Thursday, May 17, 2007
UK think tank report - Iraq almost 'failed state'
Politics, Security
(Royal Institute for International Affairs) - There is not 'one' civil war, nor 'one' insurgency, but several civil wars and insurgencies between different communities in today's Iraq. Within this warring society, the Iraqi government is only one among many 'state-like' actors, and is largely irrelevant in terms of ordering social, economic, and political life. It is now possible to argue that Iraq is on the verge of being a failed state which faces the distinct possibility of collapse and fragmentation. These are some of the key findings of Accepting Realities in Iraq a new Briefing Paper written by Dr Gareth Stansfield and published today by Chatham House.
The paper also assesses Al-Qaeda activity within Iraq, especially in the major cities in the centre and north of the country. Dr Stansfield argues that, although Al-Qaeda is challenged by local groups, there is momentum behind its activity. Iraq's neighbors too have a greater capacity to affect the situation on the ground than either the UK or the US. Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey all have different reasons for seeing the instability in Iraq continue, and each uses different methods to influence developments.
Dr Stansfield argues that with the myriad conflicts in Iraq following societal, religious and political divides and often involving state actors, the multinational forces are finding it exceptionally difficult to promote security normalization. The recent US 'surge' in Baghdad looks likely to have simply pushed insurgent activity to neighboring cities and cannot deliver the required political accommodation. A political solution will require Sunni Arab representatives’ participation in government, the recognition of Moqtada al-Sadr as a legitimate political partner, and a positive response to Kurdish concerns.
Further, it would be a mistake to believe that the political forces in Iraq are weak and can be reorganized by the US or the international community, there must be ‘buy-in’ from the key Iraqi political actors. Dr Stansfield says: ‘The coming year will be pivotal for Iraq. The internecine fighting and continual struggle for power threatens the nation’s very existence in its current form. An acceptance of the realities on the ground in Iraq and a fundamental rethinking of strategy by coalition powers are vital if there is to be any chance of future political stability in the country.’
Labels: Al Qaeda, Chatham House, civil war, Dr Gareth Stansfield, Iraq violence, politics
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
Roundup of violence in Iraq - 9 May 2007
(McClatchy Newspapers) - The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers Special Correspondent Hussin Kadhim in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It’s posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy’s Washington Bureau.
(McClatchy Newspapers) - The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers Special Correspondent Hussin Kadhim in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It’s posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy’s Washington Bureau.
(Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 0700 GMT on Thursday:
BAGHDAD - Police said they found the bodies of 21 people shot dead in different districts of Baghdad on Wednesday.
MOSUL - A hospital received the bodies of three people, two women and a man, from one family in the northern city of Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
MOSUL - The bodies of two police officers were found in Mosul, police said.
MAHAWEEL - The bodies of two people shot and tortured were found in the town of Mahaweel, 75 km (50 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
ISKANDARIYA - A roadside bomb wounded five people on Wednesday in the town of Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. forces killed three insurgents and detained four others suspected of being involved in the smuggling of weapons from Iran into Iraq during raids in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
HAWIJA - Gunmen killed a policeman while he was heading to work in the town of Hawija, 70 km (40 miles) southwest of Kirkuk, police said.
BAGHDAD - Police said they found the bodies of 21 people shot dead in different districts of Baghdad on Wednesday.
MOSUL - A hospital received the bodies of three people, two women and a man, from one family in the northern city of Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
MOSUL - The bodies of two police officers were found in Mosul, police said.
MAHAWEEL - The bodies of two people shot and tortured were found in the town of Mahaweel, 75 km (50 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
ISKANDARIYA - A roadside bomb wounded five people on Wednesday in the town of Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. forces killed three insurgents and detained four others suspected of being involved in the smuggling of weapons from Iran into Iraq during raids in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
HAWIJA - Gunmen killed a policeman while he was heading to work in the town of Hawija, 70 km (40 miles) southwest of Kirkuk, police said.
