Sadr City Cleaning Up for Fall Elections

U.S. troops killed six Mahdi Army fighters in a series of engagements, while the Iraqi government reported that 925 have been killed since fighting broke out in Sadr City at the end of March. 435 Mahdi Army fighters have been killed in and around Sadr City since the fighting broke out on March 25. Maliki seems committed against the militias. Clearing the impoverished areas will allow humanitarian groups in, will permit legitimate political activity without the intimidation of an armed group of thugs, and the Fall elections can continue on schedule. The rule of law came to Fallujah in ridding the area of AQ which is happening in Sadr.

وّات قتلوا ستّة مهدي جيش مقاتلات [إين ا سريس وف] إلتزامات, بينما الحكومة [إيرقي] أفاد أنّ قتلت 925 يتلقّى يكون منذ يتنازع [بروك ووت] في [سدر] مدينة في النهاية مارس - آذار. 435 مهدي جيش قتلت مقاتلات يتلقّى يكون في وحول [سدر] مدينة بما أنّ ال يتنازع [بروك ووت] في مارس - آذار 25. [مليكي] يبدو يرتكب ضدّ الميليشيا. سيسمح يخلي المناطق ناضب مجموعة إنسانيّة داخل, سيسمح نشاط شرعيّ سياسيّة دون التخويف من مجموعة مسلّحة سفّاح, والسقوط إنتخابات يستطيع استمرّت على جدول. أتى ال [رول وف لو] إلى [فلّوجه] في يخلّص المنطقة من [أق] أيّ يكون يحدث في [سدر].

Syrian Nuke Nuked

The Syrian reactor bombed by Israel last 6 September had the capacity to produce enough nuclear material to fuel one to two weapons a year according to CIA Director Michael Hayden. It could have produced enough material for at least one weapon. The reactor was of a "similar size and technology" to North Korea's Yongbyon reactor, Hayden said. This is the first we have really heard and seen the Syrian operation from an American view, a development that for the world's sake seems like a good thing to destroy.

28 Mahdi Killed in U.S. Rescue/Ambush

Another heavy-duty day found U.S. troops killed 28 Mahdi fighters during a Sadr City ambush. A four-hour battle in southern Sadr City erupted after a US soldier was wounded by gunfire and U.S. forces began to evacuate the soldier. In a standard tactic used by insurgents, during the evacuation, Mahdi Army fighters triggered three roadside bombs and fired rocket propelled grenades and machineguns at the U.S. patrol. Five more soldiers were wounded in the attacks; none of the soldiers' injuries are reported as life-threatening.

Daily Round-Up

US, Iraqi troops killed 41 Mahdi Army fighters in Baghdad clashes; there were no U.S. Soldier or ISF casualties in the attack. 11th Iraqi Army Division and MND-B Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, were attacked by a large group of criminals engaging with small-arms fire while manning a security checkpoint. U.S. Soldiers used 120 mm fire from M1A12 Abrams tanks and small-arms fire to kill 22 criminals, forcing remaining enemy forces present to retreat. The criminals’ small-arms fire was ineffective. The same day, US soldiers killed 16 Mahdi Army fighters during a series of engagements in northeastern Baghdad. There were no U.S. casualties. US and Iraqi troops have killed 151 Mahdi Army fighters in northeastern Baghdad since Sadr issued his threat on April 20.

تل [أوس], قوّات [إيرقي] 41 مهدي جيش مقاتلات في بغداد صدامات; هناك كان ما من [أو.س.] جندية أو [إيسف] إصابات في الهجوم. [11ث] [إيرقي] جيش هاجمت تقسيم و [مند-ب] جنديات من [1ست] فرقة, [64ث] درع فوج, [3رد] ماشية تقسيم, يربط إلى [3رد] لواء قتال فريق, [4ث] ماشية تقسيم, كان بمجموعة كبيرة مجرم يشبك مع [سملّ-رمس] نار بينما يجنّد أمن نقطة تفتيش. [أو.س.] استعمل جنديات 120 [مّ] نار من [م112] [أبرمس] دبّابة و [سملّ-رمس] نار أن يقتل 22 مجرم, يجبر [إنمي فورسس] متبقّي حاضر أن ينسحب. المجرم [سملّ-رمس] كان نار غيرفعّال. [ث سم دي], [أوس] قتل جنديات 16 مهدي جيش مقاتلات أثناء [سري] الإلتزامات في بغداد شماليّ شرقيّ. هناك كان ما من [أو.س] إصابات. قد قتل [أوس] وقوّات [إيرقي] 151 مهدي جيش مقاتلات في بغداد شماليّ شرقيّ بما أنّ [سدر] أصدر تهديده في أبريل - نيسان 20.

"Truth Is the First Casualty of Warfare"

Graphic source: BBC

This is what happened today:

"US, Iraqi troops killed 41 Mahdi Army fighters in Baghdad clashes"

This is how NPR reported this event on "Morning Edition" today.

The statement was: "38 people killed in Iraq in the past 24 hours."

If you had not really listened, or since NPR did not identify who was killed, the unfortunate impression is that any number of random persons were killed, civilians and such, and many listeners would understand that simply more violence occurred. Buried within the story is that many fatalities were in fact, "militants."

On NPR's website, the story was re-written: "In Baghdad, the U.S. military is reporting the deaths of 38 Iraqi militants who launched attacks during a sandstorm."

The Philadelphia Inquirer did not run the story.

The BBC world edition ran: DOZENS KILLED IN BAGHDAD CLASHES, as the headline, in small print, "Thirty-eight Shia militia fighters have been killed in two days of fierce clashes in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the US military has said."

CNN reports the story thusly, "U.S. authorities in Iraq reported more attacks in Baghdad's heavily fortified International Zone Monday following the deaths of 38 militants in battles on Sunday in the eastern section of the city."

In this version, it sounds as if damaging attacks occurred once militants were killed, as if so many were killed and then a counter-offensive followed.

The point I'm trying make here is that news sources are not reporting in a forthright manner. The alternative news sources are scooping the major outlets. Today, you have to look for the news to find a semblance of the truth.

