Sunday, April 01, 2007
Allawi criticises U.S.-backed oil law and al-Maliki's government
Politics
(AP) - Former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a secular Shiite just back from barnstorming for support among Sunni Arab leaders across the Middle East, appears determined to make another run at the premiership. His platform: Iraq cannot survive under the current Shiite leadership, and Sunnis must have a much larger role in government.
The Sunni-dominated Arab League believes this, as well, but the idea is opposed by the Shiite-led government in Iraq. Most Shiite lawmakers cannot abide Allawi's secular positions and it appears unlikely he could form a sufficiently large parliamentary coalition to retake the prime minister's office.
Allawi, while Shiite through family history, rejects mixing religion and government and says Iraq can only survive through reconciliation with Sunni Muslims and building government, military and police structures that are loyal to the Iraqi people, not to one of the nation's Muslim sects. His appointed government ran the country from June 2004 until his party was routed by religious Shiite parties in the January 2005 election.
He had been put in office by L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. official who ran Iraq for a year after the invasion. Now he is seeking to de-emphasize his links with the U.S., publicly at least. In an interview with The Associated Press last week, Allawi said the U.S.-backed draft oil law has the potential to "cause a severe backlash in society." The draft law, designed in part to create a fair distribution of oil profits to all Iraqis, is perhaps the most important piece of legislation for Iraq's American patrons. But the measure, which would give foreign companies some access to the country's enormous oil reserves, has not yet been put before parliament.
Passage of the oil law, thought to have been written with heavy U.S. involvement, is one of four benchmarks the Bush administration has set for al-Maliki's struggling government. But Allawi said the measure was written under time pressure and could have negative unforeseen consequences. He did not elaborate. He was also critical of the Baghdad security operation to which President Bush has committed an additional 30,000 troops, with full deployment not expected until June.
"I seems to me even the surge, unfortunately, is not working efficiently yet," Allawi said. "Security, as you can see, is still deteriorating in the country and sectarianism is unfortunately prevailing. We are witnessing wide-scale atrocities throughout the country." He blamed what he sees as al-Maliki's unwillingness to start a dialogue with the Sunni Arabs who ran the country under Saddam. For that reason, he said, the security drive "is not going to succeed, is going to backfire the day after" it ends.
"We don't have a political process now," Allawi said of al-Maliki's government, which, like the parliament, is dominated by Shiites. "What we have is a biased, sectarian-based political process which is damaging the country."
"I'm definitely trying to pull together an alliance of moderates in Iraq. I strongly believe that sectarianism and terrorism are both signs of extremism. And really what we need in Iraq, as well as the region, is the creation of moderate camps," Allawi said, coming as close as he would to saying whether he wanted a second term as prime minister.
He said the U.S., forced into backing al-Maliki through the democratic process Washington established in Iraq, will never achieve its objectives as long as it remains tied to the highly sectarian Shiite leadership. Allawi says the problems that exist now were of the United States' creation. "I always thought that the first steps toward democracy were not to have elections. The first steps are (to create) the rule of law and a bill of rights for the people. That would pave the way for full-blown democracy," he said.
But Allawi's distaste for the U.S. pressure to quickly hold elections may arise from the drubbing he took from the Shiite religious parties. Now he's again placing himself in the public spotlight, particularly with his trip recently to Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan - all predominantly Sunni countries concerned about the fate of fellow Sunnis in Iraq. Allawi, a Shiite who is an outcast among his own sect because of his secular policies, appears to be trying to rebuild his stature on a Sunni foundation.
The Sunni-dominated Arab League believes this, as well, but the idea is opposed by the Shiite-led government in Iraq. Most Shiite lawmakers cannot abide Allawi's secular positions and it appears unlikely he could form a sufficiently large parliamentary coalition to retake the prime minister's office.
Allawi, while Shiite through family history, rejects mixing religion and government and says Iraq can only survive through reconciliation with Sunni Muslims and building government, military and police structures that are loyal to the Iraqi people, not to one of the nation's Muslim sects. His appointed government ran the country from June 2004 until his party was routed by religious Shiite parties in the January 2005 election.
