Posted By:
Catherine Moy
Permalink

In yet another sign of huge improvements by Iraqi security forces, they have captured 66 Al Qaida terrorists. Looks like things are going much better in the country than the MSM has told us.

Here’s the story from CNN:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN)—Iraqi Security Forces captured 66 people believed to be connected to al Qaeda in Iraq terror cells, the U.S. military said Thursday.

Members of the Iraqi Security Forces are working in Iraq to capture terrorists and insurgents.

The suspects were captured during separate operations in northern Iraq this week, according to a military news release.

The suspects included 45 men from al Qaeda in Iraq and 21 suspected terrorists from an umbrella group of al Qaeda in Iraq known as The Islamic State of Iraq, the statement said.

The suspects are believed to be part of terror cells responsible for bombings, torturing of civilians, conducting attacks and warning insurgents about upcoming Iraqi and U.S. military operations, the military said.

One of the suspects is believed to have conducted more than 12 attacks since July.

“These operations show the ability of Iraqi Security Forces to repeatedly capture criminals who undermine the security of Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Neil Harper, a U.S. military spokesman.

Posted By:
Catherine Moy
Permalink

As Iraq moves toward stability and freedom, both of which American troops and our allies have given the country, Iraq’s neighbors are moving in to help.,
Help wtih security is indeed welcome, but Iraq should be aware of the wolves in sheeps’s clothing. Iran is trying to direct Iraq, and Iran hasn’t exactly had Iraq’s best interests in mind.

Here’s the sotry from Arabnews.com:

AMMAN/ BAGHDAD: Interior ministers of Iraq and eight of its neighboring countries met in Amman yesterday and vowed to support the Baghdad government in strengthening its security and stability.

The meeting coincided with the handover of Babil province, part of what was once known as the “Triangle of Death,” to Iraqi security by US forces.

The Amman conference was significant as it came at a time when the Iraqi government is locked in intense negotiations with the United States on a long-term security pact that reportedly provides, among other things, for the withdrawal of the allied forces from Iraq by the end of 2011.

Interior Minister Prince Naif, who led the Saudi delegation, said the conference was a success. “All countries neighboring Iraq want the Iraqi people to live in peace and security,” Naif told reporters after the meeting.

The Kingdom will extend all possible support to the ongoing efforts to ensure the security and stability of Iraq, the prince said. “The situation in Iraq will affect not only the Gulf region but the whole humanity,” he said, adding that security is essential for Iraq’s progress at political, developmental and social levels.

Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Iran and Turkey, and officials from the Organization of the Islamic Conference and Arab League attended the meeting, which denounced all forms of terrorist activities and affirmed the need to protect the unity, territorial integrity, sovereignty and Arab identity of Iraq.

The meeting also supported Iraq’s efforts to strengthen security; agreed to prevent terrorists from using their countries as bases for terrorist operations; and called for measures to prevent intruders and arms smuggling through their borders.

The ministers decided to sign security agreements with Iraq; activate existing bilateral security cooperation; and support Iraqi security machinery. Their next meeting will be in Egypt.

Iranian Interior Minister Ali Kordan said that Tehran opposed any document that threatens Iraqi interests, in an apparent reference to a draft of the Washington-Baghdad security pact. “We believe that the Iraqi people must remain strong enough to take their own decisions in line with their interests. Iran will support any document that is accepted by the Iraqis,” Kordan told the meeting. “The American troops must leave Iraq unconditionally and in accordance with a timetable,” he added.

Babil is the 12th of 18 Iraqi provinces to be placed under Iraqi control as a sign of improving security. US forces will remain in the area to assist the Iraqis when needed. At a transfer ceremony held near the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon, Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin, the No. 2 US commander in Iraq, said security gains have been remarkable with the number of attacks falling about 80 percent from an average of 20 per week a year ago.

But he cautioned that “while the enemies of Iraq are down, they are not necessarily defeated.” With Babil’s handover to the Iraqi government, the only province left under US control in southern Iraq is Wasit, a rural desert region that borders Iran. Wasit will be transferred to Iraqi authorities on Oct. 29, said Maj. Gen. Michael Oates, US commander south of Baghdad.

Other provinces that remain to be handed over are north of the capital, where violence has been slower to decline after insurgents fled security crackdowns in Baghdad and surrounding areas.

Salim Al-Musilmawi, Babil’s provincial governor, credited tribal leaders and Sunnis who turned against Al-Qaeda in Iraq in a US-funded revolt with the downturn in violence. “Today’s security handover is the fruit of the victory over Al-Qaeda,” he said at the ceremony.

Posted By:
Catherine Moy
Permalink

U.S. and Iraqi soldiers Protect Iraq Streets on Patrol

Progress marches forward as United States’ and its allies’ troops hand over the 12th or 18 provinces to Iraqi control. Looks like VICTORY to me!!!!
Here’s the story from the UK Telegraph:

The dramatic improvement in Iraq’s security was underlined with the handover to local forces of Babil province, south of Baghdad and once at the epicentre of the insurgency when attacks against coalition forces and Iraqi civilians were daily occurrences.
In February 2005, Babil saw one of the deadliest incidents since the US-led coalition in Iraq when a suicide attack in the town of Hilla killed at least 115 men as they queued to join the new army.
That force, trained by US and British troops, will now formally take responsibility for Babil’s security. Of Iraq’s 18 provinces, 12 are now under the direct security control of the Baghdad government. Coalition forces no longer patrol the streets in these provinces and all routine tasks are performed by Iraqi personnel.
“Just a year ago this province used to see well over 20 attacks per week and today attacks are down by 80 per cent. This is truly remarkable,” said General Lloyd Austin, the deputy commander of US forces in Iraq, at the handover ceremony in Hilla.
The fall in violence coincided with the “surge” of thousands of extra US troops deployed in Iraq.
But America and Iraq are now trying to reach agreement over the future presence of US and coalition forces in the country. The United Nations mandate allowing their deployment expires on Dec 31.
America wants to conclude a “Status of Forces Agreement” (SOFA) allowing its troops to stay beyond this deadline. But Iraq wants guarantees that any US forces on its territory will not attack its powerful neighbour, Iran.
Britain is negotiating a separate SOFA for its forces. Bill Rammell, the Foreign Office minister responsible for the Middle East, said that British troops would have a “fundamental change of role next year”. Instead of a possible combat role, training Iraqi forces will be their sole responsibility

Posted By:
Catherine Moy
Permalink

America’s nemesis, Iran, is trying to destroy the progress American troops have made in Iraq.