Labels: Baghdad, Hawija, Iraq violence, Iskandariyah, Mahaweel, Mosul, policemen, roadside bombs, Sadr City, security
Monday, May 07, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 1000 GMT on Monday:
NEAR RAMADI - Two suicide car bombs killed 20 people and wounded more than 40 around the town of al-Jazeera, home of tribal leaders fighting al-Qaeda, near Ramadi, 110 km (70 miles) west of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - Five people were killed and two wounded by a mortar attack on the al-Saidiya district of southern Baghdad, police said.
ISKANDARIYA - Two people were killed and 10 wounded by a mortar attack on the town of Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. forces detained 15 suspected militants during raids targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq and its senior leaders in the cities of Hilla, Balad, Taji and Falluja, the U.S. military said.
SALMAN PAK - U.S. army Apache helicopters killed eight to 10 insurgents southeast of Salman Pak, south of Baghdad, following a clash between Iraqi police and insurgents late on Friday, the U.S. military said.
NEAR HILLA - The bodies of two men were found shot in two different areas near Hilla, 100 km (62 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
NEAR RAMADI - Two suicide car bombs killed 20 people and wounded more than 40 around the town of al-Jazeera, home of tribal leaders fighting al-Qaeda, near Ramadi, 110 km (70 miles) west of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - Five people were killed and two wounded by a mortar attack on the al-Saidiya district of southern Baghdad, police said.
ISKANDARIYA - Two people were killed and 10 wounded by a mortar attack on the town of Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. forces detained 15 suspected militants during raids targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq and its senior leaders in the cities of Hilla, Balad, Taji and Falluja, the U.S. military said.
SALMAN PAK - U.S. army Apache helicopters killed eight to 10 insurgents southeast of Salman Pak, south of Baghdad, following a clash between Iraqi police and insurgents late on Friday, the U.S. military said.
NEAR HILLA - The bodies of two men were found shot in two different areas near Hilla, 100 km (62 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
Roundup of Iraq Violence -- May 5, 2007
(McClatchy Newspapers) - The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It’s posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy’s Washington Bureau.
(McClatchy Newspapers) - The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It’s posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy’s Washington Bureau.
Labels: Iraq violence, security
Sadrist denies U.S. allegations of violence and torture
Politics, Security
(Azzaman) - A senior member of the movement led by the Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has denied U.S. accusations that his group was involved in violence and torture. Alwan Hassan, parliament member representing the group, said U.S. troops were targeting the movement because they were aware it could not tolerate their occupation of the country.
“The operations by the occupation troops in the Sadr City which have resulted in the arrest of many of our members and U.S. allegations that there are armed and violent groups in the Sadr City have not a grain of truth.
“The occupation troops are targeting the movement’s leaders under the pretext that they are heading killing and kidnapping gangs. This is an attempt to distort the image of the Sadr movement which represents the national trend rejecting the occupation,” Hassan said.
Hassan’s remarks come in the wake of the ongoing U.S. military operations in the Sadr City where the movement garners huge popular support and following U.S. claims of the discovery of a torture chamber there administered by the group.
The U.S. said it discovered the ‘blood-stained chamber’ early on Sunday and then destroyed it by a powerful controlled explosion. The whereabouts of Sadr is not known and is believed to be in hiding since the start of the current U.S. military operations to control Baghdad more than two months ago.
“The operations by the occupation troops in the Sadr City which have resulted in the arrest of many of our members and U.S. allegations that there are armed and violent groups in the Sadr City have not a grain of truth.
“The occupation troops are targeting the movement’s leaders under the pretext that they are heading killing and kidnapping gangs. This is an attempt to distort the image of the Sadr movement which represents the national trend rejecting the occupation,” Hassan said.
Hassan’s remarks come in the wake of the ongoing U.S. military operations in the Sadr City where the movement garners huge popular support and following U.S. claims of the discovery of a torture chamber there administered by the group.
The U.S. said it discovered the ‘blood-stained chamber’ early on Sunday and then destroyed it by a powerful controlled explosion. The whereabouts of Sadr is not known and is believed to be in hiding since the start of the current U.S. military operations to control Baghdad more than two months ago.
The movement has withdrawn its ministers from the government but it has kept its parliamentary block of 35 MPs. The movement has staged two uprisings against U.S. troops and Sadr has vowed not to negotiate with the U.S. and is calling for a speedy withdrawal of all foreign troops from the country.
