproductive.
This linkage is dangerous and counterproductive for Israel. Unfortunately, it is rooted in more fact that this statement.
Whenever the Israeli-Arab conflict is made a focal point, Israel comes to be seen as the problem.
Suffocating a man in the hotel of a foreign country using a falsified passport of an individual belonging to a supposed "ally" will add to this perspective.
If only Israel would stop settlements, if only Israel would talk with Hamas, if only Israel would make concessions on refugees, if only it would share Jerusalem, everything in the region would then fall into line.
These are three requests being asked by nearly every nation in the world, all rejected by Israel.
In order to better understand our takfiri enemy, we need to understand the messages that resonate with a moderate audience. It it their solutions that are extreme, not always the perspectives. The last word goes to al Qaeda as they demonstrate on video how they manipulate American policies to remain a relevant opposition terrorist group.
March 21st Morning Readbook
Iraqis voice hopes for the future
Iraq's Iyad Allawi urges swifter election result
Iyad Allawi, who headed the country from 2004 to 2005, told the BBC full results from the 7 March election should have been released days ago.
Iraq's Maliki asks for recount, warns of violence
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called for a nationwide recount of votes from Iraq's March 7 parliamentary election, warning the country could return to violence if the demand was not met.
Brothers who filmed and performed al Qaeda-style military manoeuvres in local park convicted of terrorist offences
Two brothers who filmed themselves on al Qaeda-style military manoeuvres in their local park were convicted of terrorist offences yesterday.
Pakistani Taliban Kill 4, Calling Them US Spies
The bullet-riddled bodies of four Pakistani tribesmen, killed by the Taliban for allegedly spying for the United States, were found Sunday in a semiautonomous tribal region near the Afghan border, witnesses and officials said.
Marines offer cash in fight against Afghan opium
After weeks of intense fighting over the Taliban stronghold of Marjah, U.S. Marines are now taking cautious aim at the drugs trade, with a program designed to pay opium farmers to destroy their own crops without a fight.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Iraq's Iyad Allawi urges swifter election result
Iyad Allawi, who headed the country from 2004 to 2005, told the BBC full results from the 7 March election should have been released days ago.
Iraq's Maliki asks for recount, warns of violence
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called for a nationwide recount of votes from Iraq's March 7 parliamentary election, warning the country could return to violence if the demand was not met.
Brothers who filmed and performed al Qaeda-style military manoeuvres in local park convicted of terrorist offences
Two brothers who filmed themselves on al Qaeda-style military manoeuvres in their local park were convicted of terrorist offences yesterday.
Pakistani Taliban Kill 4, Calling Them US Spies
The bullet-riddled bodies of four Pakistani tribesmen, killed by the Taliban for allegedly spying for the United States, were found Sunday in a semiautonomous tribal region near the Afghan border, witnesses and officials said.
Marines offer cash in fight against Afghan opium
After weeks of intense fighting over the Taliban stronghold of Marjah, U.S. Marines are now taking cautious aim at the drugs trade, with a program designed to pay opium farmers to destroy their own crops without a fight.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Saturday, March 20, 2010
March 20th Morning Readbook
Inside Story - Iraq's election results
Allawi back in Iraq vote-count lead
The latest results from Iraq's parliamentary election show the Iraqiya coalition, led by Iyad Allawi, the former prime minister, regaining a narrow lead.
Iraq: Key figures since the war began
-- U.S. TROOP LEVELS:
March 31, 2003: 90,000.
October 2007: 170,000 at peak of troop buildup.
March 1, 2010: Just over 96,000.
COALITION TROOP LEVELS:
Number of countries that participated in "Coalition for the Immediate Disarmament of Iraq" at the start of the war: 31, including the United States.
As of August 2009, all non-U.S. coalition members had withdrawn from Iraq.
Pakistan official: 3 Taliban militants arrested
Police arrested three Taliban militants Saturday and seized a bomb-making factory in the southern Pakistan city of Karachi, a counterterrorism official said.
Political Skills Assist Panetta as Spymaster
Intelligence reports landing on CIA Director Leon Panetta's desk last July made the alarming claim that the Pakistani Taliban could have a nuclear device.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Allawi back in Iraq vote-count lead
The latest results from Iraq's parliamentary election show the Iraqiya coalition, led by Iyad Allawi, the former prime minister, regaining a narrow lead.
Iraq: Key figures since the war began
-- U.S. TROOP LEVELS:
March 31, 2003: 90,000.
October 2007: 170,000 at peak of troop buildup.
March 1, 2010: Just over 96,000.
COALITION TROOP LEVELS:
Number of countries that participated in "Coalition for the Immediate Disarmament of Iraq" at the start of the war: 31, including the United States.
As of August 2009, all non-U.S. coalition members had withdrawn from Iraq.
Pakistan official: 3 Taliban militants arrested
Police arrested three Taliban militants Saturday and seized a bomb-making factory in the southern Pakistan city of Karachi, a counterterrorism official said.
Political Skills Assist Panetta as Spymaster
Intelligence reports landing on CIA Director Leon Panetta's desk last July made the alarming claim that the Pakistani Taliban could have a nuclear device.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Friday, March 19, 2010
March 19th Morning Readbook
CIA: Al Qaeda Leaders on the Run
Pakistan Tribes Plan Anti-Taliban Strategy at Biggest Gathering
Pakistan’s tribal leaders will discuss a strategy tomorrow to end support for militants, their biggest gathering since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and removed the Taliban from power.
Marjah wrested from the Taliban, but residents say militants remain potent force
In the capital of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Taliban roam the streets freely. Barely a mile (a kilometer) outside Lashkar Gah, they wield more control than the government, according to residents.
