Summary

Case O’Brien
Summary
International Controversies


The theme or my articles is the increasing of violence among the Iraqi people. The majority of my blogs came from this theme. Since the beginning of the semester I started to watch what is going on in Iraq and over the ourse of the semester I have come to realiz that in four years since we first invaded Iraq there has not been to much accomplished. The people of Iraq are still under attack and people are being killed on a daily basis. The insurgency problem has seemed to subside in some areas and risen in others. The Mahadi militia is still in power but have not ben seen lately as of a month ago it seems like they have disappeared from the city.
When it comes to predicting the future of Iraq it seems very dark to me right now. I don’t think that this war is going to end anytime soon. The reason I say this is in just the few months from reading what is going on in Iraq in the newspapers, U.S and Iraqi officials have not really made that much headway. It is true that some elections have taken place and that reconstruction is in progress but for what. First off we cannot start rebuilding when things are still going to be blown up. Another problem is there are still thousands of militant men out there who have not been caught and are waiting to strike again. Roadside bombings have also became more common and can be very effective in killing and wounding many people in just one incident. As it goes right now my prediction is that many more innocent American soldier will die in this war and for what. I think that this war in Iraq is not going to end soon we are going to be in this one for the long haul.
Overall I thought posting and commenting on other peoples summaries was fun and effective. I liked how two people having concerns about the same topic can comment back and forward with each other on the others summaries of either the same topic of completely different topics.
Another thing that I liked about being able to post on blogger is to see other people in your group summarizing the same article and the differences both people had with the same article. It was very helpful to be able to read other peoples summaries and also to read their comments even though I did not receive any comments on mine. I like to see people taking stands for what they think in some of their comments and also then commenting back to them on their comment

U.S general says al-sadr is still in Iran

In Baghdad, U.S military officials believe that Muqtada al-Sadr is still in Iran. Officials did not say whether or not the anti-American Shiite cleric is wanted for arrest. A few months ago al-Sadr's militia was the greatest threat to security in Iraq. This militia was responsible for two uprisings against the U.S forces back in 2004. This past month the militia has almost disappeared from the streets . The leader Al-Sadr is said to be a significant part of this entire political process. USA Today Alissa Storwell

Thousands flee as Sri Lankan forces strike at rebels

In Colombo, Sri Lanka thousands of civilians fled into territory that was government controlled. The military started to capture rebel held areas in recent months, this new action came because around 18,000 people poured into Batticaloa where fighting liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam. Aid workers in Batticaloa said Saturday that schools and other public building have been opened to help accommodate the new influx of refugees and that aid was already low. New York Times, Wire reports

U.S. Iraqi forces team up in effort to curb oil smuggling

The Bush administration has made a new approach for the stabilizibng of Iraq. For a long time U.S and Iraqi officials have been aware of the market for stolen oil. They have not acted on this simply becasue Washington feared that if American forces were stationed at the refineries that people would think that why the U.S invaded Iraq only for its oil. Another reason why this wasn't acted on sooner was that a number of government officials were smuggling the oil on the blackmarket. this is a huge problem because about 94 p0ercent of its 32 billion dollar budget came from the oil revenue. New York Times, Yochi J Dreazen.

Iraq leaders asks for region's aid to curb violence

In Baghdad Prime minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki opened a highly anticipated conference, with a plea to neighboring countries to back its efforts to slown down and eventually eliminate the violence that is overwhemling this country. His plan to do this includes refusing to finance the attacks or to not allow foreign fighters on their soil. al-Maliki says that "Confrontation of terrorism, dear brothers, requires ceasing any form of financial and media support and religous cover, as well as logistical support and provision of arms and men that would turn out to be explosive tools killing our children, women and elders and bombing our mosques and churches." After the conference mortar fire landed near the building no casulties were found but this served as a reminder to Iraq goverment that they are under siege.
New York Times, Alissa J. Rubin

Unemployed father

Na'iem Alawi woke up one morning to find a message on his door "Leave or else...." He lives in the Southwest part of the city with his family. Alawi, 37, has lived in the area since Saddam fell to the American forces. He has been out of work for a few months after he had to close his grocery store. Shiite fighters patrol the area that he lives in, their presence attracts much mortar fire and violence. Alawi relocated his family and got a new job. He says it was hard when Saddam was in power, but the American forces have only made things worse. USA Today By: Oren Dorell

Six US troops killed in attacks in Sunni areas

Sunday in Baghdad six troops were killed in a predominantly Sunni area. Four soldiers were killed in a roadside bombing in west Baghdad. The other soldiers were killed in a Northeastern region of the capital by small arms fire from insurgents resistance. USA Today By: Wire reports