Problems looming for Iraq from North Waziristan

Last week, following a "turf war" in South Waziristan in which the Taliban killed some 300 al-Qaeda Uzbeks, many Uzbeks were reported to be fleeing to North Waziristan. Now it seems the circumspect amongst the Uzbeks are beginning to leave North Waziristan. The Pakistani Daily Times reports that:

“Around 50 families of foreigners have departed for their respective countries in the last month,” the spokesman, Gohar Ayub, told NNI from North Waziristan. He said he was speaking on behalf of local Taliban spokesmen Abdullah Farhad and Tariq Jamil. President Gen Pervez Musharraf informed army generals from 22 countries on Friday that tribesmen had killed 300 foreigners in South Waziristan and that he expected similar action in North Waziristan. ““The foreigners decided to leave North Waziristan after the tribal operation against the Uzbeks in South Waziristan. The foreigners said they did not want their women and children to become targets,” the Taliban spokesman said. He said that around 50 families, including Chechens, Turks, Tajiks and Arabs, had returned to their countries.

Ayub said that most of the families were returning to their homelands through Afghanistan and Iran. He said the Arabs were planning on returning to Iraq. It is difficult to verify the claim independently, reports NNI. Ayub said it was possible that they were relocating to Afghanistan for “jihad” but he added that this was their decision and had nothing to do with the tribal leaders in North Waziristan.

The spokesman said the foreigners were leaving the area through their own decision because of the fights between tribesmen and foreigners in South Waziristan. He said the tribal elders had not advised them on this matter. He said the foreigners had told their local supporters that they would make future strategy after leaving their women and children behind in their home countries.

Ayub said that the local Taliban were strictly following the September 5 peace agreement with the government. He said that as long as the government didn’t violate it, the local Taliban wouldn’t either. He said that no one entered Afghanistan through North Waziristan and combatants were coming from different parts of Afghanistan.

It could be bad news for coalition forces in Iraq.

Tags: al-Qaeda, Iraq, Taliban, Waziristan, Uzbek

Cricket in Iraq and Afghanistan

More news that you are unlikely to come across in the msm. In Basra, the British Army has been introducing Iraqi children to the noble game through Kwik Cricket, a flexible form of the sport developed by the England and Wales Cricket Board in consultation with educationalists mainly for use by children from the age of 5 in primary schools. Both the Ministry of Defence and the ECB have reports.

The splendid Major Andrew Banks, who never deploys without his cricket bat, also ran a similar scheme in Afghanistan last year. He told the ECB that the Iraqi children had little concept of bat and ball games and they "... never quite understood the lbw law but they enjoyed themselves and that was what mattered." No problem. I have known umpires who never understood the lbw law either.

Last year the Afghan national team played its first match against the MCC, as result of which two Afghans were invited to join the MCC Young Cricketers and later in 2006 the Afghans toured England, playing at quite a good standard against county 2nd XIs.

Tags: Afghanistan, Basra, Cricket, Iraq

British forces at war: as witnessed by an American.

Michael Yon blogs from Basra, Iraq, where he is with 5 Platoon, 2nd Battalion, "The Rifles" Battle Group. It is an article full of insights about the dangers being faced daily by our troops.

One thing that struck me was Yon's observations that the soldiers' missions were being made more dangerous, and their lives threatened, by a lack of helicopter support:

...The ensuing firefights were vigorous. As more enemy joined and the battle progressed, British elements maneuvered and fired, making adjustments to the plan to mold the fight. With no helicopters above to help develop ground awareness or to help shape the combat by engaging targets, British commanders directed their elements by map and ground-feel. Having no helicopters also left rooftops open to the enemy, adding another dimension to the combat.

It seems a depressingly similar story to the long running, scandalous helicopter shortage in Afghanistan.