Europol Votes for Jolly 'Ole England

Europol, the European police force, reports that terrorist plots linked to groups in Pakistan had been "almost exclusively focused on the UK." Just last week it was revealed that 15 plots to attack British targets have been foiled in the three years since the London bombings. British authorities said that 203 people had been arrested on suspicion of terror offences in 2007, representing a 30 per cent increase on the previous year. The motivation is attributed to Islam. In contrast, only 201 people were detained in the rest of Europe. French police made 91 arrests.

Pentagon Readying for Catostrophic Plans: and, Drones to Buzz U.S. Citizens

The Pentagon will be prepared by the Fall with the first specially trained task force designed to rapidly respond to a catastrophic attack against the U.S. The unit will consist of between 4,000 and 4,500 people. Interestingly enough, the Pentagon may also use unmanned aerial vehicles over the continental United States. The drones, remotely controlled aircraft, are considered a “critical enabler” that has proved its worth by helping firefighters battle wildfires and border patrol agents protect the northern and southern borders. The Air Force used the Global Hawk unmanned surveillance aircraft during the southern California wildfires last fall.

More Than Tang

Years ago the Universities were tied to the military establishment and they produced harmful chemicals. Then again, there were supposed to be advantages behind the millions poured into the space race. I would hope though for all the money spent there would be more than just Tang. The gaming video application dealing with PTSD from troops in Iraq has civilian applications as well for anyone struggling with a traumatic event.

Coalition Advance in Sadr: Karzai Escapes

US air weapons team killed seven Mahdi Army fighters in Sadr City on Saturday and early Sunday morning. Iraqi and US troops currently control the Ishbilya and Habbibiyah neighborhoods and have walled off these areas to restrict the movement of weapons and supplies. Afghan president Hamid Karzai narrowly escapes assassination after Taliban gunmen attack a military parade he attended in Kabul.

An Iraqi Army soldier used a flashlight to signal cars to turn off their headlights as a sandstorm enveloped central Baghdad, Iraq on Sunday. Militants fired rockets in the heavily guarded Green Zone, taking advantage of the sandstorm that blanketed the Iraqi capital and forced US helicopters and drones, which usually track militant activites, to be grounded.

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

Graphic source: Khalid Mohammed/AP

وس] [أير وبون] قتل فريق سبعة مهدي جيش مقاتل في [سدر] مدينة على يوم السّبت ومبكّر يوم الأحد صباح. يحتشد عراقيّ و [أوس] حاليّا تحكّم [إيشبيلا] و [هبّيبيه] جوارات ويحوّط من هذا أمنان أن يقيّد الحركة من أسلحة وإمداد تموين. يهرب رئيس [أفغن] حميد [كرزي] بشقّ النّفس إغتيال عقب [تليبن] رجل مسلّح يهاجمون إستعراض عسكريّة هو حضر في كابول.

Daily News

Mohammed Jahim al-Harbuni, an Iraq AQ operational head in Salaheddini, was killed in the Al-Jillam district northeast of Samarra, also killed were 2 Iraqis and 1 Saudi. The U.S. military reported a relative lull in fighting Saturday.

British troops in Afghanistan could hand control of key areas to Afghan forces in Helmand.

محمّد [جهيم] قتلت [أل-هربوني], العراق [أق] رأس عمليّاتيّة في [سلهدّيني], كان في ال [أل-جيلّم] من شمال شرق [سمرّا], أيضا يقتل كانوا 2 عراقيّ و1 [سودي]. ال [أو.س] أفاد جيش خمود نسبيّة في يتنازع يوم السّبت.

قوّات [بريتيش] في أفغانستان استطاع ناولت تحكّم من أمنان أساسيّة إلى قوّات [أفغن] في [هلمند].

"Let the soldiers of this Administration go to hell."

Graphic source: Actualite Internationale

Zawahiri pictured with Osama Bin Laden

On April 18th , a new 15-minute 52- second audio message by Al-Qa’ida's second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri entitled: "Five years after the Invasion of Iraq and Decades of Injustice by the Tyrants" was released. The message is produced by Al-Sahab Media Production Organization, the media wing of Al-Qa'ida organization. The following includes excerpts from the full translation of Al-Zawahiri’s audio message.

"Let the soldiers of this Administration go to hell."

Zawahiri summarizes and associates Americans, Asian colonialism, the French-British mandate, and Truman's decision to deploy atomic weapons. He states: "The age of the Monroe Doctrine, the Opium War, the Sykes-Picot Agreement, and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has gone, and the age of rejecting peace, capitulation, and normalization; the age of confronting the invaders in Chechnya, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine, has begun."

The fact that Iraq is central to terrorist aims is clear. He states: ""Iraq today is now the most important arena in which our Muslim nation is waging the battle against the forces of the Crusader-Zionist campaign."

The young should "must transfer their anger to the streets. . . . high schools [are] . . . centers for supporting jihad and resistance." The entire Ummah (Islamic nation) must unite, everyone, including "children," in order "to drive out the Crusader and Jewish invaders from the land of Islam and establish the Islamic state that rules by the Islamic sharia."

Major Political Benchmark Possible

One of the unmistakable indications of counterinsurgency victory, and the recent promotion of Petraeus is a sound indication that events in Iraq have recently gone well, is when the insurgents stand down and join the political process. The Sunnis are formally announcing their intention to rejoin the Maliki government. What seemed unthinkable a year ago, the parties that walked out of Iraq's government have agreed to rejoin, in what could amount to a long-awaited political breakthrough. The necessary military step achieved by Petraeus and the surge allowed sufficient breathing room for the chaotic Iraqi political process to develop in a positive direction. And with this latest political development, the main Sunni Arab bloc, the Accordance Front, said it intended to submit a list of candidates for cabinet positions within days and could be back in Maliki's government soon. Its return has been a major goal of the United States.

Sadr Rebellion Quelled.