Al Maliki Coalition slightly ahead in Iraq
State of Law Coalition led by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki is slightly ahead of other coalitions, according to preliminary results of Iraqi Parliamentary elections.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Pakistan Tribes Plan Anti-Taliban Strategy at Biggest Gathering
Pakistan’s tribal leaders will discuss a strategy tomorrow to end support for militants, their biggest gathering since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and removed the Taliban from power.
Marjah wrested from the Taliban, but residents say militants remain potent force
In the capital of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Taliban roam the streets freely. Barely a mile (a kilometer) outside Lashkar Gah, they wield more control than the government, according to residents.
Al Maliki Coalition slightly ahead in Iraq
State of Law Coalition led by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki is slightly ahead of other coalitions, according to preliminary results of Iraqi Parliamentary elections.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Thursday, March 18, 2010
March 18th Morning Readbook
Swat's displaced fret about handouts
Drone Strike Said to Kill a Leader of Al Qaeda
A strike by an unmanned drone last week killed a senior commander of Al Qaeda who had played a significant role in planning the killing of Central Intelligence Agency operatives in late December at a base in Afghanistan, according to American officials.
US operations 'already started' in Kandahar
Operations to push the Taliban out of their iconic Afghan stronghold of Kandahar are underway and will steadily build in the months ahead, military officials said Thursday.
Soaring IED attacks in Afghanistan stymie U.S. counteroffensive
Taliban fighters more than doubled the number of homemade bombs they used against U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan last year, relying on explosives that are often far more primitive than the ones used in Iraq.
Iraq's election adds to sectarian divide
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is relying on his Shiite Muslim religious identity to gain an edge over Iyad Allawi, a secular Shiite whose loss would be a huge setback to Sunni Arab voters.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Drone Strike Said to Kill a Leader of Al Qaeda
A strike by an unmanned drone last week killed a senior commander of Al Qaeda who had played a significant role in planning the killing of Central Intelligence Agency operatives in late December at a base in Afghanistan, according to American officials.
US operations 'already started' in Kandahar
Operations to push the Taliban out of their iconic Afghan stronghold of Kandahar are underway and will steadily build in the months ahead, military officials said Thursday.
Soaring IED attacks in Afghanistan stymie U.S. counteroffensive
Taliban fighters more than doubled the number of homemade bombs they used against U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan last year, relying on explosives that are often far more primitive than the ones used in Iraq.
Iraq's election adds to sectarian divide
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is relying on his Shiite Muslim religious identity to gain an edge over Iyad Allawi, a secular Shiite whose loss would be a huge setback to Sunni Arab voters.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
March 17th Morning Readbook
US moves to calm spat with Israel over settlements
Allawi edges ahead of al-Maliki in Iraq vote count
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's bloc has edged ahead of the coalition led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Iraq's parliamentary vote, election officials announced.
Followers of Sadr Emerge Stronger After Iraq Elections
The followers of Moktada al-Sadr, a radical cleric who led the Shiite insurgency against the American occupation, have emerged as Iraq’s equivalent of Lazarus in elections last week, defying ritual predictions of their demise and now threatening to realign the nation’s balance of power.
US missile strikes kill seven in Pakistan
US missile strikes killed at least seven militants in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, as attackers armed with rockets and petrol bombs killed five policemen in a pre-dawn ambush.
Why the U.S. must talk to the Taliban
While the Obama administration is watching the battlefield in Afghanistan, hoping for a quick weakening of the Taliban, regional powers are ratcheting up tensions in and outside that country. Pakistan and Iran in particular want to ensure that by the time the United States is ready to talk to the Taliban, the region's future will already be shaped by local powers, limiting Washington's options. Afghanistan's ethnic and sectarian divisions are being exacerbated in the process.
Tehran aiding al Qaeda links, Petraeus says
Iran is assisting al Qaeda by facilitating links between senior terrorist leaders and affiliate groups, the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East told Congress on Tuesday.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Allawi edges ahead of al-Maliki in Iraq vote count
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's bloc has edged ahead of the coalition led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Iraq's parliamentary vote, election officials announced.
Followers of Sadr Emerge Stronger After Iraq Elections
The followers of Moktada al-Sadr, a radical cleric who led the Shiite insurgency against the American occupation, have emerged as Iraq’s equivalent of Lazarus in elections last week, defying ritual predictions of their demise and now threatening to realign the nation’s balance of power.
US missile strikes kill seven in Pakistan
US missile strikes killed at least seven militants in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, as attackers armed with rockets and petrol bombs killed five policemen in a pre-dawn ambush.
Why the U.S. must talk to the Taliban
While the Obama administration is watching the battlefield in Afghanistan, hoping for a quick weakening of the Taliban, regional powers are ratcheting up tensions in and outside that country. Pakistan and Iran in particular want to ensure that by the time the United States is ready to talk to the Taliban, the region's future will already be shaped by local powers, limiting Washington's options. Afghanistan's ethnic and sectarian divisions are being exacerbated in the process.
Tehran aiding al Qaeda links, Petraeus says
Iran is assisting al Qaeda by facilitating links between senior terrorist leaders and affiliate groups, the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East told Congress on Tuesday.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
March 16th Morning Readbook
Iraqi PM pulls ahead of poll rivals
Iran praises Iraq election as Shi'ite ally leads
Iran congratulated Iraqis on Tuesday over an election that is likely to keep a bloc led by its Shi'ite ally, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, in power after a campaign in which Tehran's influence was a divisive issue.
Iraq's Arab neighbors wary of Shi'ite sway after vote
Iraq's Arab neighbors fear a split Iraqi election could further marginalize minority Sunnis and hope any coalition government formed by the Shi'ite frontrunner will resist Iran's sway.
US drone attack kills Pakistanis
A suspected US drone attack in the restive northwest Pakistan has killed at least 11 people and wounded two others.
