ISW News Roundup - October 23, 2008

Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)

As the SOFA negotiations near their deadline, the Iraqi Cabinet is seeking further amendments to the SOFA draft regarding the duration of U.S. troop presence.  For the latest on these complex negotiations, read:

Agence France Presse- US, Iraq will get security pact 'worked out', Rice says

Asia Times - Details of Iraq pact reveal US debacle, by Gareth Porter

New York Times - Russia Backs Keeping U.S. Force in Iraq, by Alissa Rubin and Katherine Zoepf

Associated Press - Washington warns Iraq to accept security deal, by Robert Burns

Reuters - Rice says Iraqis can't yet defend Iraq alone

Associated Press - Bush administration urging Iraqis to drop objections to security deal; warns of consequences, by Robert Burns

 

Security

As U.S. continue to turn Iraqi provinces over to the Iraqi Security Forces, new bombing attacks on civilians and a government minister highlight the continuing security threats posed by enemy forces.

Associated Press - US turns over control of 12th Iraqi province, by Bradley S. Klapper

Kansas City Star - US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,180, from Associated Press

New York Times - Bomb Attack on Iraqi Official Kills 11, by Katherine Zoepf and Alan Cowell

Xinhua - At least 34 decomposed bodies discovered in mass grave in W Iraq

Washington Post - Bomber Targets Iraq's Labor Minister, by Mary Beth Sheridan

BBC - Face to face with the insurgency, by Paul Wood

Washington Post - In Sadr City, a Repressed but Growing Rage, by Sudarsan Raghavan

Washington Times - Car bomb explodes in northern Iraq, killing 4, by Bradley S. Klapper

 

Region

Afghanistan

San Diego Sun - U.S. special forces rescure U.S. hostage in Afghanistan, from Reuters

LA Times - Coalition friendly-fire incident kills 9 Afghan soldiers, by Laura King

Reuters India - FACTBOX - Security developments in Afghanistan

Agence France Presse - Pentagon sees fewer foreign fighters slipping into Afghanistan

Baltimore Sun - Afghanistan: Taliban fail to seize Lashkar Gah, by David Wood

New York Times - Afghan Bombing Kills 3 Coalition Troops, by Carlotta Gall and Taimoor Shah

Israel

LA Times - Examining Israel's efforts toward building a new government, by Ashraf Khalil

Russia/Georgia Conflict

Voice of America - Georgia Says Russia Massing Troops in Southern Ossetia, by VOA News

Syria

Jamestown Foundation - A Mujahideen Bleed-Through from Iraq? A Look at Syria, by Michael Scheuer

Pakistan

Christian Science Monitor - Cash Strapped Pakistan Finds Few Friensd in Time of Economic Need, by Shahan Mufti

Washington Post - Pakistan Will Give Arms to Tribal Militias, by Karen DeYoung

Long War Journal - US hits Haqqani Network in North Waziristan, by Bill Roggio

New York Times - Missiles Kill 8 in Pakistan Airstrike, by Pir Zubair Shah

Iran

Associated Press - European court rules that EU improperly froze Iranian opposition group's funds, by Raf Casert

Haaretz News - Top Iran officials recommend preemptive strike against Israel, by Barak Ravid

 

 

 

 

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