World-News

MSNBC

09/19/07

The United States has assembled an imposing industrial army in Iraq larger than its uniformed fighting force and responsible for a such a broad swath of responsibilities the military might not be able to operate without its private-sector partners. More than 180,000 Americans, Iraqis, and nationals from other countries work under a slew of federal contracts to provide security, gather intelligence, build roads, forge a financial system and transport needed supplies in a country the size of California...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20879227/


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=contractors
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Blackwater

http://ga1.org/campaign/iraq0907_Reps/86u3isb4fbie77t?qp_source=web%5firaq0907a



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Feingold
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Harry+Reid

The U.S. is selling billions in weapons to Iraq. Is the Pentagon's plan making the country secure or arming it to the teeth for civil war?

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/09/18/weapons/


From Information Clearing House

Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson on Wednesday called for the U.S. to end the war in Iraq, arguing that the troops exacerbate the sectarian violence and the billions spent could be used for health care and other needs.

http://snipurl.com/1qx86


From Information Clearing House



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Bill+Richardson
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=sectarian

The American Prospect
by Spencer Ackerman

09/18/07

Having lost the battle over the surge, Democrats in the Senate are back to an incrementalist approach to the war. After Bush endorsed General David Petraeus’s plan to return to pre-surge combat strength of about 130,000 troops in Iraq by the end of July, the Democrats mobilized. Senator Jim Webb, the Vietnam veteran who won his Virginia seat last year on an antiwar platform, will push forward for a third time with his bill mandating that troops serving in Iraq remain at home for at least an equivalent amount of time as their deployments. The bill is a two-fer: Not only does it take a large burden off the Army’s shoulders, but it would, in practice, constrain the Pentagon’s ability to keep troop strength in Iraq at Petraeus’ desired levels...

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=iraq_forever


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

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The Real News Network Alert

New Item: Interview with Aijaz Ahmad

THE "ENDURING" OCCUPATION OF IRAQ

"The invasion of 2003 has been used to restore the old ruling class of Iraq... other than U.S. interests . . . The struggle over resources is among various factions of this old ruling class " Part 1 of 2 Aijaz Ahmad: The US has restored Iraq's old ruling class to power
http://therealnews.com/c.php?c=070919A&i=442

Part 1 of 2 Aijaz Ahmad: Like Korea, the US is planning a long-term military presence in Iraq.
http://therealnews.com/c.php?c=070919A&i=443


The Real News Network



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Jim+Webb
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Petraeus
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=troop+surge
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Spencer+Ackerman

Britain is poised to announce significant cuts in the number of troops in southern Iraq following an upbeat assessment by US and British military officials in London yesterday.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,2172311,00.html



U.S. commander issues stark warning to Britain over early exit from Iraq

The U.S. commander in Iraq has issued a stark warning to Gordon Brown of the 'devastating consequences' of pulling British troops out of the region too early.

http://snipurl.com/1qvsa


From Information Clearing House



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=withdrawal+Iraq
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Petraeus

Virtually ignored in last week's national debate on the US military surge was a report by military experts recommending that the Iraqi police service be scrapped because of its brutal sectarian character.

http://snipurl.com/1qvsb


From Information Clearing House



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=police+state
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=troop+surge
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=sectarian
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Tom+Hayden

By Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.

How comfy we are all in the United States, as we engage in living-room debates about the US occupation of Iraq, whether "we" are bringing them freedom and whether their freedom is really worth the sacrifice of so many of our men and women. We talk about whether war aims have really been achieved, how to exit gracefully, or whether we need a hyper-surge to finish this whole business once and for all.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18415.htm



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=troop+surge
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=com/rockwell