In less than a week the Sadr threat to rebel against the Iraqi government and US forces has collapsed. Muqtada al Sadr, the leader of the Mahdi Army, has called for his fighters to maintain the self-imposed cease-fire. The Maliki government has proved its mettle.

Interview: Not!

I find the indiscretion of a time gap on a resume amusing in this cartoon. Maybe its just me but I think its funny. What not to say in an interview.

Daily Iraq Story

ISF (Iraqi Security Forces) have demonstrated on the streets of Basra over the course of the last month that the rule of the law exists. Basra will be settled soon and this may actually be the tipping point in what continues to be a long struggle, and will persist as such.

A more recent development is the emerging rift within Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda's chief strategist, Ayman Zawahiri, felt compelled to solicit online questions and he responded. In a more than an hour and a half statement, Bin Laden's second-in-command tried to defuse the growing anger in the ranks.

Typical of the rift with AQ circles is the statement of Saudi cleric Salman Awdah who sent an open letter to Bin Laden in September. Awdah condemned violence against innocents and said Al Qaeda was hurting Muslim charities by its purported ties to them.

Along the same lines, the list of defectors is growing. In London this week, former extremists launched the Quilliam Foundation, an organization dedicated to discrediting Al Qaeda and other Islamic extremists.

And finally, the U.S. military could not confirm a report that Izzat Ibrahim al Douri is in custody. Douri was Hussein's right hand man.

And last but not least U.S. troops killed 15 Mahdi Army fighters during clashes in Baghdad. Iraqi security forces captured three Mahdi Army fighters and seized weapons during sweeps in Basrah. Coalition forces killed one al Qaeda operative and detained five during raids north of Mosul. Iraqi troops detained two al Qaeda leaders in Mosul.

Military Historian Weighs In

Military historian General Barry McCaffrey (Ret.) presented the Donald J. Sutherland University Lecture in the Liberal Arts, "Iraq, Foreign Policy and the 2008 Elections," on April 22, 2008.

Sadr Sadder

Iraqi and US military ignore Muqtada al Sadr's threat to conduct a third uprising. US troops killed 15 Mahdi Army fighters in Baghdad yesterday and have killed 56 fighters since Sadr issued his threat last weekend. General Mohan al Freiji, the chief of the Basrah Operational Commander and leader of the security operation in the province, has issued warrants "for 81 people," The Associated Press reported.

Iraqi forces seized a cache containing more than (1000) mortar rounds of different calibers, explosive equipment, and improvised explosive devices.

Twenty-seven Mahdi Army fighters were killed during clashes in Sadr City and Baghdad on April 20. US troops killed five Mahdi Army fighters in Sadr City and another seven fighters in New Baghdad on April 21. US soldiers killed another fifteen Mahdi Army fighters inside Sadr City on April 22.

Sadrist politicians appear to be working to disband the Mahdi Army and conduct negotiations with the US to end the fighting.

The assassination of Riyad al Nouri, Sadr's brother-in-law and a senior aide in Najaf, continues to spark reports that his death was carried out from within the Sadrist movement. Nouri was pushing for the Sadrist movement to disband the Mahdi Army and US military officers believe he was killed because of his views.

تجاهل عراقية و [أوس] جيش [موقتدا] [أل] [سدر] تهديد أن يوصل ثورة ثالثة. [أوس] قتل قوّات 15 مهدي جيش مقاتل في بغداد بالأمس ويقتل 56 مقاتل بما أنّ [سدر] أصدر تهديده نهاية أسبوع متأخّر. جنرال [موهن] قد أصدر [أل] [فريجي], الرئيس من [بسره] قائد عمليّاتيّة وزعيمة من الأمن عملية في المحافظة, أميات "ل 81 الناس," الصحافة موحّدة يفاد.

على قبض قوّات [إيرقي] مخبأ يحتوي أكثر من (1000) مدفع هاون دورات من العيار مختلفة, تجهيز مادّة متفجّرة, و [إيمبروفيز] أدوات مادّة متفجّرة.

[تونت-سفن] مهدي جيش قتلت مقاتل كان أثناء صدامات في [سدر] مدينة وبغداد في أبريل - نيسان 20. [أوس] قتل قوّات خمسة مهدي جيش مقاتل في [سدر] مدينة وآخر سبعة مقاتل في بغداد جديد في أبريل - نيسان 21. [أوس] قتل جنديات آخر خمسة عشر مهدي جيش مقاتل في [سدر] مدينة في أبريل - نيسان 22.

[سدريست] يظهر سياسيات أن يكون عملت أن يحلّ مهدي جيش وأوصلت مفاوضة مع ال [أوس] أن ينهي ال يتنازع.

يستمرّ الإغتيال من [ريد] [أل] [نووري], [سدر] الصهر ومساعد كبريات في [نجف], أن ينشّط تقرير أنّ موته كان وفيت من ضمن [سدريست] حركة. دفع [نووري] كان ل [سدريست] حركة أن يحلّ مهدي جيش و [أوس] ضابطات عسكريّ يصدقون هو كان قتلت بسبب منظره.

Students Want Gaming

Students Want More Use of Gaming Technology in Schools
Results from annual survey reveal disconnect between students', adults' views on technology in schools
By News Report

Project Tomorrow's fifth annual Speak Up Survey -- which addresses the attitudes and opinions of K-12 students, teachers, parents and school administrators toward the use of technology in education -- reveals this year that online or electronic gaming is one of the technologies that students use most frequently, and that educational gaming is one of the emerging technologies that students would most like to see implemented in their schools. Yet, only one in 10 teachers has adopted gaming as an instructional tool.

Project Tomorrow collected the data through online surveys conducted last fall and verified the results through a series of focus groups and interviews with representative groups of students, educators and parents.

During the past four years of the survey, the technology that students most wanted to see in their classrooms was a personal laptop for each student. For the first time this year, laptops for students also topped the list of teachers' and school leaders' most desired technologies.

However, this year's survey also reports that gaming is now listed by students as a classroom must-have.