Karzai, Obama discuss prospects of Taliban talks
Afghan President Hamid Karzai discussed prospects of peace with the Taliban in a video phone conversation with President Barack Obama, Karzai's office said on Tuesday.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Iran praises Iraq election as Shi'ite ally leads
Iran congratulated Iraqis on Tuesday over an election that is likely to keep a bloc led by its Shi'ite ally, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, in power after a campaign in which Tehran's influence was a divisive issue.
Iraq's Arab neighbors wary of Shi'ite sway after vote
Iraq's Arab neighbors fear a split Iraqi election could further marginalize minority Sunnis and hope any coalition government formed by the Shi'ite frontrunner will resist Iran's sway.
US drone attack kills Pakistanis
A suspected US drone attack in the restive northwest Pakistan has killed at least 11 people and wounded two others.
Karzai, Obama discuss prospects of Taliban talks
Afghan President Hamid Karzai discussed prospects of peace with the Taliban in a video phone conversation with President Barack Obama, Karzai's office said on Tuesday.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Monday, March 15, 2010
March 15th Morning Readbook
US-Israel ties at risk?
A week on, Maliki pulls ahead in Iraq race
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki pulled ahead on Sunday in early results of an election Iraqis hoped would end years of sectarian strife, but a divided vote suggested long and fraught talks to form a government are ahead.
Iraq's Nouri al-Maliki already wooing allies to try to form governing coalition
Buoyed by preliminary results from last week's parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is courting allies in hopes of forming a new governing coalition that will allow him to keep his job.
Car bomb in Iraq's Falluja kills 7, wounds 20: police
A car bomb in Iraq's western Anbar province killed seven civilians and wounded 20 others on Monday, as Iraq struggles to end years of sectarian violence after a pivotal national vote.
A Tale of Two Taliban Reveals U.S. Afghan Dilemma
Abdullah Ghulam Rasoul and Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef were both held by the U.S. at Guantanamo. Both were senior Taliban commanders, and both say they were subjected to solitary confinement, sleep deprivation, countless interrogations and beatings. But when they were released back home in their native Afghanistan, the two men's paths diverged radically.
Pakistan intelligence calls for Afghan border to be closed
Pakistan's intelligence agency has demanded tighter control of the Afghan border by Nato troops to stop Taliban fighters escaping its operations in the North West Frontier.
Yemen air raid kills two Al-Qaeda leaders: official
A Yemeni air raid against a "terrorist cell" in the southeast of the country has killed two senior Al-Qaeda members, the defence ministry said early Monday.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
A week on, Maliki pulls ahead in Iraq race
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki pulled ahead on Sunday in early results of an election Iraqis hoped would end years of sectarian strife, but a divided vote suggested long and fraught talks to form a government are ahead.
Iraq's Nouri al-Maliki already wooing allies to try to form governing coalition
Buoyed by preliminary results from last week's parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is courting allies in hopes of forming a new governing coalition that will allow him to keep his job.
Car bomb in Iraq's Falluja kills 7, wounds 20: police
A car bomb in Iraq's western Anbar province killed seven civilians and wounded 20 others on Monday, as Iraq struggles to end years of sectarian violence after a pivotal national vote.
A Tale of Two Taliban Reveals U.S. Afghan Dilemma
Abdullah Ghulam Rasoul and Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef were both held by the U.S. at Guantanamo. Both were senior Taliban commanders, and both say they were subjected to solitary confinement, sleep deprivation, countless interrogations and beatings. But when they were released back home in their native Afghanistan, the two men's paths diverged radically.
Pakistan intelligence calls for Afghan border to be closed
Pakistan's intelligence agency has demanded tighter control of the Afghan border by Nato troops to stop Taliban fighters escaping its operations in the North West Frontier.
Yemen air raid kills two Al-Qaeda leaders: official
A Yemeni air raid against a "terrorist cell" in the southeast of the country has killed two senior Al-Qaeda members, the defence ministry said early Monday.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Sunday, March 14, 2010
OIF Flashback 2008: The Awakening
An excessive amount of high-fiving and backslapping followed the recent election in Iraq. Unfortunately the parliamentary election is a last minute hail mary pass not the closing chapter of a victorious campaign. In a previous post I was asked what the resistance fighters would do after American forces leave. The answer I gave was not my own, but that of the resistance. Here area two videos from 2008 so you can formulate your own opinion. Included is some great commentary from Bing West
and Dr. Austin Long
.
People & Power - Saddam's tribal strategy - 28 Oct 08 - Pt 1
People & Power - Saddam's tribal strategy - 28 Oct 08 - Pt 2
and Dr. Austin Long.People & Power - Saddam's tribal strategy - 28 Oct 08 - Pt 1
People & Power - Saddam's tribal strategy - 28 Oct 08 - Pt 2
March 14th Morning Readbook
Iraqis optimistic about future
Maliki has shaky lead in Iraq vote count
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's alliance is ahead in Baghdad and four southern provinces, with a small portion of the vote counted. Official results of the parliamentary elections may take a month.
Kandahar blasts were warning to US and Nato - Taliban
Saturday's bomb attacks in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar were a warning to US and Nato forces, the Taliban say.
Blast kills Pakistani national in Afghanistan: police
A roadside bomb killed a Pakistani construction worker and wounded six of his compatriots on Sunday in Afghanistan's southern city of Kandahar, police said.
Taliban distancing themselves from Al Qaeda: experts
The blasts in Lahore are the last desperate measures of pro-Al Qaeda militants who are now being abandoned by the Taliban, diplomatic sources told Dawn.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Maliki has shaky lead in Iraq vote count
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's alliance is ahead in Baghdad and four southern provinces, with a small portion of the vote counted. Official results of the parliamentary elections may take a month.
