Juan Cole

Sunni-Shiite Unity in Iraq (against American “Designs” The Iraqi Islamic Party had called on Sunnis and Shiites to pray together at a major mosque in Baghdad, and was met with success when thousands from both sects showed up on Friday. The prayer leader, Walid al-Adhami, denounced the US and the UK for attempting to divide […]

Bush willing to Safeguard Russian Economic Interests in Iraq According to a fine analysis by Knight-Ridder’s William Douglas, the United States will attempt to sideline and isolate France at the UN Security Council. This is because France will only back a new UNSC resolution on Iraq if the US surrenders some political power over Iraq […]

Clarification on Abdul Aziz al-Hakim and the Interim Governing Council Abdul Aziz al-Hakim gave a news conference, according to al-Zaman, in which he clarified rumors that he might resign from the Interim Governing Council. Apparently he might do so, but would be replaced by his son, Muhsin. Abdul Aziz said that the IGC is a […]

“Benign Autocracies” Produce Terrorism My response to the idea put forward in some circles that something they call a “benign autocracy” should be put in place by the Americans in Iraq: The “benign autocracies” of the Middle East have been the main producers of terrorism. Sadat and Mubarak’s Egypt produced al-Gamaa al-Islamiya (first World Trade […]

A Long War Gen. Rick Sanchez warned Americans Thursday that they were in for “a long war” against terrorism in Iraq. Underlining his words, a firefight that lasted more than an hour broke out between guerrillas and US troops in Khalidiya, 30 km west of Falluja, that left several troops killed and wounded, according to […]

France “a long way” from sending Troops to Iraq: Chiraq Likewise, on a visit to Spain French President Jacques Chirac just said, “Today we are a long way from being in a situation where France could participate militarily in Iraq.” With Iraqi opposition to Turkish and Jordanian troops (and Jordan’s unwillingness to send soldiers), the […]

India refuses to send Troops to Iraq India is refusing to send troops to Iraq even if there is a new UN resolution. Earlier when the Americans pressed New Delhi, the Indian government had begged off on grounds that it needed a Security Council resolution authorizing such a move. Now that a UNSC resolution seems […]

Constitution Writers to be elected The preparatory commission on drafting an Iraqi constitution met with Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani in Najaf, and afterwards announced that as soon as a census could be taken (to prepare voter rolls), elections would be held for delegates to a constitutional convention. This way of doing things has the disadvantage […]

Abdul Aziz al-Hakim Resigns from Interim Governing Council Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the leader of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq and a member of the Interim Governing Council, is set to suspend his membership in the IGC. He is the second member to resign, at least provisionally. Shiite cleric Muhammad Bahr al-Ulum resigned […]