What is really going on in Iraq

[Jaga]

This guy just came back from Iraq. I had to listen to his report twice to understand how intertwined different Iraqis fractions are and what is the status of American military there.

It is worth to hear if you have a fast internet connection:

www.crooksandliars.com/2008/05/07/draft-nir-rosens/
Nir Rosen’s Iraq report.

Rosen explains what’s happened in Iraq after just getting back. He’s an excellent journalist and explains that the violence is down in Iraq because there are less people to kill. He tells us all about al-Sadr’s reasons for his cease fire and the al-Qaeda/Sunni/Shia relationships…The Sunnis consider all Shia’s– Iranian and they are not going to hang with Iran under any circumstance. They only fought a brutal decade long war against them and ot think that he Iraqi people would willingly partner up with Iran is pretty far fetched

[Jaga]

here is more of the interview with the critical piece about a journalist who want to attack Iran now. We need three wars, two wars is not enough for America.

www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/05/05/gordon/index.html

[kaima]

I suppose it is in the American news as well, but you can search for it. I ran across this on Der SPiegel, German news magazine www.spiegel.de Here is a YouTube recording of a soldier in Afghanistan who accidently called home during a fire fight. He is reported to say his machine gun threatens to overheat, and the last thing on the recording (his mother was not home and the answering machine took the three minute call) was a call that 'an RPG is incoming' (rocket propelled grenade. Happily his mom called back and found he survived the encounter.

I expect he will be more careful to lock his calling keys next time he heads to combat. This does point out that Afghanistan has a pretty good cell phone net. Think of that the next time your call is dropped!

,1518,552590,00.html

[Atlantis5]

At risk of presenting over load information, still the foundations have been laid for expansion of original topic.


The American military is not so different from that of many known industrial countries. It is not designed as continuous combat with original personnel. For to keep as continues combat, solders are people, and the will break with over use.

The following url is best description of this situation.


news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20071116140918403

In as much of Mr. Nir Rosen and his Iraq report. With out question, Mr. Rosen is an excellent journalist and reporter. Well versed in investigation and has placed him self in peril in pursuit of his profession.

But, it would appear Mr. Rosen is looking at the trees and missing the forest in Iraq, in as much to only the political divisions of various religious and sect leadership.

Iraq government leadership are not blind or deaf. It is quite certain they still carry with them selves, the long past war fought with the Iranians. But also do they know and understand their country best, more so then Western eyes would/will observe.

In the business of operation of their country, they have been and are conducting business with Iran in the electrical energy faction.

In of this previous year of 30 April 2007, a new power line become operational with an increase of {500 megawatts} sourced from Khosravi {Kermanshah Province}. The investment provided was of {450 billion rial} {close of : $48,64 million}.

Charles

[kaima]

Interesting that the NY Times reports today:

"WASHINGTON — The United States ambassador to Iraq on Thursday dismissed any suggestion that the Bush administration is maneuvering to set up permanent military bases in Iraq.

“I’m very comfortable saying to you, to the Iraqis, to anyone who asks, that, no indeed, we are not seeking permanent bases, either explicitly or implicitly,” Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker said at a State Department news briefing.

Mr. Crocker commented at length, and sometimes disdainfully, on a London newspaper report of “a secret plan” whereby the United States would keep 50 permanent military bases in Iraq, keep control of Iraqi airspace and insist on legal immunity for American soldiers and contractors

Just a few days ago I read in some online overseas paper that Iraq politicians in the legislature were upset that the US wants a treaty for ten years, freedom to strike any country any time from Iraqi soil, and a few bases, perhaps 6-10. Naturally a SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) would come with it all, and traditional US policy is to be sure it includes a clause where US soldiers are subject only to US law. They sometimes do compromise, but reluctantly.

So the two positions are not mutually exclusive and the US ambassador may be telling the full truth within his limited answer. We are not looking for permanent bases, just ten years to start with, etc. etc.

The permanent bases ties in with my observations around 2003 when I heard a few US engineering generals proudly present how much concrete in new airfields we have placed. Oh, how we could use that investment in US infrastructure! The investment sure looked like long term construction and not temporary work....