He had been put in office by L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. official who ran Iraq for a year after the invasion. Now he is seeking to de-emphasize his links with the U.S., publicly at least. In an interview with The Associated Press last week, Allawi said the U.S.-backed draft oil law has the potential to "cause a severe backlash in society." The draft law, designed in part to create a fair distribution of oil profits to all Iraqis, is perhaps the most important piece of legislation for Iraq's American patrons. But the measure, which would give foreign companies some access to the country's enormous oil reserves, has not yet been put before parliament.
Passage of the oil law, thought to have been written with heavy U.S. involvement, is one of four benchmarks the Bush administration has set for al-Maliki's struggling government. But Allawi said the measure was written under time pressure and could have negative unforeseen consequences. He did not elaborate. He was also critical of the Baghdad security operation to which President Bush has committed an additional 30,000 troops, with full deployment not expected until June.
"I seems to me even the surge, unfortunately, is not working efficiently yet," Allawi said. "Security, as you can see, is still deteriorating in the country and sectarianism is unfortunately prevailing. We are witnessing wide-scale atrocities throughout the country." He blamed what he sees as al-Maliki's unwillingness to start a dialogue with the Sunni Arabs who ran the country under Saddam. For that reason, he said, the security drive "is not going to succeed, is going to backfire the day after" it ends.
"We don't have a political process now," Allawi said of al-Maliki's government, which, like the parliament, is dominated by Shiites. "What we have is a biased, sectarian-based political process which is damaging the country."
"I'm definitely trying to pull together an alliance of moderates in Iraq. I strongly believe that sectarianism and terrorism are both signs of extremism. And really what we need in Iraq, as well as the region, is the creation of moderate camps," Allawi said, coming as close as he would to saying whether he wanted a second term as prime minister.
He said the U.S., forced into backing al-Maliki through the democratic process Washington established in Iraq, will never achieve its objectives as long as it remains tied to the highly sectarian Shiite leadership. Allawi says the problems that exist now were of the United States' creation. "I always thought that the first steps toward democracy were not to have elections. The first steps are (to create) the rule of law and a bill of rights for the people. That would pave the way for full-blown democracy," he said.
But Allawi's distaste for the U.S. pressure to quickly hold elections may arise from the drubbing he took from the Shiite religious parties. Now he's again placing himself in the public spotlight, particularly with his trip recently to Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan - all predominantly Sunni countries concerned about the fate of fellow Sunnis in Iraq. Allawi, a Shiite who is an outcast among his own sect because of his secular policies, appears to be trying to rebuild his stature on a Sunni foundation.
Labels: Arab League, draft oil law, Iyad Allawi, Nouri Al-Maliki, operation Imposing Law
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Abductions curbed by military operations
Security
(Gulf News) The wave of kidnappings that had swept the Iraqi capital till a few days ago has been restricted after the implementation of the 'Imposing Law' security plan, according to citizens. The captors are facing difficulties in carrying out their missions in Baghdad's suburbs, crowded with military and security barricades, they added. The motives behind abductions ranged from the common demand for heavy ransom to assassination of the detainees, according to Iraqi residents.
Some of the abductions aim to sponsor armed groups. In the Sunni-majority city of Al Adhamiya, kidnapping has another aspect. Captors tell the potential victim that if he doesn't pay the jihad payment, he will be abducted and then the bargains will start between them and his family.
Except Al Qaida in Iraq, which is led by Abu Hamza Al Muhajir, and the Shiite militias, the sole purpose of the kidnappings is to turn the hostage before a court that issues the death sentence to him. Money, therefore, has no place in these groups' minds. As in the case of Al Muhajir organisation, Shiite armed militias and specifically the Mehdi Army, have specific goals unless the kidnapped has Shiite roots.
Some of the abductions aim to sponsor armed groups. In the Sunni-majority city of Al Adhamiya, kidnapping has another aspect. Captors tell the potential victim that if he doesn't pay the jihad payment, he will be abducted and then the bargains will start between them and his family.
Except Al Qaida in Iraq, which is led by Abu Hamza Al Muhajir, and the Shiite militias, the sole purpose of the kidnappings is to turn the hostage before a court that issues the death sentence to him. Money, therefore, has no place in these groups' minds. As in the case of Al Muhajir organisation, Shiite armed militias and specifically the Mehdi Army, have specific goals unless the kidnapped has Shiite roots.