According to CNN, A pre-dawn coalition military raid killed at least eight gunmen and uncovered a bloodstained torture chamber in a building in Sadr City that was later destroyed by a powerful controlled explosion. U.S. and Iraqi forces chasing a "terrorist" with ties to Iran early Sunday discovered a bloodstained torture chamber and a massive amount of artillery stored in a building in Baghdad's Sadr City, the U.S. military said.
The raid took place in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, and triggered a gunbattle that left eight to 10 gunmen dead, according to the U.S. military. There were no reports of any casualties among coalition or Iraqi security forces. U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell would not reveal specific information about the "known terrorist" that was the target of the intelligence-driven raid because he was still on the run." As best we know this was some kind of Shia extremist element, some sort of secret cell," Caldwell said.
The raid took place in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, and triggered a gunbattle that left eight to 10 gunmen dead, according to the U.S. military. There were no reports of any casualties among coalition or Iraqi security forces. U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell would not reveal specific information about the "known terrorist" that was the target of the intelligence-driven raid because he was still on the run." As best we know this was some kind of Shia extremist element, some sort of secret cell," Caldwell said.
Labels: Alwan Hassan, Iraq violence, Mahdi Army, Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Sadr City, torture chamber
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(McClatchy Newspapers) - Roundup of violence in Iraq - 2 May 2007
The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers Special Correspondent Sahar Issa in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It’s posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy’s Washington Bureau.
The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers Special Correspondent Sahar Issa in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It’s posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy’s Washington Bureau.
Labels: Iraq violence
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
20 per cent drop in civilian deaths in Iraq in April
Security
(Reuters) - Violence in Iraq killed 1,506 civilians in April, nearly a 20 percent drop from the previous month, Iraqi government figures showed on Tuesday. A U.S.-backed security crackdown in Baghdad has helped reduce some violence in the city, such as sectarian death squad killings. But militants, especially al Qaeda, have sought to step up attacks outside the capital.
The figures were compiled by the interior, defense and health ministries and obtained by Reuters. The number of civilians killed in March was 1,861 from 1,645 in February. The Baghdad security plan aims to reduce sectarian violence in the capital and its surrounding areas to give the Shi'ite-led government the chance to make progress on national reconciliation with minority Sunni Arabs.
In April, 130 Iraqi policemen and 63 Iraqi soldiers were killed, the data showed. April has been a bad month for U.S. soldiers in Iraq, with 104 killed, making it one of the deadliest months since the invasion in 2003. The Iraqi data showed nearly 3,000 militants were detained during the month. Civilian casualty numbers are a sensitive issue in Iraq.
The United Nations last week accused Iraq of withholding figures for this year because the government feared the data would be used to paint a "very grim" picture of the country. The criticism was contained in a new U.N. human rights report on Iraq which drew fire from U.S. officials in Baghdad and the Iraqi government. They said it was flawed and contained numerous inaccuracies.
The figures were compiled by the interior, defense and health ministries and obtained by Reuters. The number of civilians killed in March was 1,861 from 1,645 in February. The Baghdad security plan aims to reduce sectarian violence in the capital and its surrounding areas to give the Shi'ite-led government the chance to make progress on national reconciliation with minority Sunni Arabs.
In April, 130 Iraqi policemen and 63 Iraqi soldiers were killed, the data showed. April has been a bad month for U.S. soldiers in Iraq, with 104 killed, making it one of the deadliest months since the invasion in 2003. The Iraqi data showed nearly 3,000 militants were detained during the month. Civilian casualty numbers are a sensitive issue in Iraq.
The United Nations last week accused Iraq of withholding figures for this year because the government feared the data would be used to paint a "very grim" picture of the country. The criticism was contained in a new U.N. human rights report on Iraq which drew fire from U.S. officials in Baghdad and the Iraqi government. They said it was flawed and contained numerous inaccuracies.
Officials from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said they were given no official reason why their requests for specific official data had been turned down. In January, UNAMI said 34,452 Iraqi civilians were killed in 2006, figures that were much higher than any statistics issued by the government.
