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| Iraq |
| Last Week's Weekly Progress in Iraq |
| 2007-04-10 |
| Iraq Death Toll Up Despite Crackdown: • According to Iraqi government figures released April 1, the average daily death toll in Iraq for March was less than 4% more than in February, despite the military crackdown in Baghdad. Good news that it wasn't more; bad news it's not lower, yet. Insurgent Tied to Extremist Groups Captured: • Iraqi and Coalition Forces (CF) captured a suspected insurgent tied to Explosively-Formed Projectile (EFP) facilitation networks during a joint operation March 30 while targeting anti-Iraqi forces in Sadr City. The suspect is allegedly involved with several violent extremist groups responsible for attacks against the Iraqi people and CF, as well as facilitating the movement of EFPs into Iraq. Ambassador Khalilzad Optimistic About Iraq’s Future: • Speaking to reporters in Baghdad March 26, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said that he was optimistic about Iraq’s future, in part due to the early success of Operation Imposing the Law (Fardh al-Qanun) and the improved performance of Iraqi soldiers and police, among other factors. • The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) “are performing better and they are doing better in terms of carrying their share of the burden,” Ambassador Khalilzad said. He also pointed out that Iraqis seem to appreciate the presence of their soldiers and police on the streets to help effect stability, noting that citizen-provided tips about insurgent activity have been flowing in steadily. House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Listens to Panelists: • At its first open hearing March 28, the House Oversight and Investigations subcommittee listened to outside perspectives on the transition of responsibility for security to ISF. Though differing in areas of emphasis, all four panelists insisted that ISF will in no way be prepared to assume primary security responsibility by January 2008. Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Zubaie Released from Hospital after Attack: • Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zubaie was discharged April 3 from a hospital in Jordan where he was treated after an assassination attempt last month by a group linked to al-Qaida, the Iraqi ambassador to Jordan said. • Zubaie told Dubai-based al-Arabiya television April 3 that his attackers seek to keep Iraq in a “whirlpool of violence,” but that Baghdad's leadership will “confront these dirty terrorism groups that want chaos and sedition to spread among Iraqis.” General McCaffrey Reports Growing Sunni Opposition to AQI: • A report by retired General Barry McCaffrey claims there is growing Sunni tribal opposition to al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) and unmistakable evidence that the western Sunni tribes are increasingly convinced that they blundered badly by sitting out the January 2005 elections. He also says there is now active combat between Sunni tribal leadership and AQI terrorists, as well as evidence that the Sunni tribes are now supplying their young men as drafts for the Iraqi police. During the week of March 29-April 4 electricity availability averaged 6.9 hours per day in Baghdad and 12.4 hours nationwide. Electricity output for the week was 4% above the same period in 2006. Months ago, the MSM reported two hours a day in Baghdad. I've missed all the more recent tallies. Death Penalty Sought for “Chemical Ali”: • On April 2, prosecutors sought the death penalty for Ali Hassan al-Majid, Saddam Hussein’s cousin and infamously known as “Chemical Ali,” for his use of poison gas against Iraqi Kurds in the 1980’s. • Majid is on trial with five other former senior Baath party officials for their roles in the 1988 Anfal campaign against ethnic Kurds that killed up to 180,000 people. During Anfal, thousands of villages declared “prohibited areas” were razed and bombed as part of a scorched-earth campaign. Majid admitted during the trial he ordered troops to execute all Kurds who ignored orders to leave their villages, but said he had nothing to apologize for. Former MoI Official Undergoes First Investigative Hearing: • The first sitting of the Central Criminal Court of Iraq at Rusafa occurred in Baghdad’s new Rule of Law Green Zone April 2. The Vice President of Iraq, Tariq al-Hashemi, Deputy Minister of Justice, Bosho Ibrahim Ali, and Chief Justice Medhat Mahmud were at the court when Ministry of Interior official, Captain Ali Abed Jasem Warid, underwent his first investigative hearing regarding allegations against him relating to the torture of prisoners in Baghdad’s notorious Site 4 detention facility. UNHCR Plans to Expand Mission in Iraq: • The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stated he plans to strengthen the international presence in Baghdad of the UNHCR, increase its activities in the country, and has urged the Iraqi government to “lead” a world effort to lessen the “humanitarian crisis” in the country. UNAMI Organizes Workshop for Iraqi Governates: • The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), with the support of the UN Office for Project Services and the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government, organized a workshop with the Governors and the Chairpersons of the Provincial Councils of Iraq’s 18 governorates. Japan Extends Commitment for Two More Years: • The Japanese government said they will expand their Iraq Special Measures law for two years, allowing Japanese Air Self-Defense forces to continue to operate in support of UN and Coalition missions in Iraq. This just in - Sadr Delivers Statement: • In a statement delivered March 30, Muqtada al-Sadr said the invasion of Iraq had burdened the country with violence and poverty. Sadr also urged Iraqis to protest in Najaf April 9 to mark the four year anniversary of when American troops entered Baghdad in 2003. |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #1 from the Corner at NRO: After replacing the S-series Iraqi passports with the new, harder-to-counterfeit G-series passports, the Iraqi government has been forced to cancel these after the head of the passport office allegedly gave 700 to Iranian intelligence. Britain and the U.S. are still accepting G-passports, but no other countries are and it is impossible to travel to either without transit elsewhere. crap |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-04-10 20:26 |