Welcome! 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. This briefing is brought to you by Joel Gaines of No Pundit Intended and Andrew Olmsted of Andrew Olmsted dot com.
TOP TOPICS
- Attacks in Baghdad and elsewhere, possibly in response to the death of al-Zarqawi, killed at least 43 Iraqis despite the Iraqi government's heightened security measures in Baghdad. In addition, ten bakery workers were kidnapped from a Baghdad bakery, as the insurgents attempt to undermine Iraq's new government as it attempts to gain legitimacy by improving security for residents of the capital.
- Two American soldiers are missing and may have been captured by insurgents during a fight at a checkpoint south of Baghdad. It appears plausible that the insurgents staged the attack for the purpose of capturing American soldiers, based on witness reports.
Other Topics Today Include: a close look at Haditha; clearing Ramadi; Pentagon investigation released; amnesty plan; Islam and local constitutions; Carnival of the Liberated; Iran won't talk Iraq with U.S.; Japan talks pullout; Austin Bay looks at Bush trip to Iraq.
REPORTS FROM THE FIELD
- The New York Times has an in-depth look at the investigation of what happened at Haditha.
- U.S. forces are increasing the pressure on insurgents in Ramadi, establishing checkpoints around the town to disrupt their freedom of movement. Ramadi, considered an insurgent hub since the clearing of Fallujah, may be the next target of the Iraqi government as it seeks to break the back of the insurgency. The fighting going on there now has caused some 10,000 people to flee the city for the time being, however, seeking a life beyond the shooting and service interruptions common in Ramadi.
- Foreign troops will for the first time hand over responsibility for the security of al-Muthanna province to local forces under an agreement expected to be announced next week.
- Iraq's national security adviser said Thursday a 'huge treasure' of documents and computer records was seized after the raid on terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's hideout, giving the Iraqi government the upper hand in its fight against al-Qaida in Iraq.
- The U.S. military said the man claiming to be the new al Qaeda in Iraq leader is Abu Ayyub al-Masri, an Egyptian with ties to al Qaeda's No. 2 leader.
- A final Pentagon investigation into allegations of detainee abuse found that U.S. special operations forces continued to use unauthorized interrogation techniques in Iraq for a four-month period in early 2004. The investigation concluded that the problem was one of inadequate guidance and not misconduct on the part of the soldiers involved.
RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY
- Iraq intends to import wheat from other European countries after buying from Germany earlier this year, the head of Iraq's state Grain Board said.
- A South Korean businessman accused of accepting millions of dollars from Iraq in the United Nations oil-for-food scandal has been charged with lying to the FBI.
- Iraq aims soon to < a href="http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=1527">export its first batch of crude from its beleaguered northern oilfields for the first time in nearly a year.
- The nascent government in Iraq is dealing a blow to Korean exports in a neglected but lucrative field -- used cars.
IRAQI POLITICS
- The Iraqi government plans to present an amnesty plan that would attempt to bring members of the insurgency into the political process and out of the fighting. Formal announcement of the plan is expected later this week.
- Some Islamic parties in northern Iraq are demanding that Islam be a "principle source of legislation" for the regional constitution leaders are attempting to create there. These demands mean it's likely the current draft of the constitution will have to be returned to the drawing board for further work.
- This week's Carnival of the Liberated is up.
THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE
- Iran is not interested in direct talks with the United States regarding Iraq at this time. Iraqi leader Abdul Aziz al-Hakim urged such talks as a benefit to all parties, but Iran claims that U.S. actions have made direct talks on the matter impossible at this time.
- According to some sources, Japan may decide when it is withdrawing its forces from Iraq as soon as this week, before Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visits the United States late this month. But the Japanese government has denied domestic news reports that its troops in Iraq are to be withdrawn from the southern city of Samawah next week.
- Australian Prime Minister John Howard, however, says that Australian troops won't be leaving Iraq soon, but will stay until they are no longer needed.
ETCETERA
- Iraq's prisons are overrun by Shiite Muslim militias who abuse and kill inmates, and Iraqi officials have asked the US to suspend the transfer of prisons and prisoners to Iraqi control.
- Austin Bay examines why President Bush's trip to Baghdad was a good idea both politically and for the war effort.
- 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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Editor & Publisher teams up with the WaPost to commit treason. None of this was cleared by the Lincoln Group or Karl Rove!
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002690071
The nerve.
From the Editor & Publisher piece:
"- Embassy employees are held in such low esteem their work must remain a secret and they live with constant fear that their cover will be blown. Of nine staffers, only four have told their families where they work. They all plan for their possible abductions. No one takes home their cell phones as this gives them away. One employee said criticism of the U.S. had grown so severe that most of her family believes the U.S. "is punishing populations as Saddam did."
- Since April, the "demeanor" of guards in the Green Zone has changed, becoming more "militia-like," and some are now "taunting" embassy personnel or holding up their credentials and saying loudly that they work in the embassy: "Such information is a death sentence if overheard by the wrong people." For this reason, some have asked for press instead of embassy credentials"
(E & P, Greg Mithcell, June 18, 2006)