"'I'll tell you everything if you give me a muffin'"
Haha. Wow. Hilarious. Read it!
Synopsis:
When he's not writing poetry or weeding the prison garden, Saddam Hussein is being interrogated about Iraq's WMD programmes. Brian Sack eavesdrops as the former dictator keeps the United States' elite inquisitors at bay
Synopsis:
When he's not writing poetry or weeding the prison garden, Saddam Hussein is being interrogated about Iraq's WMD programmes. Brian Sack eavesdrops as the former dictator keeps the United States' elite inquisitors at bay
"Report Urges New Strategy on Muslims"
Good to see these are the sorts of recommendations the commission developed. I'm interested in reading the report.
Excerpts:
The final report of the Sept. 11 commission includes a call for a broad rethinking of American foreign policy toward the Arab and Muslim world, declaring that the United States needs 'a preventive strategy that is as much, or more, political as it is military,'' and that reshapes its approach to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. ...
White House officials appeared somewhat surprised by the scope of the commission's foreign policy recommendations, which went far beyond the expected recommendations to revamp the intelligence agencies and security measures. They are contained in a chapter of the report that calls for "a global strategy'' to get at the roots of terrorism that - while never directly challenging President Bush's 2002 "National Security Strategy'' - makes it clear that the commission concludes that the Bush administration's efforts so far are inadequate.
It is particularly blistering about American public diplomacy, declaring that "the U.S. government must define what its message is, what it stands for.'' ...
Mr. Bush also maintains that Iraq had been a "central front'' in the war on terror, a point that the report treats with stony silence. Instead, it warns of what could happen if the American experiment in Iraq goes bad....
Excerpts:
The final report of the Sept. 11 commission includes a call for a broad rethinking of American foreign policy toward the Arab and Muslim world, declaring that the United States needs 'a preventive strategy that is as much, or more, political as it is military,'' and that reshapes its approach to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. ...
White House officials appeared somewhat surprised by the scope of the commission's foreign policy recommendations, which went far beyond the expected recommendations to revamp the intelligence agencies and security measures. They are contained in a chapter of the report that calls for "a global strategy'' to get at the roots of terrorism that - while never directly challenging President Bush's 2002 "National Security Strategy'' - makes it clear that the commission concludes that the Bush administration's efforts so far are inadequate.
It is particularly blistering about American public diplomacy, declaring that "the U.S. government must define what its message is, what it stands for.'' ...
Mr. Bush also maintains that Iraq had been a "central front'' in the war on terror, a point that the report treats with stony silence. Instead, it warns of what could happen if the American experiment in Iraq goes bad....
"Poll reveals Arabs' true feelings on US"
Not surprising, unfortunately. Does confirm my impression, though, that the animosity is directed almost singly towards our foreign policy rather than our culture, values, or products.
Excerpts:
The poll, Impressions of America, was commissioned by the Arab American Institute (AAI) and conducted in June by Zogby International. ...
In Egypt alone, 98% of those surveyed expressed a negative view of the US, a 22% increase from two years ago. The favourability rating was highest in Lebanon, where 20% said they had a positive view of the US and nearly 70% said otherwise. ...
AAI president James Zogby said US policies on Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were primarily responsible for the heightened animosity. The vast majority of Arabs surveyed in all six countries said they had an unfavourable view of American policy on both issues. ...
The growing perception in the Arab world that the US has targeted Arabs and Muslims in Bush's War on Terrorism has become a "third issue in shaping attitudes toward the United States", he said. ...
Despite their dislike of US foreign policy, the poll showed many Arabs still admire American values and products, Zogby said, contradicting the theory that 'they hate us because of our values'. ...
Arabs who had either visited the US or learned about it by watching American television had more favourable views toward American values. Such factors did not, however, influence Arab opinions on US policy, Zogby said.
Excerpts:
The poll, Impressions of America, was commissioned by the Arab American Institute (AAI) and conducted in June by Zogby International. ...
In Egypt alone, 98% of those surveyed expressed a negative view of the US, a 22% increase from two years ago. The favourability rating was highest in Lebanon, where 20% said they had a positive view of the US and nearly 70% said otherwise. ...
