Monday, July 14, 2003
Iraq war blog updates
'We should be proud of our role in Iraq' - Blair: "Tony Blair says Britain should be proud of the role it played in ousting Saddam Hussein from Iraq."
In Ananova: War In Iraq
Iraq Democracy Watch: "First impressions
The Governing Council made its first decision yesterday at its first meeting, banning all of Saddam Hussein's old holidays and instating a new one, the day the allied forces toppled Hussein's statue. They needed to act fast, as the NYT reports, since the Americans are anticipating an upsurge in resistance around two of the rapidly approaching old holidays.
The council's next decisions will surround the details of how it will be structured, such as whether they will have a rotating chair.
The Financial Times brings everything down to earth with the observation that, "council members, while united in hatred of Mr Hussein, appeared divided on the subject of the coalition presence in Iraq." Abdel Aziz al Hakim, the SCIRI representative, called the Americans "occupiers", and Ahmad Chalabi, the Pentagon's original favorite before the war, called us "liberators."
Tempers also flared over the question of what powers the governing council would have. Jalal Talabani, a council member and head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, said the council enjoyed "practically all the functions of a government". Mr al Hakim disagreed, saying the council's executive functions were limited but he hoped this would be fixed in stages.
So the Governing Council itself doesn't even agree on whether it has any power or not.
The Americans don't seem to agree, either. While Paul Bremer keeps on referring to how much power the Council will have, the NYT quoted a "senior administration official" speaking with regard to who will make the decisions about Iraqi oil revenues if the international community insists on a role:
It still hasn't entirely sunk into the international community, but the C.P.A. is the government of Iraq...There are already unfortunate misunderstandings on that. But I cannot underline that often enough. The C.P.A. is the government of Iraq."
U.S. troops attack Saddam loyalists: "Facing an increasingly organized and violent resistance, the U.S. Army stepped up pressure on pro-Saddam Hussein holdouts Sunday with a fourth large offensive in central Iraq."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Israelis turn focus to economic woes: "Vicki Knafo walked 120 miles from the Negev desert to Jerusalem to highlight her fight to stop the Israeli government from ending the social welfare benefits that have sheltered Israel's poor for half a century."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
U.S. troops seem safe in Southern Iraq: "While American troops in the center of Iraq face daily attacks, U.S. soldiers in this southern city say they feel safe and even welcome here."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Jailed Palestinians seek driver's release: "Representatives of Palestinian prisoners jailed by Israel called for the release of an Israeli taxi driver feared kidnapped by militants, a gesture that could help shore up fragile peace moves."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
US warns of more Iraq attacks in BBC: War in Iraq
Q&A: The Niger link in BBC: War in Iraq
Arab League boss cool toward Iraqi body: "The Arab League chief showed little eagerness to embrace a new U.S.-backed Iraqi national council as its people's representative, reflecting wider Arab wariness about America's intentions in Iraq."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
US soldier in Baghdad: 'I don't know what I'm doing here in this city' (13 July 03) in Radio Free USA
Saddam is hiding near Baghdad, says exiled spy chief (14 July 03) in Radio Free USA
Sweeping Out Saddam's Holdouts: "One GI was killed, and four were injured Monday, in fighting in Baghdad. Elsewhere, U.S. troops killed four suspected Saddam Hussein loyalists. This is a big day on the calendar: the anniversary of an important past victory by Saddam's party."
In CBS News: Iraq Crisis
Blast near Iraqi police station in BBC: War in Iraq
Press doubts over Iraqi council in BBC: War in Iraq
Core of weapons case crumbling: "Paul Reynolds unravels the US and UK claims about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction."
In BBC: War in Iraq
Iraqis split on new council in BBC: War in Iraq
US soldier killed, six wounded in Baghdad rocket attack in IraqWar.ru (English)
US raids in Iraq yield 200 suspects, large weapons haul in IraqWar.ru (English)
U.S.-Backed Iraqi Governing Council Meets in IraqWar.ru (English)
America's Spy Software Scandal in IraqWar.ru (English)
Post-war dessert, anyone? in IraqWar.ru (English)
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'We should be proud of our role in Iraq' - Blair: "Tony Blair says Britain should be proud of the role it played in ousting Saddam Hussein from Iraq."
