An Iraqi Army unit prepares to board a Task Force Baghdad UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter for a counterinsurgency mission in Baghdad.
On jan 31, an election for a government to draft a permanent constitution took place. Although some violence and lack of widespread Sunni Arab participation marred the event, most of the eligible Kurd and Shia populace participated. February, March and April proved to be relatively peaceful months compared to the carnage of November and January, with insurgent attacks averaging 30 a day from the prior average of 70.. Suicide bombers, believed to be mainly disheartened Iraqi Sunni Arabs, Syrians and Saudis, tore through Iraq. Fighters armed with flak jacket(unseen in the insurgency before this time) and using sophisticated tactics met the Marines, eventually inflicting 31 U.S. casualties by the operation's end, and suffering 125 casualties themselves. The Marines were unable to recapture the region due to their limited numbers and the continual insurgent IED attacks and ambushes. The operation continued all the way to the Syrian border, where they were forced to stop (Syrian residents living near the border heard the American bombs very clearly during the operation.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Saddam captured how was it?
In the wave of intelligence information fueling the raids on remaining Ba'ath Party members connected to insurgency, Saddam Hussein himself was captured on dec 31 on a farm near Tikrit in operation red dawn. The operation was conducted by the U.S. armys and members of task force 21With the capture of Saddam and a drop in the number of insurgent attacks, some concluded the multinational forces were prevailing in the fight against the insurgency. With the weather growing cooler, Coalition forces were able to operate in full armor which reduced their casualty rate. The provisional government began training the New Iraqi Security forces intended to defend the country, and the United States promised over $20 billion in reconstruction money in the form of credit against Iraq's future oil revenues. Of this, less than half a billion dollars had been spent in 10 months after it had been promised Oil revenues were also used for rebuilding schools and for work on the electrical and refining infrastructure.
Shortly after the capture of Saddam, elements left out. Most prominent among these was the shia . The Coalition Provisional Authority opposed allowing democratic elections at this time, preferring instead to eventually hand-over power to the Due to the internal fight for power in the new Iraqi government more insurgents stepped up their activities. The two most turbulent centers were the area around Fallujah and the poor Shia sections of cities from Baghdad to Basra in the south.
Shortly after the capture of Saddam, elements left out. Most prominent among these was the shia . The Coalition Provisional Authority opposed allowing democratic elections at this time, preferring instead to eventually hand-over power to the Due to the internal fight for power in the new Iraqi government more insurgents stepped up their activities. The two most turbulent centers were the area around Fallujah and the poor Shia sections of cities from Baghdad to Basra in the south.
Bush Seeks $3.2B for Extra Iraq Forces, god why?
President Bush asked Congress on Saturday for $3.2 billion to pay for at least 4,000 extra combat support troops and military police forces that commanders told the president they need in Iraq.
The extra troops are in addition to the 21,500-troop buildup Bush announced in January. The budget revisions come as many lawmakers opposed to the buildup are debating funding for the war.
Bush is proposing to cancel $3.2 billion in low-priority defense items within his fiscal 2007 supplemental budget request to offset the need for these extra forces.
Cutting the programs, he said, would not require increasing the overall $93.4 billion in additional defense money he's already requested to finance this year's war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"This revised request would better align resources based on the assessment of military commanders to achieve the goal of establishing Iraq and Afghanistan as democratic and secure nations that are free of terrorism," Bush wrote in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Bush signed the letter on his flight Friday from Brazil to Uruguay, part of his five-nation tour of Latin America, that continues on Sunday in Colombia. The White House released the letter Saturday in Montevideo, Uruguay.
At a news conference Thursday, Gen. David Petraeus, who arrived in Baghdad in February as the top U.S. commander, hinted of the need to bolster the U.S. troop force.
Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the national security council said the money would cover funding for 2,000 more combat support troops and 2,000 to 2,400 military police forces.
"Gen. Petraeus expects under the Baghdad security plan as well as other parts of Iraq, that the number of people going into detention will increase and so these military police forces will be for that," Johndroe said.
