tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60780102009-07-13T00:01:00.682-04:00New points of view about the future of Iraq.Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comBlogger1233125This is an XML content feed. It is intended to be viewed in a newsreader or syndicated to another site.tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-1186437964571392382009-07-13T00:01:00.000-04:002009-07-13T00:01:00.687-04:00

After days of deadly ethnic clashes in China more than 180 individuals from the minority Muslim Uighur community located in the northwest region of Xinjiang China have been killed and thousands more injured or arrested. Rebiya Kadeer, representative of Uighur Muslims, in an interview with al-Sharq al-Awsat pleaded with Muslims across the world to support the Uighur people.Rebiya Kadeer, whose

Mohammedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09843636087152375775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-89624668536685368502009-06-01T12:51:00.003-04:002009-06-20T18:29:13.610-04:00

Here's my latest article on The Australian: THE war in Iraq is officially moving to an end. Six years after Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled, several coalition members have ended their missions in Iraq - including Australia, which pulled out its troops 12 months ago - and the US is preparing to wrap up its military involvement in the country.Many still ask: Was it worth it?If we examine the

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-44833560172909445792009-04-09T19:06:00.009-04:002009-04-09T19:46:45.181-04:00

I saw this graph on Iraq Stock Exchange and thought I should share. It represents the ISX index monthly closing figures between November 2004 and February 2009. The picture speaks for itself.Given the direction of developments in Iraq over the last two years there is no irony at all. In fact I see that the image quite accurately reflects the ups and downs of the period represented in the

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-8539820380183420292009-01-09T07:51:00.002-05:002009-01-17T23:16:37.614-05:00

Iraq has started to reap the benefits of the status of forces agreement with the United States. The United Nations Security Council voted to set the ground for relieving Iraq from the restrictions of Chapter Seven of the UN Charter. In fact, the remaining effects of previous resolutions will from now on serve only to protect Iraq’s assets from claims by other parties, not to impose anything on

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-81582520406785815662008-12-08T00:05:00.003-05:002008-12-08T00:23:26.713-05:00

The editors of my school’s biweekly Communiqué asked me and one of my colleagues to write two Op-Eds on the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.Below is my contribution and you can also find it, along with that of my colleague’s on pages 2 and 3 of the pdf version of Communiqué here.Nuclear proliferation in the Middle East is not a new source for concern. Dating as far back as the 1950s, several

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-48239229228327900272008-11-19T16:42:00.002-05:002008-11-28T22:53:07.802-05:00

After the Iraqi cabinet voted in approval, Iraq’s Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker met in Baghdad to sign the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).Both diplomats hailed the event as a “historic” one — not an overstatement as their meeting was the fruit of many months of deliberations and negotiations.Reportedly, SOFA has a sister document whose details are yet to be

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-24089325593588561332008-11-11T11:17:00.003-05:002008-11-18T11:43:37.661-05:00

As an Iraqi I worry about the future of Iraq’s security and democracy. This simple fact has made me hope for an American leader who will perpetuate the strategy of supporting Iraq for the good of the two nations and for the world, in the war on terror.In spite of my Republican leanings, I view the result of the presidential election as a victory for the values of the American nation.I certainly

Mohammedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09843636087152375775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-68075371069199317312008-10-25T14:16:00.002-04:002008-11-02T11:35:36.669-05:00

Negotiations over the Status of Forces Agreement have reached a very difficult moment as time runs out quickly. Tension and an exchange of blunt statements and warnings have dominated the environment in the last few days. On the one hand, the Iraqi cabinet and many in the parliament rejected the final draft, demanding unspecified adjustments. On the other hand, the American administration largely

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-28236593066044579132008-10-15T13:16:00.002-04:002008-10-22T13:36:14.151-04:00

The status of forces agreement (SOFA) can be regarded as the crown jewel of the U.S.-led change in Iraq. It’s not an overstatement to say that it represents an aspect of victory in this war. By victory I mean that it will mark the beginning of a time in which Iraq is officially a partner of the U.S., as it will join Iraq and the U.S. in a new relationship that serves the national interests of

Mohammedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09843636087152375775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-76936882283231716402008-09-30T11:52:00.003-04:002008-10-07T20:37:00.108-04:00

I mentioned this past summer that pressing priorities in Iraq made Iraqis show little if any interest in the upcoming U.S. election. That was the case when November seemed too far to worry about. We’re almost in October now and things are changing.Comments made by MP Sami al-Askari are evidence of such a trend. As an adviser to Prime Minister Maliki and member of his Da’wa Party, al-Askari’s

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-43629950085048571942008-08-23T13:35:00.001-04:002008-08-23T13:37:24.712-04:00

Mohammed's piece on today's Wall Street Journal;The war between Russia and Georgia -- and particularly what Russia aspires to gain from this showdown -- may have future consequences for the situation in the Middle East. It may also have the potential to alter the existing world order and restore a condition somewhat similar to what we had in the Cold War era.A recent statement by Russian foreign

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-72563924765586832012008-08-08T16:57:00.002-04:002008-08-15T21:41:36.935-04:00

The news about a secret deal between the British and anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr did not come as a surprise to us. Britain’s war policy has been clear for the past several years: the country demonstrated no readiness to make sustained efforts in a prolonged war, nor did it act as a serious partner determined to win the conflict.There are three aspects in this British betrayal. First,

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-2224562318576198772008-08-01T18:20:00.006-04:002008-08-02T12:08:49.491-04:00