In fact, 64 percent of students in grades K-12 say they play online or electronic-based games regularly. On average across all grade levels, students are playing electronic games about eight to 10 hours a week. More than 50 percent of students in grades three through 12 would like to see more educational gaming in their schools -- yet only 19 percent of parents and 15 percent of administrators favor the idea.

"What was really interesting to see in this year's survey is how the pervasiveness of gaming has really taken a stronghold," said Julie Evans, Project Tomorrow's chief executive. "Students are really articulating their interest in gaming, as well as the many benefits educational gaming can provide, such as helping them to learn difficult math concepts. Even the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics recognizes the huge potential for gaming technologies (in education)."

Just over half of the students surveyed (51 percent) said they're interested in educational gaming because games make it easier to understand difficult concepts. Fifty percent said gaming would make them more engaged in the subject, 46 percent said they would learn more about the subject, and 44 percent said it would be more interesting to use gaming when practicing math and science problems.

Yet, while more than 50 percent of teachers said they would be interested in learning more about integrating gaming technologies into their teaching and 46 percent would be interested in professional development on this topic, only 11 percent said they are currently incorporating some gaming into their instruction.

What's more, there seems to be a disconnect between what students want from their own education and what the adults in charge think is best.

According to the survey, students' frustration with school filters and firewalls has grown since 2003, with 45 percent of middle and high school students now saying that these tools designed to protect them inhibit their learning. And 40 percent of students in grades six through 12 cite their teacher as an obstacle to their use of technology in school.

As one high school student in a recent focus group told Project Tomorrow, his vision for the ultimate school is one where the teachers and the principal actively seek and regularly include the ideas of students in discussions and planning for all aspects of education -- not just technology.

"This is our future, after all," said the student. "Our ideas should count, too."

Cf. Converge

Clinton Takes PA, No Thanks to the Young

The lowest percentage of voting age blocs, 12% are voters 18-29 years old; the next lowest percentage, 19%, derives from 30-44 year olds; 37% of the 45-59 year old contingent votes; and, 32% of those 60+ years or older voted. Clinton was elected by older, female, working-class, and Catholic voters, all of whom have made up Clinton's base so far.

Daily Round-Up

US and Iraqi forces killed 27 Mahdi Army fighters in Baghdad and captured 40 in Nasariyah as Sadr threatens to withdraw the cease-fire. Coalition forces killed four al Qaeda operatives north of Baqubah and captured 22 suspects in northern Iraq.

Daily Round-Up Iraq & Afghanistan

Graphic source: Khaldoon Zubeir/Getty Images

Iraqi forces cleared out the Hayaniya neighborhood of Basra with little resistance on Saturday. By evening, with Coalition assistance, Basra calmed.

Iraqi soldiers took control of the last bastions of the cleric Moktada al-Sadr’s militia in Basra on Saturday, and Iran’s ambassador to Baghdad strongly endorsed the Iraqi government’s monthlong military operation against the fighters. An Afghan child was killed and two others injured during an insurgent rocket attack near an army base in eastern Kunar province. Afghan soldiers killed four Taliban in Kandahar after thwarting an ambush against their convoy in the Panjwai district.

أخذ جنديات [إيرقي] تحكّم من الحصن متأخّرة من الرجل دين [موكتدا] [أل-سدر] ميليشيا في البصرة في يوم السّبت, وإيران سفيرة إلى بغداد بقوّة ظهر ال [إيرقي] حكومة [مونثلونغ] عملية عسكريّة ضدّ المقاتلات. قتلت طفلة [أفغن] كان واثنان أخرى يجرح أثناء صاروخ متمرّد يهاجم قرب [أرمي بس] في شرفيّة [كونر] محافظة. قتل جنديات [أفغن] أربعة [تليبن] في [كندهر] بعد يثبت كم ضدّ قافلتهم في [بنجوي] من.

Daily Run-Down

Iraqi troops captured 35 "wanted men" during sweeps in Basrah. Iraqi troops have surrounded a Sadrist office in Basrah. Border troops prevented 164 German and Italian-made mines from being smuggled into the country from Iran. US troops captured a Special Groups cell leader in Baghdad's Rashid district. Coalition forces detained 12 al Qaeda operatives during raids near Samarra, Baghdad, and Mosul.

Sadr Bluster Fails

I am going to say the Iraqi move against Sadr was about time. Today, the Iraqi Army, with Coalition advice, moved into the Hayaniyah District in Basra. Although it is too early to tell, this may be the last major military move in Iraq. The way is not easy but the corner on military offensives has certainly been turned now.

Sadr Retreats, al-Maliki Advances

I am beginning to think the al-Maliki government is more than just bluster. The government has pursued Sadr and has been tenacious. No doubt Sadr will claim a victory regardless but it looks like he is losing his grip. His fighters are not following him, he is having the shots called from Iran, and he is on the defensive against the Iraqi government. All told, this is a dramatic turn around from the story just a year ago. Much has gone under the bridge in the meantime.

Brief Daily Summary

Bara bin Malek Front Commander killed in Pakistani shootout. He was a Taliban and behind the 2005 shootdown of a US Army Chinook. Coalition forces killed 9 Taliban in Ghazni. A Coalition UAV team killed 4 Mahdi in Basrah. Iraq's Sunnis have agreed to return to the Shiite-led government of al-Maliki.

AQ leader begs Sunni fighters who joined Americans to come back.

[برا] خانة مالك قائد أماميّة يقتل في [شووتووت] [بكيستني]. هو كان [أتليبن] وخلف ال 2005 [شووتدوون] من [أوس] جيش [شنووك]. إئتلاف قتل قوّات 9 [تليبن] في [غزني]. إئتلاف [أوف] قتل فريق 4 مهدي في [بسره]. العراق قد وافق [سونّيس] أن يرجع إلى ال [شييت-لد] حكومة ال [أل-مليكي]. [أق] يتسوّل زعيم [سونّي] مقاتلات الذي تلاقى [أمريكنس] أن يعاود.