Friday, March 9, 2007
Iraqi Government fighting violence
Iraq's governmental leaders are rising to confront "an array of complicated issues" amid a spike in insurgent violence, a senior U.S. military officer said Oct. 19. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki recently announced the formation of a special committee to address the country's illegal militia issue, Caldwell said.
The Iraqi Government, he added, is also seeking to reform its Security Ministries. In fact, the Iraqi Government reassigned a number of leaders of the National Police on Oct. 16.
"Although the leadership at the division level has changed, the National Police continued to prove itself as a capable, and viable civil force," Caldwell said.
Caldwell commended the Iraqi Military and Police efforts in combating the insurgency. The Iraqi Security Force is finding "a good number" of weapons caches throughout Iraq. That's because Iraqi forces are knowledgeable about their areas of operation, Caldwell said, and are growing in size and professionalism.
Caldwell cited a recent joint Iraqi and U.S. Marine operation in Anbar province resulting in the detention of more than 35 suspected insurgents and the discovery of thousands of hidden weapons.
More than 312,000 Iraqi Soldiers and Police have been trained and equipped by the Coalition Force.
Caldwell pointed to the Iraqi government's recruiting plan to bring more than 30,000 new Iraqi troops to serve in troublesome Anbar province by May. In February, 3,800 Iraqi Police worked out of 14 active Iraqi Police stations in three of the nine districts in Anbar province, Caldwell said. Today, there are 33 police stations operating in eight districts, he noted, with more than 8,000 trained Iraqi Police.
Caldwell acknowledged there's been an increase in insurgent violence since the start of Ramadan in late September That goal "is achievable," Caldwell emphasized, "with a combination of both tough security measures by coalition and Iraqi Security Forces and a political process that recognizes that 11 to 12 million Iraqis voted for a unity government."
The Iraqi Government, he added, is also seeking to reform its Security Ministries. In fact, the Iraqi Government reassigned a number of leaders of the National Police on Oct. 16.
"Although the leadership at the division level has changed, the National Police continued to prove itself as a capable, and viable civil force," Caldwell said.
Caldwell commended the Iraqi Military and Police efforts in combating the insurgency. The Iraqi Security Force is finding "a good number" of weapons caches throughout Iraq. That's because Iraqi forces are knowledgeable about their areas of operation, Caldwell said, and are growing in size and professionalism.
Caldwell cited a recent joint Iraqi and U.S. Marine operation in Anbar province resulting in the detention of more than 35 suspected insurgents and the discovery of thousands of hidden weapons.
More than 312,000 Iraqi Soldiers and Police have been trained and equipped by the Coalition Force.
Caldwell pointed to the Iraqi government's recruiting plan to bring more than 30,000 new Iraqi troops to serve in troublesome Anbar province by May. In February, 3,800 Iraqi Police worked out of 14 active Iraqi Police stations in three of the nine districts in Anbar province, Caldwell said. Today, there are 33 police stations operating in eight districts, he noted, with more than 8,000 trained Iraqi Police.
Caldwell acknowledged there's been an increase in insurgent violence since the start of Ramadan in late September That goal "is achievable," Caldwell emphasized, "with a combination of both tough security measures by coalition and Iraqi Security Forces and a political process that recognizes that 11 to 12 million Iraqis voted for a unity government."
war and violence
During a time when our country has suffered immensely because of direct attacks that were purposely orchestrated to destroy a majority of U.S. lives, we as citizens look desperately to other citizens for security. Two examples of these direct attacks would be the Japanese invasion against the U.S. and the terrorist act that occurred on September 11th 2001. Shortly after, the presidents who were in office during the time of this harmful assault, both Franklin D. Roosevelt and George Bush, delivered speeches that uniformly shaped the thoughts of the victims, the U.S. citizens. This use of propaganda, frequently used when the nation is in an uproar because of hardships brought against them, is a public attempt to aim everyone's aggression in one direction. My belief is that in Roosevelt's speech he was trying to stir up anger in the American people against their Japanese offenders. His main purpose was to raise emotions of hatred.
