 |
 |
ISW News Roundup - November 16th and 17th, 2008
Nov 17, 2008 - Anonymous
U.S. Airmen shake hands with Iraqi police prior to leaving the Al-Amil Iraqi Police Station, on Nov. 14, 2008, within the Al-Baya's community located in southern Baghdad, Iraq. (U.S. Navy Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Todd Frantom)
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)
Over the weekend, Iraq's Cabinet approved the most recent version of the SOFA agreement; paving the way for a finalized agreement between the U.S. military and the Government of Iraq over the status of U.S. combat forces in the country. Under the agreed upon plan, U.S. Forces will be permitted to remain in Iraq until 2011, must abstain from attacking Iraq's neighbors, request Iraqi approval before searching homes, and drop demands for total immunity of U.S. Forces who have committed crimes in Iraq. While the Iraqi Cabinet's approval is a huge success for negotiations, the deal faces much criticism in the Iraqi Parliament who must make the final decision on the SOFA before they go out of session on November 25th.
November 16
New York Times - Shiite Bloc Fails to Go to Meeting on Iraq-U.S. Pact, by Katherine Zoepf and Atheer Kakan
New York Times - Iraqi Cabinet Approves Security Pact With U.S., by Campbell Robertson
LA Times Blog - Iraq: Sunni roadblock to U.S. security agreement, by Ned Parker
LA Times - Iraqi Cabinet approves pact letting U.S. forces stay through 2011, by Tina Susman
Washington Post - Iraq Head, Top Cleric Back 2011 Exit by U.S., by Mary Beth Sheridan
November 17
Wall Street Journal - Revised Security Deal Clears Iraqi Cabinet, by Gina Chon
Christian Science Monitor - Iraq cabinet votes to keep US troops, by Scott Peterson
Washington Times - Iraqi Cabinet approves 2011 deal
Reuters - Iraq cabinet backs pact giving U.S. troops 3 years, by Ahmed Rasheed and Aws Qusay
Security
November 16
LA Times - Bomb kills five outside Baghdad's National Theater, by Tina Susman
BBC - Many killed in Iraq bomb attacks
Reuters - FACTBOX - Security developments in Iraq, Nov 16
Associated Press - US helicopters in SKorea move to Iraq, Afghanistan
Reuters - Iraq struggles to sweet Saddam's landmine legacy, by Assel Kami
November 17
Reuters - FACTBOX - Security developments in Iraq
Long War Journal - Leaving Baghdad, batallion recalls a long deployment, by Wesley Morgan
DefenseLink Mil - Troops in Iraq Kill Two Suspected Terrorists, Capture 14, Seize Weapons, from AFPS
Long War Journal - After nemisis' death, Sons of Iraq leader recovers from attack, by Nathan Webster
Washington Post - Mask Ban Upsets Iraqis Hired as U.S. Interpreters, by Ernesto Londono
Telegraph UK - 'Mother of all suicide bombers' warns of rise in attacks, by Aqeel Hussein in Baquba and Damien McElroy
Afghanistan and Pakistan
November 16
LA Times - Afghans take hands-on approach against opium
Times Online UK - War on Taliban sparks refugee crisis, by Marie Colvin
LA Times - Pakistan seeking emergency loan from IMF, from AP
LA Times - 32 Pakistanis dead in aerial attacks, from AP
Long War Journal - Pakistan closes border crossing to NATO traffic, by Bill Roggio
CBS News - Pakistan President: "It's Our War"
November 17
Reuters - Afghan Taliban reject Karzai's safety vow, by Sayed Salahuddin
Washington Post - Karzai Makes Offer to Taliban, by Candace Rondeaux
New York Times - Karzai Offers Passage to Taliban Leader for Talks, by John F. Burns
Washington Post - Some Trucks Denied Entry to Afghanistan, by Riaz Khan and Fisnik Abrashi
Reuters - Pakistan to re-open Khyber to supply Western forces, by Kamran Haider
Times Online UK - Pakistan turns to friends in its hour of need, by Jeremy Page
Region
Israel
11/16 Wall Street Journal - Israel Launches Airstrikes in Gaza, from AP
11/17 New York Times - Israel Kills 4 Militants in Gaza Strip, by Isabel Kershner and Taghreed El-Khodary
11/17 Reuters - Israel lets limited aid into Hamas-run Gaza Strip, by Abed Shana
Lebanon
11/17 LA Times - In Lebanon, puritanical Sunnis and a reputed playboy team up in politics, by Daragahi
Iran
11/17 Reuters - Iran vice-president under fire over Koran "dance", by Edward Blair
11/17 Reuters - Barack Obama brings hope of Iran talks, says Shimon Peres, by Richard Beeston
11/17 Reuters - Iran denies report 10 spies detained near Pakistan