Tags: Basra, Iraq, Rifles Battle Group, Yon

British army in Basra fightback:

Last week Iranian-sponsored Shia terrorists killed six British troops in Basra:Kingsman Danny Wilson, Rifleman Aaron Lincoln and in the most notorious incident, Second Lieutenant Joanna Yorke Dyer, Corporal Kris O’Neill, Private Eleanor Dlugosz and Kingsman Adam James Smith.

On Tuesday, the British army struck back:

An armoured force of 400 troops from the 2Bn The Rifles and 2Bn The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, both of which suffered fatalities last week, entered the Shia Flats area on the western outskirts of Basra to search for hidden weapons.The district is notorious as one of the most dangerous in southern Iraq.

"We wanted to make quite clear there's nowhere in Basra we cannot go," a British commander told The Daily Telegraph yesterday. "We are prepared to be there in daylight and take whatever comes our way. We are not being bombed out or intimidated."

At the time of posting, as far as I can see, the only broadsheet to carry the story is only the Daily Telegraph.

Tags: Basra, Iraq.

Iran's Great Victory.

Here we go again. For the not so grand reopening, I was going to begin with a few remarks on Iran's great victory over the United Kingdom but, in the Chicago Sun Times, Mark Steyn does it better than I ever could, analysing the issues with his customary style and prescience: Iran's Bluff Humbles Britain.

Of the reams of UK press coverage, the Sunday Times leads the way, with the Sunday Telegraph some distance behind.

The Guardian unleashes Will Hutton, who seems to think the affair was a victory for the UK and a defeat for Iran.

Beyond the imagery and the jingoism lies, at least in relation to Iran, an unappreciated success that points the way to more. After all, the sailors are home and there has been no deal. Better still, the Iranian government, obviously looking for a propaganda coup, has revealed itself as a government prepared to flout international law and mistreat prisoners in its quest for an accommodation. Britain has clawed back a little of its shattered reputation and kept its head. Indeed, by arguing, talking and repudiating sabre-rattling, we have, paradoxically, weakened Iran's argument that it is an injured innocent and strengthened our own that the international community should be watchful of this power and its nuclear ambitions. Soft power works.

You could not make it up.

Over at the Independent, I expected Robert Fisk to be having a field day but there was no sign of him. Instead, the liberal self-haters tie the "hostages" story in with a doom and gloom account of looming disaster in Iraq.

Tags: Iran, Iraq.

Lance Corporal Matty Hull video.

The Lance Corporal Matty Hull inquest has descended in a legalistic farce. The BBC reports that the coroner has agreed not to show the friendly fire video as part of the official inquest proceedings.

Addressing a pre-inquest hearing on Friday, he said: "I can say quite categorically that if it were not for the potential delay and distress this would cause the family, I would not be willing to be bound by an agreement with the US as to use of evidence that I consider crucial to this inquest.

"I would be wrong to accept that the US are correct in seeking to bind the hands of the coroner's court in this way but in these circumstances I feel that in order to make progress and provide the family with closure, it seems to me that I must act in this way as far as the copy of that video is concerned."

Meanwhile, the rest of the world can watch the full video on the Sun's website and shorter versions on YouTube and various other places including, hopefully, Crumbling Spires.

YouTube Video via BestOfYT.com

Tags: Matty Hull, Iraq

Good News from Iraq and Afghanistan 5: Rebuilding Basra.

Continuing the occasional series of stories unlikely to be found the mainstream media.

In Iraq, the Yorkshire Regiment is in Shit Street, literally. Az Aubayr is the second largest town in Basra province and it has a sewage problem. On one particular road patrolled by the regiment, the tarmac is hidden under a layer of the brown stuff. What else would the army call it?

The regiment is in Az Aubayr, the second largest town in the province, as part of Operation Sinbad, helping the Iraqi people to rebuild society. Essentially, that means rebuilding the infrastructure through projects ranging from reconstructing the sewage and water systems to installing generators to provide hospitals with electricity. The MoD has much more on the story.

[It should never be forgotten that, at the same time as they are helping to rebuild Iraqi society, the troops are dealing with the security situation, sometimes with tragically fatal consequences. Only six days ago the Yorkshire Regiment lost Private Luke Simpson, who was killed returning from a routine patrol.]

