Middle East

Shiite Militia Attacks on US and British Troops;The Kurds and the Kirkuk Crisis Remember that spate of newspaper stories about July seeing the lowest number of US military deaths in Iraq since November? Darrel Plant points out that the stories began before the month was over and before the final tally was even in. It […]

13 Killed in Hibhib US-Iraqi Operation in Samarra’ US and Iraq troops are mounting a major operation in the northern Sunni Arab city of Samarra, intending to uproot the “Islamic State of Iraq,” which sympathizes with the goals of al-Qaeda. The city has witnessed two major attacks on an crucial Shiite shrine that have contributed […]

Sunni Arab Withdrawal from Al-Maliki Government The USG Open Source Center analyzes the recent withdrawal of the Sunni Arab Iraqi Accord Front from the al-Maliki government. Reactions of major Iraqi political blocs, especially the Shiites, are translated and quoted. “Iraq: Government Plays Down Withdrawal; Tawafuq to Be Parliamentary OppositionIraq — OSC ReportThursday, August 2, 2007 […]

Guest Op-Ed: Polk on Insurgency & American History Executive Summary of the conclusion of Violent Politics: A History of Insurgency, Terrorism & Guerrilla Warfare from the American Revolution to Iraq. By William R. Polk, to be published on September 15, 2007 by HarperCollins. Fighting insurgencies is enormously expensive in both lives and treasure. In Iraq, […]

Deadliest July Yet for US Troops; 23% Rise in Iraqi Deaths in July; Maliki Government Teeters–Sunni, Da’wa Discontent 2007 saw the deadliest July for US troops since the Iraq War began. It also saw a 23% rise in Iraqi deaths over June. July is like a blast furnace in Iraq, with temperatures approaching 120 degrees […]

CRS Reports on Iraq Online A kind analyst wrote: “FAS uncovered a bunch of recent CRS reports on Iraq. FYI. CRS REPORTS ON IRAQ The Congressional Research Service has produced several newly updated reports on Iraq for congressional consumption. CRS does not make its publications freely available to the public, but the following reports were […]

FELLOWSHIPS FOR THREATENED SCHOLARS FROM IRAQ – CALL FOR APPLICATIONS Iraq Scholar Rescue Project The Institute of International Education’s Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF) has received special funding for the Iraq Scholar Rescue Project to provide fellowships to scholars in Iraq whose lives and work are threatened. The Fund is currently seeking applications from suitable candidates […]