Juan Cole

Outgoing Interior Minister Warns on Iran, Badr Corps Falah al-Naqib, the interior minister in the expiring government of Iyad Allawi, warned Tuesday that melding the Shiite Badr Corps into the new Iraqi security forces would be a mistake. He also blamed Iranian intelligence for the rumors that Sunni guerrillas had taken over 100 Shiites hostage […]

Badr: Foreign Troops Unneeded The Badr Corps claims to be in military control of Muthanna province, including the city of Samawah. Regional Badr leader Hadi al-Amiri said Monday that Samawah is secure, and there is no need for Australian troops to be deployed there. The Dutch used to be stationed in Samawah but have gone […]

Ex-Baathists Excluded Police Poorly Trained The United Iraqi Alliance (Shiite religious parties) who now dominate the Iraqi government are insisting on purging the Iraqi government of former members of the Baath Party and trying any who might be associated with crimes. They are also dismissive of attempts to reach out to Sunni guerrilla movements. The […]

17 Killed in Iraq, including 2 US Troops The guerrilla war rolled along on Saturday, claiming at least 17 victims dead and more wounded. Guerrillas detonated a bomb in the eastern city of Baquba, killing 7 persons, including police, and wounding 5. Guerrillas assassinated a policeman in southern Baghdad. Police were also killed in violent […]

News Roundup Bush and his agendas (social security privatization, the Iraq War) continue to slide in the polls. Americans turn out to want a timetable for withdrawal of US troops just as much as Iraq’s Sunni Arabs do! (69 percent want a clear goal and don’t think Bush has articulated one.)

7 Iraqis Killed, 16 Wounded Friday in String of Bombings Two Marines Killed Guerrillas in a town near Baghdad took 60 local Shiites hostage and are threatening to kill them, unless Shiite inhabitants leave the area. This incident is the most worrying explicit Sunni-Shiite conflict I can remember, and I find it alarming. Shiites could […]

Sistani Discourages Shiite MPs from joining Cabinet Al-Zaman/ AFP: An aide close to Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani said Friday that Sistani prefers it if the members of parliament from the United Iraqi Alliance decline posts as cabinet ministers. He says that they should instead concentrate on drafting the permanent constitution. The aide gave the interview […]

Disputes Prevent Selection of Tamim Governor (Kirkuk) al-Zaman/ AFP: An Iraqi official in Tamim province describes the situation in the city of Kirkuk. Disputes among Kurds, Turkmen and Arabs have prevented the newly elected provincial council from being seated, and therefore they have been unable to select a governor. He said that Kirkuk is a […]

Guerrilla War Leaves 24 Dead in Iraq The Financial Times reports that guerrilla actions, including bombings and ambushes, left at least 24 persons dead on Thursday in Iraq. There were bombs in Baghdad, as well as shootings and assassinations elsewhere. Police were killed near Kirkuk and a bomb exploded in Basra, hurting two civilian passersby […]