August 11, 2003
Latest from Iraq
Germany still not sending troops, despite rumors to the contrary.
With Iraq's airports effectively shut down by the threat of anti-aircraft fire, transport to neighboring countries by car is under constant threat of highway robbery carried out in broad daylight.
Today in central Iraq, another US soldier is killed in a bomb attack that injured two others.
Violence is spreading, and now a new resistance group is issuing intifada-style recordings. They say they have no ties to the Baath party, and threaten a dire ending for the occupiers.
Foreign fighters thought to be responsible for some of the attacks. The US believes Al Qaida is responsible, a member of the Iraqi National Congress has this to say, emphasis mine:
...Mudhar Showkat, a senior official of the Iraqi National Congress, which campaigned for years for US intervention in Iraq, says that "Wahhabis" top his list of those responsible for anti-US attacks.The other responsible parties on Mr. Showkat's list are "past Baathist thugs," a reference to Iraq's deposed Baath Party, and Shiite Muslims in Iraq supported by Iran.
The Wahhabis "are very dangerous, much more than the Baathists. These people would die for a cause," he says. "Most of their funds come from Saudi Arabia - not necessarily the government."
Wahhabism is Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's brand of Islam, but Showkat can only infer a connection between the Iraqi Wahhabis and Al Qaeda. "If they are committing terrorist acts, they must be Al Qaeda or must be linked to Al Qaeda, but I cannot tell you that with confidence." ...
Mens News Daily, billing itself as conservative news with sex appeal, describes the president as being upbeat about the war so far.
...Speaking at a press conference, Bush said, "Iraq is more secure. The economy of Iraq is beginning to improve ... Banks are now opening up and the infrastructure is improving. In a lot of places, the infrastructure is as good as it was at pre-war levels, which is satisfactory, but it's not the ultimate aim ... [which] is for the infrastructure to be the best in the region. And the political process is moving toward democracy, which is a major shift of system in that part of the world ... but we know we've got a lot more work to do." ...
About the allegations that war was encouraged under false pretenses, Bush had this to say, emphasis mine:
..."A free Iraq is ... an integral part of the war on terror. And as far as all this political noise, it's going to get worse as time goes on, and I fully understand that. And that's just the nature of democracy. Sometimes pure politics enters into the rhetoric," ...
File under 'things that make you go, "Huh?"'
Posted by natasha at August 11, 2003 01:26 PM | TrackBack