For the last few years, Iraq has been working to build its new armed forces with invaluable American support. In the course of the process Iraq purchased large amounts of arms and equipment from the US. But a tendency towards getting eastern bloc arms was evident, largely due to decades of dependence and familiarity with such arms.This trend seems to be changing fast recently.From time to time we

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-52646139372148514112008-07-24T14:04:00.004-04:002008-07-26T18:37:03.080-04:00

Disagreement erupted between the parliament and presidency council over the provincial elections law. After the parliament passed the law with 127 votes out of 140 that attended the session, president Talabani and VP Adbul Mahdi rejected the law and returned it to the parliament for revision. The key point of disagreement is an article that provides guidelines for the future of Kirkuk. Spokesman

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-7960600893060841202008-07-22T12:24:00.002-04:002008-07-30T11:13:00.132-04:00

Obama arrived in Iraq on Monday for what is described as a fact-finding mission. However, it’s hard to believe Obama is actually searching for facts in Iraq, nor will the facts he finds change his position. The position he chose for himself, as well as all the comments he has made so far about Iraq, reflect a disregard for facts, and there is no reason to expect a change now.This visit, for Obama

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-28511312161213936502008-07-21T12:07:00.003-04:002008-07-30T11:10:54.117-04:00

In a matter of just a few days several important developments have taken place in the Middle East, all likely to have negative repercussions on the already tense situation in the region.The first development was the awkward prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah. Then there were the unprecedented decisions by the American administration to take part directly in negotiations with Iran over

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-4127880893599471562008-07-19T17:53:00.001-04:002008-07-19T17:58:20.358-04:00

A large coalition of tribes in Najaf conferred and made a decision similar to that by the Anbar tribes last week.In televised interviews, tribal chiefs said they will join forces with technocrats and enter the upcoming provincial elections in slates independent from existing religious parties.The sheiks voiced their frustration with the outcome of previous elections in which religious parties

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-31293412905298110362008-07-11T20:36:00.002-04:002008-07-11T20:42:28.665-04:00

The IDF and Iraq’s defense ministry deny that Israeli air force is using Iraqi airspace to prepare for attacks on Iran. The claim is obviously part of Iran’s propaganda campaign which is based on deterrence through threats to expand the war. After all, to travel the 200 miles that separate Iraq’s most southern territory from Bushehr in five minutes means that aircraft will have to fly at the

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-3292228780297988812008-07-11T15:14:00.002-04:002008-07-11T15:21:15.460-04:00

The Anbar Salvation Council announces plan to nominate candidates for the upcoming provincial elections and accuses the Islamic Party of plotting electoral fraud:Chief of the Anbar Salvation council sheik Hameed Hayis announced the formation of “The Democratic Bloc of Anbar” that will enter the upcoming provincial elections in November and later general elections in 2009.Hayis said the salvation

Mohammedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09843636087152375775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-1514990078354022172008-07-11T13:47:00.003-04:002008-07-11T14:01:29.332-04:00

First, it was flying IEDs...Now, sticky IEDsIraqi newspaper Al-Madad reports:The government is taking measures to prevent assassinations by magnetic IEDs that militant groups have been using to target members of security forces, judges and civilians.A source in the government said the cabinet asked all state officials to take utmost caution and to constantly inspect their vehicles before

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-85112698817471680452008-07-11T13:14:00.002-04:002008-07-11T13:22:34.721-04:00

Coalition forces and the US embassy decided to ban reporters working with Iranian media from accessing coalition bases and American offices in Iraq. Coalition forces media advisor Abdul Latif Rayan said security concerns are behind the decision and added “From a security standpoint, we think it’s inappropriate to grant Iranian networks or their employees the permission to access American or

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-78475531869878652222008-07-09T12:28:00.004-04:002008-07-17T21:28:48.269-04:00

In a surprising development, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his national security advisor Mowaffak al-Rubaie made a dramatic shift in their positions in the SOFA negotiations with the US. By referring to the negotiated deal as a “memorandum of understanding” instead of using its official name, they are signaling that they are doing more than just taking a tougher stand: they are scrapping all

Mohammedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09843636087152375775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-6797605656268454902008-07-07T12:46:00.004-04:002008-07-07T13:20:42.060-04:00

Our friends and readers remember the Arabic blogging tool that we helped develop nearly 4 years ago. It was a pioneer project in making blogging easy for Arabic speakers in the Middle East. It’s been a story of exceptional success in dangerous times. Only with the strong will of good Iraqis and Americans the idea became solid reality.The project did not wait for or receive any support from the

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-73626280596991810882008-07-03T08:47:00.002-04:002008-07-11T16:53:49.951-04:00

The possibility of military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities is increasing every day: some even expect it could happen as early as the end of this year.The strange thing is that Iran has been directing most of its recent rhetoric not against the most likely attacker — Israel — but against the United States.On Monday, General Meer Faisal Baqir Zadeh of Iran’s armed forces general command

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078010.post-64548947473352239462008-07-03T08:31:00.002-04:002008-07-03T08:38:40.673-04:00

Special Analysis for The Long War JournalOver the space of several days in early June, Muqtada al Sadr has issued two consequential orders that will affect the future of his movement and that of Iraq. Sadr has ordered the reorganization of his infamous Mahdi Army and has forbidden the Sadrist movement from participating in the upcoming provincial elections.Sadr’s first declaration addressed the

Omarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17061132202298764337noreply@blogger.com