Tuesday: 143 Iraqis Killed, 269 Wounded; 4 GIs Killed15 Jan 2007Excerpt: Updated at 5:45 p.m. EST, Jan. 17, 2007 This morning, the United Nations released its figures on civilian deaths for last year. They estimate that in 2006 over 34,000 civilian Iraqis were killed in sectarian violence. Today alone though, 143 Iraqis were killed or found dead and another 269 were wounded. Also, the U.S. military reported that a roadside bomb killed four American soldiers in Ninevah province yesterday. In Baghdad, at least 70 people were killed and 132 injured when a double bombing took place at Mustansiriya University; many of the students killed were women. The first explosion took place when a car bomb was set off at a location where students wait for minibuses to take them home. The second occurred when a suicide bomber attacked people fleeing the first explosion.
‘Crusade’ Against an Evil War14 Jan 2007Excerpt: Fellow columnist Molly Ivins has launched a crusade of sorts to end what she calls “this evil war.” I’m afraid that columnists, other than having the ability to occasionally embarrass a politician who still has a conscience, are pretty much without influence in the corridors of Washington. There, the lobbyist and his money get the attention.
On the Mideast Escalator14 Jan 2007Excerpt: While the president’s announcement that an additional 20,000 troops would be sent to Iraq dominated the headlines last week, the real story was the president’s sharp rhetoric toward Iran and Syria. And recent moves by the administration only serve to confirm the likelihood of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
It’s All About Iran14 Jan 2007Excerpt: As American troops storm what is, or was, an Iranian consulate—at least that’s what the Iraqi government calls it, in spite of American denials—and the president accuses Tehran of arming and aiding Iraqi insurgents, the answer to the question “Why are we in Iraq?” should begin to dawn on even the dullest. The answer: Iran. We’re in Iraq so we can go after the mullahs in Tehran, and, perhaps, those other Ba’athists in Syria.
Monday: 87 Iraqis Killed, 80 Wounded; Two Saddam Aides Executed14 Jan 2007Excerpt: Updated at 11:25 p.m EST, Jan. 15, 1007 Before dawn, Saddam Husseinand#8217;s half-brother and a former judge were executed in Baghdad. Another 87 Iraqis were killed and 80 were wounded in violent acts throughout the country today. Also, the first American troops in U.S. President Bushand#8217;s new Iraq plan arrived in Baghdad. Two of Saddam Husseinand#8217;s aides were hung before dawn this morning. Ibrahim Barzan, who was Saddamand#8217;s half-brother, and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, the former head of Iraqand#8217;s Revolutionary Court, had been found guilty of a mass murder in Dujail that was in retaliation for a 1982 assassination attempt on Saddam. They were executed 16 days after the former leader was hung for the same crime. As in Saddam’s execution, controversy follows their hangings.
Sunday: 101 Iraqis, 3 GIs Killed; 26 Iraqis, 5 GIs Wounded13 Jan 2007Excerpt: Updated at 12:10 p.m. EST, Jan. 15, 2007 Saddam Hussein’s half-brother, Barzan Ibrahim, and Awad Hamed al-Bandar head of Iraqand#8217;s Revolutionary Court were both hanged early Monday morning. Violence picked up in the capital and continued apace in Mosul and Kirkuk. Overall, 101 Iraqis were killed or found dead and another 26 wounded in violent incidents Sunday. The Baghdad morgue reported taking in 16,000 unidentified bodies last year. Also, military authorities reported the deaths of three GIs in separate incidents. Military authorities reported that one American soldier was killed and another soldier wounded on Saturday in northern Baghdad. A roadside bomb killed one soldier and wounded four others in central Baghdad on Sunday. Also, an MP was also killed when a roadside bomb blasted his vehicle in Baghdad, also on Sunday.
Bush’s Sacrificial Americans12 Jan 2007Excerpt: On January 4th, the Pentagon “announced the identities” of six American soldiers who had died between December 28th and New Year’s Eve. It was just one of many such listings over these last years and, like similar announcements, this one had a just-the-facts quality to it—spare to the bone, barely more information than you would get from a POW: rank, age, place of birth, date of death, place of death, type of death, and the unit to which the dead soldier belonged…
Mistakes Were Made12 Jan 2007Excerpt: The goal of American foreign policy has long been the replacement—by force, if “necessary”—of existing “criminal” regimes, with regimes sycophantic to us.
How It All Began12 Jan 2007Excerpt: The U.S., after training and egging on the Ethiopians to intervene in the Somali civil war, is now bombing and strafing Somalis. The government “suspects” they might be al-Qaeda.
