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 & Thursday. This briefing is brought to you by Joel Gaines of No Pundit Intended and Andrew Olmsted of Andrew Olmsted dot com.
TOP TOPICS
- Baghdad saw heavy combat over a weekend that saw terrorist activity surge across Iraq. Close to 60 people were confirmed dead, and the toll will almost certainly grow higher. Terrorists picked up a propaganda success when they disabled a Bradley fighting vehicle. A plurality of the dead over the weekend were killed when a U.S. helicopter destroyed the BFV to prevent it from being looted, and the strike was captured on film as an Arab reporter was killed.
- The Center for Strategic and International Studies has released a report on the progress of reconstruction in Iraq. By no means light reading,the report is precisely the kind of thing the Bush administration should (and hopefully is) doing to make sure that the road to success in Iraq is understood and well-marked. Well worth the time necessary to read. (Hat tip: Oxblog). Belmont Club has a detailed analysis.
Other Topics Today Include: U.S. hits Iraqi hotspots again; the dangers of the Shi'a strategy; al-Sadr rebuked; Iraq elections will stay on schedule; Australia and Italy stand fast against terrorism; al-Zawahiri threatens U.s. in Iraq; ghost detainee investigation; first Abu Ghraib sentence.
REPORTS FROM THE FIELD
- US and Iraqi forces have begun earnest operations to retake and secure the Sunni triangle. Air and ground assets have pounded insurgent positions in Fallujah, Sammara, and Ramadi over the past several days.
RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY
- Fareed Zakaria warns against a Shi'a strategy in Iraq, noting the problems such single-ethnicity strategies caused the British Empire.
- Terrorists continued to strike at oilfields near Kirkuk as they continue to try and undermine the Iraqi economy by disrupting oil production.
IRAQI POLITICS
- Iraq the Model reports of further evidence of Muqtada al-Sadr's waning support in Najaf - noting an announcement by a group of clerics denouncing the activities of al-Sadr and his "Mahdi Army" in Najaf.
- Colin Powell reaffirmed the schedule for Iraq's national elections, vowing that the January selection of a permanent government would not be put off by terrorist activity.
THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE
- Australia vows to stand fast, after demands from to pull forces out of Iraq or face more attacks. Jemaah Islamiyah, an al-Qaeda linked group, claimed responsibility for the car-bomb attack on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- Two Italian aid workers, both women, were kidnapped from their Baghdad offices and Rome was given an ultimatum to pull its troops out of Iraq. Italy has stated Ambassadors to Italy from 18 Arab nations have condemned the abductions. Despite this latest kidnapping, Rome has vowed not to remove the 2700 troops in Iraq.
ETCETERA
- In a September 11 "anniversary video", Ayman al-Zawahri - deputy to Osama bin Laden - claims America is nearly defeated in Iraq and Afghanistan. Al-Zawahri states Americans will never again enjoy security unless the US stops the "crimes against Muslims in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine".
- The Pentagon is investigating credible reports that as many as 100 "ghost detainees" were held by the CIA in Iraq prison facilities. US government and military officials are seeking more concrete information from the CIA, which plays a major role in conducting intelligence gathering interviews with suspected insurgents and terrorists captured in Iraq.
- Army Specialist Armin Cruz was sentenced to eight months confinement for his role in the Abu Ghraib scandal.
- 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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