World-News

United States President George Bush and his top policymakers exaggerated Saddam Hussein's links to terrorism and ignored doubts among intelligence agencies about Iraq's arms programnes as they made their case for war, a Senate committee reported on Thursday.

http://tinyurl.com/45mm5a


From Information Clearing House

--------

What We Already Know About Iraq From the People Who Launched the War
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/06/9450/



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=David+Michael+Green

Truthout's Camillo "Mac" Bica writes, "Even should we disregard the accusations of Scott McClellan and give the Bush administration the sizable benefit of the doubt that their preemption was an honest mistake, that does not somehow alter the moral and legal value of the invasion and occupation. Nor does it excuse the destruction of the Iraqi state and the deaths or displacement of millions of innocents. Nor does it diminish their culpability for war crimes."

http://www.truthout.org/article/victory-iraq-or-surrender



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=McClellan
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=displacement
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=war+crimes
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Camillo

Ann Scott Tyson, The Washington Post, reports: "Army Sgt. Jonathan Strickland sits in his room at noon with the blinds drawn, seeking the sleep that has eluded him since he was knocked out by the blast of a Baghdad car bomb. Like many of the wounded soldiers living in the newly built 'warrior transition' barracks here, the soft-spoken 25-year-old suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. But even as Strickland and his comrades struggle with nightmares, anxiety and flashbacks from their wartime experiences, the sounds of gunfire have followed them here, just outside their windows."

http://www.truthout.org/article/nearby-firing-ranges-complicate-soldiers-recovery-from-stress



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=PTSD
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Ann+Scott+Tyson

Walter Pincus of The Washington Post writes: "The depth of US involvement in Iraq and the difficulty the next president will face in pulling personnel out of the country are illustrated by a handful of new contract proposals made public in May."

http://www.truthout.org/article/long-term-contracts-show-plans-continued-iraq-occupation

--------

New agreement lets US strike any country from inside Iraq
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/06/03/10218150.html


From APFN daily update



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Walter+Pincus

Iraq's chief spokesman acknowledged differences with the United States over a proposed long-term security agreement and pledged on Sunday that the government will protect Iraqi sovereignty in ongoing talks with the Americans.

http://tinyurl.com/4tu3fj



Iraq says likely to miss deadline for US pact

A July target for negotiating an agreement on future relations between Iraq and the United States is likely to be missed, an Iraqi government spokesman said on Tuesday.

http://tinyurl.com/6xyfwe



US-Iraq security pact shapes up as major battle as Iraqi prime minister goes to Iran for talks

A proposed U.S.-Iraq security agreement is shaping up as a major political battle between America and Iran, as the debate over the future of troops here intensifies ahead of the fall U.S. presidential election.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/03/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Security.php



Tell Iraqis No Permanent Bases

"The next president should commit to a speedy and complete withdrawal from Iraq," argues Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate for president, "and tell the Iraqi people that the U.S. troops will be going home."

http://www.theweekly.com/news/2008/June/03/Bob_Barr.html



Iraq rejects any article within long-term agreement violates sovereignty

The official spokesman for the Iraqi government on Tuesday highlighted that the government asserted not to accept any article which violates the national sovereignty during negotiations to ink a long-term agreement with the U.S.

http://tinyurl.com/4v9kfl



Cheney Enrages Iraqis Over Security Deal

Dick Cheney wants the Iraqi government installed by the U.S. occupation to sign a "security pact" with Washington by the end of July.

http://www.counterpunch.org/leupp06062008.html



Iraqi Officials Oppose US-Iraq Treaty

At an extraordinary hearing on Capitol Hill yesterday, members of the Iraqi parliament hand-delivered a letter to members of Congress that rejected the idea of a US-Iraq agreement unless the United States agrees to a specific timetable to get out of Iraq.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/dreyfuss/327163



Ayatollah Sistani rejects US draft

Ayatollah Sistani laid four conditions for any such agreement to be approved, adding that he was against any long term security pact with America.

http://www.iribnews.ir/Full_en.asp?news_id=254979&n=31



Iraq Seeking to Cement Ties with Iran

Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki will make an official visit to Iran on Saturday to strengthen relations between the two countries.

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8703160402



Iraq says it wants to restrict movement of U.S. troops

Iraq said on Friday it would not grant U.S. troops freedom of movement for military operations in a new agreement being negotiated on extending the presence of American troops on its soil.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080606/ts_nm/iraq_usa_military_dc



Iraq May Rebuff Troop Terms in New Security Plan

The Iraqi government doesn't want to extend the UN resolution and prefers to replace it with a bilateral agreement, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said yesterday. It might address issues such as whether U.S. soldiers have immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080606/pl_bloomberg/azm4qsqo9oqg



Iraq's Grand Ayatollah warns from uprising against US security pact

Al-Modaresy described the long-term treaty with the US as a 'sword directed over the Iraqis necks,' during a meeting with reporters.

http://tinyurl.com/47t9ro



Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani,'sets 4 conditions for US pact

"The cleric stressed that any long-term pact in Iraq should maintain four key terms including safeguarding Iraqis' interests, national sovereignty, national consensus and being presented to the Iraqi parliament for approval." leader of the largest bloc in Iraq's parliament, Seyyed Abdul Aziz al-Hakim said quoting Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=58791&sectionid=351020201