Tags: Az Aubayr, Basra, Iraq, Operation Sinbad, Yorkshire Regiment.

Coaltion security operations underway in Iraq.

The Ministry of Defence has announced that 2,000 Iraqi troops, supported by 1,200 British troops from 19 Light Brigade, have launched a major security operation in and around Basra (or Al Basrah), in south eastern Iraq. Over the next 72 hours, Operation Troy will attempt to counter criminal and militia gangs through a series of intelligence-driven operations. Basra city has been surrounded and all traffic into and out of the city will be stopped and searched at checkpoints. Royal Marine boat patrols will search traffic on the Shatt al Arab and other waterways. The nearby border with Iran has been closed. The MoD link, above, has a map showing the disposition of forces.

The BBC and has an early report.



Map from CIA World Factbook.

On a wider front, Iraq's border with Syria has also been closed as the US army clamps down on the security position in Baghdad, Reuters reports.

More from the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian.

Tags: Basra, Baghdad, Iraq, Operation Troy

Oil for Food.

The Serious Fraud Office is turning its attention to the Iraq Oil for Food scandal. The Guardian says the SFO will base its investigation into the alleged involvement of British firms on the Volcker Report, that is, the UN Oil-for-food Report. At the bottom of the page the Guardian has a link to a pdf download of the report.

According to the the Evening Standard, Scotland Yard has George Galloway in its sights, even though the SFO has dropped that aspect of its oil for food inquiry.

Tags: George Galloway, Iraq, Oil for food.

Colonel Mendonca not guilty.

Colonel Jorge Mendonca, DSO,who hold the dubious distinction of being the most senior British officer ever to face a court martial, has been cleared of all the charges instigated by the anti-army human rights lobby. Four other soldiers have been cleared of similar allegations, amounting to less than gentle treatment of captured terrorists, brought under the International Criminal Court Act, 2001. The show trial of two other soldiers continues.

That this case was ever brought is a damning indictment of the left's anti-military mind set and, equally, of society's disregard for the armed forces. I fear there is little hope for a country that sends its finest young men into combat, daily risking death and serious injury, only to unleash the profiteering human rights lawyers on them at the slightest chance. Here is the roll of shame.

Colonel Mendonca is one of our most distinguished solders, As an holder of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), he was a prize scalp for the left. Well, they have not got him.

The Daily Telegraph has the best report and links. The Times and the BBC also weigh in.

Update 15/2/07:

The Daily Mail sums up how many people will feel about this politically motivated nonsense. What can you expect from a government whose ministers' have spent years involved with CND and various "troops out" movements. Ranting Stan has addressed the government's lack of a military voice.

Tags: Colonel Jorge Mendonca, Iraq.

Private Luke Simpson

The British soldier killed in Iraq on Friday has been named as Private Luke Daniel Simpson of 1st Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment. From the MoD:

Private Luke Simpson, known as 'Boob' to his friends, was born on 22 January 1986. He lived in Howden, near York, and joined the Army at the age of 16. He had two sisters and Pte Simpson's father served with the Battalion as a Sergeant Major.

On 3 September 2002, Private Luke Simpson enlisted into the Army, beginning his career at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick the following January. On completion of his Combat Infantryman's Course he joined 1st Battalion The Prince of Wales' Own Regiment of Yorkshire in July 2003 and served in both Northern Ireland and Bosnia.

Having passed a challenging selection cadre, he spent a considerable amount of time in the Reconnaissance Platoon, where he was very highly regarded. On 6 June 2006, The Prince of Wales's Own became 1st Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment and, following a period of training, the unit deployed to Iraq on 5 November 2006.

Pte Simpson was identified as a rising star early in his career by his commanders and colleagues. He was an extremely professional soldier with superb standards who loved the Army as much as he loved life. His enthusiasm was infectious too. He could always be relied upon to lift the morale in his platoon during difficult times and such was his popularity that he had an ability to be cheeky to his superiors without getting into trouble.

