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Archives: July 2009
Iraqi Government takes Control of Camp Ashraf in 2nd Day of Fighting
AFP says that fighting went on for a second day on Wednesday inside the Camp Ashraf compound of the Mojahedin-e Khalq (People's Holy Warriors or MEK) between Iraqi security forces and camp…Iraq Assault on Iranian Dissident Camp shows Growing Power of Shiite Hard Liners; Bank Heist May Signal Bankruptcy of Sunni Guerrillas
Iraqi security forces from the Ministry of the Interior raided Camp Ashraf, the stronghold of the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) terrorist cult in eastern Iraq, on Tuesday, killing at least four MEK members,…Cole at Tomdispatch: Frenzy over the Pashtuns of Empire’s Frontier
My essay, "Armageddon at the Top of the World: Not!: A Century of Frenzy over the North-West Frontier," has just been posted at Tomdispatch.com.Excerpt:' Despite being among the poorest people in the…Polk: Waiting for the Obama We Elected: AfPak Wars, Permanent Detainees, and Dennis Ross
William R. Polk writes in a guest editorial for IC:Probably like most of you, I am engaged in a daily attempt to make up my mind about President Obama. I was an…Kurdistan’s ‘Change’ Claims Advance in Sulaimaniya; US Withdrawal From Iraq Could be Affected by Kurdish-Arab Conflict
On Sunday, the Change List in the Kurdistan Regional Government elections made the startling claim that it had won in Sulaimaniya, a long time stronghold of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan of…Afghanistan See Attacks Rise on Eve of Election
Update: Taliban in Kunduz in Afghanistan's north attempted to assassinate warlord Muhammad Qasim Fahim on Sunday, but failed. One of his bodyguards was wounded in the attack. There are few Taliban in…Kurdistan Elections fateful for Iraq
Aljazeera English reports on the Kurdistan elections:For the first time in recent memory, the two major Kurdish parties (which are in a sense clans and clan allies) are facing significant opposition, as…Ahmadinejad Bows to Khamenei on First Vice President
This issue of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's appointment of Esfandiyar Rahim-Masha'i as his first vice president came to a head on Friday. Rahim-Masha'i, the father of Ahmadinejad's daughter-in-law, had offended the hard liners…Baghdad Furious over Secret US contact with Guerrillas; Iraq may Retain US Trainers beyond 2011
I have been saying for some time that the US military presence in Iraq is highly unlikely to completely end at the close of 2011. I think the important thing is that…Al-Maliki’s Goals on his American Visit
What did Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki want from his visit to New York City and Washington, DC? Al-Zaman [The Times of Baghdad] makes some suggestions in this regard.First, he wants the United…US Has Lost Moral High Ground on Treatment of Prisoners
The US military has, understandably and correctly, condemned the coerced video of a US soldier taken hostage by Taliban in Afghanistan. But I fear that the argument that the public humiliation of…Clashes turn Violent, Many Arrests; Mousavi Defiant; VP Appointment reveals Split among Hard Liners
There are reports that hundreds or even thousands of protesters hit the streets late Tuesday in Tehran. There are reports of violent clashes with security forces, and many arrests are said to…The Guantanamo Dilemma: Bush Mess Continues to Damage US
The problems facing the Obama administration in closing Guantanamo Bay appear mainly to center on finding a place for the prisoners to go. Very few of them are ever going to be…Khamenei Warns Elite against Public Turmoil
Borzou Daragahi of the LAT explains that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned Monday that the opposition must cease its campaign of civil disobedience. AP argues that the struggle in Iran has moved…A Brief History of the Sunni Jundu’llah Terrorist Group in Iran
The USG Open Source Center translates a Salafi history of the Sunni, Baluch terrorist group Jundu'llah in Iran, which is accused of carrying out anti-Shiite bombings. The Iranian regime maintains that the…Peaceful Pilgrimage Day a big win for Obama
President Barack Obama's withdrawal strategy for Iraq got a big bump this weekend, when the Iraqi military and police presided over massive gatherings of pilgrims from the provinces in the capital, and…Sadr Calls for Popular Demonstrations over Detainees, Terrorism, Electricity
The USG Open Source Center translates a communique of Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr of Iraq, calling for continuous demonstrations. You have to wonder whether he is inspired by the big demonstrations in…Hard Liners Slam Rafsanjani
Today's news is that Iran's hard liners are not happy. AP reports that Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi accused former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani of encouraging further street protests by not condemning them in…Eyewitness Account of Friday’s Events in Tehran
From a friend of a friend in Tehran: The past couple of days everyone I met debated back and forth whether to attend Friday Prayer's today or not. Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former…Rafsanjani’s Steps to Resolve Iran’s Crisis
