World on fire
(BBC) "Gunmen have kidnapped up to 10 members of a local volunteer security force in north-east Baghdad, Iraqi police say."
(WaPo) An interesting look at how the US military pays and arms the Sunni tribal groups. Cash rewards per successful operation, and turning over seized weapons to the friendly Sunni militia that finds them.
(Also, note in all these articles on the local Sunni militias, that the leaders make it very clear that their goal is "to protect their territories, not only from al-Qaeda in Iraq, but also from Shiite militias and Iraq's Shiite-dominated security forces.")
(CSM) "The analysis suggests that the bulk of foreign fighters originate from countries with whom the United States is allied."
(Australian) "PAKISTAN yesterday signalled it would launch a "massive military operation" into the al-Qa'ida- and Taliban-infested "badlands" of its North West Frontier Province, aimed at killing the jihadi militant leader blamed for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto." (Dead men can't protest their innocence.)
(TimesOnline) "Suspected Islamist militants shot dead eight tribal leaders in coordinated attacks just hours before they were due to discuss a planned ceasefire between Pakistan’s security forces and al-Qaeda and Taleban..."
And, (Guardian) Violence escalates ahead of Bush's Israel visit
(WaPo) An interesting look at how the US military pays and arms the Sunni tribal groups. Cash rewards per successful operation, and turning over seized weapons to the friendly Sunni militia that finds them.
(Also, note in all these articles on the local Sunni militias, that the leaders make it very clear that their goal is "to protect their territories, not only from al-Qaeda in Iraq, but also from Shiite militias and Iraq's Shiite-dominated security forces.")
(CSM) "The analysis suggests that the bulk of foreign fighters originate from countries with whom the United States is allied."
(Australian) "PAKISTAN yesterday signalled it would launch a "massive military operation" into the al-Qa'ida- and Taliban-infested "badlands" of its North West Frontier Province, aimed at killing the jihadi militant leader blamed for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto." (Dead men can't protest their innocence.)
(TimesOnline) "Suspected Islamist militants shot dead eight tribal leaders in coordinated attacks just hours before they were due to discuss a planned ceasefire between Pakistan’s security forces and al-Qaeda and Taleban..."
And, (Guardian) Violence escalates ahead of Bush's Israel visit
posted by mikevotes at
6:12 AM
6 Comments:
And yet the traditional media, including NPR, seems to be gushing over the "success" of President Bush's surge.
By
-epm, at 8:47 AM
Broadly, alot of the violence is down in the last few months, although I contend it has alot to do with the militias "keeping their powder dry" and avoiding conflict with the US while they wait for the US troops to go back down.
But we are seeing a few troubling signs, particularly the increase in attacks on the Sunni militias working with the US.
By
mikevotes, at 10:53 AM
'The surge is permanent' might be closer to the truth.
By
Anonymous, at 2:03 PM
It's just designed to last through the Bush presidency. The goal is to handoff something called stable no matter what happens the next day.
By
mikevotes, at 2:27 PM
Right. But I imagine they'll be bringing a few troops home just before the election. Those happy homecoming pics always play well.
By
Anonymous, at 2:38 PM
It's still possible Iraq, Afganistan, Pakistan, Israel/Palestine/Iran, could all flame up this year. Indeed, we could see Bush find an excuse for a Persian Gulf "incident," just to piss in the punch bowl. Wouldn't put it past the Cheneyites.
By
-epm, at 7:01 PM
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