ISW News Roundup - October 21, 2008
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)
The Status of Forces Agreement has recently reached a new phase as Iraqi and U.S. negotiators discuss the final details. However, internal politics and foreign interference continue to put the agreement's future into question.
New York Times - New Doubts Cloud Iraqi Security Pact With U.S., by Alissa J. Rubin and Suadad al-Salhy
LA Times - Iraq sends draft of U.S. security pact to Cabinet, by Ned Parker and Saif Hameed
Associated Press - Iraqi Cabinet discusses security pact with US, by Sinan Salaheddin
Reuters - FACTBOX - Iraq's security pact with the United States
Washington Post - Shiite Bloc's Demands Stall U.S. - Iraq Pact, by Mary Beth Sheridan and Ernesto Londono
Washington Post - Iraqi Shi'ite says Maliki wary of U.S. pact, by Waleed Ibrahim
Telegraph (UK) - US ambassador defends deal to stay Iraq for three years, by Damien McElroy
Security
Recent Iraqi security developments show rising tensions between Iran, the U.S. and Iraq over the security situation and upcoming SOFA agreement.
Reuters - FACTBOX Security Developments in Iraq
New York Times - Documents Say Iran Aids Militias From Iraq, by Mark Mazzetti
Long War Journal - Iraqi Forces detain seven Iranian agents in Iraq, by Bill Roggio
Washington Post - Iraqi forces raid home of pro-U.S. group leader, by Aseel Kami
Stars and Stripes - Iraqi army creates civil affairs program, by James Warden
Other Iraq Headlines
Anbar Province
LA Times Blog - IRAQ: Insurgency in Anbar may be down but not yet out, by Tony Perry
Washington Post - A new Breed Grabs Reins in Anbar, by Sudarsan Raghavan
Kurds - Arabs
Christian Science Monitor - US referees Iraq's troubled Kurdish-Arab fault line, by Scott Peterson
British
BBC - Hutton hails UK progress in Iraq
Budget
Wall Street Journal - As Crude Falls, Iraqi Leaders Scramble to Plan Budget, by Gina Chon
Looted Museum
Reuters - U.S. gives Iraq $13 million to fix looted museum, by Aseel Kami
Region
Democracy
The Peninsular Qatar -Arab leaders deliberate on democracy, by Agence France Presse
Pakistan
The New York Times - Pakistani Legislators Show Little Appetite for a Fight, by Jane Perlez
Afghanistan
The Times Online (UK) - NATO mission accused of wavering political will in Afghanistan, by Michael Evans
Iran
Voice of America - Big-Power Diplomats Discuss Iran Nuclear Issue, by David Gollust
The Telegraph (UK) - Iran arrests pigeons 'spying' on nuclear site
Israel
The Australian - Israel ponders revival of Saudi peace plan