Iraq Report, 21 August/06

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TOP TOPICS

• Partition is becoming a reality in parts of Iraq as formerly-mixed neighborhoods have begun to segregate themselves in response to Shiite-Sunni violence. Meanwhile, Saddam Hussein's policy of ethnic cleansing in northern Iraq is still causing problems in Kirkuk as residents forced to leave their homes years ago are returning to reclaim the land and homes they consider theirs, even if it means killing the current occupants.

• Daniel L. Byman and Kenneth M. Pollack ask what's next for Iraq? Their answers are not encouraging, but their advice may be sound.

Other Topics Today Include: Iraq violence worst in three years; snipers kill 20; Iran mortars Kurds; Turks cross into Iraq; natural gas aided car bombs; 300 U.S. troops back to Iraq; Japan commits to hospital; Iraq signs fuel contracts with Syria; Shiites finger Iran; Parliament leader considers resigning; Carnival of the Liberated; is Bush unhappy with Iraq?; UN reputation hurting in Iraq; 1LT Watada goes to trial; U.S. military looks to learn from its mistakes.

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• Data compiled by American military authorities in Baghdad show that violence in Iraq is at its highest level since the U.S. invasion in 2003, despite the assassination of al-Qaida leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in June.

• Snipers killed at least 17 Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad as they prepared for a pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Moussa Kadhim. Some 250 pilgrims were hurt or wounded as well.

• An Iraqi Kurdish official claims Iranian forces mortared a Kurd camp in northern Iraq. The camp was described as containing Kurdish militants, which could refer to the PKK that is already causing Iraq troubles with Turkey.

• Two Turkish soldiers were killed in Iraq during a clash with Kurdish terrorists. The Turkish forces crossed into Iraq in pursuit of PKK forces, and the Turkish government called on Iraq and the U.S. to get the PKK under control.

• Iraqi security forces and British troops engaged Iraqi militia in Karbala and Basra on Wednesday.

• A blast that killed 47 in a Sunni in a Baghdad neighborhood involved a natural gas explosion triggered by two car bombs.

• A suicide bomber killed nine people at the office of the Iraqi President's political party in Mosul.

• 300 U.S. troops who returned to their home station less than a month ago are heading back to Iraq to rejoin the 172d Striker Brigade, which is staying in Iraq up to four months longer than planned to try to help secure Baghdad.

• Information is recently being shared that the terrorists who took journalist Jill Carroll, of the Christian Science Monitor, hostage were captured by Marines in May.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• Japan has committed to building a hospital in the Suleimania province specifically for the treatment of chemical weapons-related injuries. The patients will be those Iraqis who survived Saddam's use of chemical weapons on them.

• Iraq has signed new contracts with Syria to supply Iraq with oil products in a bid to alleviate the fuel crisis.

IRAQI POLITICS

• Two Shiite political parties claimed that Iran was instigating violence in Iraq on Friday, demonstrating a significant rift in Iraqi Shiites.

• The Speaker of Iraq's Parliament is considering stepping down due to ethnic and partisan rancor coming from other political blocs.

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

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• Attendees of a Monday meeting at the White House claim President Bush is unhappy about the lack of progress in Iraq and the new government. White House spokesman Tony Snow says President Bush is not frustrated with the Iraqi government and that he knows that progress in Iraq will be slow.

• Has the UN's decision not to stay in Iraq hurt its reputation with the Iraqi public?

• Human Rights Watch says Iraq's justice system must improve its practices in the upcoming trial of Saddam Hussein over the Anfal atrocities if it is to do justice in the case.

• There is an official ambassador from an Arab nation in Iraq again, as Ambassador Ahmed al-Lozi of Jordan presented his formal credentials to the Iraqi government this week and took up residence in the capital.

ETCETERA

• The U.S. military has charged a Marine officer with assaulting three Iraqi civilians near Baghdad last April. This was a separate incident from Haditha, which remains under investigation.

• 1LT Ehren Watada has begun the process of trying to prove his innocence for his decision not to accompany his unit to Iraq. Watada's defense team has called numerous witnesses who claim the Iraq war is illegal, while the prosecution says such a decision is not for the court to decide. This trial will determine whether or not Watada faces a general court-martial.

• The U.S. military has commissioned two studies to examine mistakes made by the military in Iraq and Afghanistan. These studies will be used to help avoid similiar mistakes in the future as well as helping the military develop more effective counterinsurgency training.

• 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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