AAI president James Zogby said US policies on Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were primarily responsible for the heightened animosity. The vast majority of Arabs surveyed in all six countries said they had an unfavourable view of American policy on both issues. ...
The growing perception in the Arab world that the US has targeted Arabs and Muslims in Bush's War on Terrorism has become a "third issue in shaping attitudes toward the United States", he said. ...
Despite their dislike of US foreign policy, the poll showed many Arabs still admire American values and products, Zogby said, contradicting the theory that 'they hate us because of our values'. ...
Arabs who had either visited the US or learned about it by watching American television had more favourable views toward American values. Such factors did not, however, influence Arab opinions on US policy, Zogby said.
"Fewer Noses Stuck in Books in America, Survey Finds"
Looks like I'm not the only one who has been doing less reading... Too bad.
Excerpts:
Among its findings are that fewer than half of Americans over 18 now read novels, short stories, plays or poetry; that the consumer pool for books of all kinds has diminished; and that the pace at which the nation is losing readers, especially young readers, is quickening. In addition it finds that the downward trend holds in virtually all demographic areas. ...
The survey also makes a striking correlation between readers of literature and those who are socially engaged, noting that readers are far more likely than nonreaders to do volunteer and charity work and go to art museums, performing arts events and ballgames.
Excerpts:
Among its findings are that fewer than half of Americans over 18 now read novels, short stories, plays or poetry; that the consumer pool for books of all kinds has diminished; and that the pace at which the nation is losing readers, especially young readers, is quickening. In addition it finds that the downward trend holds in virtually all demographic areas. ...
The survey also makes a striking correlation between readers of literature and those who are socially engaged, noting that readers are far more likely than nonreaders to do volunteer and charity work and go to art museums, performing arts events and ballgames.
"New Law in Iraq Gives Premier Martial Powers to Fight Uprising"
Nice to see attention has been paid to respecting rights and adding checks. Hopefully its implementation will do the same.
Excerpts:
Prime Minister Iyad Allawi on Tuesday signed into law broad martial powers that allow him to impose curfews anywhere in the country, ban groups he considers seditious and order the detentions of people suspected of being security risks. ...
Under the formal American occupation, Iraqis in effect lived under martial law for 15 months. Soldiers imposed curfews, cordoned off neighborhoods or villages and detained people at will. ...
Since the American occupation authority formally turned over sovereignty to Iraq on June 28, Dr. Allawi ... has tried to strike a balance in dealing with the insurgency. ...
"There are people who have been doing things around the periphery and who call themselves the resistance," he said. "I told them: `What are you trying to achieve, let us know. Do you want to bring Saddam back to rule Iraq; do you want to bring bin Laden to rule Iraq? We will fight you.'"
But he said they would be welcomed into the political process if they severed their relations "to the hard-core and to the criminals and the terrorists." ...
He took great pains to emphasize that the exercise of emergency measures — called "extraordinary powers" in the draft — would adhere to strict legal standards. He said the highest courts in Iraq and a group of judges on call 24 hours a day would be available to approve search warrants and other actions.
The draft of the law states that a national assembly expected to be formed later this month could oversee how the law is enforced.
The prime minister's decisions under emergency rule are subject to the review of the court of appeals, which can cancel the decisions, the draft said. The document also forbids the prime minister to cancel the transitional administrative law during a state of emergency.
Excerpts:
Prime Minister Iyad Allawi on Tuesday signed into law broad martial powers that allow him to impose curfews anywhere in the country, ban groups he considers seditious and order the detentions of people suspected of being security risks. ...
Under the formal American occupation, Iraqis in effect lived under martial law for 15 months. Soldiers imposed curfews, cordoned off neighborhoods or villages and detained people at will. ...
Since the American occupation authority formally turned over sovereignty to Iraq on June 28, Dr. Allawi ... has tried to strike a balance in dealing with the insurgency. ...
"There are people who have been doing things around the periphery and who call themselves the resistance," he said. "I told them: `What are you trying to achieve, let us know. Do you want to bring Saddam back to rule Iraq; do you want to bring bin Laden to rule Iraq? We will fight you.'"