Less Than Zero12 Jan 2007Excerpt: On the surface, President Bush’s Wednesday night speech adds up to precisely nothing…
Ratcheting up the Nuclear Ante12 Jan 2007Excerpt: NEW DELHI —The stunning story by the London Sunday Times alleging that Israel has drawn up plans to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities with nuclear weapons has focused attention on the growing global nuclear danger and on the worsening situation in the Middle East.
A Cure For Yellow Ribbon Patriotism12 Jan 2007Excerpt: A man I once knew survived his tour of duty in Vietnam. In the privacy of a rented house trailer he drank alone until he finally had the “courage” to kill himself. I don’t know if he saw combat. He never said. I only assumed he had because when he spoke, what he said had the finality of a trigger pull. To my mind, there is only one way to acquire such certainty.
Bush’s Iraq Plan—Goading Iran Into War12 Jan 2007Excerpt: WASHINGTON —President George W. Bush’s address on Iraq Wednesday night was less about Iraq than about its eastern neighbor, Iran. There was little new about the U.S.’s strategy in Iraq, but on Iran, the president spelled out a plan that appears to be aimed at goading Iran into war with the U.S.
Saturday: 58 Iraqis, UK Soldier Killed; 20 Iraqis, UK Soldier Wounded11 Jan 2007Excerpt: Updated at 12:45 a.m. EST, Jan. 14, 2007 Baghdad was relatively quiet today. There were no major incidents besides the typical discoveries of dumped bodies. However, other cities reported multiple attacks. Throughout Iraq, 58 people were killed or found dead today and another 20 were wounded in violent attacks. A British soldier was killed, and at least one other British soldier was wounded in separate incidents in Basra. Also, Australian troops killed a truck driver when he refused to stop at a checkpoint.
Bush’s Prescription for More War11 Jan 2007Excerpt: President Bush’s alleged new strategy for Iraq, outlined in a mercifully brief prime time speech last night, is a recipe for disaster for Iraq, the United States, and the region.
Still One More Card to Play11 Jan 2007Excerpt: Wednesday night, George Bush seemed to play his last card in the Iraq war. It was not impressive. Consider…
The Presidential Lottery11 Jan 2007Excerpt: As expected, President George W. Bush announced on Wednesday that he planned to increase the number of troops in Iraq. From his point of view, he had no other choice…
The ‘Surge’ Is A Red Herring11 Jan 2007Excerpt: Bush’s “surge” speech is a hoax, but members of Congress and media commentators are discussing the surge as if it were real.
Iraqi Media Under Growing Siege11 Jan 2007Excerpt: BAGHDAD —The U.S. administration continues to tout Iraq as a shining example of democracy in the Middle East, but press freedom in Iraq has plummeted since the beginning of the occupation.
Sick, Literally, of Fighting in Iraq11 Jan 2007Excerpt: Susan Tileston hasn’t seen her son, Levi Moddrelle, in more than two years. Levi served in the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan and then Iraq, where he was stationed for almost a year. He returned home for Christmas in 2003, but wasn’t the same…
Bush Isolates Himself Further11 Jan 2007Excerpt: President George W. Bush’s decision to escalate U.S. military intervention in Iraq and issue new threats against Syria and Iran appears to have left him politically more isolated than ever.
Bush’s Last Stand11 Jan 2007Excerpt: Delivered in a near monotone, and written by someone with a tin ear, the president’s much-anticipated speech on the “new way forward” in Iraq has succeeded only in reinforcing the impression that he is deaf, dumb, and blind to reason when it comes to Iraq.
Where are the Republicans for Peace?11 Jan 2007Excerpt: One definition of insanity is responding to failure by doing more of the same. Such as marginally increasing the number of troops in Iraq and making war on both Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias.
Friday: 41 Iraqis Killed, 10 Injured11 Jan 2007Excerpt: Updated at 12:35 p.m. EST, Jan. 12, 2007 Violence is generally lighter on Friday prayer days, and this week was no different. Only 41 people were killed or found dead and 10 were wounded in violent acts. No foreign deaths were reported.
Thursday: 60 Iraqis Killed, 33 Wounded; U.S. Forces Kill 93 in Raids10 Jan 2007Excerpt: Updated at 1:05 a.m. EST, Jan. 12, 2007 In todayand#8217;s developments, U.S. President George Bushand#8217;s latest speech is the subject of much international debate. Closer to home, at least 60 Iraqis were killed or found dead today and another 33 wounded. Also, military authorities reported today that U.S. troops killed 85 suspected militants during operations over the last several days in the Turki village area. An Australian soldier was slightly wounded in southern Iraq, and an Iranian consulate was raided in Irbil. In his speech last night, President Bush announced that he would be sending about 21,500 more American troops to Iraq despite opposition from Democratic lawmakers and the American public. Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph in Britain reported that British Prime Minister Tony Blair will soon reveal his plans to bring thousands of British troops home.
Antiwar.com original