[Peace-discuss] Just Foreign Policy News, December 29, 2006

[Robert Naiman]

Just Foreign Policy News
December 29, 2006
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/newsroom/blog/

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Summary:
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Encouraging contact with Syria and Iran will be a central plank of the
new Democratic Congress, says incoming House majority leader Steny
Hoyer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports. "The leadership's
openness toward Syria and Iran conflicts dramatically with much of the
mainstream pro-Israel community," says JTA.

The Bush administration is considering an increase in troop levels in
Iraq of 17,000 to 20,000, which would be accomplished in part by
delaying the departure of two Marine regiments, the New York Times
reports.

Many American soldiers in Iraq say the temporary surge in troop levels
some people are calling for is a bad idea, AP reports. Many said the
Iraqi capital is embroiled in civil warfare that no number of American
troops can stop. Many worry that dispatching more soldiers would
result in more U.S. casualties, and some questioned whether an
increasingly muddled American mission is worth putting more lives on
the line.

President Bush is considering new economic initiatives to go along
with a possible increase in troops to help stabilize Iraq, the
Washington Post reports. Among the steps being considered are
short-term jobs and loan programs. Some officials question whether
such a package would work after previous botched efforts to stimulate
economic activity.

Sen. Barack Obama yesterday joined a chorus of potential Democratic
presidential candidates criticizing U.S. policy in Iraq, telling
supporters he opposes sending more troops, the Washington Times
reports.

Former senator John Edwards launched his second campaign for the White
House with a call for the US to reduce its troop presence in Iraq, the
Washington Post reports. Edwards again recanted his vote authorizing
President Bush to take the country to war, which he called a mistake.
Edwards said he favors withdrawing 40,000 to 50,000 troops as a signal
that the US intends to turn over responsibility for the conflict to
the government there.

Iraqi officials in the city of Najaf said Thursday that a raid which
killed a top aide of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was a violation of
the deal that transferred U.S. control of Najaf to the Iraqi army,
Reuters reports. A spokesman for Najaf's governor called the killing
an "assassination." Saheb al-Amiri's son says he was unarmed when he
was killed by a U.S. soldier.

Saddam Hussein's impending execution could bring more instability to
Iraq, Inter Press Service reports.

Iran
US officials have tried to tie detained Iranians to IEDs in Iraq, but
have never explained how that made sense, writes Juan Cole.

Iraq
Iraq is in the midst of a housing crisis that is worsening by the day,
the New York Times reports. It began right after the toppling of
Saddam Hussein, when many landlords took advantage of the removal of
his economic controls and raised rents substantially, forcing out
thousands of families who took shelter in abandoned government
buildings and military bases. Iraqi officials say that after security,
housing is a priority, but plans to address the problem are minimal.

When she was in Baghdad in 2005, you could still travel to most
anywhere in the capital, Hannah Allam reports for McClatchy News. Now
there are few true neighborhoods left. They're mostly just
cordoned-off enclaves in various stages of deadly sectarian cleansing.

Somalia
Anti-Ethiopia unrest erupted in Mogadishu a day after Ethiopian-backed
forces captured the city, the New York Tiimes reports. While some are
relieved to see the Ethiopian troops, others are suspicious and angry.
The viewpoint often sharply differs by clan, an ominous sign of
re-emerging tensions.

Israel/Palestine
After coordination with Israel and the US, Egypt has sent weapons into
the Gaza Strip to forces loyal to the Palestinian Authority president,
Mahmoud Abbas, the New York Times reports. The Bush administration is
seeking Congressional support for up to $100 million to strengthen
Abbas and his security forces.

Israeli forces killed 660 Palestinians in 2006, well over three times
as many as the year before, the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem
said Friday, Reuters reports. B'Tselem said half of the dead
Palestinians were not taking part in hostilities at the time they were
killed.

Afghanistan
Afghan President Hamid Karzai voiced strong opposition on Thursday to
Pakistan's announcement that it would lay mines and erect fences along
its border with Afghanistan, the New York Times reports. He said the
moves would only hurt the people living in the region and would not
stem cross-border terrorism.

Bolivia
A delegation of six U.S. senators led by incoming Majority Leader
Harry Reid met Thursday with Bolivian President Evo Morales, AP
reports. Reid said Morales could turn out to be "the best leader
[Bolivia] ever had." Reid said Bolivia was "moving forward" in its
fight against drug trafficking.

Contents:
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-
Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org