Summary of AQ Degeneration: March - April 2008

Graphic source: The Long War Journal

US and Iraqi forces killed or captured 53 senior members of AQ in Iraq’s network over the past month. The 10 senior AQ leaders include 5 emirs, 3 cell leaders and 2 facilitators. 9 of 10 seniors have been captured, allowing interrogations.

The following data was compiled by the Long War Journal:

• Abd-al-Rahman Ibrahim Jasim Tha’ir: Al Qaeda in Iraq’s Military Emir in Mosul. He was responsible for the planning and execution of operations in the city. He was the former Military Emir of Bayji. Tha’ir was captured on March 2nd.

• Ahmad Husayn Ghanim ‘Ali: Al Qaeda in Iraq's Security Emir for East Mosul. [Captured]

• Abu Mansur: Al Qaeda’s Deputy Emir for Mosul who also served as a judge for al Qaeda’s sharia courts in the city. “His job was to try to cloak their corrupt ideology with religious sanction,” Bergner said. [Killed]

• Muhammad Fathi Hammad Husayn: An al Qaeda cell leader in Sharqat. [Captured]

Senior Al Qaeda in Iraq operatives killed or captured in Baghdad and the Center

• Mahmud ‘Abd-al-Hamid ‘Isa ‘Aaywi: Al Qaeda’s Military Emir for South Karkh. “His operations focused on trying to use car and truck bombs in East and West Rashid, Karrada and Mansour,” Bergner said. [Captured]

• Jasim Najm Khalaf Muhammad: A leader in al Qaeda’s network in Khark. Muhammad was attempting to rebuild al Qaeda’s network in the Baghdad Belts. [Captured]

• Ali Mustashar ‘Ali: An Al Qaeda in Iraq facilitator for car bombs in Baghdad. [Captured]

• Hamid ‘Awayd Muhammad: An Al Qaeda in Iraq facilitator for truck and car bombs in Baghdad. Muhammad was al Qaeda Emir for Anbar province prior to moving operations in Baghdad. [Captured]

• Tu’mah Khalaf Mutar Hassan: An al Qaeda cell leader in Samarra. [Captured]

• Muqdad Ibrahim ‘Abbas Husayn: The Military Emir for Jalam. Husayn coordinated operations with leaders in Tikrit, Samarra, and Mosul. He also facilitated meetings with al Qaeda’s leadership. [Captured]

All the News That's Fit to be Missed

This story is one of those choice matters of material and information that is shaped and framed in certain ways. Major news outlets are deceptively presenting events in Iraq. The story I'm thinking of is The New York Times' Michael Gordon who describes the desertion of an Iraqi company in Sadr City. The story is factually accurate and this is the main focus of the article. The soldier's action, although true, is a serious breach of military discipline. But is it the whole story?

Gordon notes how the Iraqi and U.S. military scrambled to replace the recalcitrant unit, and he mentions how other Iraqi units held, he states they “fought hard.” The import of these minor comments are lost in the bombast of his key point.

This episode was a blow to the American effort to push the Iraqis into the lead in the struggle to wrest control of parts of Sadr City from the Mahdi Army militia and what Americans and Iraqis say are Iranian-backed groups.

Although one company broke, the remainder of the Iraqi Army fought well. But Gordon fails to relate that the broken unit is less experienced and is likely a young brigade from the 11th Division. The 44th Brigade of the 11th Division, which is in Sadr City, went through what is called “Unit Set Fielding”--where a unit is formed and receives its equipment--in December of 2007. The 43rd Brigade went through the training in January of this year. The 11th Division was commissioned to form in November 2007.

Bill Roggio of the stellar Long War Journal points out that we can know which unit broke from the meticulous tracking from the Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle, updated monthly at The Long War Journal. If the Journal can do it, can't the prestigious and seemingly limitless resources of the Times do the same?

The big picture is lost to readers of the Times. What was unthinkable and impossible for Iraqi units to perform in 2006 - 2008, in just three weeks in 2008 when the Iraqi security forces took on the Mahdi Army in Basra, which sparked fighting in Baghdad, the Iraqi Army is 1/3 of the way into Sadr City.

The story of a major accomplishment by the burgeoning Iraqi security forces is missed by readers of the Times. The Times is not telling the truth.

Coalition in Basra

Graphic source: The Long War Journal

The Coalition continues to press insurgents in Basra.

Today's Bad News Summary for Insurgents

US troops killed 5 criminals in engagements last night through this afternoon. 2 criminals threw grenades and 2 more criminals engaged in small arms fire. The Abrams Tanks and Bradley Vehicles fired 25mm and 1 x 120mm HEAT round and killed all 4. At 3 a.m. an air weapons team reported 5 armed criminals with 2 PKCs (machineguns) and multiple AK-47s. Once split the team engaged and killed 2 criminals with a Hellfire. A team engaged a minivan identified in a mortar attack. The criminal was killed.

أوس] قتل قوّات 5 مجرم في إلتزامات ليلة متأخّرة من خلال هذا العصر. 2 رمى مجرم قنبلة يدويّة و2 كثير مجرم يشبك في صغيرة [أرمس] نار. [أبرمس] أطلق النار دباب و [بردلي] عربة [25مّ] و1[إكس][120مّ] حرارة مستديرة وقتل كلّ 4. في 3 صباحا [أير وبون] أفاد فريق 5 يسلّح مجرم مع 2 [بككس] ([مشنغنس]) ويتعدّد [أك-47س]. مرّة انقسمت الفريق يشبك وقتل 2 مجرم مع [هلّفير]. فريق شبك [مينيفن] يعيّن في مدفع هاون هجوم. قتلت المجرم كان.

Post-Saddam Perks

Iraqis are enjoying perks after Saddam's fall: satellite TVs, cell phones, and access to the Internet.

Summary of Daily Bad News for Insurgents

In a recent Pakistani poll Bin Laden's popularity fell off in just six months, to about 24%. British troops killed 7,000 Taliban in 2 years. The German army’s chief of staff seeks to increase its troops in Afghanistan. Magdi Allam, Egyptian journalist, converts to Christianity. US troops killed 6 criminals in Sadr City. Coalition killed 1 AQ operative and detained 14 suspects. Iraqi security arrested 29 insurgents in Baghdad.

