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| Iraq |
| Last Week's Weekly Update on Iraq |
| 2007-06-05 |
| State Department Summary for Congress Iraqi and Coalition Forces Rescue 42 Individuals at AQI Hideout in Diyala: •Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces (CF) conducted a raid based on atip from a local citizen and discovered 42 individuals at an al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) hideout six miles south of Baquba May 27. Some of the men claimed to have been held as long as four months; others also had broken bones and showed other signs of torture. Al-Anbar Rejection of al-Qaida Creates Economic, Political Opportunities: •In a press conference May 22 with the governor of al-Anbar province, Mamun Sami Rashid Al-Awani, the deputy commander of Multi-National Force-West, BG John Allen, said that Anbar province is in transition, and the recent security improvements across the province have created significant political and economic opportunities. •The security improvements have been brought about by a groundswell of opposition to al-Qaida, which has largely been expelled from the province’s population centers. •Additionally, a partnership exists today in the province between CF, the Iraqi Police and the Iraqi Army. Iraqi security forces’ recruiting has increased dramatically and in just one year, the police forces in al-Anbar have grown from about 2,000 to 14,500. Coalition Operations Continue against al-Qaida: •Coalition spokesman MG Caldwell announced May 24 that during the past week, from May 16-22, CF conducted 45 focused operations against al-Qaida, resulting in the killing of 19 terrorists and the detention of 88 more. Iraqi Kurdish Provinces Receive Security Responsibility: •U.S. forces handed over security responsibility in Iraq’s three northern provinces to the Kurdish regional government May 30. The handover of Sulaymaniyah, Irbil and Dohuk provinces was followed by a parade of Kurdish soldiers. Investigators Sharpen Interview Techniques: •Approximately 40 Iraqi Ministry of Defense inspectors and their support staff from the inspector general’s office completed a three-day training course titled “Interviewing Victims and Witnesses”May 25. The goal of the training was to create understanding how to more effectively deal with the various types of witnesses and victims they encounter on a daily basis. Supplies Aid Iraq Border Forts Police: •In the last four weeks, Coalition forces have delivered over 87 tractor trailer truckloads of supplies to the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement. The supplies range from small end items such as uniforms, heaters, and mattresses, to large items such as ambulances, medium trucks, and patrol vehicles. The supplies will be dispersed to border forts all along Iraq’s borders. Maliki Makes Nominations for Vacated Cabinet Seats: •On May 24, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki nominated six ministers to replace the Cabinet seats vacated by loyalists to Muqtada al-Sadr six weeks ago. The nominees are Ali al-Bahadli (agriculture), Dr. Sabah Rasul Sadiq (health), Amer Abd al-Jabr Ismail (transport), Thamir Jaafar Mohammed al-Zubaidi (civil society), Dr. Khalid Sami Azar al-Maajun (provincial affairs) and Zuhair Mohammed Ridha Sharba (tourism). Lutheran? Shia? Methodist? Kurd? Presbyterian? Sunni? Sadr Returns to the Public: •In his first speech in seven months, Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for national unity and the withdrawal of U.S. troops. The speech he delivered had new nationalistic overtones, calling on Sunnis to join with him in the fight against the U.S. presence. He also criticized the Iraqi government’s inability to provide reliable services to its people. We'll go, Mookie, just quit killing Sunnis and civilians, and soldiers. Initial Progress at WTO Meetings in Geneva: •The Iraqi delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Working Party meeting in Geneva held productive bilateral meetings with U.S., Arab, and European delegations. The Working Party meeting, in which Trade Minister Abd al-Falah al-Sudani participated, took place May 25 and was characterized as a successful start to the WTO accession process, one that is crucial to Iraq’s integration into the international economy. The next Working Party meeting could take place as early as spring 2008. USAID Awards 75 Scholarships for Advanced Public Management Studies: •After a nationwide competition this spring, USAID awarded 75 scholarships for advanced public management studies to Iraqi public servants as part of its National Capacity Development Program. The recipients represent14 central government institutions, plus the Kurdish Regional Government, and come from 11 of Iraq’s 18 provinces; in addition, 36% are female. •The 75 scholars will study topics such as strategic planning, information technology management, public finance, human resource management, public policy and project management. After concluding their studies, the scholarship recipients will return to Iraq to work for the Iraqi government. Possible Business Registry Office for Basrah: •The Minister of Trade has expressed interest in establishing a fourth Business Registry to be located in Basrah in addition to the three in Sulaymaniyah, Irbil, and Baghdad. USAID advisors are offering technical assistance and supporting the proposal. The formation of business registries is an important reform measure designed to reduce obstacles to registering a business in southern Iraq. CCCI