Pte Luke Simpson was a Star Wars fanatic and a committed rock music enthusiast. He also loved most TV comedies and watched them whenever he had a spare moment. This fuelled his well developed sense of humour. Private Cameron Pierre, 1 Platoon, A Company, said of him:

"He was always sticking up two fingers behind the boss's back and waving them around wildly. The boss would catch him now and again but Boob could get away with that. The boss loved him."

More tributes on the MoD link. The BBC also has a report.

Tags: Luke Simpson, Iraq.

Attack on British forces in Basra, Iraq.

One British soldier has died and three others are injured, one critically, after a roadside bomb attack on a routine patrol in Basra, Iraq. The MoD will name the soldier tomorrow. Details are sparse, but, according to the Guardian,

The dead soldier was travelling in a lightly-armoured "snatch" Land Rover about three miles south-east of Basra when the device exploded.

Yet another fatality from a lightly armed Land Rover can come as no surprise to many, especially those who have read European Referendum's very detailed analyses of the problem from last year. Yet, still the government is willing to send troops into danger without adequate protection.

At about the same time as the fatality, seven soldiers were injured, two "very seriously" in a mortar attack on the British base in Basra. The Times covers both incidents and also the, thankfully non-fatal, shooting of a soldier from the Rifles Regiment on routine patrol in Basra.

Tags: Basra, Iraq

Goldsmith

The Evening Standard reports that Lord Goldsmith, Attorney General, the government's top legal official, has been pressured into agreeing to make public any advice he receives over cash for honours charges against individuals. Before getting tousled by MPs on Tuesday, he had refused to publish anything. Goldsmith also agreed

to demands by the Tories that he let opposition politicians help to chose an independent lawyer to advise him in the event that the Crown Prosecution wants to bring charges against Downing Street aides.

Such a major retreat, by the lawyer given his job and his peerage by the Prime Minister, looks like a prime example of a rat scurrying over the side of HMS Blair. The BBC has more, including a brewing row with deputy leader candidate, Harriet Harman, which may well rumble on for a few days.

As the Standard points out, Goldsmith's new openness is in sharp contrast with his refusal to publish either the first or second lots of advice he gave the Prime Minister over the "legality" of the invasion of Iraq. It has been widely reported (ie leaked) that Goldsmith first opined the invasion illegal but changed his mind under pressure from Blair. Wikipedia has links on the Iraq legal farrago.

Tags: Cash for honours, Goldsmith, Iraq.

Lt. Jonathan Bracho-Cooke

The Ministry of Defence has announced the death of Second Lieutenant Jonathan Carlos Bracho-Cooke in Iraq. Lt Bracho-Cooke was the 100th British fatality of the campaign.

Second Lieutenant Jonathan Bracho-Cooke, 24, of 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment died as a result of injuries sustained by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack against his patrol in the As Sarraji District of Basra City.

Second Lieutenant Jonathan Bracho-Cooke was serving with Chindit Company, based at the Old State Building in the centre of the city. He was commanding a patrol of Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicles, which were travelling to Basra Palace, the Headquarters of the Basra City South Battle Group, when the incident happened...

...Second Lieutenant Jonathan Bracho-Cooke was born on 13 June 1982. He lived in Hove and joined the army at the age of 22. Engaged to Laura he was due to get married in August this year.

On 8 May 2005, Second Lieutenant Jonathan Bracho-Cooke began his army career at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. On completion of his officer training and Infantry Platoon Commander's Battle Courses he reported for duty with 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, serving on operations in Basra City, southern Iraq.