فى احدث استطلاع للالباكستانيه بن لادن شعبية سقطت قبالة في ستة اشهر فقط ، الى حوالى 24 ٪. 7.000 جندى بريطانى قتل طالبان في 2 سنوات. الجيش الالماني غير قادر على رئيس الاركان ويسعى الى زيادة قواته في افغانستان. مجدي علام ، والصحافي المصري ، المتحولون الى المسيحيه. القوات الامريكية قتلت 6 من المجرمين في مدينة الصدر. التحالف قتل عبد القدير 1 المنطوق ، واعتقلت 14 شخصا من المشتبه بهم. الامن العراقية اعتقلت 29 من المتمردين فى بغداد.

Not L'Amour Any More

A popular Islamofascist web forum, the al-Qaeda Ekhlas website, has launched a section in Italian, previously the forum was entirely in Arabic. The new site seems to replace the blog of former imam of Carmagnola, Abdul Qadir Fadlallah Mamour and his wife, Barbara Farina. The blog was closed by Italian postal police in February, and it was the first al-Qaeda website in Italian. The Italian section is edited by Nahir al-Murtadin, which in Arabic means "killer of apostates." In February, the Italian postal police closed four pro-Islamic blogs which posted proclamations by al-Qaeda leaders in Italy and which were hosted by Splinder, an Italian web server. All of these blogs called on Muslims to wage "a holy war against the unbelieving Westerners". The most recent web site will be more difficult to close because it is hosted by web servers that are not located in Italy.

Bedtime for Bin Bonzo?

An Afghan policeman patrols in a village in Tarnak Wa Jaldak district in Zabul province April 11, 2008.

Graphic source: Reuters

Steve Coll, of Ghost Wars fame, writes an intriguing article today in the L.A. Times with a salient point. Bin Laden may be at his most vulnerable since 2001 since his popularity in Pakistan has dropped drastically. Since AQ has been more recently viewed as nihilistic killers, Pakistanis have had a significant change of heart. The turnaround seems to have been the murder of two-time former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in December. He writes: in a poll, Terror Free Tomorrow, a Washington-based nonprofit group, found that Bin Laden's popularity had fallen by half over just six months, to about 24%. The precipitous drop in popularity may be enough for some loyalists to turn turncoat and blow the whistle on Bin Laden. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Steve Coll is president of the New America Foundation and a staff writer at the New Yorker; his latest book is The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century. His previous book won the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction in 2005.

Terrorism Against the West Not a Problem?

England's Home Secretary Jacqui Smith stated:

We now face a threat level that is severe. It's not getting any less, it's actually growing. . . . We task the police and the security agencies with protecting us ... There are 22,000 individuals they are monitoring. There are 200 networks. There are 30 active plots,

she commented in an interview published in the News of the World.

Daily Bad News for Insurgents

The prolonged offensive is weakening the Sadr party and the Mahdi. Iraqi forces captured 14 criminals. 14 suspects were arrested, and a large number of roadside bombs, missiles, machine guns, and air defense guns were seized. The Iraqi army captured Abu Huzhayfa, leader of AQ in Abu al-Khasib, Basra province. A US helicopter crew killed one criminal in Jabella. Iraqi forces killed 15 insurgents; killed 11 insurgents near Baiji; Coalition forces captured 5 AQ operatives.

يضعف ال يمدّد هجوم [سدر] حزب مهدي. على قبض قوات عراقيّة 14 مجرمات. 14 أوقفت مشبوهات كان, و [ا لرج نومبر وف] حافة الطريق قنبلات, صواريخ, مدفع رشّاش, ودفاع جوّي مسدّس مدفع كان على قبض. على قبض الجيش عراقيّة أبو [هوزهفا], زعيمة ال [أق] في أبو [أل-كهسب], البصرة محافظة. [أوس] هليكوبتر قتل طاقم بحّارة واحدة مجرمة في [جبلّا]. قتل قوات عراقيّة 15 متمردات; قاربت يقتل 11 متمردات [بيجي]; إئتلاف على قبض قوات 5 [أق] عميلات.

Sadr's Nadir

With Sadr's nadir, the line that there is a popular front against a Coalition occupation is wearing thin. If there really were a popular Shi'ite movement, Sadr would be it. He, nor no one else, is. The Western media bias against U.S. efforts is unmistakable. They do no like to report the good news that the U.S. military is clearing Iraq of its derelict elements.

Note on Dean Hamer, The God Gene

In Dean Hamer's The God Gene he defines the God gene. He states in an interview:

"The God gene refers to the idea that human spirituality has an innate genetic component to it. It doesn’t mean that there’s one gene that makes people believe in God, but it refers to the fact that humans inherit a predisposition to be spiritual--to reach out and look for a higher being."

The book is an easy and quick read. It is mostly summary of recent scientific work. He takes issue with Daniel Dennett but a more substantial examination would be necessary to really glean anything of value from the disagreement.

Sadr's Rogues eliminated.

As rogue elements are eliminated, and Iraqi forces are growing stronger, the war appears to be what Petraeus describes, with substantial progress but coupled with a possibility of sliding backwards at any time. The Coalition is eliminating far more than they are losing.

13 قتلت رجل مسلّح كان في بغداد في يوم السّبت.

المتأخّر كان يتنازع في بغداد شرقيّ [سدر] مدينة ضاحية, قلعة المؤيّد [موقتدا] [سدر].

في يوم الجمعة, [ريد] قتلت [أل-نوري], قريبة ومفتاح مساعد من الرجل دين, كان برجل مسلّح في المدينة [نجف].

Iraqi Army Test

The latest round of fighting involving the Iraqi Army is a test of their strength and endurance. The test will be if they hold. No one is seriously questioning whether the Coalition can do the job, regardless of the sniping and Western press bias against American efforts.

