Another classified U.S. government report has been somehow obtained by the MSM and portions published. Everybody is now talking about the leaked report simply because it's 'out there' now. Supposedly the report states, 'groups responsible for many of the insurgent and terrorist attacks are raising an estimated $70 million to $200 million a year from illegal activities.' And:
About $25 million to $100 million of the total comes from oil smuggling and other criminal activity involving the state-owned oil industry aided by "corrupt and complicit" Iraqi officials, the newspaper said, citing the report.As much as $36 million a year comes from ransoms paid over hundreds of kidnappings. Unnamed foreign governments -- identified in the past by senior U.S. officials as including France and Italy -- paid kidnappers $30 million in ransom last year alone, the report said. source
This isn't news. Anybody with half a brain could figure with the ammunition, weapons, etc. the enemy has, they get money from somewhere. They sure aren't working at Starbucks of Baghdad for take-home pay. Where did folks THINK they were getting their money? Of course they get it from illegal means and if they don't have jobs, they have to get it somewhere. Hamas and Hezbollah get money from kidnappings. Look at Fox News Channel employees Steve Centanni and Olaf Wigg. According to reports, Fox paid 2 million dollars for their save return. Not bad for a week's 'work'. Two million has go a long way for a terrorist.
Now that Thanksgiving is over, talk will return to Iraq and what to do there. Involving the neighbors to help stabilize Iraq is being seriously discussed. Regionalizing Iraq is a new term for splitting the country into three parts. Also pulling out, sending more troops, pulling out some troops, with fancy labels like Go Short; Go Long; Go home.
What would Iran want for cooperation, and what would cooperation mean? Iran wants the same security guarantees -- i.e., no regime change -- that it also seeks in the standoff over its nuclear program.
Syria would want discussions with Israel over the return of the Golan Heights.
Turkey -- money would have to be part of the equation -- there need to be investments that are not mere bribery. source
Eli Wiesel says that the United Nations must kick Ahmadinejad's murdeous regime out. That might help the region. Better to kick out al-Sader I think.
The big question, when will Iraqi troops be ready? General John Abijaid gave a rare interview to Lara Logan about Iraq, Iran and stability in the Middle East, you can read here. I don't think he revealed anything we didn't already know. I did find one statement strange. We're not at war with Iran through its proxies. We are in a period of making it clear to the Iranians that they need to move to help stabilize Iraq and not destabilize it," Abizaid said. I think he is wrong.
What the answer is for Iraq is beyond me.
You may be right, Scipio-The Chosen Man. I think that is what the Baker-Hamilton report is going to suggest. The Iraqi government does not want that though, and the ultimate decision is theirs.
Posted by: Debbie | November 27, 2006 at 01:25 PM
The only solution I can see for Iraq is for it to split into three seperate states.Kurdistan to the North,which is already a country in everything but name-Central Iraq under Sunni control with Baghdad as its capital and Shia dominated Southern Iraq with Basrah as its capital.The countries already in a civil war which cannot be stopped anyway,why not step back and let nature take its course,too many British and US troops have already died for a "Forlorn hope",time to pull out and let the Iraqis decide their own fate!
Posted by: Scipio-The Chosen Man | November 27, 2006 at 10:26 AM