The AFP reports:

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Iran is seeking to “undermine” and “derail” an almost completed US-Iraqi agreement governing the long-term presence of US troops in Iraq beyond 2008, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said Wednesday.
Morrell told a Pentagon press briefing that “Iranian meddling in Iraq takes on all forms.”
“In its most destructive, devious and deadly ways, it has to do with the flow of arms and weapons into Iraq,” Morrell said, adding that officials had seen a recent decline in that flow.
“But there are, of course, counterbalancing negatives, one of which is clearly an attempt by the Iranians to undermine, undercut, derail the SOFA (status of forces) agreement,” he said.
The Iranians “have made their displeasure with this agreement known, and have tried to influence Iraqis in all—in all manner of ways.”
General Ray Odierno “talked about intelligence pointing to attempted bribes,” Morrell said, referring to recent remarks by the commanding US general in Iraq that Iraqi leaders criticized as “inappropriate.”
Odierno “never said or suggested that Iraqis, Iraqi politicians, would ever take such bribes. But there is nothing too low for some of these Iranian operatives to try,” Morrell said.
He added: “Despite attempts by the Iranians to derail this agreement, they have not been successful, and I hope they will not be successful.”
The White House said Wednesday that the SOFA agreement, which has been the subject of months of tough negotiations, was more or less done, and any amendments would be merely fine-tuning.
The draft deal calls for a withdrawal of US combat forces by the end of 2011 and includes US concessions on jurisdiction over its troops accused of “serious crimes” while off duty or off base.
To the apparent frustration of the Americans, the Iraqi cabinet decided on Tuesday to seek certain revisions, triggering warnings from top US military and political figures about the risks of not having a deal.
But Iraq warned it would not be bullied into signing the security pact.
“It is not correct to force Iraqis into making a choice and it is not appropriate to talk with the Iraqis in this way,” Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.
Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani, during a visit to Bahrain, said Wednesday that the SOFA deal “encroaches on the sovereignty (of Iraq), and does not allow the creation of a strong government.”
Some Shiite Iraqi officials in Baghdad who chose to remain anonymous feared Iran’s reactions spelled the end of the US-Iraqi agreement.

Posted By:
Catherine Moy
Permalink

The unstable, radical government of Iran is now talking about striking Israel before Israel can launch strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Here’s the story from Haartz.com:
(Important safety tip: Keep in mind that this source is pro-Iranian regime.)

Senior Tehran officials are recommending a preemptive strike against Israel to prevent an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear reactors, a senior Islamic Republic official told foreign diplomats two weeks ago in London.

The official, Dr. Seyed G. Safavi, said recent threats by Israeli authorities strengthened this position, but that as of yet, a preemptive strike has not been integrated into Iranian policy.

Safavi is head of the Research Institute of Strategic Studies in Tehran, and an adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The institute is directly affiliated with Khamenei’s office and with the Revolutionary Guards, and advises both on foreign policy issues.
Advertisement

Safavi is also the brother of Yahya Rahim Safavi, who was the head of the Revolutionary Guards until a year ago and now is an adviser to Khamenei, and holds significant influence on security matters in the Iranian government.

An Israeli political official said senior Jerusalem officials were shown Safavi’s remarks, which are considered highly sensitive. The source said the briefing in London dealt with a number of issues, primarily a potential Israeli attack on an Iranian reactor.

Safavi said a small, experienced group of officials is lobbying for a preemptive strike against Israel. “The recent Israeli declarations and harsh rhetoric on a strike against Iran put ammunition in these individuals’ hands,” he said.

Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz said in June that Israel would be forced to strike the Iranian nuclear reactor if Tehran continues to pursue its uranium enrichment program.

Safavi said Tehran recently drafted a new policy for responding to an Israeli or American attack on its nuclear facilities. While the previous policy called for attacks against Israel and American interests in the Middle East and beyond, the new policy is to target Israel alone.

He added that many Revolutionary Guard leaders want to respond to a U.S. attack on Iranian soil by striking Israel, as they believe Israel would be partner to any U.S. action.

Safavi said that Iran’s nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes only, and that Khamenei recently released a fatwa against the use of weapons of mass destruction, though the contents of that religious ruling have not yet been publicized.

Regarding dialogue with the United States and the West, Safavi said Iran’s decision would be influenced by the results of the U.S. presidential elections next month, as well as by the Iranian presidential elections in June and the economic situation in the Islamic Republic.

Safavi said he believed that U.S. sanctions on Iran have run their course, and that there would be no point in strengthening them. Tehran would therefore demand “firm and significant” U.S. measures in return for stopping uranium enrichment. He also said Ahmadinejad is not guaranteed victory in the June 2009 elections, particularly given the dire economic situation in Iran. Still, Iranian experts believe his only real competition is former president Mohammad Khatami, who has not yet joined the race.

Safavi said the inflation rate in Iran is similar to that before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, but that unrest among civilians today is not as strong. This is because the current government uses oil revenues to help the poor, he said.