For example, from the B-Roll of Coalition forces at the Multi-National Division comes news from a Baghdad operation in which an unmanned aerial vehicle observed a large group of criminals with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and a mortar tube in northeast Baghdad at approximately 9:30 p.m. April 10. The UAV fired a Hellfire missile, killing six heavily armed criminals.

Another Islamic Bomb Plot Thwarted by China Olympians

As finally we see that it is not only the U.S. that has major issues with Islamic terrorism, China says that thirty five were arrested in an Olympics bomb plot. The plan was to attack Beijing, Shanghai, and other Olympic locations with poisonous gas and explosives. Authorities arrested the suspects during a 10-day series of raids. The raids were in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. The Xinjiang autonomous region in northwestern China is home to about 19 million people, most of them Muslims. The terrorists planned to target hotels in Beijing and Shanghai that were frequented by foreigners, government buildings, and military bases. In a previous January raid, ten people were arrested in connection with another plot targeting the Games. China stated that both plots are linked to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement Organization, a terrorist group based outside China which sent its leader Aji Mai Mai Ti to China late last year "to accelerate the preparation on terrorism activities" targeting the Beijing Games.

Another Bad Day for Insurgents, Sadr Calls Off March

The clashes have continued against the Mahdi Army

which I think is a good thing because it keeps the pressure on Sadr. The pressure may be having an effect since Sadr called off the massive demonstration that he had proposed.

"I Shoulda' Been a Contendah"

Graphic source: HP

I'd have to get my hands on one to really thrash it around but a contender for the education market in a mini-PC would have to be the latest offering from HP. The Mini-Note will have to compete with the Eee PC which is the current niche leader. The Mini-Note is heavier than the Eee PC, and it has less battery life, and is marginally more expensive, but it does offer a much wider range of options and a large, well-appointed screen.

Just So You Know

Earlier in the year--15 January 2008--Abdul Hameed Bakier outlined (Volume 5, Issue 2) for the Jamestown Foundation how a solitary terrorist could be activated in the U.S. In an article entitled: "The `Lone Wolf' and al-Qaeda Sleeper Cells in the United States," he was quite clear. An individual with the pseudonym "Al-Muhajr" suggests the following procedure to guide a sleeper on the necessary skills to be successful.

• The sleeper should have excellent command of the local language, accent and slang.
• The sleeper’s appearance must not reveal their Arab or Islamic origins. To pretend to be of Hispanic extraction is preferable; therefore sleepers should learn Spanish and use Hispanic aliases.
• The sleeper must carry false identity documents, which are easily obtained in the United States. False identities must be used when buying munitions, shotguns or night vision equipment, etc. from licensed Wal-Mart stores or other shopping centers.
• Sleepers must choose their place of residence very carefully. The preferred choice of residence is in multicultural neighborhoods while eschewing areas frequented by drug dealers to avoid scrutiny from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
• The sleeper should learn martial arts and keep fit for personal protection.
• The sleeper must become highly literate in computers and the internet.
• The sleeper should become an expert in surveillance, counter-surveillance and observation.
• The sleeper should train with sniper rifles, especially U.S.-made weapons that are easily obtainable within the country. Al-Muhajr recommends five different types of U.S.-made rifles.
• The sleeper should train with assault pistols with silencers, the weapon of choice for assassinations.
• The sleeper should learn to prepare explosive belts and explosive charges big enough to booby-trap a small car.

I think the summary is important to summarize here and to expand the awareness for the general public.

Latest Order of Battle: Iraq

The latest Iraqi Order of Battle has been released. In the MoD (Ministry of Defense) the Iraqi Army is putting 118,000 Personnel a year through basic training (18,830 per eight-week cycle), and is expanding the training to 130,000 men a year. The MoI (Ministry of the Interior) is growing in numbers and professionalism. The forces could approach a strength of 500,000, requiring a robust logistical and infrastructure building program to support this growth. MoI training is planned to grow to 117,000 per year by mid-2009. It is at 73,000 as of February. The Facilities Protection Service (FPS) graduated its first class of 103 students at Baghdad Police College under a new program to provide professional development training for all FPS guards in Iraq. The FPS is a professional guard force with approximately 107,787 guards that protect the Iraqi government's critical facilities and its infrastructure. Approximately 89,000 guards will eventually become part of the Ministry of Interior and undergo this same training. Focus on expansion of the Iraqi National Police (INP) continues to have priority in MoI. The INP is authorized at 2,500 personnel, with 721 currently assigned. Training of the Department of Border Enforcement (DBE) continues to be deferred while their training facilities are used for INP. Current force remains at adding forts to a planned total of 712.

Slow Progress Intelligence Estimates

A new National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq cites significant security improvements and progress toward healing sectarian political strife. The classified document provides a more upbeat analysis of conditions in Iraq than the last major assessment by United States spy agencies. The N.I.E. update confirmed that the surge strategy the president announced in January of last year is working. No one will be foolish enough to say the work is done, but progress has obviously been made. The document was described by American officials on both sides of the Iraq debate, including officials who favor rapid withdrawals of American troops. National Intelligence Estimates represent a consensus of America’s 16 intelligence agencies. Numerous leading Democrats are, surprisingly, asking for the report to be declassified in order for Americans to be aware and clear as the Presidential elections are looming.

Patrolling Sadr City

In the initial conflict, an inexperienced Iraqi Army unit, ordered in by an overeager Maliki, clashed with experienced Mahdi Army troops in Sadr City but the Iraqis held their own. Today, fighting between the Coalition and Mahdi Army fighters broke out. A U.S. Army helicopter fired a Hellfire missile which killed nine "criminals" in Sadr City. Troops moved in with Bradleys, Abrams Tanks, as well as Strykers." An air weapons team [AWT] fired a Hellfire missile and killed three criminals after they were observed firing rocket-propelled grenades at the Iraqi Army soldiers; thereafter, the team identified four more criminals fleeing the scene and attempting to hide weapons in a vehicle. The AWT fired a missile and destroyed the vehicle and killed the six criminals. No US or Iraqi Army casualties were reported.

