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Archives: February 2004
Ash Sharq Al Awsat Afp Shaikh Abdul
Sistani's Representative in Karbala Rejects Referendum on Provincial Council>ash-Sharq al-Awsat/ AFP: Shaikh Abdul Mahdi al-Karbala'i, the representative in Karbala of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, rejected the suggestion by another cleric that the…Vigilanteism In Basra Scheherezade
Vigilanteism in BasraScheherezade Faramarzi of AP reports on the Shiite militias of Basra and the way they are imposing both law and order, and a puritan style of life on the population…What Document Looks Like Jonathan
What a Document Looks likeJonathan Schanzer, writing in the Weekly Standard, notes that I had asked Bill Safire for even a single "document" that shows that Saddam Hussein's government cooperated with al-Qaeda…6 Us Soldiers Wounded In 24 Hours Wire
6 US Soldiers wounded in 24 hoursWire services quoted by al-Jazeerah report that guerrillas wounded three US soldiers with rocket-propelled grenade fire Thursday night near Tikrit.On Friday morning, guerrillas in Tikrit lightly…Islamists On Igc Defeated On Islamic
Islamists on IGC Defeated on Islamic Law ProvisionRaghida Dergham reports in al-Hayat that the representatives on the Interim Governing Council of the Islamist tendency suffered a political defeat on Friday when the…Abdul Hamid Confronted Over His
Abdul Hamid Confronted over his Allegation that the Shiites are a MinorityThe Kuwaiti newspaper al-Qabas reports that it had a further confrontation with Muhsin Abdul Hamid, leader of the Iraqi Islamic Party…Explosions In Baquba Baghdad Ap Reports
Explosions in Baquba, BaghdadAP reports that ' In Baqouba . . . an explosion occurred Thursday in the city center and witnesses said three police cars were on fire. '. It continues,…Army Of Helpers Of Sunnah Major
Army of the Helpers of the Sunnah a Major Insurgent GroupAl-Hayat newspaper in London says it has gotten hold of many memos and videotapes concerning Jaysh Ansar al-Sunnah and pointing to its…Cole Interviews With Chicago Public
Cole Interviews with Chicago Public Radio's WorldviewThose of you with RealAudio can listen to two interviews I did with Chicago Public Radio's Worldview program, hosted by Jerome McDonnell. The interviews are listed…We May As Well Just Record All Our
We may as Well Just Record all our Telephone Calls and send them to MarylandPhilip Knightley and Kim Sengupta describe how the US National Security Agency and the British Government Communications Headquarters…Sistani Reaffirms Demand For Elections
Sistani Reaffirms demand for Elections by end of YearThe NYT reports that Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani has again said the UN needs to set a date certain for direct elections in Iraq,…High Baghdad Official Forced To Resign
High Baghdad Official Forced to Resign over Veiling IssueAz-Zaman reports that Jawad Kadhim al-Anani, appointed to a high position in the Baghdad provincial government just twenty-four hours before, was forced to resign…Mahmoud Uthman Igc Too Weak To Be Given
Mahmoud Uthman: IGC too Weak to be given SovereigntyIn an interview with ash-Sharq al-Awsat, Kurdish Interim Governing Council (IGC) member Mahmoud Uthman (Osman) said that a national congress should be held to…Two Us Soldiers Die In Helicopter Crash
Two US Soldiers die in Helicopter Crash; Police General KilledAP reports that two US soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday near Haditha in the Sunni heartland. Guerrillas shot down…Sunni Clerics Fail To Secure Release Of
Sunni Clerics Fail to Secure Release of 150 Imprisoned Women(AFP/az-Zaman): Sunni clerics meeting with US officers failed to secure the release of 150 Iraqi women imprisoned by the American forces. A US…Passion Of Christ In World Religions
The Passion of Christ in the World ReligionsThe phenomenon of Mel Gibson's The Passion, about the death of Jesus of Nazareth, has provoked a lively debate about the dangers of anti-Semitism. Historians…3 Iraqi Contractors Killed 2 Wounded In
3 Iraqi Contractors Killed, 2 Wounded in MosulAFP says that guerrillas sprayed machine gun fire from a car at Iraqi contractors in Mosul working for the Americans, killing 3 and wounded 2…Bremer Fails To Resolve Deadlock In Igc
Bremer fails to Resolve Deadlock in IGC over Fundamental Lawash-Sharq al-Awsat reports that Paul Bremer met Tuesday with the nine most powerful members of the Interim Governing Council in an attempt to…Karbala Provincial Council Row Shows
Karbala Provincial Council Row Shows Power of Shiite Clergy in IraqMariam Fam has the best and clearest account I have seen of the recent trouble in Karbala over the provincial council. Apparently…Iraqi Women See Window Of Opportunity
