Arab World

Five suicide bombers set off a minibus bomb outside the military facility at the old Defense Ministry building in Baghdad around 10 am on Sunday, killing 12 persons and wounding at least 36. According to WaPo, two of the assailants then got inside the building, where they were targeted by US soldiers, in the course […]

Iraq

Shiites Choose Adel Abdul Mahdi as PM Candidate

Juan Cole

Al-Hayat writing in Arabic reports that the Shiite fundamentalist coalition, the National Iraqi Alliance, has conducted a vote and selected Adel Abdul Mahdi as the list’s candidate for the post of prime minister. Abdul Mahdi is the outgoing vice president of Iraq and is from the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI). Four major parties […]

Iraq

Obama hands Iraq to Iraqis, Sort of;
al-Maliki Declares Independence

Juan Cole

Some wag observed of the camel that it is “an animal designed by a committee.” Likewise, the speech that President Obama gave on the end of the US direct combat mission in Iraq last night appeared to have been designed by a committee. Intended to please everyone, it likely altogether pleased no one. With regard […]

Iraq

The Speech President Obama Should Give about the Iraq War (But Won’t)

Juan Cole

Here is the speech that I wish President Obama would give about the Iraq War, but which neither he nor any other president ever will. Fellow Americans, and Iraqis who are watching this speech, I have come here this evening not to declare a victory or to mourn a defeat on the battlefield, but to […]

Iraq

64 Dead, 274 Wounded in Iraq War on Police

Juan Cole

On Wednesday, the Sunni Arab guerrilla insurgency of Iraq demonstrated it is alive and able to plan and carry out a nation-wide set of terrorist operations. The covert organization set off bombs in 13 cities, killing some 64 and wounding an estimated 274, and targeting mainly police stations and checkpoints. Indeed, the bloody events could […]

Iraq

From ’shock and awe’ to ‘advise and assist’ in Iraq

Juan Cole

My appearance on the PBS current affairs show Need to Know this weekend with Alison Stewart is now available on the Web. I was discussing the present situation in Iraq. Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.

Iraq

Cole on PBS ‘Need to Know’

Juan Cole

I’ll be interviewed by Alison Stewart on the PBS ‘Need to Know’ current affairs program on Friday evening in most markets, though the show may be on another day on your PBS channel and may be repeated over the weekend. I’m talking about the situation in Iraq as most US combat troops are withdrawn.

Iraq

Iraqis differ in Reactions to US Combat Troops’ Departure

Juan Cole

Aswat al-Iraq reports on reactions to the withdrawal of US combat brigades from Iraq in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. The head of the Basra Provincial governing council, Jabbar Amin, said that the American combat forces had withdrawn at dawn on Thursday, which would charge the Iraqi forces with their true mission, in strengthening […]

Iraq

Last US Combat Units withdraw from Iraq

Juan Cole

The last US combat convoy left Iraq on Thursday, rather some time after George W. Bush declared an end to combat operations in Iraq in May, 2003. Of course, this flat statement is not entirely accurate. The remaining 50,000 troops are viewed as trainers and logistics support to the Iraqi government. But they include special […]