Convicts 37, Sentences Eight to Life, Three to 30 Years Imprisonment: •The Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) convicted 37 individuals May 6-May 12 for violations of the Iraqi Terrorist Law, Penal Code, and Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Orders enforced by the Iraqi judiciary. •Six Iraqis who were part of an al-Qaida terrorist group that attacked Multi-National Forces February 27 in Sumalat were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the CCCI May 8 for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons. After the attack, U.S. forces arrested the attackers and searched several buildings used by the terrorists; discovering a large weapons cache that included rockets, rocket propelled grenade launchers, numerous automatic machine guns, and improvised explosive devise (IED)-making materials. •The CCCI also convicted Majid Frayhan Hiwal May 8 for violating CPA Order 3/2003, and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Majid was apprehended by U.S. Forces May 9, 2006 after U.S. soldiers searched his dump truck in North Baghdad and found twenty-eight rockets, 82 anti-personnel land mines, 43 rocket-propelled grenades, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, two complete mortar systems, and IED components. To protect his home and property, no doubt. •Nasir Taha Abbas was also convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment May 9 by the CCCI for violating CPA Order 3/2003.Nasir was captured January 27 by I Marine Expeditionary Force units in Modiq, near Ramadi while he was attempting to adjust the position of an IED set near a local mosque. After Nasir’s capture, IED activity in the area ceased for more than 30 days. •Since its establishment, the CCCI has held 2,143 trials for suspected criminals apprehended by Coalition forces. The Iraqi Court proceedings have resulted in the conviction of 1,858 individuals with sentences ranging from imprisonment to death. Ambassador Crocker Meets with Iranian Counterpart: •Ambassador Crocker met with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Qazimi Qumi, at an event hosted by the Iraqi Prime Minister. The Prime Minister led the first session and the subsequent discussion was hosted on the Iraqi side by the National Security Advisor Dr. Muwaffak al-Ruba’i. The talks were positive and the atmosphere was businesslike. The subject and focus of the meeting was Iraq and how the U.S. and Iran can help and support the government and people of Iraq in improving conditions in the country, particularly security conditions. •The U.S. delegation made it clear that this is about actions, not just principles. Ambassador Crocker related to the Iranians a number of specific concerns about their behavior in Iraq, including their support for militias that are fighting both the Iraqi Security and Coalition forces; the fact that much of the explosives and ammunition that are used by these groups are coming into Iraq from Iran; that such activities led by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) –Quds Force needed to cease, and that the U.S. would be looking for results. Minister of Trade Underscores Importance of First Working Party Meetings: •Abed Falah al-Sudani told ambassadors meeting in Geneva for initial discussions on Iraq’s bid to enter the World Trade Organization (WTO) that “joining the WTO is an important step toward integration into the global trading system and restores its position with the international community after decades of isolation from the world.” Turkish Prime Minister Warns of Potential Attacks in Northern Iraq: •Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said May 23 that Turkey would move against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq if necessary, hours after the Turkish authorities said they had identified the suicide bomber in an attack May 22 in Ankara as a man from a predominantly Kurdish city. The officials all but accused Kurdish militants of the attack, which left six dead, but the main militant group -the Kurdistan Workers’ Party -denied involvement. The suicide bomber, officials said, had been wearing plastic explosives. Sadr Makes First Public Appearance in Months: •For the first time in months, Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr appeared in public May 25, delivering an anti-American sermon to thousands of supporters in his base of Kufa in Najaf province and demanding that U.S. troops leave Iraq. Sadr also called on Sunnis to join with him in the fight against U.S. presence, and criticized the Iraqi government for it’s inability to provide reliable services to its people. •Sadr’s sermon, which received significant coverage in both Arabic and Western media, outlined nine demands that needed to be met in order to improve the situation in Iraq, including: a timetable for the withdrawal of Coalition forces, the Iraqi government providing basic services, rebuilding of two shrines in Samarra and Palestinian factions uniting against Israel. Ambassador Crocker Delivers Press Conference: •After talks with Iranian counterpart Hassan Qazimi Qumi, Ambassador Ryan Crocker delivered a press conference May 28, which was broadcasted live by both Arabic and Western media. Ambassador Crocker described the meeting as “businesslike” and said that all three parties (Iran, Iraq, and the U.S.) agreed that the purpose of the meeting was to focus on Iraq, and Iraq only and that -from the U.S. point of view -the meeting was about actions and not just principles. |
| Posted by:Bobby |