What was Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani trying to say in his Friday prayers sermon? (The text is below).The reform movement and its allies among pragmatic conservatives have developed a narrative about Khomeinist Iran.…Rafsanjani’s Friday Prayers Sermon
The USG Open Source Center translates the second, political, portion of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's Friday prayers sermon.Iran: Rafsanjani Calls For Release of Detainees; Hopes To Resolve Current 'Crisis'Second Friday Prayer sermon delivered…Video of Protests
Tehran Bureau has a collection of this and other amateur video from Friday in Iran. Posted at Youtube 7/17: The URL of Nico Pitney's live blog of Iran events has changed, it…Aljazeera Video Report on Friday’s Events in Iran
Aljazeera English now has a video report on Rafsanjani's sermon and the Friday protests:Ghanbar Naderi points out that Rafsanjani has a long history of flip-flopping between the hard line and reformist camps.…Rafsanjani Sermon Summarized
The USG Open Source Center summarizes Rafsanjani's sermon on Friday. Full translation to follow.FYI -- Iran's Rafsanjani Gives Tehran Friday SermonsCorrected version; providing updated processing plans for full text in final paraVoice…Eyewitness in Tehran
Made my way down the west side of Laleh Park, large crowed was gathered around a radio listening to Rafi [Rafsanjani] give the sermons, moved down to Keshavarz Blvd, were people had…Tamaddon Condemns Attack on Karroubi
AFP has more on the beating and cursing by hard liners or the Basij militia of Mehdi Karroubi, a reformist cleric and two-time presidential candidate, before Friday prayers in Tehran. A pre-election…Million-Person Crowd Comes out for Friday After-Prayers Protest
Borzou Daragahi in Beirut and Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran have just filed a summary of Friday afternoon's events in Tehran. They let slip about two-thirds down the article that opposition sources are…Cell Phone Service Blocked in Downtown Tehran
The USG Open Source Center translates an item from the opposition press alleging that the regime turned off cell phone service before Friday prayers in downtown Tehran.FYI -- Website Reports Mobile Phones…Friday’s Sermon Fateful for Iran
Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's sermon at Friday prayers in Tehran on Friday will be closely watched for the signals he sends about the future of Iran. Although he is a strong…Hotel Bombings in Jakarta Kill at Least 9, Wound Dozens
ITN reports on the bombings at hotels in Jakarta, Indonesia on Friday morning: Aljazeera English has a detailed interview with an eyewitness survivor:The difference between Friday morning's strikes and previous bombings in…After a Hiatus, a President at NAACP
AP provides video of a memorable moment in President Barack Obama's address to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People:What a difference a few years make. George W. Bush repeatedly…Mullen: Fighting for two Years in Afghanistan; Clinton: Distinctions among Taliban
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton acknowledged in a major foreign policy speech on Wednesday that: ' "Today we and our Afghan allies stand ready to welcome anyone supporting the Taliban, who renounces…Zawahiri Calls on Pakistani Public to support Holy War vigilantes
The USG Open Source Center transcribes the call by the number two man in al-Qaeda for the Pakistani public to support the Pakistani Taliban. (They mostly don't.) It was in English because…Conservative Hypocrisy on Race & Sotomayor
The tactic of congressional conservatives, of portraying Sonia Sotomayor as a reverse racist for her 'wise Latina' comment, has so many holes in it that you could make a Swiss cheese sandwich…Israel in Trouble with Europe
Signs are appearing in Europe that the Israeli hawks are finding it more difficult to operate with impunity. Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli military attack on virtually defenseless Gaza last winter appears…Rafsanjani to Lead Friday Prayers; Rezai Calls for Political Compromise; Montazeri Implies Ahmadinejad’s Presidency Illegitimate
Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani will deliver a Friday prayers address in Tehran this week. A behind the scenes backer of the opposition candidate for president Mir Hosain Mousavi, Rafsanjani has kept…Truth Commission Needed to Examine Cheney, Assassination Squads, Cover-Ups
It turns out that the secret CIA program that Leon Panetta cancelled, and which former VP Richard Bruce Cheney ordered hidden from Congress, was in fact an assassination squad focusing on al-Qaeda…Lyons: Spectre of Khomeini as religious radical still stalks Iran
Jonathan Lyons writes in a guest editorial for IC:The Western world knows the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as a political radical, the militant revolutionary who overthrew the U.S.-backed shah in 1979 and…10 Killed in Bombings, Dozens Wounded; Al-Maliki Rejects Reconciliation with Baathists; Sadrists Block British in South
Update: Guerrillas set off bombs outside churches in Baghdad on Sunday, wounding 7 persons. Attacks on Christians are a hallmark of the extremist Salafi groups in Sunnism. About half of Iraq's indigenous…Bomb Kills 25 in Afghanistan; 15 British, 2 US Troops killed in past Week; Blood-Drenched Warlords Return to Gov’t with Impunity