Second Lieutenant Bracho-Cooke had been in Iraq since the New Year and was always asking questions, trying to improve how he did business and seeking the best solutions to problems. Diligent and eager to learn, he was a very promising young officer who had a bright career ahead. He was excited about being in Iraq and proud to be leading his Kingsmen, the soldiers serving under his command. ["Kingsman" is the regimental term for a private, derived from their origins as the Kings Own Regiment. HB]

He demanded nothing but the very best from and for his Kingsmen. They in return respected him and were extremely fond of him. They saw him as a caring and compassionate leader who despite having only been in command for a relatively short time had made a huge impression on them. To a man they feel privileged and honoured to have had him as their Platoon Commander.

Known as 'BC' to his friends, Second Lieutenant Bracho-Cooke's brother officers will remember him as a cheerful and friendly person who always had time for those who needed it. They particularly liked his ‘off the wall' sense of humour which manifested itself in various ways, either by keeping them up late with his antics or by waking them up with the offer of a jaffa cake.

He was devoted to his fiancée Laura and whilst others discussed buying new cars and going on holidays on their return to the UK, he would talk passionately about wedding plans and spending quality time with her. Hugely talented and extremely popular he will be remembered as a loving fiancé, talented officer, comrade and friend.

Second Lieutenant Chris Ibbotson, who went through training and joined the Regiment with Second Lieutenant Jonathan Bracho-Cooke, said:

"He was faultless; the nicest guy you could hope to meet. His sense of humour was key to who he was. He was fit too and a better runner than most, no matter how many cigarettes he smoked."

His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Hutchinson MBE (CO 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment), said:

"Jonathan Bracho-Cooke was a fine young platoon commander who had quickly established himself under very difficult conditions. He really stood out as a bright, enthusiastic and charismatic officer. We are very proud that he chose to be one of us, and are desperately sad to have lost him."

More from the BBC and his local paper, the Brighton Argus:

Despite having dyslexia, being slightly small in stature and not having a university degree, he beat stiff competition to be accepted for officer training at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

That level of determination and achievement gives a measure of the qualities which have been lost by his family, friends and comrades.

Edited: 8/2/07 @5:15

Tags: Jonathan Bracho-Cooke, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, Iraq

Friendly fire video.

Andrew Walker, the Oxford coroner has been conducting an inquest into the death of Corporal Matty Hull, who was killed in Iraq by fire from a US aircraft. Walker is demanding he be allowed to show a cockpit video of the incident but the MoD says he cannot because the owners of the tape, the US Department of Defense is refusing permission.

Classified or not, the Sun claims to have to have got hold of the tape. I cannot get it to play in Firefox but it is ok in IE. The Sun also has a transcript.

Tags: Iraq, Matty Hull

al Qaeda and the Taliban: growing in strength and purpose?

The Financial Express carries an article on al Qaeda from Syed Saleem Shahzad, Asia Times Online's Pakistan Bureau Chief. Shazhad argues that, since its flight from Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11, al Qaeda has been transforming itself "...from an ideological movement into a physical entity. This would serve as an umbrella to unify resistance movements in preparation for a decisive battle against the "infidel" West." As part of this process,

al-Qaeda reformed its tunnel vision and concluded that it should concentrate fighters in small pockets to establish tiny "kingdoms of heaven" all over the Islamic world, instead of becoming involved in global fights against US targets.

The strategy finally began to pay off in 2006 in Afghanistan and Iraq, where leading amirs (commanders) are in place, although the losses of foreign forces are fewer than al-Qaeda might have expected. This process, therefore, is still in the phase of implementation.

In effect, Shahzad identifies a two-pronged attack from al Qaeda: terrorist attacks in the west and larger scale action in Iraq and Afghanistan. Just before Christmas, Newsweek gave us some indication of how "the battle against the 'infidel' west" might proceed in Europe. In the east, Shahzad observes, in Afghanistan and Iraq, al Qaeda can benefit from the recent strengthening of its ties with the Taliban.

A paper from India Defence argues that the Taliban is now "rejuvenated". As Afghanistan politics continues "Galloping Backwards" into weak government and factionalism,

They [the Taliban] are the 'new winners' of the 'war on terror', whereas the 'old winners', the mujahideen factions of the United Front and the pro-Karzai elements, are being subjected to criticism for the failures of 'war on terror' in Afghanistan. It is no secret that the US has been looking for an ally from within the Taliban.

