Saudis Warn Against Partition Day Of

Saudis Warn against Partition
Day of Rage leaves 83 Dead

Another US GI was reported killed on Monday. That brings the total about 101 in October.

My article in Salon.com on what a bad idea partitioning Iraq would be has been published on the Web.

Saudi Ambassador to the United States Prince Turki al-Faisal warned Monday against partitioning Iraq and against an abrupt US departure:

‘ “To envision that you can divide Iraq into three parts is to envision ethnic cleansing on a massive scale, sectarian killing on a massive scale,” Prince Turki al-Faisal said as he answered questions after a Washington speech. “Since America came into Iraq uninvited, it should not leave Iraq uninvited.” ‘

In contrast, my position that the US should conduct a phased withdrawal from Iraq so as to attmpt to pressure the Iraqi political elite to compromise with one another– turn out to be shared by many in the US officer corps.

The other militias: Concern is growing among human rights activists about the unregulated and unaccountable mercenaries operating in Iraq.

Reuters reports numerous instances of political violence on Monday. Most wire services are putting the day’s toll at at least 83, including the 33 blown up in Sadr City, which I parsed early Monday morning. That one Has raised fears that Shiite reprisals are not far off. That bombing was one of several on Monday. Major incidents:

‘ MAHMUDIYA – Police found six bodies bearing signs of torture, blindfolded and with bullet wounds, in Mahmudiya 30 km (20 miles) south of Baghdad, police said. . .

SUWAYRA – Police retrieved the bodies of six policemen bearing signs of torture and with bullet wounds from a river in Suwayra, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said. . .

BAGHDAD – A car bomb exploded in al-Harthiya district of Baghdad, killing two people and wounding five, Interior Ministry sources said.

BAGHDAD – A car bomb exploded in al-Bayaa district of Baghdad killing seven people and wounding 25, police said. . .

BAGHDAD – A car bomb exploded in Baghdad’s southwestern Amil district, killing three people and wounding six, Interior Ministry sources said.

MOSUL – Police found four bodies, including that of a policeman, in different parts of Mosul, north of Baghdad, police said. . .

KIRKUK – A suicide attacker blew himself up inside a police headquarters in Kirkuk, killing two policemen and a three-year-old girl and wounding 19, including 10 policemen. Police said the attacker was wearing a police officer uniform. . .

IRAQI-SYRIAN BORDER – A suicide car bomber hit an Iraqi army checkpoint at a border pass near Syria, killing four soldiers and wounding one. ‘

Al-Zaman spoke of a “collapse” in the security situation in Baghdad.

Department of Damn Gall: Bush accuses Democrats of not having a plan for Iraq! The dictionary defines “plan” as “a detailed formulation of a program of action.” And Bush’s “plan” is . . ?