In Ananova: War In Iraq
Iraq Democracy Watch: "First impressions
The Governing Council made its first decision yesterday at its first meeting, banning all of Saddam Hussein's old holidays and instating a new one, the day the allied forces toppled Hussein's statue. They needed to act fast, as the NYT reports, since the Americans are anticipating an upsurge in resistance around two of the rapidly approaching old holidays.
The council's next decisions will surround the details of how it will be structured, such as whether they will have a rotating chair.
The Financial Times brings everything down to earth with the observation that, "council members, while united in hatred of Mr Hussein, appeared divided on the subject of the coalition presence in Iraq." Abdel Aziz al Hakim, the SCIRI representative, called the Americans "occupiers", and Ahmad Chalabi, the Pentagon's original favorite before the war, called us "liberators."
Tempers also flared over the question of what powers the governing council would have. Jalal Talabani, a council member and head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, said the council enjoyed "practically all the functions of a government". Mr al Hakim disagreed, saying the council's executive functions were limited but he hoped this would be fixed in stages.
So the Governing Council itself doesn't even agree on whether it has any power or not.
The Americans don't seem to agree, either. While Paul Bremer keeps on referring to how much power the Council will have, the NYT quoted a "senior administration official" speaking with regard to who will make the decisions about Iraqi oil revenues if the international community insists on a role:
It still hasn't entirely sunk into the international community, but the C.P.A. is the government of Iraq...There are already unfortunate misunderstandings on that. But I cannot underline that often enough. The C.P.A. is the government of Iraq."
U.S. troops attack Saddam loyalists: "Facing an increasingly organized and violent resistance, the U.S. Army stepped up pressure on pro-Saddam Hussein holdouts Sunday with a fourth large offensive in central Iraq."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Israelis turn focus to economic woes: "Vicki Knafo walked 120 miles from the Negev desert to Jerusalem to highlight her fight to stop the Israeli government from ending the social welfare benefits that have sheltered Israel's poor for half a century."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
U.S. troops seem safe in Southern Iraq: "While American troops in the center of Iraq face daily attacks, U.S. soldiers in this southern city say they feel safe and even welcome here."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Jailed Palestinians seek driver's release: "Representatives of Palestinian prisoners jailed by Israel called for the release of an Israeli taxi driver feared kidnapped by militants, a gesture that could help shore up fragile peace moves."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
US warns of more Iraq attacks in BBC: War in Iraq
Q&A: The Niger link in BBC: War in Iraq
Arab League boss cool toward Iraqi body: "The Arab League chief showed little eagerness to embrace a new U.S.-backed Iraqi national council as its people's representative, reflecting wider Arab wariness about America's intentions in Iraq."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
US soldier in Baghdad: 'I don't know what I'm doing here in this city' (13 July 03) in Radio Free USA
Saddam is hiding near Baghdad, says exiled spy chief (14 July 03) in Radio Free USA
Sweeping Out Saddam's Holdouts: "One GI was killed, and four were injured Monday, in fighting in Baghdad. Elsewhere, U.S. troops killed four suspected Saddam Hussein loyalists. This is a big day on the calendar: the anniversary of an important past victory by Saddam's party."
In CBS News: Iraq Crisis
Blast near Iraqi police station in BBC: War in Iraq
Press doubts over Iraqi council in BBC: War in Iraq
Core of weapons case crumbling: "Paul Reynolds unravels the US and UK claims about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction."
In BBC: War in Iraq
Iraqis split on new council in BBC: War in Iraq
US soldier killed, six wounded in Baghdad rocket attack in IraqWar.ru (English)
US raids in Iraq yield 200 suspects, large weapons haul in IraqWar.ru (English)
U.S.-Backed Iraqi Governing Council Meets in IraqWar.ru (English)
America's Spy Software Scandal in IraqWar.ru (English)
Post-war dessert, anyone? in IraqWar.ru (English)