Labels: civilian deaths, Iraq violence, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, UNAMI
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(Reuters) - Security developments in Iraq as of 1200 GMT on Wednesday:
* denotes new or updated item.
* BAGHDAD - A car bomb killed 20 people and wounded 31 others near an intersection in the Shi'ite district of Sadr city in northeastern Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - A car bomb killed 10 people and wounded 15 in the predominantly Shi'ite district of Karrada in central Baghdad, police said.
BAGDHAD - A bomb inside a minibus killed two people and wounded five near al-Shurja in central Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - A suicide car bomb targeting a police patrol killed two policemen and wounded four, including two civilians, near Baghdad, police said.
TAJI - One insurgent was killed and eight others were detained during two raids near Taji, 20 km north of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. soldiers discovered a cache of nitric acid during a raid on a warehouse in eastern Baghdad on April 12, the U.S. military said. The nitric acid, which can used in manufacturing explosives, was stored in 600 five-gallon containers. Three people were detained in the raid.
BAGHDAD - The bodies of 25 people were found shot in different districts of Baghdad on Tuesday, police said.
GARMA - U.S. forces killed five insurgents, wounded four and detained 26 more during an operation near Garma, about 50 km (35 miles) west of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
BAGHDAD - Iraqi soldiers killed six insurgents and arrested 126 during the past 24 hours in different parts of Iraq, the Defence Ministry said.
TAL AFAR - Gunmen attacked Iraqi army and police checkpoints in two different districts, police said. A policeman and a soldier were wounded in Tal Afar, about 420 km (260 miles) northwest of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - Gunmen killed Ismail Kadhim, a police major who was also a security guard for the Speaker of the Iraqi parliament, in southern Baghdad on Tuesday, police said.
BAGHDAD - Four policemen were wounded in a roadside bomb attack on their patrol in eastern Baghdad on Tuesday, police said.
* denotes new or updated item.
* BAGHDAD - A car bomb killed 20 people and wounded 31 others near an intersection in the Shi'ite district of Sadr city in northeastern Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - A car bomb killed 10 people and wounded 15 in the predominantly Shi'ite district of Karrada in central Baghdad, police said.
BAGDHAD - A bomb inside a minibus killed two people and wounded five near al-Shurja in central Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - A suicide car bomb targeting a police patrol killed two policemen and wounded four, including two civilians, near Baghdad, police said.
TAJI - One insurgent was killed and eight others were detained during two raids near Taji, 20 km north of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. soldiers discovered a cache of nitric acid during a raid on a warehouse in eastern Baghdad on April 12, the U.S. military said. The nitric acid, which can used in manufacturing explosives, was stored in 600 five-gallon containers. Three people were detained in the raid.
BAGHDAD - The bodies of 25 people were found shot in different districts of Baghdad on Tuesday, police said.
GARMA - U.S. forces killed five insurgents, wounded four and detained 26 more during an operation near Garma, about 50 km (35 miles) west of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
BAGHDAD - Iraqi soldiers killed six insurgents and arrested 126 during the past 24 hours in different parts of Iraq, the Defence Ministry said.
TAL AFAR - Gunmen attacked Iraqi army and police checkpoints in two different districts, police said. A policeman and a soldier were wounded in Tal Afar, about 420 km (260 miles) northwest of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - Gunmen killed Ismail Kadhim, a police major who was also a security guard for the Speaker of the Iraqi parliament, in southern Baghdad on Tuesday, police said.
BAGHDAD - Four policemen were wounded in a roadside bomb attack on their patrol in eastern Baghdad on Tuesday, police said.
Labels: Baghdad, Garma, Iraq violence, Taji, Tal Afar
Monday, April 02, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(Reuters) - Security developments in Iraq as of 1100 GMT on Monday:
* denotes a new or updated item.
* KIRKUK - A truck bomb killed 12 people and wounded around 150 in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, police said.
* NEAR BAQUBA - The bodies of 21 men, including 19 who were kidnapped by gunmen at a fake checkpoint near Baquba on Sunday, were found bound and shot in the head and the chest, Iraqi police and hospital sources said.