Kandahar blasts were warning to US and Nato - Taliban
Saturday's bomb attacks in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar were a warning to US and Nato forces, the Taliban say.
Blast kills Pakistani national in Afghanistan: police
A roadside bomb killed a Pakistani construction worker and wounded six of his compatriots on Sunday in Afghanistan's southern city of Kandahar, police said.
Taliban distancing themselves from Al Qaeda: experts
The blasts in Lahore are the last desperate measures of pro-Al Qaeda militants who are now being abandoned by the Taliban, diplomatic sources told Dawn.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Saturday, March 13, 2010
March 13th Morning Readbook
Afghan Taliban 'eye expansion'
White House Weighs Talks With Taliban After Afghan Successes
With American troops pouring into insurgent strongholds in Afghanistan and the United States succeeding in killing insurgent leaders with drone attacks in Pakistan, the Obama administration is beginning to consider whether it has gained the upper hand sufficiently to justify an effort to begin talks with the Taliban.
Suicide attack kills 14 in NW Pakistan's Swat
The death toll in the suicide attack in northwest Pakistan's Swat has risen to 14, including two soldiers, two policemen and a child, police sources said Saturday.
Inside Iraq - Can Iraq move forward?
PM's group leads in early Iraq election results
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's alliance led partial preliminary election results Saturday in Baghdad, where the most parliamentary seats are up for grabs, according to the electoral commission.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
White House Weighs Talks With Taliban After Afghan Successes
With American troops pouring into insurgent strongholds in Afghanistan and the United States succeeding in killing insurgent leaders with drone attacks in Pakistan, the Obama administration is beginning to consider whether it has gained the upper hand sufficiently to justify an effort to begin talks with the Taliban.
Suicide attack kills 14 in NW Pakistan's Swat
The death toll in the suicide attack in northwest Pakistan's Swat has risen to 14, including two soldiers, two policemen and a child, police sources said Saturday.
Inside Iraq - Can Iraq move forward?
PM's group leads in early Iraq election results
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's alliance led partial preliminary election results Saturday in Baghdad, where the most parliamentary seats are up for grabs, according to the electoral commission.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Friday, March 12, 2010
March 12th Morning Readbook
UN sanctions on Iraq still in force
In Early Tally, Tight Iraq Race Deepens Splits
Iraq’s major coalitions were locked in a surprisingly close race on Thursday, in initial results from elections that deepened divisions across a fractured landscape. Candidates were quick to charge fraud, heightening concerns whether Iraq’s fledgling institutions were strong enough to support a peaceful transfer of power.
Iraq's election race tight as results delayed again
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had a modest lead over rival Shi'ites, partial results from Iraq's tight election race showed on Friday, but a secularist challenger remained far ahead among Iraqi Sunnis.
Yemen holds US 'al-Qaeda member'
Yemini authorities have arrested a US citizen suspected of being an al-Qaeda operative who allegedly killed a guard while trying to break out of a hospital.
Some U.S. officials see a growing Taliban-Al Qaeda rift
A growing number of Taliban militants in the Pakistani border region are refusing to collaborate with Al Qaeda fighters, declining to provide shelter or assist in attacks in Afghanistan even in return for payment, according to U.S. military and counter-terrorism officials.
Peace eludes Swat Valley
Suicide blasts in Pakistan's Lahore kill 39
Suicide bombers targeting the Pakistani military killed at least 39 people in the city of Lahore on Friday, officials said, despite government assertions that crackdowns had weakened Taliban insurgents.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
In Early Tally, Tight Iraq Race Deepens Splits
Iraq’s major coalitions were locked in a surprisingly close race on Thursday, in initial results from elections that deepened divisions across a fractured landscape. Candidates were quick to charge fraud, heightening concerns whether Iraq’s fledgling institutions were strong enough to support a peaceful transfer of power.
Iraq's election race tight as results delayed again
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had a modest lead over rival Shi'ites, partial results from Iraq's tight election race showed on Friday, but a secularist challenger remained far ahead among Iraqi Sunnis.
Yemen holds US 'al-Qaeda member'
Yemini authorities have arrested a US citizen suspected of being an al-Qaeda operative who allegedly killed a guard while trying to break out of a hospital.
Some U.S. officials see a growing Taliban-Al Qaeda rift
A growing number of Taliban militants in the Pakistani border region are refusing to collaborate with Al Qaeda fighters, declining to provide shelter or assist in attacks in Afghanistan even in return for payment, according to U.S. military and counter-terrorism officials.
Peace eludes Swat Valley
Suicide blasts in Pakistan's Lahore kill 39
Suicide bombers targeting the Pakistani military killed at least 39 people in the city of Lahore on Friday, officials said, despite government assertions that crackdowns had weakened Taliban insurgents.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Thursday, March 11, 2010
March 11th Morning Readbook
Kabul pushes to destroy narcotics
We don't want proxy wars in Afghanistan, Karzai says
Afghanistan does not want a proxy war between Pakistan and India or anybody else fought on its soil, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Thursday during a visit to Pakistan.
Gates: Iran support for Taliban 'pretty limited'
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that Iranian support for the Taliban in Afghanistan is "pretty limited" — so far. Gates noted that he had a public exchange of barbs with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad this week over which country is doing harm in Afghanistan. He had accused Tehran of undermining U.S. and NATO efforts by helping the Taliban.
Drone Strikes Kill 21 in Pakistan
Two drone strikes since Monday in North Waziristan have killed at least 21 people, possibly including a top local commander, said a Pakistan security official and residents of the area, a stronghold of Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
No-Fly List Includes the Dead
The government’s no-fly list includes the names of dead suspects to help catch people who may try to assume the suspect’s identity, according to government officials who spoke with The Associated Press.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
We don't want proxy wars in Afghanistan, Karzai says
Afghanistan does not want a proxy war between Pakistan and India or anybody else fought on its soil, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Thursday during a visit to Pakistan.
