World-News

Robert Parry writes: "On January 4, Bush ousted the top two commanders in the Middle East, Generals John Abizaid and George Casey, who had opposed a military escalation in Iraq, and removed Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte, who had stood by intelligence estimates downplaying the near-term threat from Iran's nuclear program. Most Washington observers have treated Bush's shake-up as either routine or part of his desire for a new team to handle his planned 'surge' of US troops in Iraq. But intelligence sources say the personnel changes also fit with a scenario for attacking Iran's nuclear facilities and seeking violent regime change in Syria."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/010807R.shtml



War Could Last Years, Commander Says

The new American operational commander in Iraq said Sunday that even with the additional American troops likely to be deployed in Baghdad under President Bush's new war strategy, it might take another "two or three years" for American and Iraqi forces to gain the upper hand in the war.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/010807S.shtml



Ominous Sign of a Wider War

"The recent replacement of General Abizaid by Admiral Fallon, along with other recent moves announced by the defense secretary, should give deep pause to anyone concerned about the prospect of escalation in the Iraq War. Contrary to the advice given by the Iraq Study Group, Bush appears to be planning for a wider war - with much higher risk of catastrophic failure - not a gradual and dignified withdrawal from the region," writes Michael T. Klare.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/010907L.shtml



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