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ISW News Roundup - October 27, 2008
Oct 27, 2008 - Anonymous
Security
U.S. Special Forces have reportedly conducted a raid inside Syrian territory on the border with Iraq. While U.S. officials have not publically claimed responsibility, sources say U.S. hunter-killer teams trained their sights on Al Qaeda's senior coordinator in Syria, Abu Ghadiya. For the latest on this operation, see:
New York Times - Syria and Iran Blame U.S. in Blast on Iraq Border, by Katherine Zoepf
LA Times Blog - IRAQ: Commando raid on Syria raises question of timing, by Tony Perry
LA Times -8 reportedly killed in U.S. raid inside Syria, by Borzou Daragahi and Julian E. Barnes
BBC - Syria condemns 'US village raid'
Associated Press - Iraq hopes Syria raid won't harm relations
Associated Press - Iran condemns U.S. raid into Syria that killed 8
Reuters - Iraq says border raid targeted insurgents in Syria, by Marwan Makdessi
Long War Journal - Syrian strike aimed at al Qaeda's coordinator in Syria, by Bill Roggio
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)
Recent news show that delays and external influences continue to prevent U.S. and Iraqi negotiators from reaching a final draft of the SOFA. The following articles highlight a growing impatience with the Iraqi Cabinet and increased pressure from U.S. officials for the Government of Iraq to reach agreement as soon as possible.
Washington Times -Iraqi Cabinet delays decision on U.S. security pact, by Robert H. Reid
Miami Herald - U.S. threatens to halt services to Iraq without troop accord, by Roy Gutman and Leila Fadel
Press TV - Iraq: SOFA should not cost Iran ties
Asia Times - US-Iraq deal awash in 'wiggle words', by Phyllis Bennis
Agence France Presse - Military pact traps Baghdad between US demands and Iranian fears
Assorted Iraqi and Regional News
Iraqi Water Treatment Project
NY Times - Report Finds Iraq Water Treatment Project to Be Late, Faulty, and Over Budget, by James Glanz
LA Times - $100-million Iraq sewer project a failure, report says, by Julian E. Barnes
Washington Post - U.S. Water Project in W. Iraq Plagued by Problems, by Ernesto Londono
Washington Times -PROMISES, PROMISES: Woes in Iraq sewage project, by Pauline Jelinek and Kim Gamel
Economy
Washington Times -Iraqi stock exchange healthy, by Benjamin Morgan
Wall Street Journal - Financial Storm Hits Gulf, by Margaret Coker and Chip Cummins
Pakistan and Afghanistan
New York Times - Pakistani and Afghan Elders to Meet to Ponder Violence, from Reuters
New York Times -U.S. Takes to Air to Hit Militants Inside Pakistan, by Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt
BBC News - 'US strike' kills Taleban leader
Voice of America News - Afghan, Pakistan Leaders to Meet in Islamabad to Discuss Insurgency, by Steve Herman
Iran
New York Times - Officials Counter Ahmadinejad Health Rumors, by Nazila Fathi
Associated Press - Iranian general reports arming 'liberation armies', by Ali Akbar Dareini
Washington Post - Iran Cabinet Minister Facing Impeachment, by Thomas Erdbrink
Lebanon
Reuters - Lebanon's Hariri, Nsrallah hold rare meeting, by Yara Bayoumy
Israel
New York Times - As Israeli Elections Are Called, Livni Is Assessed, by Isabel Kershner
The Peninsula Qatar - Israeli military accuses Syria of arming Hezbollah, from AFP