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ISW News Roundup - November 20, 2008
Nov 20, 2008 - Anonymous
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joseph McGree from the 327th Infantry Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Division says farewell to a local Iraqi Army officer in Samarra, Iraq, before going back to the United States.
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)
Over the weekend, Iraq's Cabinet approved the most recent version of the SOFA agreement; paving the way for a finalized agreement between the U.S. military and the Government of Iraq over the status of U.S. combat forces in the country. Under the agreed upon plan, U.S. Forces will be permitted to remain in Iraq until 2011, must abstain from attacking Iraq's neighbors, request Iraqi approval before searching homes, and drop demands for total immunity of U.S. Forces who have committed crimes in Iraq. While the Iraqi Cabinet's approval is a huge success for negotiations, the deal faces much criticism in the Iraqi Parliament.
New York Times - Brawl Halts Session of Iraqi Parliament, by Campbell Robertson and Suadad Al-Salhy
Associated Press - Gates, Rice defend US-Iraq security agreement, by Lolita C. Baldor
Associated Press - Iraq parliament engulfed in protests over US pact, by Qassim Abdul-Zahra
Washington Post - U.S. pact can pass Iraqi parliament: minister, from Reuters
Washington Times - Iraqi parliament debate on pact ends in scuffles, by Hamza Hendawi
Khaleej Times - Iraqi Sunni, Shias demonstrate in favour of US pact, from AFP
McClatchy - Unofficial Translation of U.S. Troop Agreement from Arabic Text
DefenseLink Mil - Agreement Respects Iraqi Sovereignty, Allows U.S. Operations, by Jim Garamone
Voice of America - Iraqi Parliament Debates US Security Deal
Security
Associated Press - US raid kills Iraqi blamed in 2004 reservist death, by Ryan Lucas
Reuters - Iraq steps up security on Iran border, by Tim Cocks
Reuters - Iraq to coordinate fight against separatist Kurds, by Peter Graff
Washington Post - U.S. Troops in Baghdad Take a Softer Approach, by Mary Beth Sheridan
Long War Journal - Iraq develops its light combat divisions, by DJ Elliott
Long War Journal - In Mosul, Iraqi units overshadow Americans, by Wesley Morgan
Stars and Stripes - No Man's Land, by Heath Druzin
Reuters - Iraq discovers remains of 150 Kurds in south Iraq
Washington Times - Sons of Iraq in tug of war, by Daniel Williams
Afghanistan and Pakistan
Radio Free Europe - U.S. Commander In Afghanistan Puts Forward Reconciliation Plan
DefenseLink Mil - McKiernan Discusses Challenges in Afghanistan, by Jim Garamone
LA Times - U.S. strikes farther into Pakistan, kills 6 suspected militants, from AP
Long War Journal - Senior al Qaeda leader targeted in airstrike in Bannu, Pakistan, by Bill Roggio
Agence France Presse - Major Al-Qaeda operative killed in US drone strike: Pakistan security, from AFP
Reuters - Pakistani general calls for halt to missile strikes
New York Times - U.S. Strike Reportedly Killed Five in Pakistan, by Jane Perlez and Pir Zubair Shah
Region
Iran
New York Times - Iran Said to Have Nuclear Fuel for One Weapon, by William J. Broad and David E. Sanger
Syria
LA Times Blog - SYRIA: Report says Britain hammers out Damascus intelligence agreement, by Raed Rafei
Washington Post - Syrian Facility Looked Like Reactor, U.N. Says, by Joby Warrick
ABC - Uranium traces found at bombed Syria site: UN, by Ben Knight
Israel
BBC - Arab plan explained in Hebrew ads
Washington Times - Israeli leaders make secret journey to Jordan, by Josef Federman
Jerusalem Post - Israeli Air Force chief: We are ready to deal with Iran