I can tell by various web metrics that you guys are not interested in the Afghanistan story. You should be and I am going to parse it today anyway. It is one…OSC: Kabul Yet to be Rebuilt, Lack of Electricity, Potable Water Hinder Development
The USG Open Source Center translates or paraphrases articles in the Afghan press during June on that country's economy. I take away the impression that very little has been done to improve…Nationwide Protests Met with Main Force; Regime Arrests Head of Refineries for Fear of Oil Workers Strike; Ebadi Aide Arrested
AP reports the course of Thursday's protests in Tehran. Some 2,000 protesters initially gathered in several spots in the capital, later growing some 3,000 strong. Outside Tehran University, an approaching crowd grew…Demonstrators Tear-Gassed, Fired On
Hundreds of protesters braved tear gas and even some live fire to march toward Tehran University on Thursday, commemorating a crushed student protest movement of 1999 a s well as protesting the…Thursday Protests Called in Iran, State Threatens Crackdown
The opposition in Iran has called for further public nationwide demonstrations on Monday, urging protesters to use the techniques of nonviolent noncooperation. Those who are afraid to risk beatings in the streets…41 Dead, 70 Injured in Iraq bombings; US will Not turn over Prisoners
Bombings in Tal Afar and Baghdad killed 41 persons on Thursday morning. Tal Afar is a northern city with a mostly Turkmen population and some Arabs. US military operations in Tal Afar…7 US Troops Killed in Afghanistan; Agreement with Russia allows US materiel to reach Afghanistan
The Obama administration has reached an agreement with the Russian government of Dimitri Medvedev allowing the US to transship military materiel to US and NATO troops in Afghanistan. As Russia Today reports,…Obama on Israeli attack on Iran: ‘Absolutely Not’
I argued on Monday that Vice President Joe Biden did not intend, by his remarks on Sunday, to give Israel a US go-ahead to bomb Iran.The fall-out from such an attack on…Supreme Leader Warns against Western Meddling; Mousavi denounces National Security State, Explores Forming New Party
The White House denied on Monday that the US had given Israel a green light to attack Iran, in the wake of the disputed presidential election. I and other Iran experts are…OSC: Khamenei Blames Iran Discord on West
The USG Open Source Center translates the speech on Monday by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in which he denounces what he calls Western attempts to foment discord in Iran.. . .…Silverman: Drought, Agriculture, and Social Problems in Iraq
Adam L. Silverman, PhD, writes in a guest op-ed for IC: The crippling sandstorms in Iraq, which disrupted the trip to that country of Vice President Joe Biden last weekend, underline the…Iraqis Project Hopes, Fears onto Biden; Biden Firm that US will Engage Iran; If Israel wants an Attack, must carry it out Itself
The top myths in the press this weekend about Vice President Joe Biden are that he was rebuffed in Iraq when he offered his good offices with regard to effecting Arab-Kurdish reconciliation,…OSC: Israeli Rightwing Press Attacks Obama, Denies Rights to Palestinians
The USG Open Source Center translates or paraphrases opinion pieces in the press of the right wing Israeli settler movement in the Occupied Palestinian West Bank.Highlights: Review of Israeli Right-Wing, Settler Commentaries…Mary Maguire Speaks from Israeli Jail
Aljazeera English reports on the activists abducted by Israel as they attempted to deliver food and other civilian aid to Gaza, which is under a debilitating blockade by Israel.This site explains the…Mousavi Details Fraud; Shariatmadari Calls for Opposition to Be Prosecuted
WaPo reports that opposition leader Mir Hosain Mousavi has released documents alleging bias in the June 12 presidential elections in Iran. He slams the Revolutionary Guards for interfering in the election.Mousavi's website…OSC: Shariatmadari: Try Mousavi and Karroubi
The USG Open Source Center translates a hard line editorial by an adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, calling for opposition leaders Mir Hosain Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi to be put on…Mediterranean Piracy on the Fourth
US hostages held in foreign country on Fourth of July, including a former Congresswoman, after having been captured in a naked act of piracy in international waters after the Americans attempted to…Remembering Iran’s Protests on the 4th of July
Remembering the protests in Iran in pictures and film on the occasion of the America Declaration of Independence:Aljazeera English on "Mousavi and the Masses", part I:Mousavi and the Masses," Part II:Parnaz &…Mousavi Said Calling for General Strike; Hard Liners Call for his Arrest
In what may be a major development, it is being alleged that Iranian opposition leader Mir Hosain Mousavi and his wife Zahra Rahnavard are calling for a general strike next week. Such…Saddam, the FBI and Cliocide in Iraq
Joyce Battle (with help from Brendan McQuade) has posted twenty interviews of Saddam Hussein by the FBI to the National Security Archives at George Washington University, having done the hard work of…