Gates: Iran support for Taliban 'pretty limited'
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that Iranian support for the Taliban in Afghanistan is "pretty limited" — so far. Gates noted that he had a public exchange of barbs with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad this week over which country is doing harm in Afghanistan. He had accused Tehran of undermining U.S. and NATO efforts by helping the Taliban.
Drone Strikes Kill 21 in Pakistan
Two drone strikes since Monday in North Waziristan have killed at least 21 people, possibly including a top local commander, said a Pakistan security official and residents of the area, a stronghold of Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
No-Fly List Includes the Dead
The government’s no-fly list includes the names of dead suspects to help catch people who may try to assume the suspect’s identity, according to government officials who spoke with The Associated Press.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
OIF Flashback 2007: Sunni Resistance
Iraq's resistance fighters - 23 Dec 07
Iraq's resistance fighters pt. 2: Weapons - 24 Dec 07
Iraqi resistance fighters pt. 3: Women fighters - 25 Dec 07
Iraq's resistance fighters pt. 2: Weapons - 24 Dec 07
Iraqi resistance fighters pt. 3: Women fighters - 25 Dec 07
March 10th Morning Readbook
Afghan fighters surrender in north
Afghanistan gets vows of friendship from U.S. and Iran
America's defense chief thanked Afghanistan's soldiers for their service during a tour of a training camp Wednesday as Iran's hardline president arrived in Kabul with a pledge to purge "occupying forces" from the troubled land.
5 Pakistani Aid Workers Killed in Attack
An attack which left five international aid workers dead in Pakistan on Wednesday "is directly linked to Taliban militants," a Pakistani intelligence official told CBS News' Farhan Bokhari after the incident, sharing an initial assessment of the investigation.
Iraq Postpones Announcing Initial Election Results
Iraq's election commission has postponed announcing initial results from Sunday's parliamentary election because it says it has not finished counting enough votes.
Doomsday in Iraq -- is it really just around the corner?
We've now been at war intermittently with Iraq for almost 20 years, and with Afghanistan for 30. It adds up to nearly half a century of experience, all bad.
It’s Up to Iraqis Now. Good Luck. By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Of all the pictures I saw from the Iraqi elections last weekend, my favorite was on nytimes.com: an Iraqi mother holding up her son to let him stuff her ballot into the box. I loved that picture. Being able to freely cast a ballot for the candidate of your choice is still unusual for Iraqis and for that entire region. That mother seemed to be saying: When I was a child, I never got to vote. I want to live in a world where my child will always be able to.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera English
Afghanistan gets vows of friendship from U.S. and Iran
America's defense chief thanked Afghanistan's soldiers for their service during a tour of a training camp Wednesday as Iran's hardline president arrived in Kabul with a pledge to purge "occupying forces" from the troubled land.
5 Pakistani Aid Workers Killed in Attack
An attack which left five international aid workers dead in Pakistan on Wednesday "is directly linked to Taliban militants," a Pakistani intelligence official told CBS News' Farhan Bokhari after the incident, sharing an initial assessment of the investigation.
Iraq Postpones Announcing Initial Election Results
Iraq's election commission has postponed announcing initial results from Sunday's parliamentary election because it says it has not finished counting enough votes.
Doomsday in Iraq -- is it really just around the corner?
We've now been at war intermittently with Iraq for almost 20 years, and with Afghanistan for 30. It adds up to nearly half a century of experience, all bad.
It’s Up to Iraqis Now. Good Luck. By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Of all the pictures I saw from the Iraqi elections last weekend, my favorite was on nytimes.com: an Iraqi mother holding up her son to let him stuff her ballot into the box. I loved that picture. Being able to freely cast a ballot for the candidate of your choice is still unusual for Iraqis and for that entire region. That mother seemed to be saying: When I was a child, I never got to vote. I want to live in a world where my child will always be able to.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera English
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
March 9th Morning Readbook
Is Iraq ready for democracy?
Candidates Speculate on Results of Iraq Vote
Even before the votes were tallied, Iraq’s candidates and coalitions began positioning themselves in an evolving political landscape on Monday. Some claimed victory, and a few conceded defeat in an election on Sunday that the top American officials here called a milestone that kept the withdrawal of American troops on pace.
Years before US can judge Iraq success: general
The top US general in Iraq said Monday it could be years before the United States can gauge whether its long military campaign there had achieved any measure of success. General Ray Odierno was speaking a day after millions of Iraqis defied deadly bomb, mortar and rocket attacks to vote in the first parliamentary elections since 2005, seen as a test of the war-shattered state's fragile democracy.
Zabul province seeks U.S. troops, but is caught in Afghan numbers game
To work in Zabul province these days is to feel forsaken. The Americans pulled a battalion out in December. The Afghan government promises help but sends little. Meanwhile, Taliban fighters continue to pour in.
Suicide car bomber strikes Pakistani counter-terrorism offices
A suicide car bombing at a building in Lahore that houses terrorism investigators killed at least 13 people and wounded 80 others Monday, the first terrorist strike this year to hit a major city in Pakistan's Punjab heartland.
Pakistan says U.S.-born suspect in custody is not Gadahn
Officials say the operative held in Karachi is not Al Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn wanted on U.S. treason charges, but another man, from Pennsylvania. U.S. officials say they haven't heard of him.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Candidates Speculate on Results of Iraq Vote
Even before the votes were tallied, Iraq’s candidates and coalitions began positioning themselves in an evolving political landscape on Monday. Some claimed victory, and a few conceded defeat in an election on Sunday that the top American officials here called a milestone that kept the withdrawal of American troops on pace.
