Juan Cole

Mudarrisi: Avoid Conflict Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi Mudarrisi modified his recent demand that US troops leave the country immediately, according to al-Sharq al-Awsat. The cleric said that the Coalition troops would not stay long in Iraq, since that was neither something the Iraqi people want nor something in the interests of the Coalition. In the meantime, […]

Talabani Pledges Militias will Join Iraqi Army Jalal Talabani, head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and current president of the Interim Governing Council, pledged that his paramilitary forces would be melded into the national Iraqi army eventually, In an interview with al-Zaman, he again urged a Federal system on Iraq, such that both provincial […]

Bremer Imposes Flat Tax on Iraq Paul Bremer continues to use Iraq as an economic guinea pig, and has now implemented the “flat tax” idea beloved of the US wealthy by fiat. Flat taxes are regressive, since they tax the rich at the same rate as they tax the poor. Someone making a million dollars […]

Breaking News: 15 US Soldiers Killed, 21 Injured in Helicopter Attack Guerrillas used SAM-7 shoulder-fired missiles to down a CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter south of Fallujah. The troops, so many of whom were tragically killed or wounded, were being taken out of the deadly Sunni Arab triangle for much needed rest and recreation. There are […]

2 US Soldiers Killed in Mosul, 2 Wounded; Baghdad Partially Closed Guerrillas in Mosul set off bombs as US soldiers drove by in two sport utility vehicles, killing two of the soldiers and wounding two others. Guerrilla threats of violence paralyzed Baghdad on Saturday. Many shops did not open, many children were not sent to […]

Bremer Promises shortened Timetable for turning over Sovereignty First Jay Garner said he wanted to turn control of Iraq over to the Iraqis (mainly to Ahmad Chalabi and the Iraqi National Congress) within six months. (That would have been around now). Then Bremer came in to replace Garner, and said he would rule Iraq himself […]

Raucous Celebrations in Kirkuk at Kurd as President; 5 Dead The odd rotating presidency of the Interim Governing Council, whereby 9 of the 25 members take turns for one month each as leaders of the country, has now fallen on Jalal Talabani, 69. The leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is popular in eastern […]

Wolfowitz on Shiite contacts in Iraq; and on How He is the Only Patriot Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz talked Friday at Georgetown about his recent trip to Iraq, during which his life was put in danger by a missile attack on the hotel where he was staying. He spoke of his meetings with […]

Two US Soldiers, 20 Iraqis Wounded in Baghdad Firefight Two US soldiers were wounded on Friday in Abu Gharib, Baghdad. Guerrillas in the area had tossed grenades at US forces. The US army responded by doing search and discover operations, supported by tanks. One tank accidentally ran over a six-year-old boy. His death provoked locals […]