Iraqi Women see Window of Opportunity ClosingScheherezade Faramarzi reports on women's aspirations for Iraq. It sounds as though not only did Mr. Bremer not appoint many women to the Interim Governing Council,…Muqtada Un Has Agreed To Occupation Of
Muqtada: The UN has Agreed to the Occupation of IraqExcerpts from and comments by me on an IRNA (Iran) news agency interview with Muqtada al-Sadr, 23 Feb. 04 (courtesy BBC monitoring) follow.…Iraq As Election Issue In Ohio Leo
Iraq as Election issue in OhioLeo Shane II reports that many local voters continue to be concerned with the Iraq war as an issue even when it no longer affects them personally.…Bush Started Iraq War Planning In
Bush started Iraq War Planning in February 2002The Guardian reports that Rowan Scarborough reveals in his new book, ' On February 16, 2002, Bush signed a secret national security council directive establishing…Treasury Department Attempts To Stop
Treasury Department attempts to stop Editing of Papers from IranThose of you who care about what is left of the First Amendment in this country should read this article at Democracy Now…Un No Early Elections In Iraq Kofi
UN: No Early Elections in IraqKofi Annan released his report on Monday suggesting that direct elections can't take place in Iraq until December of 2004 or early 2005. He made no suggestions…Rumsfeld Warns Iran And Syria Us
Rumsfeld Warns Iran and SyriaUS Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld had Iran and Syria exactly where they want him. he alleged that Syria accepted Baath escapees from Iraq during the war last…Sistani Wants Deep Un Involvement Al
Sistani wants Deep UN involvementAl-Sabah newspaper in Kuwait, quotes a statement put out by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani on Monday.DPA summarizes it: Sistani ' said the UN should play a central role…Delaying Elections Is Time Bomb
Delaying Elections is a Time Bomb: MudarrisiWire services report that Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi al-Mudarrisi speculated that the transfer of sovereignty to Iraqis on June 30 would cause the guerrilla insurgency to…About Half American Public Is
About Half the American Public is Terminally StupidA new poll shows that 51% of Americans believe that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction when the US went to war with it last…Oil Pipeline Near Karbala Blown Up
Oil Pipeline near Karbala Blown UpSaboteurs have long prevented oil from being pumped from Kirkuk to Turkey through sabotage of the oil pipelines. But on Sunday they struck in the south, as…Bombing At Kurdish Police Station Kills
Bombing at Kurdish Police Station Kills 13, Wounds Dozens Reuters now says that a suicide bomber killed himself and 13 policemen in an attack on a police station in a Kurdish neighborhood…Al Hakim To Us Stop Stalling On
Al-Hakim to US: Stop Stalling on ElectionsAP reports that Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), has demanded that the US stop "stalling" a national…Kwiatkowski On Neoconservative Coup At
Kwiatkowski on the Neoconservative Coup at the PentagonThe LA Weekly interviews Karen Kwiatkowsky, retired US Air Force Lt. Colonel, who watched the Neocon network take over Middle East policy at the Pentagon…Prominent Sunni Cleric Assassinated
Prominent Sunni cleric AssassinatedThe Chicago Tribune reports on the assassination Saturday in the Western Baghdad quarter of Khadra of prominent Sunni cleric Shaikh Dhamir al-Dhari. He had been one of several Sunni…Update On Americana In Arabic Project
Update on Americana in Arabic ProjectThe project to translate key works of American thought, culture and history into Arabic and have them properly distributed is forging ahead. The first translation will be…4 Us Soldiers Wounded Their Translator
4 US soldiers Wounded, their Translator KilledAccording to Reuters, '''Four US soldiers were wounded and their Iraqi translator was killed in a small arms fire ambush 22 km (14 miles) south of…Four Members Of Karbalas Provincial
Four Members of Karbala's Provincial Assembly Resign under Pressure from Sistanial-Hayat: Four members of Karbala's American-appointed provincial council yielded to the demands that they resign issued by the representative of Grand Ayatollah…Is Iraq Arab Country Islam Online
Is Iraq an Arab Country? Islam Online reports a heated debate in Iraq and in the Interim Governing Council over whether Iraq should be identified in the Fundamental Law (the interim constitution)…Abdul Hamid Shocks Kuwait And Jordan
Abdul Hamid Shocks Kuwait and Jordan with Claims on their Territories Bahrain Daily News reports, The president for a month of the Interim Governing Council, Muhsin Abdul Hamid (leader of the Iraqi…Chinese Excited Over Iraqs Free Market