Years before US can judge Iraq success: general
The top US general in Iraq said Monday it could be years before the United States can gauge whether its long military campaign there had achieved any measure of success. General Ray Odierno was speaking a day after millions of Iraqis defied deadly bomb, mortar and rocket attacks to vote in the first parliamentary elections since 2005, seen as a test of the war-shattered state's fragile democracy.
Zabul province seeks U.S. troops, but is caught in Afghan numbers game
To work in Zabul province these days is to feel forsaken. The Americans pulled a battalion out in December. The Afghan government promises help but sends little. Meanwhile, Taliban fighters continue to pour in.
Suicide car bomber strikes Pakistani counter-terrorism offices
A suicide car bombing at a building in Lahore that houses terrorism investigators killed at least 13 people and wounded 80 others Monday, the first terrorist strike this year to hit a major city in Pakistan's Punjab heartland.
Pakistan says U.S.-born suspect in custody is not Gadahn
Officials say the operative held in Karachi is not Al Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn wanted on U.S. treason charges, but another man, from Pennsylvania. U.S. officials say they haven't heard of him.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Monday, March 8, 2010
March 8th Morning Readbook
Who will win Iraq's election?
Votes being counted in Iraq election
Counting is under way in Iraq's elections, with preliminary results expected in several days.
Iraq election head says turnout at 55-60 percent
The head of Iraq's election commission says turnout for Sunday's election was between 55 and 60 percent. Faraj al-Haidari, who heads the Independent High Electoral Commission, told The Associated Press that the exact figures would be released later Monday at a news conference.
Gates Visits Afghanistan to Meet With Karzai
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived on an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Monday morning to meet with President Hamid Karzai and NATO commanders, and to review plans for a major American-led offensive into the Taliban heartland of Kandahar.
Pakistani minister confirms death of three senior Taliban leaders
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik confirmed on Saturday that three Tehreek-e-Taliban ( TTP) leaders were killed along with 30 other militants in the country's northwest. The Taliban leaders were killed as helicopter gunships targeted their hideouts in Mohmand Agency.
Pakistan intelligence try to establish identity of arrested American militant suspect
Intelligence officials say they are trying to establish the identity of an American militant suspect arrested in Pakistan, but believe the man is not Al-Qaida's U.S.-born spokesman as they originally reported.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Votes being counted in Iraq election
Counting is under way in Iraq's elections, with preliminary results expected in several days.
Iraq election head says turnout at 55-60 percent
The head of Iraq's election commission says turnout for Sunday's election was between 55 and 60 percent. Faraj al-Haidari, who heads the Independent High Electoral Commission, told The Associated Press that the exact figures would be released later Monday at a news conference.
Gates Visits Afghanistan to Meet With Karzai
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived on an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Monday morning to meet with President Hamid Karzai and NATO commanders, and to review plans for a major American-led offensive into the Taliban heartland of Kandahar.
Pakistani minister confirms death of three senior Taliban leaders
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik confirmed on Saturday that three Tehreek-e-Taliban ( TTP) leaders were killed along with 30 other militants in the country's northwest. The Taliban leaders were killed as helicopter gunships targeted their hideouts in Mohmand Agency.
Pakistan intelligence try to establish identity of arrested American militant suspect
Intelligence officials say they are trying to establish the identity of an American militant suspect arrested in Pakistan, but believe the man is not Al-Qaida's U.S.-born spokesman as they originally reported.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Sunday, March 7, 2010
March 7th Morning Readbook
Iraq election analysis
Iraq parliamentary election hit by insurgent attacks
Iraq's second parliamentary election since the 2003 invasion has been hit by multiple attacks, with at least 24 people being killed.
Blasts, Mortars Mar Voting in Iraq
At least 25 Iraqis died in dozens of attacks around the country Sunday morning as polling got underway in the country's first parliamentary election since 2005. Mortar attacks in the restive northern city of Mosul and its surroundings forced five polling stations to temporarily close there. By midday Sunday, it was still too early to gauge voter turnout, but officials appeared to be ramping up appeals to voters to go to the polls.
Kirkuk's Arabs seek to reclaim city
Pakistani Taliban Deputy Believed Killed
A senior Pakistani Taliban commander with close links to al Qaeda and the Afghani Taliban was “probably killed” in an attack by Pakistani army helicopter gunships in a remote region along the Afghan border Friday, a senior Pakistani security official told CBS NEWS on Saturday.
Taliban and Rival Militants Fight Each Other in Afghanistan
Afghan officials say clashes between rival Islamist militant groups in the country's northeast have killed at least 50 people.
Al-Qaida calls on US Muslims to attack America
Al-Qaida's American-born spokesman on Sunday called on Muslims serving in the U.S. armed forces to emulate the Army major charged with killing 13 people in Fort Hood.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Iraq parliamentary election hit by insurgent attacks
Iraq's second parliamentary election since the 2003 invasion has been hit by multiple attacks, with at least 24 people being killed.
Blasts, Mortars Mar Voting in Iraq
At least 25 Iraqis died in dozens of attacks around the country Sunday morning as polling got underway in the country's first parliamentary election since 2005. Mortar attacks in the restive northern city of Mosul and its surroundings forced five polling stations to temporarily close there. By midday Sunday, it was still too early to gauge voter turnout, but officials appeared to be ramping up appeals to voters to go to the polls.
Kirkuk's Arabs seek to reclaim city
Pakistani Taliban Deputy Believed Killed
A senior Pakistani Taliban commander with close links to al Qaeda and the Afghani Taliban was “probably killed” in an attack by Pakistani army helicopter gunships in a remote region along the Afghan border Friday, a senior Pakistani security official told CBS NEWS on Saturday.
Taliban and Rival Militants Fight Each Other in Afghanistan
Afghan officials say clashes between rival Islamist militant groups in the country's northeast have killed at least 50 people.