But he said they would be welcomed into the political process if they severed their relations "to the hard-core and to the criminals and the terrorists." ...
He took great pains to emphasize that the exercise of emergency measures — called "extraordinary powers" in the draft — would adhere to strict legal standards. He said the highest courts in Iraq and a group of judges on call 24 hours a day would be available to approve search warrants and other actions.
The draft of the law states that a national assembly expected to be formed later this month could oversee how the law is enforced.
The prime minister's decisions under emergency rule are subject to the review of the court of appeals, which can cancel the decisions, the draft said. The document also forbids the prime minister to cancel the transitional administrative law during a state of emergency.
"Terror chief shows off his deadly work"
Bad guys use propaganda, too.
Excerpts:
The deadly efficiency of the foreign-led militants behind a series of terror attacks and assassinations across Iraq became clear yesterday with the release of a chillingly professional promotional video.
The group of militants is led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.... The video's starkest message to the fledgling government of Iraq is that Zarqawi's men - many of them foreign fighters - are now well organised, embedded inside Iraq, and can strike at a time and method of their choosing.
The tape, complete with graphics and professional-quality editing and camerawork, is the latest raising of the stakes by militants since the return of partial sovereignty to Iraq by the US last week. ... [T]he video, like a corporate recruitment product, was designed to lure new fighters - and funding - to Zarqawi's network. ...
It also appears to confirm the central role played by Zarqawi within the insurgents' community. ...
The footage contains scenes of what appear to be the final days and hours of militants as they ready themselves for suicide missions. Superimposed on scenes of them praying and relaxing are individual shots of the men explaining why they are carrying out the attacks. "How can I live peacefully at a time when the holy and sacred places have been violated, and the country is usurped and the infidels are encroaching on our country and humiliating our religion, which is ... our pride?" asks one bomber as armed, masked men stand behind him. "How can I live, and others live, while our sisters are prisoners of the Americans in Iraq?"
Excerpts:
The deadly efficiency of the foreign-led militants behind a series of terror attacks and assassinations across Iraq became clear yesterday with the release of a chillingly professional promotional video.
The group of militants is led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.... The video's starkest message to the fledgling government of Iraq is that Zarqawi's men - many of them foreign fighters - are now well organised, embedded inside Iraq, and can strike at a time and method of their choosing.
The tape, complete with graphics and professional-quality editing and camerawork, is the latest raising of the stakes by militants since the return of partial sovereignty to Iraq by the US last week. ... [T]he video, like a corporate recruitment product, was designed to lure new fighters - and funding - to Zarqawi's network. ...
It also appears to confirm the central role played by Zarqawi within the insurgents' community. ...
The footage contains scenes of what appear to be the final days and hours of militants as they ready themselves for suicide missions. Superimposed on scenes of them praying and relaxing are individual shots of the men explaining why they are carrying out the attacks. "How can I live peacefully at a time when the holy and sacred places have been violated, and the country is usurped and the infidels are encroaching on our country and humiliating our religion, which is ... our pride?" asks one bomber as armed, masked men stand behind him. "How can I live, and others live, while our sisters are prisoners of the Americans in Iraq?"
"C.I.A. Held Back Iraqi Arms Data, Officials Say"
Quite unfortunate situation; hopefully the agency learns some lessons from its failings. Recommended read.
Excerpts:
The existence of a secret prewar C.I.A. operation to debrief relatives of Iraqi scientists — and the agency's failure to give their statements to the president and other policymakers — has been uncovered by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. ...
The Senate report, intelligence officials say, concludes that the agency and the rest of the intelligence community did a poor job of collecting information about the status of Iraq's weapons programs, and that analysts at the C.I.A. and other intelligence agencies did an even worse job of writing reports that accurately reflected the information they had. ...
In hindsight, the Senate panel and many other intelligence officials now agree that there was little effort within the American intelligence community before the war to question the basic assumption that Mr. Hussein was still seeking to produce illicit weapons. Evidence that fit that assumption was embraced; evidence to the contrary was ignored or seen as part of a clever Iraqi disinformation campaign.
Excerpts:
The existence of a secret prewar C.I.A. operation to debrief relatives of Iraqi scientists — and the agency's failure to give their statements to the president and other policymakers — has been uncovered by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. ...
