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Iraq

2 GIs’ Bodies Found; US, Israel Reject Rumors of IAF Flights in Iraq

Juan Cole 07/12/2008

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The bodies of two US troops MIA were recently discovered in Iraq.

Have Israeli planes been flying in Iraq, in and out of US air bases, to case Iran for and attack? The Israelis are denying it. I also think it unlikely, since the US air force would have to give the Israelis its Identify Friend or Foe codes, which is a lot of control to surrender. In any case, the Iraqi parliament, government and street are not going to be happy about this report, and it will also affect the Status of Forces negotiations that have crashed on the shoals of popular rage against a give-away of Iraqi sovereignty.

Holbrooke says McCain is the the right of Bush on Iran, Russia and Iraq. It isn’t a matter of McSame, it is McWorse!

There was the weekly Sadrist protest against the proposed Status of Forces Agreement between Baghdad and Washington. Sadrists want US troops out altogether.

The new Iraqi military will be for the most part trained and equipped by summer 2009, according to a US general. If we can stand down as they stand up, that sounds like a good time to get out.

The Turkish prime minister visited Iraq for consultations on bilateral issues, including the problem of the PKK Kurdish guerrillas that have attacked Turkey from Iraqi soil.

Reuters reports political violence on Friday:

‘NASSIRIYA – The U.S. military killed one militant and detained another in Nassiriya, 300 km (185 miles) south of Baghdad, the military said in a statement.

* MOSUL – A roadside bomb wounded six civilians in Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

NEAR SAMARRA – Iraqi police foiled a planned chlorine bomb attack when they seized a truck packed with explosives and chlorine bottles outside Samarra, 100 km (60 miles) north of Baghdad, police said. Four militants were killed in the incident.

ISKANDARIYA – Two decomposed bodies with gunshot wounds were found in a field in Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.

HILLA – Police found a body in a police uniform with gunshot wounds to the head in a street near Hilla, 100 km (60 miles) south of Baghdad on Thursday, police said.

BAGHDAD – U.S. forces detained nine militants in different operations in central and northern Iraq, the U.S. military said.

(Compiled by Aws Qusay)’

More at antiwar.com.

Filed Under: Iraq

About the Author

Juan Cole is the founder and chief editor of Informed Comment. He is Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History at the University of Michigan He is author of, among many other books, Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires and The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Follow him on Twitter at @jricole or the Informed Comment Facebook Page

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