APS Diplomat Strategic Balance in the Middle East articles from February 2008

APS Diplomat Strategic Balance in the Middle East archives from February 2008

IRAQ - The Challenges Of Terrorism - Part 30 - US Pause.
February 18, 2008... The top military commander in Iraq, US Army Lt Gen David Petraeus, is to make his next recommendations for this country to President George W. Bush and the Congress in April. Ending a surprise visit to Baghdad, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates...

IRAQ - US Politics Over The Pause.
February 18, 2008... Iraq, however, has become a hot topic in Republican and Democratic campaigns for the November 2008 US presidential elections. Republican Senator John McCain, now appearing to be the most likely candidate for his party's nomination to the polls,...

IRAQ - US Army Post-War Study.
February 18, 2008... The New York Times on Feb. 11 focused on a detailed study of the planning for post-war Iraq prepared for the US Army by the RAND Corp, a federally financed centre which conducts research for the military. After 18 months of research, RAND...

IRAQ - Parliament Passes Crucial Laws.
February 18, 2008... MPs on Feb. 13 pushed through three divisive laws held up for months by bitter feuding between factions and, recently, threats to dissolve the parliament. The three laws are the $48 bn 2008 budget, one outlining the scope of provincial powers -...

IRAQ - Economic Problems Threaten Security.
February 18, 2008... As US officials debate whether to unwind the troop surge in Iraq, one important indicator of the sustainability of security improvements will be whether a boost in economic confidence accompanies the drop in violence. While there is evidence of...

IRAQ - The Russian Deal.
February 18, 2008... The Russian debt and investment agreements were signed on Feb. 11, during a state visit to Moscow by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zibari. Zibari assured his Russian hosts of renewed opportunities for Moscow's participation in Iraq's petroleum...

IRAQ - US Drive Against Unruly Shi'ites.
February 18, 2008... The US military, meanwhile, has pressed forward with its campaign against unruly Shi'ite extremists it says have broken with the cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and refused to follow his ceasefire order. US soldiers on Feb. 11 captured a suspected...

IRAQ - Iraq's Tribal System.
February 18, 2008... The tribe is by far the strongest of five elements of society in the Muslim world, particularly in Iraq where this has proved to be vital for national stability. The other elements are the sect, the ideology, geo-politics and natural resources....