Semper Gratus!

In my daily searches for reports of dead terrorists I often run across some really interesting stuff. In some cases, I also read things that make no sense. Check out this article from MNF-I and tell me just what the hell it means.

RELEASE No. 20060922-01

Sept. 22, 2006

Iraqi Army Mounts Raid Against Kidnapper, Murder

Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – A specially trained Iraqi Army unit conducted an early-morning raid Sept. 21 looking for a suspect engaged in kidnapping and murder in Baghdad. The Iraqi unit, with coalition force advisers, surrounded and entered a building believed to hold the suspect. Iraqi forces found the suspect’s passport and five Iraqi citizens inside the building. Citizens who were questioned indicated that the suspect had fled to a building listed as “sensitive,” the National Dialogue headquarters.

Based on the nature of the National Dialogue headquarters, Iraqi Army forces were denied permission to enter the building. In preparing to depart the area, the Iraqi Army unit observed that the building had numerous surveillance cameras affording an unrestricted view of the Iraqi ground force. A machine gun was also emplaced on the roof of the building. Several individuals were seen on the roof in the vicinity of the machine gun. As a protective measure, several lights surrounding the objective area were shot out by Iraqi forces to lower light levels as a precaution against the cameras and machine gun.

The Iraqi force, with coalition advisers, departed without further incident. No individuals were detained during this operation.

A little background:

Thursday, 20 April 2006
Appointed: #35 Dr. Akram al-Hakim, minister of state for the national dialogue affairs.
Appointed/elected: Speaker of the Iraqi House of Represntatives Mahmud al-Mashhadani. Mr. al-Mashhadani is a co-founder of the Higher Council for Call and Guidance and head of its political bureau as well as a co-founder of the Iraqi National Dialogue Council [NDC], which contributed to the establishment of the Iraqi Front for National Dialogue.

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Press Briefing by Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad. After the introductory speech about the inauguration of the first-ever Iraqi national unity government, the Q&A with reporters included the following exchange.

Q Sharon Behn, The Washington Times. I’d like to know how you would characterize the walkout by the 17 Sunnis that occurred this afternoon, and how significant you think that is.

AMB. KHALILZAD: The current government represents some 85 percent of the forces that are in the assembly. Those who walked out today, some of them represent the National Dialogue, led by Mr. Salih Mutlaq, who has 11 members in the assembly; and a few members or the — of the Al-Tawafuq, those associated with one faction inside the Tawafuq, led by Mr. Khalah al-Alayan. But Mr. Khalah al-Alayan himself, the leader of that faction of the Al-Tawafuq, and Speaker Mashhadani, who is also from the same faction, of course were very much there. I believe that what happened in terms of bringing people together is an extremely positive step in the right direction in terms of the breadth of support for a government that — that is there. The disagreement that was there today in the morning was that some thought that the two ministers should be named first, before the government — Interior and Defense — should be named before the government is introduced to the — to the assembly. But as you know, the prime minister himself and his deputy prime minister are caretakers until those two ministers are named.

Monday, May 29 2006

2006 decisive year for Iraq – In a speech given by Gen. George W. Casey, Jr. Commanding General, Multi-National Force – Iraq, he says “The Council of Representatives will review candidates to lead the national security ministries, craft legislation to curb violence, re-integrate authorized militia into government security services, expand judicial resources, and facilitate national dialogue and reconciliation.”

Monday, 24 July 2006

Iraqis unite to halt violence in Baghdad.

The Iraqi government held the first meeting of a homegrown peace initiative Saturday, with the country’s top leaders vowing to reconcile the groups involved in sectarian violence and to bring into the political fold insurgent groups ready to lay down their arms.

“This is an Iraqi initiative for those who are part of the political process,” said Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, according to the French news agency Agence France-Presse.

According to the AFP article, Maliki said the Supreme Committee for National Reconciliation received positive signals from some insurgent groups battling Coalition and Iraqi security forces. …The prime minister said several insurgent groups have also contacted his office indirectly to say they want to join the political process.

Comprised of about 30 members, the Supreme National Committee for Reconciliation and National Dialogue will include legislators and religious and tribal leaders, according to a July 20 AP article. The committee will be headed by the prime minister, while the Minister of National Dialogue, Akram al-Hakim, will be the director. … The plan includes an amnesty program for insurgents not involved in killing Iraqis or Coalition forces.

…”The situation with sectarian violence in Baghdad is very serious,” said the commander of U.S. Central Command, Gen. John P. Abizaid, during an interview on July 21. “[Iraq] can deal with the insurgency better than it can with the sectarian violence, and it needs to move decisively against the sectarian violence now.”

This is the same General Abizaid that witnessed the complete and utter failure of the Fallujah Brigade back in the spring and summer of 2004. That attempt to draw the insurgents away from the mad, corrupting influence of imams cost 151 American lives.

Friday, August 25 2006

“Battle of Baghdad” will decide future, By Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq

…”It is understandable that when the American people hear of new U.S. casualties and witness the images of bloodshed from the streets of Baghdad, they conclude that our plans for stemming sectarian violence in Iraq have failed. Yet, implementation of the Baghdad Security Plan has only recently begun. Iraq’s national unity government has been in office barely three months, and its ministers of defense and interior have been on the job for less than 80 days. Iraqi ministers are still hiring key staff, and they are learning to work together, under the leadership of a new prime minister. The Committee for National Dialogue and Reconciliation, charged with overseeing implementation of the reconciliation plan, was formed only three weeks ago.”

…

*cricket* … *cricket*

Dammit! There shouldn’t be anyplace that even Iraqi security forces can’t go!!! It sounds to me like another safe haven for terrorists and thugs who are being aided and abetted by corrupt, duplicitous mob bosses just like a tiny repeat of Fallujah.

Not good. Not good at all!