Al-Qaida calls on US Muslims to attack America
Al-Qaida's American-born spokesman on Sunday called on Muslims serving in the U.S. armed forces to emulate the Army major charged with killing 13 people in Fort Hood.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Saturday, March 6, 2010
The Day Prior
Tomorrow will be praised by the US as proof the Iraqis are in control of their country's destiny and US forces can leave as planned. The true situation will be determined, not tomorrow, but in the weeks and months ahead.
If you would like a one-stop shop for Iraqi election coverage, Al Jazeera has a special section dedicated to coverage of the 2010 Iraqi elections. You can find it here.
General Abadi: Iraqis 'will get their change'
Security tight for Anbar vote
Frost over the World - Saleh al-Mutlaq and Sigrun Davidsdottir
Iraqis living in Iran head to polls
Iraqis determined to vote
If you would like a one-stop shop for Iraqi election coverage, Al Jazeera has a special section dedicated to coverage of the 2010 Iraqi elections. You can find it here.
General Abadi: Iraqis 'will get their change'
Security tight for Anbar vote
Frost over the World - Saleh al-Mutlaq and Sigrun Davidsdottir
Iraqis living in Iran head to polls
Iraqis determined to vote
Friday, March 5, 2010
March 5th Morning Readbook
Montage of Iraqi election commercials
Iraq expats vote as election enters final straight
Politicians launched into their last day of campaigning on Friday as more than a million Iraqis living abroad began voting in an election that could turn the page on years of deadly sectarian strife.
Iraq 'determined to regain dignity'
Since the occupation of Baghdad and the fall of the Baath regime in April 2003, the Iraqi people have gone to the polls almost once every year, on average. Among the countless running jokes in Iraq today is the one where an independent candidate pledges to save the country millions by keeping his current election posters plastered through the capital's streets – permanently.
Iraq's Kurds go the polls amid carnival atmosphere
Ahmed Hassan Rasul spent 10 years in the mountains of northern Iraq as a pershmerga guerilla, fighting for independence for Iraq's Kurds against the forces of Saddam Hussein.
Pakistan steps up anti-Taliban efforts
U.S. pressure on Pakistan to crack down on Taliban extremists within its borders is paying off, American officials and independent analysts say, paving the way for progress in the war in neighboring Afghanistan.
Joint Chiefs Chairman Mullen outlines a more restrained art of war
Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, outlined a new U.S. approach to war in a series of speeches this week that replaces overwhelming firepower with more restrained use of force to safeguard civilian lives.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Iraq expats vote as election enters final straight
Politicians launched into their last day of campaigning on Friday as more than a million Iraqis living abroad began voting in an election that could turn the page on years of deadly sectarian strife.
Iraq 'determined to regain dignity'
Since the occupation of Baghdad and the fall of the Baath regime in April 2003, the Iraqi people have gone to the polls almost once every year, on average. Among the countless running jokes in Iraq today is the one where an independent candidate pledges to save the country millions by keeping his current election posters plastered through the capital's streets – permanently.
Iraq's Kurds go the polls amid carnival atmosphere
Ahmed Hassan Rasul spent 10 years in the mountains of northern Iraq as a pershmerga guerilla, fighting for independence for Iraq's Kurds against the forces of Saddam Hussein.
Pakistan steps up anti-Taliban efforts
U.S. pressure on Pakistan to crack down on Taliban extremists within its borders is paying off, American officials and independent analysts say, paving the way for progress in the war in neighboring Afghanistan.
Joint Chiefs Chairman Mullen outlines a more restrained art of war
Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, outlined a new U.S. approach to war in a series of speeches this week that replaces overwhelming firepower with more restrained use of force to safeguard civilian lives.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Thursday, March 4, 2010
March 4th Morning Readbook
Iraq expats in Jordan ready to vote
U.S. failure to neutralize Shiite militia in Iraq threatens to snarl pullout
A failed effort by the United States to neutralize a powerful Shiite militant group in Iraq has left in place a dangerous force whose attacks on American troops threaten to complicate the U.S. drawdown, according to American and Iraqi officials. The group, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, kidnapped an American defense contractor last month, and U.S. officials say its members appear to be forming alliances with other Shiite militias to attack Baghdad's Green Zone and U.S. military bases with rockets.
Following Suicide Attacks, Early Voting Begins in Iraq
With security forces on a heightened state of alert before Sunday’s national elections, early voting began Thursday morning as hundreds of thousands of Iraqis began making their way to the polls, among them the infirm, people with special needs and members of the military and the police.
Early voting begins in Iraq
UN envoy says it's 'time to talk' to the Taliban
he head of the U.N. mission in Afghanistan said Thursday that it's "high time" a political solution is found with the Taliban to resolve the more than 8-year-old conflict. "It's time to talk," Kai Eide said. In his last news conference as the U.N. representative, Eide said he hoped a spring peace jirga — or conference — that Afghan President Hamid Karzai is organizing would result in a national consensus for peace that the entire nation could rally around.
Yemen arrests 11 Qaeda suspects
Yemeni security forces arrested 11 Al-Qaeda suspects in a residential area of the capital Sanaa, killing one man during the operation, the defence ministry's 26sep.net news website has reported. The man killed, who was the father of one of the suspects, opened fire on security forces, wounding one of them, before being shot dead, the website said.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
U.S. failure to neutralize Shiite militia in Iraq threatens to snarl pullout
A failed effort by the United States to neutralize a powerful Shiite militant group in Iraq has left in place a dangerous force whose attacks on American troops threaten to complicate the U.S. drawdown, according to American and Iraqi officials. The group, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, kidnapped an American defense contractor last month, and U.S. officials say its members appear to be forming alliances with other Shiite militias to attack Baghdad's Green Zone and U.S. military bases with rockets.