* BAGHDAD - The motorcade of the deputy Interior Ministry for police affairs came under fire near al-Nidaa mosque in northern Baghdad, police said. He was unharmed but two of his guards were seriously wounded. Another police source said he was not present at the time of the incident.
BAGHDAD - Police found 16 bodies in Baghdad on Sunday.
* denotes a new or updated item.
* KIRKUK - A truck bomb killed 12 people and wounded around 150 in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, police said.
* NEAR BAQUBA - The bodies of 21 men, including 19 who were kidnapped by gunmen at a fake checkpoint near Baquba on Sunday, were found bound and shot in the head and the chest, Iraqi police and hospital sources said.
* BAGHDAD - The motorcade of the deputy Interior Ministry for police affairs came under fire near al-Nidaa mosque in northern Baghdad, police said. He was unharmed but two of his guards were seriously wounded. Another police source said he was not present at the time of the incident.
BAGHDAD - Police found 16 bodies in Baghdad on Sunday.
Follow link for more information.
Labels: Iraq violence
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Al-Sadr calls for U.S. withdrawal as 500 killed in six days
Security
(Al Jazeera) - Moqtada al-Sadr, the Shia leader who heads the Sadrist movement, has again called for the US to pull out of Iraq. Al-Sadr's statement on Friday was his first since March 14, when he urged supporters to resist US forces in Iraq through peaceful means. He said: "The departure of the occupier will mean stability for Iraq, victory for Islam and peace and defeat for terrorism and infidels." US and Iraqi officials have said al-Sadr remains in Iran, but other sources claim he has returned to Najaf. "I renew my call for the occupier [the United States] to leave our land," he said in the statement.
The Iraqi government says it is doing its best to stop Iraq reaching a "level of despair" after six days of violence that resulted in 508 people dead. On Friday, marketplaces in Baghdad and in the towns of Tal Afar and Khalis - devastated by waves of bomb attacks - stood in ruins. Clean-up crews shovelled broken glass and debris into wheelbarrows in bloodstained streets. Bomb victims in wooden coffins were hoisted atop cars and vans for the trip south for burial in the Muslim holy city of Najaf.
Sami al-Askari, aide to Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, said: "There is a race between the government and the terrorists who are trying to make people reach the level of despair. "But the government is doing its best to defeat terrorists and it definitely will not be affected by these bombings."
Sami al-Askari, aide to Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, said: "There is a race between the government and the terrorists who are trying to make people reach the level of despair. "But the government is doing its best to defeat terrorists and it definitely will not be affected by these bombings."
Labels: Iraq violence, Moqtada Al-Sadr
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Sunni mosque attacked in retaliation
Security
(Reuters) - Gunmen attacked a Sunni mosque south of Baghdad on Sunday, setting it ablaze a day after a suicide truck bomber struck near a Shi'ite mosque in the same area, police said. Police in Hilla, close to the town of Haswa, where the attack occurred, said at least four people were wounded. An Interior Ministry official said a curfew had been imposed.
Gunmen stormed the mosque in Haswa, a religiously mixed town about 50 km (35 miles) south of the Iraqi capital, and destroyed its minaret in a blast. The building was set on fire, a police official said, describing it as an apparent revenge attack. A suicide truck bomber exploded near a Shi'ite mosque in Haswa on Saturday, killing 14 and wounding 21, Hilla police said. The provincial health directorate and the Interior Ministry official put the toll at 16.
Gunmen stormed the mosque in Haswa, a religiously mixed town about 50 km (35 miles) south of the Iraqi capital, and destroyed its minaret in a blast. The building was set on fire, a police official said, describing it as an apparent revenge attack. A suicide truck bomber exploded near a Shi'ite mosque in Haswa on Saturday, killing 14 and wounding 21, Hilla police said. The provincial health directorate and the Interior Ministry official put the toll at 16.
Labels: Haswa, Hilla, Iraq violence, sectarianism
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
(McClatchy Newspapers) The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers Special Correspondent Laith Hammoudi in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It’s posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy’s Washington Bureau.
Labels: Iraq violence
