Middle East

Oil Sabotage is “As Bad as Ever”: Shahristani 60 Dead in violence In an interview with Patrick Cockburn of the Independent, Iraq’s Oil Minister, Hussein Shahristani said that the sabotage of petroleum pipelines has interfered with the Iraqi economy and is “as bad as it has ever been.” He also revealed that Iraq exports only […]

200 Guerrillas Attack Mosul Police Truck Bombing Kills 45 (Chlorine?} Zebari rejects Pakistani Troops I don’t know if it was all hell, but a good deal of hell, a generous dollop of hell, broke loose in Iraq on Wednesday. Police found thirty bodies in the streets of Baghdad yesterday. I think we would all be […]

A Brief History of the Islamic State of Iraq The USG Open Source Center translates a history of the Islamic State of Iraq posted to a jihadi internet site. ‘ Forum Participant Posts Analysis, History, Objectives of Islamic State of IraqJihadist Websites — OSC SummaryTuesday, May 15, 2007 Terrorism: Forum Participant Posts Analysis, History, Objectives […]

Mahdi Army, Police Fight in Nasiriyah Fallon said to Oppose Iran Strike Serious fighting broke out Wednesday morning in the southern Shiite city of Nasiriyah, between local police and the miltiamen of Muqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army. Most local police forces are heavily infiltrated by the Badr Corps of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, so that […]

Jordanian Dailies on Cheney Visit Condemn Iran “Madness” The USG Open Source Center paraphrases the Jordanian newspapers on Cheney’s visit to Amman and talks with King Abdullah II. Note the insistence that the Arabs don’t want a conflict with Iran, contrary to what the American Right keeps suggesting. ‘ Jordan: Dailies on Cheney-King Talks, Jordan’s […]

Abdullah II to Cheney: Israeli-Palestinian Problem Linked to Iraq 5 US GIs Killed Massive Manhunt for 3 Captured GIs Sunni Arab guerrillas killed 5 US soldiers on Monday, and Shiite militiamen in the south killed a Danish soldier and wounded 5 others with a roadside bomb. Steve Clemons meditates on the death of Lt. Andrew […]

137 Killed by Guerrillas US to Talk to Iran In a tidal wave of violence, 137 persons were killed or found dead in Iraq on Sunday. Thousands of US troops searched south of Baghdad for 3 captured GIs. The Islamic State of Iraq (a guerrilla group) claimed to have been behind the ambush of two […]

Cheney in Saudi Arabia 5 US Troops Killed, 3 Missing Iraqi Parliament Decries Walls Cheney is trying to convince King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia not to write off the al-Maliki government or the US military surge strategy. He also tried to smooth over US/Saudi conflicts. King Abdullah is said to have concluded that Iraqi PM […]

Jordanian Dailies on Cheney’s Middle East Trip The USG Open Source Center paraphrases reports in the Jordanian press on US Vice President Dick Cheney’s current round of diplomacy in the Middle East. Jordanian Dailies Comment on Cheney’s Middle East Tour, ObjectivesJordan — OSC SummaryFriday, May 11, 2007 Jordanian newspapers published on 10 May are observed […]