Following Suicide Attacks, Early Voting Begins in Iraq
With security forces on a heightened state of alert before Sunday’s national elections, early voting began Thursday morning as hundreds of thousands of Iraqis began making their way to the polls, among them the infirm, people with special needs and members of the military and the police.
Early voting begins in Iraq
UN envoy says it's 'time to talk' to the Taliban
he head of the U.N. mission in Afghanistan said Thursday that it's "high time" a political solution is found with the Taliban to resolve the more than 8-year-old conflict. "It's time to talk," Kai Eide said. In his last news conference as the U.N. representative, Eide said he hoped a spring peace jirga — or conference — that Afghan President Hamid Karzai is organizing would result in a national consensus for peace that the entire nation could rally around.
Yemen arrests 11 Qaeda suspects
Yemeni security forces arrested 11 Al-Qaeda suspects in a residential area of the capital Sanaa, killing one man during the operation, the defence ministry's 26sep.net news website has reported. The man killed, who was the father of one of the suspects, opened fire on security forces, wounding one of them, before being shot dead, the website said.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
March 3rd Morning Readbook
Iraq suicide bomber targets hospital in triple attack
A suicide bomber ended a series of deadly attacks in central Iraq by detonating explosives in a hospital emergency ward where victims of two earlier blasts were being treated.
Q&A: Iraq's 2010 elections
On March 7, Iraq will hold national parliamentary elections in what is believed to be a critical stage in the country's political development since the US-led invasion in 2003.
Pakistan's army discovers intricate al-Qaeda cave complex used by militants
Pakistan's army has discovered an extensive network of caves used by the Taliban and al-Qaeda. The cave complex, in Damadola on the Afghan border, was used as a refuge by militants and even sheltered Ayman al-Zawahari, Osama bin-Laden's second-in-command.
Taliban, not drugs, focus of US-Afghan offensive
Even by Afghan standards, it was a startling find: An opium packaging workshop, buried under donkey dung and old hay in a stable that U.S. Marines turned into a patrol base in southern Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Aims to Ban Live Coverage of Attacks
Minute-by-minute news coverage by Afghan television stations of two recent suicide attacks proved an embarrassment for the government, showing that it could not stop militants from penetrating even heavily guarded areas of the capital.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
Monday, March 1, 2010
March 1st Morning Readbook
Vote Seen as Pivotal Test for Both Iraq and Maliki
A few months ago, building on genuine if not universal popularity, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki appeared poised to win a second term as Iraq’s prime minister. Now, as Iraqis prepare to vote in parliamentary elections on March 7, his path to another four years in office has become increasingly uncertain, his campaign erratic and, to some, deeply troubling.
In Iraq, Americans Struggle to Relinquish Control
At 3 a.m. on Feb. 19, U.S. and Iraqi special forces burst into the home of Sheikh Turki Talal, leader of the powerful Ghartani tribe, and hauled the 71-year-old to jail on a terrorism-related arrest warrant.
Iraqi PM accused of handing out guns in bid to buy tribal votes
A senior Iraqi spy has accused the prime minister, Nour al-Maliki, of handing out thousands of guns to tribal leaders in a bid to win votes. The claim was made by Iraqi National Intelligence Service former spokesman, Saad al-Alusi, a week before Iraq's general election, in which allegations of vote buying and exorbitant handouts have become widespread.
Car bombs kill NATO soldier, five Afghans
Bombers targeted the police headquarters in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar and a NATO convoy Monday, detonating car bombs that killed six people including a foreign soldier.
Militants blow up NATO tanker in Pakistan: police
Suspected Islamist militants armed with guns and rockets on Monday blew up a tanker carrying fuel through Pakistan for NATO troops based in neighbouring Afghanistan, police said.
Bomber Called C.I.A. Target Gift From God
In a posthumously released video message, the suicide bomber who killed seven C.I.A. employees on Dec. 30 said that his original target had been his handler from Jordanian intelligence, and that an invitation to meet C.I.A. officers at a remote base in Afghanistan had been an unexpected boon.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
A few months ago, building on genuine if not universal popularity, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki appeared poised to win a second term as Iraq’s prime minister. Now, as Iraqis prepare to vote in parliamentary elections on March 7, his path to another four years in office has become increasingly uncertain, his campaign erratic and, to some, deeply troubling.
In Iraq, Americans Struggle to Relinquish Control
At 3 a.m. on Feb. 19, U.S. and Iraqi special forces burst into the home of Sheikh Turki Talal, leader of the powerful Ghartani tribe, and hauled the 71-year-old to jail on a terrorism-related arrest warrant.
Iraqi PM accused of handing out guns in bid to buy tribal votes
A senior Iraqi spy has accused the prime minister, Nour al-Maliki, of handing out thousands of guns to tribal leaders in a bid to win votes. The claim was made by Iraqi National Intelligence Service former spokesman, Saad al-Alusi, a week before Iraq's general election, in which allegations of vote buying and exorbitant handouts have become widespread.
Car bombs kill NATO soldier, five Afghans
Bombers targeted the police headquarters in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar and a NATO convoy Monday, detonating car bombs that killed six people including a foreign soldier.
Militants blow up NATO tanker in Pakistan: police
Suspected Islamist militants armed with guns and rockets on Monday blew up a tanker carrying fuel through Pakistan for NATO troops based in neighbouring Afghanistan, police said.
Bomber Called C.I.A. Target Gift From God
In a posthumously released video message, the suicide bomber who killed seven C.I.A. employees on Dec. 30 said that his original target had been his handler from Jordanian intelligence, and that an invitation to meet C.I.A. officers at a remote base in Afghanistan had been an unexpected boon.
The main headlines on Al Jazeera
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