Labels: Abu Hamza Al Muhajir, Al Qaeda in Iraq, hostages, kidnapping, operation Imposing Law, Shiite militias
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Spokesman says al-Sadr statement 'misinterpreted'
Politics, Security
(Al-Sharqiyah TV) The text of a report by Dubai-based Iraqi private Al-Sharqiyah TV on 27 February reported that an aide to Iraqi clergyman Al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr has stressed that Al-Sadr has not withdrawn his support for the security plan implemented by the Iraqi Government and the US forces in Baghdad. Al-Ajili accused the media of misinterpreting the statement because Al-Sadr trend continues to strongly support the plan.
[The above announcer-read report is followed by a video report citing Salih Al-Ajili, spokesman for Al-Sadr's political movement, as saying: "The statement Al-Sadr made on Sunday was intended to encourage the Iraqi forces to act independently from the US Army in Baghdad, adding that the media misinterpreted the statement since Al-Sadr trend continues to strongly support the plan. He added that what was mentioned in the statement was an advice to the Iraqi security forces which are capable of achieving better results without US assistance."]
[The above announcer-read report is followed by a video report citing Salih Al-Ajili, spokesman for Al-Sadr's political movement, as saying: "The statement Al-Sadr made on Sunday was intended to encourage the Iraqi forces to act independently from the US Army in Baghdad, adding that the media misinterpreted the statement since Al-Sadr trend continues to strongly support the plan. He added that what was mentioned in the statement was an advice to the Iraqi security forces which are capable of achieving better results without US assistance."]
Labels: Moqtada Al-Sadr, operation Imposing Law, US Army
Monday, February 26, 2007
Al-Sadr criticises Baghdad security plan
Security, Politics
(Al Jazeera) Moqtada al-Sadr has bitterly criticised the continuation of car bombs in Iraq and withdrew his support for a security crackdown in Baghdad. The move by al-Sadr, an anti-American cleric, is a blow for Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, who had expressed optimism about the US-backed offensive. Until now, al-Sadr has supported the plan, seen as a last ditch attempt to halt all-out civil war in Iraq.
Al-Sadr said the crackdown would not work because US forces were involved. "There is no benefit in this security plan because it is controlled by the occupiers," said an aide to Sadr, reading a statement from the cleric in front of thousands of chanting supporters in the firebrand's stronghold of al-Sadr City. "(The United States) is watching car bombs explode, taking the souls of thousands of innocent Iraqi people."
Al-Sadr led his Mahdi Army militia in two uprisings against US forces in 2004. The militia has avoided any confrontation with US forces this time and there was no indication in al-Sadr's statement that this position would change. They control the College of Administration and Economics, where most of Sunday's deaths occured, the day after al-Maliki said sectarian killings had fallen as a result of the security crackdown.
Al-Sadr said the crackdown would not work because US forces were involved. "There is no benefit in this security plan because it is controlled by the occupiers," said an aide to Sadr, reading a statement from the cleric in front of thousands of chanting supporters in the firebrand's stronghold of al-Sadr City. "(The United States) is watching car bombs explode, taking the souls of thousands of innocent Iraqi people."
Al-Sadr led his Mahdi Army militia in two uprisings against US forces in 2004. The militia has avoided any confrontation with US forces this time and there was no indication in al-Sadr's statement that this position would change. They control the College of Administration and Economics, where most of Sunday's deaths occured, the day after al-Maliki said sectarian killings had fallen as a result of the security crackdown.
Labels: College of Administration and Economics, Moqtada Al-Sadr, operation Imposing Law
Friday, February 23, 2007
Attacks increase in outlying villages as security plan targets Baghdad
Security
(Azzaman) The Baghdad security plan in which tens of thousands of Iraqi and U.S. troops are taking part is faltering, officials said. The officials, refusing to be named, said while violence has relatively receded in certain quarters in the capital, insurgents and terrorists have increased attacks in other parts and in areas outlying Baghdad.
The insurgents have apparently shifted their focus on towns and villages south and north of Baghdad where pitched battles are reported amid a substantial rise in U.S. casualties and losses, they said. Car and suicide bombings in Baghdad have continued unabated. The horrific sight of scores corpses dumped daily on streets, which came to a halt for only a few days, is seen as a heavy blow to the plan.
