Go to the blogs if you want real reporting, folks.
Monday
"Iraqi Prime Minister Assails Democratic Critics" by James Glanz/New York Times August 27, 2007
BAGHDAD, Aug. 26 — Despite the promising signs on Sunday, Iraq’s political process remains all but completely stalled.... In the most recent, the secular political alliance Iraqiya, led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, withdrew from the government on Friday.
In an interview on Sunday on CNN’s “Late Edition,” Mr. Allawi said:
"[His alliance has] lost our faith in the capability of the current government of salvaging the country and moving forward. I don’t see that we are getting closer to reconciliation. I don’t see that we are getting closer to getting rid of militias. I am not seeing that we are getting closer to having assertive policies, foreign policies, which would not allow Iran to intervene in Iraqi affairs.”
[But nothing about the Republican lobbying firm run by former RNC chair and current Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour circulating letters on Capitol Hill calling for a six-man executive committee to take over for Malaki -- with Allawi the head!
That's Amurka's MSM?
And how about this beauty from Ambassador Crock-o-Shit Crocker:
"And Ambassador Ryan Crocker told me,"The fall of the Maliki government, when it happens, might be a good thing (Time Magazine August 23, 2007)."
Case closed, reader]
"Iraqi head denounces critics in Congress; Maliki also accuses US troops of mistakes" by Carol J. Williams/Los Angeles Times August 27, 2007
BAGHDAD -- At his news conference, Maliki warned US commanders that they need to take more care to avoid inflicting civilian casualties. Referring to raids last week in Shi'ite strongholds of Shula and Sadr City in Baghdad, Maliki said there was unacceptable disregard for residents in the areas.
Maliki said: "There were big mistakes committed in these operations. The terrorist himself should be targeted, not his family. When they want to detain one person, they should not kill 10 others."
Police and hospital officials who responded to the predawn Shula raid Friday reported as many as 21 civilians killed after US forces in helicopters fired on a neighborhood.
In other developments yesterday, fighting broke out in Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad. About 30 masked gunmen stormed a house where American soldiers had established an observation post, according to Lieutenant Colonel Michael Donnelly, a US spokesman.
That triggered a gun battle in a stairwell, after which the gunmen fled in a vehicle. Donnelly said US aircraft tracked the gunmen to the house that was bombed. Iraqi officials said seven civilians, including five children, were killed.
The assault on the observation post led to "multiple engagements throughout the next several hours in the city" as US troops tried to catch the attackers.
In Kut, 100 miles southeast of Baghdad, fighting broke out between US troops and Shi'ite militiamen, Iraqi officials said. Eight Iraqis, including two women, were killed.
Meanwhile, waves of Shi'ite pilgrims descended on Karbala yesterday for a festival marking the birth of the ninth-century Hidden Imam. A woman making the 50-mile journey from Baghdad was shot to death by men in a passing car in the southwest part of the capital.
The Shabaniyah festival marks the birth of Mohammed al-Mahdi, the 12th Shi'ite imam who disappeared in the ninth century."
[How about doing a feature on that, stink Zionist media?
That sure is a lot of violence the Times "missed," huh, reader?
Did they mention the tensions on the Turkey/Iraq border?
Tuesday
"Iraq to Allow Ex-Baathists to Regain Jobs" by Stephen Farrell/New York Times August 28, 2007
BAGHDAD, Aug. 27 — Another suicide bombing was reported Monday, when a man blew himself up in a mosque in Falluja, west of Baghdad, Reuters reported. Ten people were reported dead and 11 wounded.
In a gun battle in Samarra, a dozen insurgents were reportedly killed. And CBS News announced Monday that an Iraqi interpreter working for the network was found dead five days after he was abducted from his Baghdad home."
[That's the Times for ya! Pffffttttt!!!]
"Sunni Politicians Raise Doubts Over Deal" by Robert H. Reid/Associated Press August 28, 2007
BAGHDAD - Officials announced that coalition forces would increase the number of detainees released during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins next month.
The U.S. command, in a statement, did not say how many would be freed: "Releases will start as early as this week and continue through the end of Ramadan.''
A firefight in Samarra saw a dozen insurgents killed, the military said.
[Now the Globe's censorship kicks in!]
Some 30 masked insurgents attacked a U.S. outpost Sunday, triggering the gunbattles that ended when a U.S. jet bombed a house where gunmen had taken refuge. In addition to the dead, 14 insurgents were captured, the military said.
Iraqi officials said eight people were killed. Police and hospital officials identified the dead as Mohammed Abdul-Wahab, his mother, wife and five of his young children.
U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Michael Donnelly told The Associated Press he had reports of two civilian casualties, a male and a female who were in a taxi during the initial firefight.
Donnelly said: "Any civilian casualties are truly regrettable, but it is important to understand that our forces are there to secure the people of Samarra and bring them peace, not bring them harm like the insurgents did.''
Also in Anbar, a suicide bomber detonated an explosives belt among worshippers at evening prayers in Fallujah, killing the mosque preacher and eight other people, police said. They said 10 people were wounded.
A sniper killed a Shiite pilgrim on a Baghdad bridge Monday while another was killed and a dozen wounded in other attacks as hundreds of thousands of Shiites made their way to the southern city of Karbala for a religious commemoration.
One pilgrim was shot on a bridge in Baghdad and men hiding in an orchard south of the capital opened fire, killing one pilgrim and wounding three.
Also Monday, pilgrims angry over strict security measures clashed with police in Karbala, setting fire to vehicles, officials said. Three people were killed and 13 wounded in the ensuing melee, hospital officials said.
The celebrations mark the birth of Mohammed al-Mahdi, the 12th and last Shiite imam who disappeared in the 9th century."
[So what gives with AmeriKa's lead papers?
AP and Globe are bad enough, but Times is worse?
Pffffftttt!!!]
