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| Iraq |
| Weekly Wrapup in Iraq (State Dept.) |
| 2007-05-04 |
| AQI Security Emir Killed: • In an operation conducted April 20, Coalition forces killed Muhammad Abdullah Abbas al-Issawi, also known as Abu Abd al-Sattar and Abu Akram, an al-Qaida terrorist leader who operated in the Karmah and Amariya areas and was the al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) Security Emir of the eastern Anbar province. • Abu Abd al-Sattar had links to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and was reported to have been in contact with him from late 2004 until Zarqawi’s death in 2006. He was also a weapons supplier to insurgent forces and had links to the recent surge in chlorine Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) attacks across Iraq. Additional reports also indicate that his VBIED cell used 12- to 13-year-old children in suicide VBIED attacks. Iraq Civilian Deaths Down in April: • According to numbers compiled by the Iraqi Interior, Defense, and Health ministries, violence against Iraqi civilians dropped nearly 20% in April with 1,506 civilians killed, down from 1,861 in March. The drop is largely attributable to the ongoing Operation Fardh al-Qanun and the increased security operations aimed to reduce sectarian violence in the capital and surrounding areas. • This increased operational tempo, greater numbers of U.S. troops on the streets, and the move from large, more secure Forward Operating Bases to smaller combat outposts and patrol bases in Iraqi neighborhoods also contributed to April being the deadliest month in Iraq for the U.S. military in Iraq so far in 2007, with over 100 U.S. troops killed. Sunni Bloc Threatens to Pull Ministers: • The largest bloc of Sunni Arabs in the Iraqi parliament threatened to withdraw its ministers from the Shia-dominated Cabinet in frustration over the Iraqi government’s failure to deal with Sunni concerns. President Bush called one of Iraq’s two vice presidents, Tariq al-Hashimi, a Sunni Arab, and invited him to Washington in an attempt to forestall the withdrawal. • The bloc, known as the Iraqi Accord Front (Tawafuq) and made up of three Sunni Arab parties, claimed in a statement that they have “lost hope in rectifying the situation despite all of its sincere and serious efforts to do so.” Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Seeks to Work Out Differences on Oil Law: • Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih said May 1 that he was confident a draft oil law will be approved in parliament after officials from the central government and Kurdistan meet to iron out differences. • Kurdish lawmakers had planned to oppose U.S.-backed legislation to regulate Iraq’s oil industry and some Sunni legislators have also raised objections, saying the oil law would give foreigners too great a role in the country’s oil industry. So, take a lesson from the Hugo playbook, and nationalize it later. Hugo learned it from Nassar and Castro. Iran Says Earmarks $1 Billion Credits for Iraqi Projects: • Speaking in Najaf, Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Council, announced that his country has earmarked $1 billion in credits for Iraqi projects and pledged support for Iraqi reconstruction. The Mad Mullahs destroyeth, and the Mad Mullahs giveth away. Ministry of Industry & Minerals Participation in Training and Certification for ISO 9000: ISO 9000 Certification is no small task! • The Ministry of Industry & Minerals has announced that it is planning to have important State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) certified and made compliant to ISO 9000 quality standards. The certification process would allow for contracting opportunities in international trade where ISO 9000 is a prerequisite. This move could also enhance the SOEs’ prospective investment potential to international strategic partners if they become available for privatization. • The Ministry of Oil and Minerals manages 59 SOEs, including over 200 factories in six industrial sectors: Petrochemicals, Cement and Construction Materials, Engineering and Heavy Industry, Textiles, Food & Drug, and Industrial Services. Hill Conference on FY07 Supplemental Has Concluded: • The House-Senate Conference on the FY07 supplemental bill has concluded. The supplemental bill appropriates over $2 billion for economic reconstruction and other related programs in Iraq. CCCI Convicts 41: Bad week to be a convicted terrorist in Iraq. • The Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) convicted 41 individuals April 1-14 for violations of the Iraqi Terrorist Law, Penal Code, and Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Orders enforced by the Iraqi judiciary. • CCCI sentenced four individuals to death after being found guilty of violations of Iraq’s Terrorist Law. The convicted individuals were charged with participating and planning terrorist operations. • The trial court sentenced three individuals to life imprisonment after being found guilty of violating Iraq’s Terrorist Law and 14 individuals were sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possession of illegal weapons. One individual was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for violating Article 194 of the Iraqi Penal Code, organizing, heading, leading or joining an armed group. • Since its establishment under an amendment to CPA Order 13, in April 2004, the Central Criminal Court has held 2,084 trials for suspected criminals apprehended by Coalition forces. The Iraqi Court proceedings have resulted in the conviction of 1,788 individuals with sentences ranging from imprisonment to death. UN Secretary-General in Egypt to Launch International Compact with Iraq: • United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will co-launch with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki the International Compact with Iraq in Sharm al-Shaik, Egypt May 3. • The International Compact with Iraq is a five-year national plan that includes benchmarks and mutual commitments from both Iraq and the international community, all with the aim of helping Iraq on the path towards peace, sound governance and economic reconstruction. Benchmarks! Hear that, Harry? New Zealand Pledges Support to Assist Iraqi Refugees: • New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced his country’s plan to donate $1 million to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to feed, house and protect Iraqi refugees. Japan Reaffirms Support for Reconstruction and Airlift Operations: • Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma visited the U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida April 29 and assured the U.S. military that Japan will continue to support reconstruction efforts in Iraq through extending the deployment of Japanese air troops for airlift operations. Radio Veteran Survives Assassination Attempt: • Amal Mudarris, 58, survived an assassination attempt April 29. The Baghdad radio veteran suffered serious head injuries when she was shot several times outside her Baghdad home the morning of April 29. Doctors said later in the day that her condition had stabilized and she was expected to recover. The evening of April 29, Iraqi television aired footage of Mudarris in a hospital recovery room. I assume, since the Orcs tried to off her, that she must have some integrity. |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #7 Pooh, USN dear, I'm quite certain you're even more adored at home than you are here. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-05-04 23:38 |
| #6 thank you TW, i am probably the only spousal unit in the world that has hot and cold running water in the doghouse....... |
| Posted by: USN, ret. 2007-05-04 23:36 |
| #5 Let us be thankful for ISO 9001, then, for the sake of USN,Ret.'s domestic happiness. ;-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-05-04 23:12 |
| #4 what keeps food on my table and Mrs. Ret living in the style she determined is best for her, Hahahahahahaha! WHAM! |
| Posted by: Shipman 2007-05-04 18:58 |
| #3 New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced his countryÂ’s plan to donate $1 million to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to feed, house and protect Iraqi refugees. Which means about $80K will actually make it down the pipe to "help refugees". There is nothing more corrupt than the UNHCR bunch - just look at the paleostain hell-hole camps still active after 60 years of UNHCR help. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2007-05-04 15:10 |
| #2 Since doing the ISO 9001 thing is what keeps food on my table and Mrs. Ret living in the style she determined is best for her, I can tell you that having that hanging on the wall is a good thing, but I think that it might be more beneficial to getting the country stabilized so that there is a better chance of workers coming to work and not getting killed (or worse). |
| Posted by: USN. Ret. 2007-05-04 14:30 |
| #1 "violence against Iraqi civilians dropped nearly 20% in April with 1,506 civilians killed, down from 1,861 in March." Of course, this will be widely reported in the MSM right? As an aside, Iraq has 750 murders a month just from your garden variety disputes, so the terrorists have really dropped off lately. |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2007-05-04 10:44 |