Mullah Dadullah, the Taliban’s military head in Afghanistan spoke to Reuters via satellite phone from an undisclosed location, naturally. He said 'thousands of Taliban suicide bombers have been deployed across Afghanistan to attack Western troops and the government, ... and his group had the ability and the weapons to fight foreign troops for a long time.'
“And we will turn our motherland into the graveyard of the U.S forces and their families should wait for their dead bodies. The Taliban’s war is only for the freedom of Afghanistan from the enemies of Muslims.” ...The Afghan government says Taliban’s elusive leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, and his senior aides live in Pakistan, the key Taliban supporter until September 11. (Saeed Ali Achakzai)
In Pakistan, Musharraf blamed with trying to run a one-man democracy. The next year may prove full of changes for President Musharraf, which means changes for Pakistan, and resulting changes for the United States. ...
The clash is likely to gain intensity in the coming months. Musharraf is constitutionally required to step down as army chief when elections are held later this year or early next if he wants to stay on as president. But the general is considered reluctant to cast off a uniform that brought him to power in a coup eight years ago and has helped sustain him since.Masood, who was once an adviser to Musharraf, said he could understand why. “Once the uniform is gone, what’s his source of power?” he said. “I think his power just evaporates.”
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack indicated last month that the United States wants Musharraf to follow through on “certain commitments” he has made about leaving his military position. That was widely interpreted in Pakistan as meaning the United States would push Musharraf to step down as army chief. But the outgoing U.S. ambassador, Ryan C. Crocker, declined to go that far in an interview several days later, telling reporters in Islamabad only that “we hope the president will act in line with the constitution.”
Under the constitution, the president is not supposed to hold any other government job. In 2004, Musharraf pledged to resign his army post but failed to follow through. (Giff Witte, The Washington Post via Peace and Freedom)
What is the situation in Iraq? I'm turning to people who have been there to answer that question. From correspondents in Baghdad, 'Sunni insurgent groups that were previously allied with al-Qa'ida in Iraq have turned against it, killing its leaders, attacking its supporters and vowing to drive it out of the country.'
At least two al-Qa'ida commanders have been killed by Iraqi insurgents in Baghdad. Others have been forced to flee after insurgents passed their details to US and Iraqi commanders. Fierce fighting has broken out between insurgent groups and al-Qa'ida in Anbar province, west of Baghdad. ...But the insurgents have come to believe that al-Qa'ida in Iraq is destabilising the country by the indiscriminate slaughter of civilians, often with truck bombs.
Some senior Sunni insurgents believe that al-Qa'ida in Iraq shares the agenda of Iranian-backed Shia militias to plunge the country into ever more violent sectarian conflict rather than concentrating on the fight against the US-led coalition.
Late last year, Salam al-Zubaie, Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister, began secret talks with Sunni groups with the aim of coaxing them away from al-Qa'ida. He held meetings with commanders of groups including the 20th Revolutionary Brigade, the general command of the Iraqi armed forces, the Islamic Army of Iraq, the Baath party and the Salah al-Deen al-Ayyubi Brigade.
John E. Carey at Peace and Freedom reports, McCain and Graham Speak of Hope, Support to Troops and Allies, Pelosi, Murtha talk is defeatist; cedes Iraq to terrorists….
Senator McCain, despite his reputation as a maverick, sounded measured, careful and courteous with a media crowd that was clearly doubtful if not openly hostile to his message: that Americans lacked a “full picture” of the progress being made in Iraq.... he was driven on the road into the city in a vehicle. In every previous visit, he said, security along the road was so tenuous that he was always flown to the Green Zone by helicopter. ...
"... reason for cautious, very cautious optimism about the effects of the new strategy,” ...
Senator Graham, from South Carolina, spoke eloquently about the need for hope, support to our Iraqi allies, and support for the military plan established by General Petraeus. ...
Speaker of the House Pelosi could not be reached for comment because she is on her way to Syria.
And then there's this:
It has not been a good month for the U.S. Army. In terms of casualties. ... The fact that the expected early lull in violence was even shorter lived than expected disquiets me. I regret that we will witness a proverbial up and down in casualties in the weeks, ahead. ...JAM/ U.S. Army cooperation is progressing well. There have been no casualties in Sadr City to report. ... Yet, again, Sadrists have been asked to demonstrate consistency in their actions. And consistency in their actions is what Sadrists shall demonstrate. In the hope that at some time the military track be augmented by a political track.
... are following the transformation of al-Sadr as the leader of the nonviolent movement for the national liberation of Iraq from internal; oppression and foreign occupation ...
... making first progress in moving JAM into the Iraqi Army.
... commitment remains steadfast in ensuring a timely victory for the United States Army ion the Battle for Baghdad, with th objective of enabling a phased re-deployment of U.S. forces out of a position of
post-battle victory, rather than defeat. ..... We are behind schedule on all fronts. On both tracks. ... It is my hope that sometime in fall the Battle for Baghdad can be called a success. ... and get the hell out of here, before the whole thing collapses, completely!
Even if successful, I do not see how one can take the victory in the Battle for Baghdad into the provinces. Look at the requirements versus time lines. More than just ambitious. (source wishes to remain unnamed)
Very interesting. Don't miss Good News, Good News By Armstrong Williams at Townhall.com. Also the Jerusalem Post is reporting that the United States will conduct an air strike on Iran's nuclear sites by summer, 2007. Also, Saudi official: Israel should leave 'Arab' territory
Hi Storm, Angel and Rastaman, I've been gone to Nashville all day and had no time for blog visiting. I only tacked that about the Jerusalem Post and an attack on Iran by summer onto my post as a last thought. I figured I would get some comments. We've been hearing these rumors for years it seems.
Have a good evening.
Posted by: Debbie | April 02, 2007 at 08:00 PM
Aside from a few glancing references, I've tried and have yet to find anything to convince me that there is about to be an American attack on Iran is about to happen (some even say this week).
Can someone please point me to a credible source that indicates this? Lots of rumors and no facts to my eyes.
Thanks in advance.
Posted by: Stormwarning | April 02, 2007 at 06:01 PM
I put up my current evaluation of Mid-East affairs this morning, my last post for another 10 days as I'm off to do more cabin-building. Looks to me like major happenings in the works. The Saudis also think an American strike on Iran is coming and has been urging them to back off of their nuke making and aggressive stance. Good luck on that one!
Stay well.
Rasta
Posted by: Rastaman | April 02, 2007 at 04:43 PM
whats going on is the usual Arab pillaging and killing their own and infidels!...good read Debbie! :)
Posted by: Angel | April 02, 2007 at 02:15 PM