It would not be wrong to say that Afghan politics has begun moulding the West to its own advantage. Instead of the 'war on terror' shaping the Afghan conflict, it is the Taliban and Pakistan who have begun laying terms and conditions for the 'resolution' of the conflict.

The fact that both Pakistan and the US have, since the rout of the Taliban in 2001, been proposing the inclusion of 'moderate' Taliban in the Afghan government, makes the cooption of 'sections' of the Taliban not so distant a possibility.

I am not sure about the claim that the US is looking to deal with some Taliban elements . Certainly, There is little doubt that some elements of the Taliban are going to play a role in the forthcoming Afghan-Pak jirga, but it is probably the tribal chiefs and elders who will finally decide the extent of the Taliban's influence.

Tags: al Qaeda, Afghanistan, Iraq, Taliban, War on Terror.

Views on Saddam's execution.

In the Independent, Robert Fisk is at his most sanctimonious.

The lynching of Saddam Hussein - for that is what we are talking about - will turn out to be one of the determining moments in the whole shameful crusade upon which the West embarked in March of 2003. Only the president-governor George Bush and Lord Blair of Kut al-Amara could have devised a militia administration in Iraq so murderous and so immoral that the most ruthless mass murderer in the Middle East could end his days on the gallows as a figure of nobility, scalding his hooded killers for their lack of manhood and - in his last seconds - reminding the thug who told him to "go to hell" that the hell was now Iraq.

In the Daily Telegraph, Charles Moore struggles to reconcile his liberal conscience with the necessity to execute Saddam and manages some common sense.

In the case of Saddam, I find it hard to believe that many people are really outraged, except about the taunting and the unauthorised filming. I suspect that they are using it as yet another way of attacking Blair and Bush.

In the Times, Graham Stewart has an interesting little piece on historical examples of execution.

Tags: Iraq, Saddam Hussein

Mubarak on Saddam.

Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt has said that the "revolting and barbaric" scenes at Saddam's hanging has turned him into a martyr. Both the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph seem to think it is front page news.

I fail to see what was either revolting or barbaric about the execution. I bet Saddam was treated with a great more dignity and respect than any of his victims.

Tags: Iraq, Saddam Hussein

Saddam Watch: the execution

CNN has some film of the lead up to the execution; taking it as far as a rope going round his neck. I would think that is all the networks are going to show. Update: According to a news report from the BBC (Watch: Iraq TV images) the video ends with the rope around his neck and the Iraqis have not released the bit with Saddam swinging.

I cannot get the video to play in Firefox without switching to IE.

For the technically minded, TV Predictions says the execution was filmed using a Sony HD camera.

Update 31.12.06

Digg has what looks like a grainy mobile phone film of the execution. Ice Rocket has various links, including Uncomfortably Numb who supplies a translation for the phone film.

Tags: Iraq, Saddam Hussein

Exit stage down: Saddam Hussein.

Saddam Hussein has finally has finally fallen through the trapdoor, at 03.00 GMT. Not that everybody is pleased. According to the Times, the Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, is filled with horror. The BBC reports that Margaret Beckett, UK Foreign secretary, speaking for the UK government, does not approve of executions, even for mass murderers; she is joined by an exotic array: George Galloway, Ming Campbell and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Independent agrees with Human Rights Watch that Saddam's trial was flawed.

Amnesty International must be on holiday. No doubt they will be weighing in later today, as will their friends in the European Union.

Update: Sure enough, Amnesty deplores it all and, Reuters reports, the European Union thinks all barbaric. "You don't fight barbarism with acts that I deem as barbaric. The death penalty is not compatible with democracy," said a spokesman for the Finnish EU presidency. Actually, being NATO free-loaders, the Finns do not fight anybody with anything.

Much more from the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian.

Tags: Iraq, Saddam Hussein