Iraq will not be used to "harm" Iran, PM vows

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki sought to reassure Iran over a planned security pact with Washington on Sunday, vowing Iraq would never be used as a platform to attack the Islamic republic.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/352757/1/.html


From Information Clearing House

--------

Ominous opposition to long-term US military presence in Iraq

Independent Institute
by Ivan Eland

06/02/08

At the behest of Iraqi Shi’i leader Moktada al-Sadr, his powerful faction staged a formidable protest this week against a likely U.S.-Iraqi agreement to establish a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq, which would replace the United Nation-authorized U.S. occupation that expires at the end of 2008. This demonstration, and subsequent protests planned for the duration of the summer, should worry both governments...

http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=2226


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

--------

Revealed: Secret Plan to Keep Iraq Under US Control

Patrick Cockburn, of The Independent UK: "A secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November. The terms of the impending deal, details of which have been leaked to The Independent, are likely to have an explosive political effect in Iraq. Iraqi officials fear that the accord, under which US troops would occupy permanent bases, conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and enjoy immunity from Iraqi law, will destabilise Iraq's position in the Middle East and lay the basis for unending conflict in their country."

http://www.truthout.org/article/revealed-secret-plan-keep-iraq-under-us-control



Iraqis Wary of US Security Agreement

Anne Flaherty, of The Associated Press: "Iraqi lawmakers told Congress on Wednesday that they have serious misgivings about a long-term security agreement being negotiated this year with President Bush, putting themselves squarely in line with Democrats who say hashing out a deal before Bush leaves office is bad timing. Opposition in the US and Iraqi legislative bodies underscores the political hurdles facing Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as they try to settle the terms under which US troops can continue operating in Iraq after a United Nations authorization expires at the end of the year."

http://www.truthout.org/article/iraqis-wary-us-security-agreement



US Issues Threat to Iraq's $50 Billion Foreign Reserve

Patrick Cockburn reports for The Independent UK: "The US is holding hostage some $50bn (£25bn) of Iraq's money in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to pressure the Iraqi government into signing an agreement seen by many Iraqis as prolonging the US occupation indefinitely, according to information leaked to The Independent."

http://www.truthout.org/article/us-issues-threat-iraqs-50-billion-foreign-reserve

--------

Iraqi MPs against US bases

Iraqi MPs say if bases are in the security agreement; most Iraqis will reject it.
http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=1643

--------

Secret Security Pact Will Ensure Permanent Iraq Occupation
http://www.infowars.net/articles/june2008/050608Iraq.htm

Iraq Lawmakers Want US Forces Out As Part of Deal
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/05/9430/

US Security Talks With Iraq in Trouble in Baghdad and DC
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/11/9565/



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=al-Sadr
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Cheney
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=al-Maliki
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Sistani
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=permanent+bases+Iraq
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=security+pact
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Iraq+withdraw
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Ryan+Crocker
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Ivan+Eland
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Patrick+Cockburn
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Gary+Leupp
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Anne+Flaherty
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Leila+Fadel
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Warren+P.+Strobel

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/02/9367/

--------

Australian PM attacks decision to join war in Iraq

In remarks to parliament on the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, which began Sunday, Rudd said the nation must learn from the errors of former Prime Minister John Howard, who sent 2,000 troops to support U.S. and British forces in the 2003 invasion.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080602/ap_on_re_au_an/australia_iraq



Why Australia is leaving Iraq

Prime Minister Rudd criticized the US justification for the 2003 invasion of Iraq as 550 Australian troops packed up to leave.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0603/p04s01-wome.html



Howard war charges bid

AN AUSTRALIAN doctors' group is pushing to have former prime minister John Howard charged with war crimes for sending troops to Iraq.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/howard-war-charges-bid-20080602-2kwg.html


From Information Clearing House

--------

Australia Ends Iraq Combat Operations

According to The Associated Press, "Australia, a staunch US ally and one of the first countries to commit troops to the war in Iraq five years ago, ended combat operations there June 1."

http://www.truthout.org/article/australia-ends-iraq-combat-operations



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=John+Howard
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=war+crimes

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/02/9363/



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=death+toll
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Ahmed+Ali
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Dahr+Jamail

Sources in Iraq's parliament told Press TV on Thursday that Washington has offered three-million dollars in bribe to the lawmakers who sign the "framework accord."

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20016.htm



Sadrists Want Referendum on U.S.-Iraq Pact

Widespread opposition to the deal has raised doubts that negotiators can meet a July target to finalize a pact to keep U.S. troops in Iraq after the current U.N. mandate expires at the end of the year.

http://tinyurl.com/5unhwp


From Information Clearing House

By Subodh Varma - TNN

The tale of massive fraud and embezzlement of millions of dollars by the US military in its operations in Iraq continues. Testifying before the US Congress Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on 22 May, Mary Ugone, deputy inspector general of accounts in the Pentagon said that an audit of $8.2 billion spending related to the Iraq war showed that $7.8 billion had been improperly spent.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20017.htm

A Marine who took pictures of Iraqi men, women and children killed by U.S. forces testified Thursday that he deleted the photos under an officer's orders and later lied repeatedly to investigators about what happened to the images.

http://tinyurl.com/6frhkf


From Information Clearing House



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Haditha