The Senate report, intelligence officials say, concludes that the agency and the rest of the intelligence community did a poor job of collecting information about the status of Iraq's weapons programs, and that analysts at the C.I.A. and other intelligence agencies did an even worse job of writing reports that accurately reflected the information they had. ...
In hindsight, the Senate panel and many other intelligence officials now agree that there was little effort within the American intelligence community before the war to question the basic assumption that Mr. Hussein was still seeking to produce illicit weapons. Evidence that fit that assumption was embraced; evidence to the contrary was ignored or seen as part of a clever Iraqi disinformation campaign.
"Iraq WMD may never be found admits Blair"
Nice to see Blair will admit an error; it would be nicer to see Bush do the same. Saying "we were wrong" need not imply "we made the wrong decision."
Excerpts:
A year after the war on Iraq, the Prime Minister told MPs that Saddam's secret stockpile may have been "hidden, removed or destroyed." ...
"I have to accept the fact that we have not found them, but we have found very clear evidence of intent and desire.
"Whether they were hidden, removed or destroyed, he was in clear breach of UN resolutions." ...
"It is very important not to go to the other extreme and say that because we have not found WMD that he was not a threat," Mr Blair said.
Excerpts:
A year after the war on Iraq, the Prime Minister told MPs that Saddam's secret stockpile may have been "hidden, removed or destroyed." ...
"I have to accept the fact that we have not found them, but we have found very clear evidence of intent and desire.
"Whether they were hidden, removed or destroyed, he was in clear breach of UN resolutions." ...
"It is very important not to go to the other extreme and say that because we have not found WMD that he was not a threat," Mr Blair said.
"Iraqi group threatens Zarqawi"
Not sure how credible this threat against Zarqawi may be, but it is heartening that it comes from a (presumably independent) Iraqi group.
Excerpts:
In a videotape sent to the al-Arabiya television station, members of a group calling itself the "Salvation Movement" questioned how al-Zarqawi could use Islam to justify the alleged killing of innocent civilians, the alleged targeting of government officials and the alleged kidnapping and beheading of foreigners.
Speaking with a clear Iraqi accent, one of the men said, "He (al-Zarqawi) must leave Iraq immediately, and his followers and everyone who gives shelter to him and his criminal actions." ...
The man continued, saying, "We swear to Allah that we have started preparing ...to capture him and his allies or kill them and present them as a gift to our people....This is the last warning. If you don't stop, we will do to you what the coalition forces have failed to do."
Excerpts:
In a videotape sent to the al-Arabiya television station, members of a group calling itself the "Salvation Movement" questioned how al-Zarqawi could use Islam to justify the alleged killing of innocent civilians, the alleged targeting of government officials and the alleged kidnapping and beheading of foreigners.
Speaking with a clear Iraqi accent, one of the men said, "He (al-Zarqawi) must leave Iraq immediately, and his followers and everyone who gives shelter to him and his criminal actions." ...
The man continued, saying, "We swear to Allah that we have started preparing ...to capture him and his allies or kill them and present them as a gift to our people....This is the last warning. If you don't stop, we will do to you what the coalition forces have failed to do."
"Iraqi, Not U.S., Cash Spent on Rebuilding"
Article about the slow rate of spending of money allocated by Congress despite administration claims to its urgency.
Biden's comment at the end is what rings truest to me in all of this. It's unfortunate the Bush administration couldn't have been more organized.
Excerpts:
U.S. officials involved in the reconstruction blame security concerns and bureaucratic infighting between the Pentagon, the State Department and the White House for delays in the allocation of funds. ...
Fewer than 140 of the 2,300 reconstruction projects that were to be funded with the U.S. aid package are underway, the officials said.
[But] officials with the contracting office contend the amount of money actually spent does not reflect the full scope of work being performed. A more accurate figure, they said, is the amount of money allocated for reconstruction work. Just over $5.2 billion had been allocated as of June 22, according to the White House budget report. ...
