Japan’s House of Councillors passed a bill Nov. 28 to end the nation’s air force mission in Iraq. Japan withdrew its ground troops from Iraq in July 2006, but a Japanese unit stationed in Kuwait still provides air support for… Read moreJapan’s upper house votes to end Iraq air mission
Masked gunmen reportedly stormed the family home of a journalist associated with Saddam Hussein’s party and critical of the Iraqi government, killing 11 relatives as they ate breakfast in a Baghdad neighborhood known as a Shi’ite militia stronghold Nov. 26…. Read moreIraq: journalist’s family reported slain
Both Sunni and Shi’ite opposition groups are criticizing the “declaration of principles” on long-term ties signed by US and Iraqi leaders Nov. 26, charging it would lead to “US interference for years to come.” The Iraqi parliament will have to… Read moreIraq: opposition assails pact with US
At least 27 women have died in “honor killings” over the past four months in Kurdish Iraq, an official from the regional government said Nov. 26. Aziz Mohammed, human rights minister in the Kurdish administration, said 10 of the murdered… Read more“Honor killings” soar in Iraqi Kurdistan
Retired Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, former US commander in Iraq, gave the Democratic Party’s weekly Saturday radio address Nov. 24, calling Bush’s Iraq adventure a failure—while emphasizing he was not representing the party. Said Sanchez: “That failure continues today…. Read moreDems close ranks with war criminal Sanchez
US Rear Admiral Gregory Smith accused Iran-backed “special groups” of being behind the bombing of a Baghdad pet market, which left 15 dead and 55 wounded Nov. 22. Two bombs hidden in a cardboard bird box exploded simultaneously at al-Ghazl… Read moreIran-backed “special groups” behind new Baghdad market blast?
From the New York Times, Nov. 21: The American military is sending an Iraqi photographer for The Associated Press it accuses of aiding the insurgency into Iraq’s criminal justice system, according to the American authorities and The A.P. The photographer,… Read moreUS accuses Iraqi photojournalist of aiding insurgents
Just as the Kurdistan crisis seemed to be de-escalating, come reports in the Turkish press that Turkish warplanes bombed three villages frequented by PKK guerillas in Iraqi territory near the border town of Zakho in pre-dawn raids Nov. 13. Officials… Read moreTurkey bombs Iraq —again?
Six US soldiers were killed in three separate attacks in Iraq Nov. 5, bringing the number of deaths this year to 852—and making 2007 the deadliest year of the war for US troops. The news comes days after the military… Read moreIraq deaths hit record; Congress talks tough, funds carnage
From the Iraq Freedom Congress (IFC): Amid Passionate Revolutionary Chants, Iraq Freedom Congress Concludes First Convention with Great Success Delegates determined to challenge serious security conditions for success of the first convention On October 21, 2007 the first Convention of… Read moreIraq Freedom Congress holds national convention
Days after a car bomb in the normally (relatively) peaceful northern city of Kirkuk left eight dead in a Kurdish neighborhood (Reuters, Oct. 28), comes this ominous news from AlJazeera Nov. 6: Kirkuk’s Arabs paid to pack up It is… Read moreArabs paid to leave Kirkuk in “reverse ethnic cleansing”
A fascinating story from the New York Times Nov. 5. The Vatican seems to be sending an explicit message here about the need to protect Christians in Muslim lands. But note that the situation for Iraq’s Christians has dramatically worsened… Read moreIraq: Chaldean patriarch becomes Catholic Cardinal
