Iraq Report, July 05/05

Welcome and a fine Fourth of July! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from Iraq that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. This briefing is brought to you the day after the long weekend by Joel Gaines of No Pundit Intended and Andrew Olmsted of Andrew Olmsted dot com.

TOP TOPICS

• U.S and Iraqi forces launched Operation Muthana Strike near the Baghdad International Airport, detaining at least 100 suspected militants. The operation took advantage of tips from locals to nab a number of foreign fighters and provided another opportunity for the Iraqi forces to prove their mettle.

• Bill Roggio covers (al-Qaeda's) Brain Drain in Qaim.

• Michael Yon has been busy "Walking the Line" with the Coalition Forces Command Sergeant Major. In the past couple of weeks we have brought you segments of Michael's trip - WTL I: why the CSM is the best person to talk to in all Iraq | WTL II: Defending the al-Basra oil terminal | WTL III: Insurgent hunt. This week Michael visits the (friendly & enemy) wounded, and reports that Taps is played for LT Noah Harris and SGT Arnold Duplantier.

• President Bush spoke up for his Iraq policy on America's 229th birthday. The President argued that the insurgents's attacks would not shake American resolve and that the U.S. would be in Iraq as long as it took to to win the war. Winds has links, Maj. Donald Sensing (ret.) adds some military & strategic context, and Callimachus talks about the speech he wishes W. had given.

Other Topics Today Include: Operation Sword; Milblogger injury report; memorial for the fallen; new al-Zarqawi challenge; Japanese recovery pledge; reconstruction highlights; Sunni clerics cast their vote; Carnival of the Liberated; Bush administration takes the offensive.

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• Operation Sword is on in the Anbar province. The terrorist activities in the towns of Hit and Haditha were the targets, where foreign fighters are smuggled in and house for terror operations elsewhere in Iraq.

• Milblogger Chuck at TC Override was wounded by an IED several days ago. His wife reports that he is stable, in a lot of pain, and has made it to Walter Reed Army Hospital where he is undergoing some surgery.

• Abu Massab al-Zarqawi has released a video explaining that American soldiers are cowards and easy targets for fighters.

• JK: Iowahawk released a 4th of July satire where Zarqawi objects to people who question his patriotism.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• Japan has offered $5 billion to Iraq for reconstruction. This pledge is second only to the amounts pledged by the US and UN.

• Here are some of this week's reconstruction highlights: Work is nearing completion on a project that will allow Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) to achieve 100 percent electrical self-sufficiency. Electricity is available in most places in Iraq only about 12 hours per day. The project is currently 79 percent complete and will add 212 MW to the national grid when finished in August 2005. Iraqi officials are developing a national water plan. The Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) and USAID recently hosted a planning workshop for to prepare the time line for developing the resources strategy. A recent Executive Order by Iraq’s Prime Minister established a Legislative Committee on Privatization, mandating it to prepare a draft privatization law. The Iraqi women’s caucus recently met with USAID to discuss ways to ensure that Iraqi organizations and institutions are legally protected regardless of gender, ethnicity and religion. USAID’s Community Action Program (CAP) partner working in As Sulaymaniyah conducted a ten day workshop for people with disabilities. Total USAID funds spent from 2003 to June 29 2005 - $5,079,389,496.00.

IRAQI POLITICS

• Sunni clerics are calling for Sunnis to take part in future Iraqi elections, suggesting that the insurgency may look far less successful from Iraq than it often does overseas.

• Sheikh Kamaleddin al-Ghuraifi, an aide to Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani, was killed in Baghdad on his way to Friday prayers. On Tuesday, member of parliament Sheikh Dhari al-Fayadh was killed by al-Qaeda.

• The latest Carnival of the Liberated is up at Dean's World.

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• President Bush spoke to the American people on Tuesday night. He discussed the importance of America's fight with terrorists around the world and the war in Iraq.

• JK: The Swiss are sending Iraq 180 M113 armored personnel carriers, via UAE. They join Hungary's 77 T-72 tanks, which are destined to be part of an Iraqi armored division.

• The final contingent of Polish troops headed to Iraq on Monday for a six-month stint in southern Iraq amid minimal public support for the mission.

• U.S. attorney general Alberto Gonzales visited Baghdad for the Fourth of July weekend in order to meet with Iraqi ministers about promoting the rule of law as well as to cheer up the troops on the holiday.

ETCETERA

• Do you have your GI Bracelet? Many military families fall into financial hardship when the breadwinner is injured or killed. The entire $5 purchase price of the GI Bracelet is donated to support our troops and their families! Please join us to give back to these brave people in their time of need.

• The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops: American, Australian, British, Canadian & Polish. Anyone out there with more information, contact us!

• Don't forget Chief Wiggles' Toys for Iraq drive!

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