Chinese Excited over Iraq's Free Market GrowthThose capitalist roaders among the Chinese communists in Shanghai appear to be watering in the mouth over the potential profits to be made from a reviving…Annan Plan For Iraq London Daily Ash
The Annan Plan for IraqThe London daily ash-Sharq al-Awsat says it has acquired an advance draft of comments UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will make on Monday regarding the future of Iraq…Kurds Demand For Autonomy Roils Igc
Kurds' demand for Autonomy Roils IGCThe Washington Post reports that the issues of the nature of federalism and the rights of minorities and provinces with regard to Iraq's Kurds are creating a…2 Us Soldiers And Iraqi Killed Near
2 US Soldiers and an Iraqi Killed near KhalidiyahWire services report: 'Two US soldiers and an Iraqi have been killed by a roadside bomb near the city of Khalidiya, west of Baghdad.…Al Zarqawi Rebuffed Nyt Reports That Us
Al-Zarqawi RebuffedThe NYT reports that US suveillance of "chatter" among suspected terrorists suggests to them that al-Qaeda has decided not to get involved in Iraq, as Zarqawi had proposed.al-Hayat profiled Abu Musab…Al Karbalai Calls For Resignation Of
Al-Karbala'i calls for Resignation of Provincial CouncilAFP/ash-Sharq al-Awsat report that Shaykh Abdul Mahdi al-Karbala'i, the representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani in the holy city of Karbala, called on the members of…Demonstrations For Elections In Najaf
Demonstrations for Elections in NajafThe Iranian news agency is reporting that thousands of demonstrators came out in the shrine city of Najaf in Iraq on Friday to demand early elections:'In Najaf, thousands…Annan No Direct Elections Are Possible
Annan: No Direct Elections are Possible before July 1The Washington Post reports the following: Kofi Annan did as Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani asked, and delivered a considered judgment about whether direct elections…Iran Iraq And Two Shiite Visions
Iran, Iraq and Two Shiite VisionsVeteran Middle East reporter Nicholas Blanford writes in the Christian Science Monitor about Grand Ayatollah Sistani and the implications of his movement for Iran. It is a…Sistani Interview In Der Spiegel If
Sistani Interview in Der SpiegelIf the article coming out on Saturday in Der Spiegel, the German news magazine, is accurate, it seems to me to portend significant difficulties ahead for the US.…Zarqawi Issue Still On Front Burner
Zarqawi Issue Still on the Front BurnerTony Karon at Time's weblog and Jim Lobe in the Asia Times both write interestingly on the letter attributed to Abu Mus`ab az-Zarqawi (i.e. Ahmad Fadil…11 Iraqis Killed 55 Foreign Troops
11 Iraqis Killed, 55 Foreign Troops Wounded in Car BombingsReuters reports that guerrillas launched two car bomb attacks against a military base near Hilla yesterday, killing 11 and wounding over 100 others,…Bush Contradicted Again President Bush
Bush Contradicted AgainPresident Bush keeps saying that everyone thought Iraq had weapons of mass destruction before the Iraq war, implying that if he was wrong, he was in good company.But Deutsche Welle…Armed Militias Of Sciri Dawa Patrol
Armed Militias of SCIRI, Da`wa Patrol SamawahAFP via az-Zaman: Security is being provided to the southern Shiite city of Samawah, pop. 350,000, by the paramilitary forces of the Da`wah Party and the…Laissez Faire Kaput Reuters Confirms
Laissez Faire KaputReuters confirms earlier reports that Tom Foley, the Coalition Provisional Authority official in charge of economic policy, has given up on a plan to privatize 150 state-owned companies. The plan,…Karbala Affairs Az Zaman Reports That
Karbala Affairsaz-Zaman reports that a CPA official* has forced the resignation of the governor and deputy govenor of Karbala province along with several members of the provincial council. No reason was given…Bremer Left Brass Out Of Loop On Iraqi
Bremer left Brass out of Loop on Iraqi Army DissolutionAFP reports that Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace says that the Joint Chiefs were never consulted by…Women Demonstrate Demanding Equal
Women Demonstrate Demanding Equal RightsSmall groups of women demonstrated in cities all over Iraq on Wednesday, demanding that equal rights for them be specified in the Fundamental Law now being drafted by…Japan Invites Samawah Chieftains To
Japan invites Samawah Chieftains to TokyoThe tribal chieftains of the Samawah region have been invited to Tokyo in April for consultations about the best ways to rebuild their city, according to az-Zaman/…Sistani Opposes Appointed Transitional
Sistani opposes Appointed Transitional GovernmentThe Jordan Times reported on the various plans being put forward for the July1 US hand-off to a sovereign Iraqi government. Since direct elections probably cannot be held…