The purpose of Bush's address after the September 11th attack was to acknowledge that the country was indeed under serious attack and not to underestimate the strength of the American people. For all the emotional stress that we had endured due to the cause of the event, is given proof of that notion. From further reading his speech I was able to conclude that Bush was surprised at the amount of control that the people seemed to have at the time of this traumatizing incident. Blood drives were initiated and people aided in saving the lives of others instead on thinking solely of themselves. This dedication expressed between citizens, shows the commitment that we have both to this country and to the individuals who reside in it.
The use of propaganda to form the opinions of the nation is only useful when the citizens are the most vulnerable. However, if there are numerous people who choose not to conform to the intended ideas, then the attempts of the national leader will be unsuccessful. .
The purpose of Bush's address after the September 11th attack was to acknowledge that the country was indeed under serious attack and not to underestimate the strength of the American people. For all the emotional stress that we had endured due to the cause of the event, is given proof of that notion. From further reading his speech I was able to conclude that Bush was surprised at the amount of control that the people seemed to have at the time of this traumatizing incident. Blood drives were initiated and people aided in saving the lives of others instead on thinking solely of themselves. This dedication expressed between citizens, shows the commitment that we have both to this country and to the individuals who reside in it.
The use of propaganda to form the opinions of the nation is only useful when the citizens are the most vulnerable. However, if there are numerous people who choose not to conform to the intended ideas, then the attempts of the national leader will be unsuccessful. .
Monday, March 5, 2007
Privacy Board Clears U.S. Spy Programs
A white house privacy board is giving its stamp of approval to two of the Bush administration's controversial surveillance programs - electronic eavesdropping and financial tracking - and says they do not violate citizens' civil liberties.
The report finds that both the national security 's warrant less eavesdropping program and the Treasury Department's monitoring of international banking transactions have sufficient privacy protections, three board members told The Associated Press in telephone interviews.
Lanny Davis, a former white house counsel and the lone Democrat on the panel, described the board's first report to Congress as modest.
The board's initial findings come as Congress is moving forward on measures to give the board more authority and make it more independent of the president. Both conservative and liberal civil liberties groups have urged the members to aggressively review the eavesdropping program and have questioned whether board members would stand up to the president if he were flouting the law.
"It is critical that Congress make the civil liberties board independent of the executive branch."
The privacy board members declined to comment on the proposed legislation. But Bush appointed Dinkins, a Republican, to chair the board.
---
The report finds that both the national security 's warrant less eavesdropping program and the Treasury Department's monitoring of international banking transactions have sufficient privacy protections, three board members told The Associated Press in telephone interviews.
Lanny Davis, a former white house counsel and the lone Democrat on the panel, described the board's first report to Congress as modest.
The board's initial findings come as Congress is moving forward on measures to give the board more authority and make it more independent of the president. Both conservative and liberal civil liberties groups have urged the members to aggressively review the eavesdropping program and have questioned whether board members would stand up to the president if he were flouting the law.
"It is critical that Congress make the civil liberties board independent of the executive branch."
The privacy board members declined to comment on the proposed legislation. But Bush appointed Dinkins, a Republican, to chair the board.
---
WAR AND VIOLENCE
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A suicide car bomber turned a venerable book market into a deadly inferno and gunmen targeted Shiite pilgrims Monday as suspected Sunni insurgents brought major bloodshed back into the lap of their main Shiite rivals. At least 38 people died in the blast and seven pilgrims were killed. The Shiite Mahdi Army militia has so far resisted full-scale retaliation through a combination of self-interest and intense government pressure. An expected Cabinet reshuffle could take a serious bite out of al-Sadr's voice in government - a move strongly encouraged by Washington. Al-Sadr also opened the door for U.S. and Iraqi troops to enter the Mahdi stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad - under a painstaking deal with authorities - but his loyalists are still being hunted outside the capital. "Al-Sadr and his forces could be feeling under siege," said aliza chief researcher at the London-based Center for Arab-Iranian Studies. The suicide mission tore through booksellers and other stores on narrow Mutabi road , a mostly Shiite-run commercial area in Baghdad's historical heart along the Tigris River. That's mostly because al-Sadr ordered his fighters to pull back after coming under strong government arm-twisting to allow the security plan to proceed.
