Morning brief 3/31
I think this article in Britain’s Telegraph is trying to say that Jack Straw and Condi would be a cute couple. FYI: Straw uses the world "blimey." Iraq TNR‘s Lawrence Kaplan says that the administration’s touting of Tal Afar is slightly off: "Before they retook the city, the Americans, with only 400 soldiers patrolling the ...
I think this article in Britain's Telegraph is trying to say that Jack Straw and Condi would be a cute couple. FYI: Straw uses the world "blimey."
I think this article in Britain’s Telegraph is trying to say that Jack Straw and Condi would be a cute couple. FYI: Straw uses the world "blimey."
Iraq
TNR‘s Lawrence Kaplan says that the administration’s touting of Tal Afar is slightly off: "Before they retook the city, the Americans, with only 400 soldiers patrolling the region, essentially surrendered it in 2004. Sectarian killings, atrocities and sheer mayhem followed this earlier U.S. withdrawal — and therein lies the true lesson of a model village.
A good FT piece on Iraqi policemen in the district of Baghdadi. Main point: "This overwhelmingly Sunni far-western corner of Iraq is often thought of as a heartland of the insurgency. But in the last year, the Americans say, they have been able to make allies of some of the region’s powerful tribes who will assist them to establish police forces."
David Ignatius on brave reporters in Iraq.
Two news stories squeezed into one WaPo story: insurgents killed 8 oil workers in northern Iraq, and Khalilzad denies that he told the Shiites that Bush opposes Jafaari. This is so important I’m just going to post it:
In other news, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, the country’s most powerful Shiite political party, released a statement denying reports that U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad had recently told Shiite leaders that President Bush opposed their coalition’s nominee for prime minister, Ibrahim al-Jafari.
The nomination of Jafari, who has been transitional prime minister for about a year, has drawn intense opposition from Sunni Arab and Kurdish political parties — a key reason for the delay in forming a new, four-year government. But reports that Bush and Khalilzad were pushing for his ouster drew harsh complaints that the United States was interfering in Iraq’s fledgling democracy.
Iran
The Big 5 powers can’t agree on what to do if Iran doesn’t return to the table (also here). A former British diplomat suggest sanctions probably won’t work. Iran’s state-run television claims Tehran successfully tested a radar-evading missile.
Tidbits:
E.J. Dionne thinks the Israeli election was about the economy, stupid. Al Ahram considers the ambitions of Gamal Mubarak, son of Hosni, in light of his recent, live prime-time interview. Kabul and Islamabad dispute the details on the killing of 16 Pakistanis. Senate releases transcript of hearings on the High Cost of Oil.
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