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4 US Troops Dead Constitutional Talks End The US military has withdrawn from the Shiite holy city of Najaf, seat of the Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani. Although the Lt. Col. James Oliver maintained that the Iraqi army is operating successfully throughout the region, it is more likely the case that the Badr Corps is providing […]

20 Killed in Guerrilla Violence Talabani Lashes out at the Arab League In the western city of Hit on Monday guerrillas detonated a suicide car bomb at a US/Iraqi base, killing 3 Iraqi soldiers and 8 civilians. It also wounded 16 other persons. Guerrillas in Baquba and Khalis, north of Baghdad, struck at civilian neighborhoods […]

Terrorism, Security, and America’s Purpose The New America Foundation is hosting a conference on “Terrorism, Security and America’s Purpose” at the Capitol Hilton on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Conference Schedule is here. There will be a live webcast, and several of the speakers would be especially worth catching, especially, on Tuesday, the 11 am panel […]

Hitch’s Last Stand My article at Salon.com is “Christopher Hitchens’ last battle.” ‘ The British hawk gives 10 reasons why Americans should be proud of the Iraq war. He goes 0 for 10. – – – – – – – – – – – –By Juan Cole Sept. 3, 2005 | Bush administration foot-dragging and […]

Guerrillas come Back in Qaim Heavy Clashes in Tal Afar Reuters reports that pipeline sabotage has again interrupted exports from the Kirkuk fields to the Ceyhan terminal. The Kirkuk fields under normal circumstances could produce 1.5 million barrels a day, but they have only been averaging 200,000 bbd. Al-Zaman/DPA: In the holy city of Najaf […]

Looting There, Looting Here Fallujah There, New Orleans Here In April of 2003 the US military stood by and allowed Baghdad to be looted. Not only were private establishments emptied, but all the major ministries (except the Ministry of Petroleum) were looted and burned. When Iraqis complained to the new occupation authority, the GI’s informed […]

26 Dead in Iraq Guerrilla Violence The LA Times reports that guerrillas launched major attacks in Baqubah and Samarra on Saturday. The US military campaign in the northern Turkmen city of Tel Afar was also continuing, and meeting less direct resistance than expected. (Only unexpected if we were expecting the guerrillas to act like an […]

Mahmood Othman: Turkey Interfering in Iraq Gilbert Achcar kindly shares his translation of this article in al-Hayat: OTHMAN TO AL-HAYAT: TURKEY FEARS THE SPREAD OF DEMOCRACY Baghdad – Heba Hani, Al-Hayat, September 3, 2005 Kurdish leader Mahmood Othman [Mahmoud Osman] condemned recent statements by the Turkish Foreign Ministry about the non-recognition of the province of […]

Fayyad Calls for Yes Vote on Constitution Muqtada Praises Resistance Al-Hayat: Shiite on Shiite disputes sharpened in the Friday prayers sermons this week. Grand Ayatollah Ishaq Fayyad, a junior colleague of Ali Sistani, called for Iraqis to vote “yes” on the constitution, since it was the best that could be hoped for under the circumstances. […]