The troops plan to establish outposts in Sadr City that will bring together Iraqi police, military and U.S.-led forces, said U.S. Brig. Gen. Terry Wolff, who oversees training of Iraqi soldiers.
Al-Sadr also opened the door for U.S. and Iraqi troops to enter the Mahdi stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad - under a painstaking deal with authorities - but his loyalists are still being hunted outside the capital. A worker at a nearby shoe store, yussof haider , 24, said the blast flipped burning cars with charred bodies trapped inside.
In other violence, gunmen opened fire on Shiite pilgrims in several places around Baghdad, killing at least seven people, police said. Attacks on soldiers in some Shiite districts are also down sharply.Al-Sadr's followers also warned they would fight any Cabinet changes that would single them out.
"We will not give up our share and any of our ministerial posts under any circumstances unless all other blocs are subjected to the same procedure," said saleh al ukali, head of Sadrist faction in parliament, where the bloc controls 30 of the 275 seats.
An adviser to said 10 of the 39 ministry posts soon would be replaced - including five of the six ministers loyal to al-Sadr.Relations between al-Sadr and the government are already tense. Late last year, the prime minister withdrew his official protection for al-Sadr and the Mahdi Army and allowed U.S.-led forces to close in. Al-Sadr also opened the door for U.S. and Iraqi troops to enter the Mahdi stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad - under a painstaking deal with authorities - but his loyalists are still being hunted outside the capital.
In other violence, gunmen opened fire on Shiite pilgrims in several places around Baghdad, killing at least seven people, police said.
Al-Sadr's followers also warned they would fight any Cabinet changes that would single them out.
An adviser to Nouri al-maliki said 10 of the 39 ministry posts soon would be replaced - including five of the six ministers loyal to al-Sadr. The adviser Relations between al-Sadr and the government are already tense.
The violence - after a relative three-day lull in Baghdad - was seen as another salvo in the Sunni extremist campaign to provoke a sectarian civil war that could tear apart the Shiite-led government and erase Washington's plans for Iraq.
The troops plan to establish outposts in Sadr City that will bring together Iraqi police, military and U.S.-led forces, said U.S. Brig. Gen. Terry Wolff, who oversees training of Iraqi soldiers.
Al-Sadr also opened the door for U.S. and Iraqi troops to enter the Mahdi stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad - under a painstaking deal with authorities - but his loyalists are still being hunted outside the capital. A worker at a nearby shoe store, yussof haider , 24, said the blast flipped burning cars with charred bodies trapped inside.
In other violence, gunmen opened fire on Shiite pilgrims in several places around Baghdad, killing at least seven people, police said. Attacks on soldiers in some Shiite districts are also down sharply.Al-Sadr's followers also warned they would fight any Cabinet changes that would single them out.
"We will not give up our share and any of our ministerial posts under any circumstances unless all other blocs are subjected to the same procedure," said saleh al ukali, head of Sadrist faction in parliament, where the bloc controls 30 of the 275 seats.
An adviser to said 10 of the 39 ministry posts soon would be replaced - including five of the six ministers loyal to al-Sadr.Relations between al-Sadr and the government are already tense. Late last year, the prime minister withdrew his official protection for al-Sadr and the Mahdi Army and allowed U.S.-led forces to close in. Al-Sadr also opened the door for U.S. and Iraqi troops to enter the Mahdi stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad - under a painstaking deal with authorities - but his loyalists are still being hunted outside the capital.
In other violence, gunmen opened fire on Shiite pilgrims in several places around Baghdad, killing at least seven people, police said.
Al-Sadr's followers also warned they would fight any Cabinet changes that would single them out.
An adviser to Nouri al-maliki said 10 of the 39 ministry posts soon would be replaced - including five of the six ministers loyal to al-Sadr. The adviser Relations between al-Sadr and the government are already tense.
The violence - after a relative three-day lull in Baghdad - was seen as another salvo in the Sunni extremist campaign to provoke a sectarian civil war that could tear apart the Shiite-led government and erase Washington's plans for Iraq.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)