Some Iraqi officials have criticized the contrasting spending practices. ... The official did not contest the CPA's decision to use the development fund money to pay the expenses of running Iraq's government during the occupation, but he condemned spending on what he called "less essential projects that should have been left up to the Iraqis to decide." ... "They wanted to do things their way before they left," the official said. ...
The CPA appears to have earmarked more than $6 billion of the Iraqi funds over the past two months alone. ...
Two former CPA officials involved in contracting issues said the CPA spent money from the development fund faster because it was not governed by the same rules requiring competitive bidding as the money from Congress was. ... U.S. officials have said that Halliburton was among the firms to receive no-bid contracts from the Program Review Board. ...
"It's unacceptable for this to have taken so long," said Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.), the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee. Biden, who recently returned from Iraq, said he "learned from our military commanders that these projects have a direct bearing on their ability to defeat the insurgency."
Biden's comment at the end is what rings truest to me in all of this. It's unfortunate the Bush administration couldn't have been more organized.
Excerpts:
U.S. officials involved in the reconstruction blame security concerns and bureaucratic infighting between the Pentagon, the State Department and the White House for delays in the allocation of funds. ...
Fewer than 140 of the 2,300 reconstruction projects that were to be funded with the U.S. aid package are underway, the officials said.
[But] officials with the contracting office contend the amount of money actually spent does not reflect the full scope of work being performed. A more accurate figure, they said, is the amount of money allocated for reconstruction work. Just over $5.2 billion had been allocated as of June 22, according to the White House budget report. ...
Some Iraqi officials have criticized the contrasting spending practices. ... The official did not contest the CPA's decision to use the development fund money to pay the expenses of running Iraq's government during the occupation, but he condemned spending on what he called "less essential projects that should have been left up to the Iraqis to decide." ... "They wanted to do things their way before they left," the official said. ...
The CPA appears to have earmarked more than $6 billion of the Iraqi funds over the past two months alone. ...
Two former CPA officials involved in contracting issues said the CPA spent money from the development fund faster because it was not governed by the same rules requiring competitive bidding as the money from Congress was. ... U.S. officials have said that Halliburton was among the firms to receive no-bid contracts from the Program Review Board. ...
"It's unacceptable for this to have taken so long," said Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.), the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee. Biden, who recently returned from Iraq, said he "learned from our military commanders that these projects have a direct bearing on their ability to defeat the insurgency."
"Building 'walls of their prison'"
Israel claims it needs the wall for its security, but even the Israeli high court ruled this week that parts of the wall were causing "severe injury to local populations and violating their rights under international law." That economic circumstances force poor Palestinians to find work in constructing the wall seems tragically ironic.
Synopsis:
It is dividing Palestinian neighbourhoods, separating workers from their jobs, children from their schools, farmers from their fields. ...
Moreover, most of the people actually building the barrier are Palestinian.
Synopsis:
It is dividing Palestinian neighbourhoods, separating workers from their jobs, children from their schools, farmers from their fields. ...
Moreover, most of the people actually building the barrier are Palestinian.
"U.S. Edicts Curb Power Of Iraq's Leadership"
Bremer may be gone, but his influence will linger.
Note: Article is from before the handover.
Synopsis:
U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer has issued a raft of edicts revising Iraq's legal code and has appointed at least two dozen Iraqis to government jobs with multi-year terms in an attempt to promote his concepts of governance long after the planned handover of political authority on Wednesday.
Some of the orders signed by Bremer, which will remain in effect unless overturned by Iraq's interim government, restrict the power of the interim government and impose U.S.-crafted rules for the country's democratic transition.
Note: Article is from before the handover.
Synopsis:
U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer has issued a raft of edicts revising Iraq's legal code and has appointed at least two dozen Iraqis to government jobs with multi-year terms in an attempt to promote his concepts of governance long after the planned handover of political authority on Wednesday.
Some of the orders signed by Bremer, which will remain in effect unless overturned by Iraq's interim government, restrict the power of the interim government and impose U.S.-crafted rules for the country's democratic transition.
"A Correspondent in Iraq: Scenes of Hope and Dread"
Retrospective by Dexter Filkins, correspondent for the New York Times, one his past 15 months in Iraq. Four specific stories.
Very good, highly recommended.
Very good, highly recommended.
