Iraq Report, 27 Mar/06

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TOP TOPICS

• U.S. and Iraqi forces may have raided a Shiite mosque in Baghdad, though the U.S. has neither confirmed nor denied it as of this writing. Iraqi reports claim that between 18 and 22 Shiites dead in the raid. Iraqi police claim the action began when an American patrol took fire from the direction of the mosque. Acolytes of Moqtada al-Sadr claim that the attack was wholly unprovoked. Iraqi politicians are calling for an investigation, and this will likely be an issue for some time to come. Bill Roggio has a lot more detail at his place.

• Russia is denying claims it leaked American war plans to Iraq prior to the invasion. Documents captured in Iraq indicate the Russians tipped Iraq off to the composition of US forces. There are a few other surprises. Winds of War was asking those questions almost three years ago.

Other Topics Today Include: UN asks Iraqi government for restraint; Yon and civil war; Iraqi battalion takes charge; reinvesting in Iraq; terrorism insurance; reconstruction highlights; Carnival of the Liberated; Blair says Britain will draw down as Iraqis stand up; Iran helping insurgents, U.S. says; stolen museum pieces recovered.

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• The United Nations called on Iraq's government to urgently assert control over the security forces and all armed groups in the war-torn country as cases of killings, torture, illegal detention and displacement surge.

• A year ago, Mike Yon said: Nobody knows what the future will bring for Iraq. In my opinion, it’s already in a civil war, though many people seem afraid to say it. What's he saying today?

• The 1st Mechanized Battalion, 1st Mechanized Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division, assumed battlespace north of Baghdad from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division’s Special Troops Battalion, during a ceremony March 20.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• David Horgan, CEO of Petrel Resources, says the $5m his firm expects from its joint venture in Iraq's war-torn oilfields will be reinvested in Iraqi exploration.

• Japan's fifth-biggest trading company Marubeni Corp. received an USD 74 million order from the Japanese government to equip a power plant it plans to build in southern Iraq as part of post-war reconstruction efforts.

• In what's believed to be a first in the insurance industry, the state-run Iraq Insurance Company is offering policies that cover death by terrorism.

• Check out this week's reconstruction highlights:

USAID recently surpassed the 100-hour mark reliability test for its V94 turbine generator at the Kirkuk power plant. The V94 passed its one and only reliability test without issue and was immediately placed in normal service providing continuous power to the Iraqi grid. With an output of 260 MW, the enormous gas-powered combustion turbine generator helped USAID-funded projects provide for 48 percent of Baghdad's total electrical consumption on March 08. In addition to the V94, its sister generator, the smaller V64 (65 MW) provides a combined output capability of 325 MW.

Iraq Investment Promotion Agency opened for business last week. Located at a renovated facility in central Baghdad, the Investment Promotion Agency has begun work to encourage domestic and international investment in the Iraqi economy.

The new Iraqi Trade Information Center is now open in Baghdad and ready to offer its services to Iraqi business organizations. Iraq's Minister of Trade and Minister of Industry and Minerals both attended the grand opening held last week for the facility on the Baghdad International Fairgrounds.

New nurseries help improve grape production in northern Iraq. Grape production is an important economic activity in Iraq, particularly in Dahuk, Arbil and Sulaymaniyah governorates. Grape production requires relatively little investment and is a source of income for thousands of families in Iraq.

IRAQI POLITICS

• Talks to establish the new Iraqi government continue, but show no signs of breaking through as yet.

• This week's Carnival of the Liberated is up.

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed his opinion that Britain could make substantial reductions in its forces as Iraqi security forces stand up.

• Iran is publicly professing its support for Iraq's stalemated political process while its military and intelligence services back outlawed militias and insurgent groups, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said Thursday.

• Bulgaria has restored its diplomatic representation to Iraq after its newly appointed ambassador Valeri Rachev handed in his letters of accreditation to Iraqi foreign minister.

ETCETERA

• The Antiquities Inspectorate in the southern city of Najaf has retrieved more than 200 archaeological pieces that were stolen mainly from the Iraq Museum in Baghdad.

• Do you have your GI Bracelet? Many military families fall into financial hardship when the breadwinner is injured or killed. The entire 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!

• Many American troops have taken it upon themselves to reconstruct schools and gather learning tools for the children of Iraq. Their efforts have been met with immense gratitude from the local Iraqis and their children. You can help too! Visit Operation Iraqi Children and get involved.

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