Nonetheless Iraqi army generals are upbeat, saying the plan was bearing fruit. They say they have killed tens of ‘terrorists’ captured hundreds of them and seized huge quantities of weapons. But with the troops so concentrated in Baghdad, rebels and insurgents have intensified their operations in other strongholds and are reported to have even spread their influence to areas so far outside their direct hegemony. There have been bombings in southern cities and highways south of Baghdad are said to be extremely dangerous to take particularly at night.
The insurgents have apparently shifted their focus on towns and villages south and north of Baghdad where pitched battles are reported amid a substantial rise in U.S. casualties and losses, they said. Car and suicide bombings in Baghdad have continued unabated. The horrific sight of scores corpses dumped daily on streets, which came to a halt for only a few days, is seen as a heavy blow to the plan.
Nonetheless Iraqi army generals are upbeat, saying the plan was bearing fruit. They say they have killed tens of ‘terrorists’ captured hundreds of them and seized huge quantities of weapons. But with the troops so concentrated in Baghdad, rebels and insurgents have intensified their operations in other strongholds and are reported to have even spread their influence to areas so far outside their direct hegemony. There have been bombings in southern cities and highways south of Baghdad are said to be extremely dangerous to take particularly at night.
Labels: Baghdad, operation Imposing Law
Monday, February 19, 2007
Scores killed by bombs as security operation continues
Security
(Al Jazeera) At least 13 people have died in a series of bombings in Baghdad, a day after more than 60 people were killed when two car bombs were detonated near a market. The bombings were the latest blow to a joint security operation by US and Iraqi forces aimed at improving security in the capital.
Five commuters were killed when a bomb which was hidden on a minibus exploded in the Karradah district, police said. In a second attack, a roadside bomb exploded by a police patrol, killing two people and wounding 40 bystanders, in the nearby district of Zafaraniyah, a security official said. North of Baghdad, a suicide car bomber attacked a house in the Khazraj district belonging to an Iraqi army major, killing five soldiers and wounding 10, police said. In a separate incident, one person was killed and another seven injured in a car bomb explosion in Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad, police said.
Five commuters were killed when a bomb which was hidden on a minibus exploded in the Karradah district, police said. In a second attack, a roadside bomb exploded by a police patrol, killing two people and wounding 40 bystanders, in the nearby district of Zafaraniyah, a security official said. North of Baghdad, a suicide car bomber attacked a house in the Khazraj district belonging to an Iraqi army major, killing five soldiers and wounding 10, police said. In a separate incident, one person was killed and another seven injured in a car bomb explosion in Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad, police said.
Tens of thousands of US and Iraqi troops have been deployed in Baghdad as part of "Operation Fardh al-Qanoon" - Operation Imposing Law - which officially started last week."As displaced families return home peacefully, and hopes are raised by 'Operation Fardh al-Qanoon', criminal terrorists are not happy to see life returing to normal in Baghdad," Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, said, blaming Sunni fighters and supporters of Saddam Hussein for the attacks. Soldiers deploying to new security posts had met little organised resistance, although two US troops have been killed, and the number of corpses of murder victims found every day had dropped dramatically. US forces reportedly came under attack north of Baghdad after a suicide bomber apparently tried to break through barriers around a joint base with Iraqi forces.
Outside the capital, two suicide car bombers blew themselves up in Ramadi, killing at least 11 people and wounding four, police and witnesses said. The first explosion hit the blast walls outside the house of Abdul Setar Abu Risha, a tribal leader who has led a government-backed campaign to fight al-Qaeda-linked fighters in al-Anbar province. The second suicide bomber crashed his vehicle into the house before blowing himself up. Five police officers and six civilians were killed in the blasts, witnesses said.
Outside the capital, two suicide car bombers blew themselves up in Ramadi, killing at least 11 people and wounding four, police and witnesses said. The first explosion hit the blast walls outside the house of Abdul Setar Abu Risha, a tribal leader who has led a government-backed campaign to fight al-Qaeda-linked fighters in al-Anbar province. The second suicide bomber crashed his vehicle into the house before blowing himself up. Five police officers and six civilians were killed in the blasts, witnesses said.
Labels: bombings, operation Imposing Law