China's No Blood for Oil

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil confirms that the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) will develop the Ahdab oil field. It did not take the world's fastest growing economy to move into Iraq for the oil. I wonder if China will become a terrorist target. In fact until now, the deal could not be implemented due to U.N. trade sanctions which have been lifted in the aftermath of the 2003 U.S. liberation. In the deal, China would recoup its $1.2 billion investment through a production sharing agreement. The Chinese estimate that the field could produce an average of 115,000 barrels a day over more than 20 years. Its proven reserves are estimated at 1.4 billion barrels.

Foxy Camels

Graphic source: BBC.

Camel, camel, who is the foxiest camel in the land? The BBC reported that the UAE is staging its sixth camel beauty contest. No, I am not making this story up. In a tape released by the BBC the camels were judged somehow, I saw no women in public on the tape. The story related that ten thousand camels fluttered their long eyelashes. The contest was held in Abu Dhabi and is one of the richest and biggest events of its kind, with more than $9m (£4.5m; 5.8m euros) and 100 cars in prizes up for grabs. The organisers are said to hope that the contest will remind Emiratis of traditional desert values. Hmmm, what values would that be exactly?

The ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, has sponsored the event because he wants Emiratis to help preserve their national identity through the respect of an animal central to Arab culture. Well, ok then.

Traditionally, the camels were the main measurement of wealth in the region, along with horses and falcons. Enjoy.

Beatles Update

The tracks blogged about before are also supposed to include Maurice Williams' "Do You Believe," though Billboard was unable to verify their existence, "Twist and Shout," "I Saw Her Standing There," "Hippy Hippy Shake," "A Taste of Honey," "Money," and "Ask Me Why," which can be heard in other recorded Beatles performances at the Star Club. Steve Marinucci, who runs Abbeyrd's Beatles Page, only "A Taste of Honey" is unheard, and the "Lovesick Blues" cover isn't even by the Beatles at all. As for the sound quality, Marinucci says they are no better than earlier "Star Club" releases, which are decidedly lo-fi. The saga continues.

Profiling Killers

Graphic source: AP Photo

In this undated combination handout photo issued, Thursday, April 3, 2008 by the Metropolitan Police, the eight men on trial accused of planning to bomb airliners bound for the United States and Canada are seen, from the left, top row, Tanvir Hussain, Assad Sarwar, Umar Islam, aka Brian Young, Waheed Zaman and from the left, bottom row, Mohammed Gulzar, Arafat Waheed Khan, Ibrahim Savant and Abdul Ali, aka Ahmed Ali Khan. Eight men are accused of conspiracy to murder and a charge of planning to smuggle components for improvised explosive devices on board airplanes. Both charges carry maximum sentences of life imprisonment. The trial was due to begin on Thursday, with prosecutors outlining their case, a judge said. (AP Photo/Metropolitan Police, HO)

Profiling to recognize those who planned to harm others is not a bad idea; here are the miscreants who planned to blow up planes to kill an estimated 1,5000 people.

A Starr Is Born: Beatles Release Held Up

Graphic source: Live At The Star Club, back cover, Lingasong, Catalogue No. LNL 1, Release date 2nd May 1977.

Bootleg recordings, supposedly the first time Ringo Starr performed with the Beatles at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany, will not be released until the case of ownership is resolved. A federal judge approved the agreement between Apple Corps Ltd., the London-based group formed by the Beatles, and Miami Lakes-based Fuego Entertainment, Inc. Allegedly, these are recordings the band made in 1962. Eight unreleased tracks are said to be among the recordings, including Paul McCartney singing Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues" and McCartney and John Lennon singing "Ask Me Why."

I'm not sure where "Lovesick Blues" is from as it is not listed as a track on any live performance at the Star Club, c. 21-31 December 1962 in Richie Unterberger's The Unreleased Beatles Music and Film. However, "Ask Me Why" is included at that time although the tune is available on the German and the U.S. 1977 LP versions of The Beatles Live! At the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, 1962 recording. "Ask" is included which became only their second B-side original and released in 1963.

World Bank States Obvious

World Bank president Robert Zoellick noted that the rising economies of China and India, along with other nations will act as alternative growth poles for the global economy. Well, duh. Zoellick’s comments coincide as U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Ben S Bernanke acknowledged for the first time that the US economy may be in a recession. The timing couldn't be worse. Where the fortunes of nations decline significantly are when developing nations are on the rise. Its therefore not so much that the U.S. economy has slowed, it has, but the slowdown coincides with dramatic emerging markets. Globalisation characterizes the economy of China, India, and Brazil in particular. In 1993, there were skepticism in regards to both China’s and India’s prospects however by 1998, the world looked to China to maintain currency stability amidst the turmoil of East Asia. Zoellick stated that 33 countries face potential social unrest because of the steep hike in food and energy prices.

Tactical Victory for Iraqi Security

I believe its a mistake to `tag and release' which is happening to some Mahdi fighters; however, three days after Muqtada al Sadr ordered the Mahdi Army to withdraw from the fighting in Baghdad and the Shia South, the Maliki government continued the fight. The "criminal elements" are being targeted just as the U.S. military has done. Simultaneously, the Iraqi security forces are continuing operations in Basrah. At least some military analysts are saying the Iraqis were defeated by the Sadr thugs but the good news is that they were able to logistically carry out the most sophisticated military offensive since the Saddam era, and hold their own against combat troops for the first time.

Qatar Christian?

In a non-nondescript building in Doha, Qatar's first church Our Lady of the Rosary, just opened only two weeks ago which is the first physical appearance of Christianity in that Middle Eastern country. So as not to offend Muslim sensibilities, no cross or visible sign exists to earmark the building as a Catholic church. The church does feature a metal detector though and police maintain a presence in the building.

The Catholic Church is now in negotiations to open a church in Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world where churches are not allowed.

An estimated 150,000 Christians live amongst the Muslim population of 750,000 in Qatar. The Christians are almost all foreigners from around 70 countries but the majority are from the Philippines, India, and Nigeria.

In addition to the Vatican, there was pressure from Washington to convince the Qatar emir that opening a church would promote the international image of the country.