Bush Escalates Iraq War with 20,000 More Troops; Threatens Iran, Syria
Democracy Now! | 12.01.2007 10:50 | Analysis | Anti-militarism | Repression | World
Bush Escalates Iraq War with 20,000 More Troops; Threatens Iran, Syria with Military Action
President Bush announced plans Wednesday night to escalate the war in Iraq and send over 20,000 more troops. He said he took responsibility for past mistakes but that more troops are needed to pacify Baghdad and other parts of the country. The President also threatened military action against Iran and Syria. We play excerpts of his address.
President Bush announced plans Wednesday night to escalate the war in Iraq and send over 20,000 more troops. He said he took responsibility for past mistakes but that more troops are needed to pacify Baghdad and other parts of the country. The President also threatened military action against Iran and Syria. We play excerpts of his address.
Threatens Iran, Syria with Military Action
As President Bush announced plans last night to escalate the war in Iraq and send over 20,000 more troops, he also threatened direct military action against Iran and Syria.
The President announced the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region and he vowed to seek out and destroy those who are providing material support to U.S. enemies in Iraq.
President Bush: "Succeeding in Iraq also requires defending its territorial integrity and stabilizing the region in the face of extremist challenges. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.
"We're also taking other steps to bolster the security of Iraq and protect American interests in the Middle East. I recently ordered the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region. We will expand intelligence-sharing and deploy Patriot air defense systems to reassure our friends and allies. We will work with the governments of Turkey and Iraq to help them resolve problems along their border. And we will work with others to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons and dominating the region."
Hours after the President spoke, U.S. forces raided the Iranian consulate office in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil. The troops broke into the office, seized documents and computers and arrested five employees.
On Iraq, President said he took responsibility for past mistakes, but he said more troops are needed to pacify Baghdad and other parts of the country.
President Bush: "So America will change our strategy to help the Iraqis carry out their campaign to put down sectarian violence and bring security to the people of Baghdad. This will require increasing American force levels. So I've committed more than 20,000 additional American troops to Iraq. The vast majority of them -- five brigades -- will be deployed to Baghdad. These troops will work alongside Iraqi units and be embedded in their formations. Our troops will have a well-defined mission: to help Iraqis clear and secure neighborhoods, to help them protect the local population, and to help ensure that the Iraqi forces left behind are capable of providing the security that Baghdad needs."
The troop increase has already begun. Ninety advance troops from the 82nd Airborne Division arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday. During his speech President Bush also openly rejected calls from Democrats on Capitol Hill to begin withdrawing troops.
President Bush: "This new approach comes after consultations with Congress about the different courses we could take in Iraq. Many are concerned that the Iraqis are becoming too dependent on the United States, and therefore, our policy should focus on protecting Iraq's borders and hunting down al-Qaeda. Their solution is to scale back America's efforts in Baghdad or announce the phased withdrawal of our combat forces. We carefully considered these proposals, and we concluded that to step back now would force a collapse of the Iraqi government, tear the country apart, and result in mass killings on an unimaginable scale. Such a scenario would result in our troops being forced to stay in Iraq even longer and confront an enemy that is even more lethal. If we increase our support at this crucial moment and help the Iraqis break the current cycle of violence, we can hasten the day our troops begin coming home."
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/11/1536230
EXCLUSIVE..."I'm Scared Out of My Mind" - Live From Iraq, Active Duty Army Sgt. Speaks Out Against War Escalation
In an Democracy Now! exclusive, we go to Iraq to speak with Army Sergeant Ronn Cantu who is serving his second tour in Iraq. Cantu recently signed a petition to Congress - known as an Appeal for Redress - calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. He says, "Everything we do here is on the defense. Any troops increase over here - they will just be more sitting ducks, more targets."
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/11/1536236
As Bush Commits More Troops to Iraq, UFPJ Calls For March on Washington to End War
We speak with Leslie Cagan, the national director of United For Peace and Justice. The group has called for a March on Washington on January 27 to end the war. Cagan says, "I do not think anybody really understood just how deeply the feeling against the war is in this country was until Nov. 7th."
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/11/1536241
Iraqi-American in Najaf: More U.S. Troops Will Result in More Resistance
As President Bush announces plans to escalate the war in Iraq and send over 20,000 more troops, we go to Najaf to get response from Sami Rasouli, an Iraqi-American living in Najaf.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/11/1536247
Torture, Suicide and Imprisonment: A Look Back at Five Years of Guantanamo
Today is the fifth anniversary of the first prisoners being sent to the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Since then, more than 750 men and boys from 40 countries have been imprisoned at there. Not one of them has been put on trial. Hundreds have been released without charge and sent home. Three have committed suicide at least 40 others have tried to do so. We look back at some of our coverage over the years, including interviews with former Guantanamo detainees and interrogators, attorneys, human rights activists and more.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/11/1536252
Former Guantanamo Prisoner, Brother of Current Prisoner in Cuba to Call for Closure of Prison Camp
Protests are scheduled across the world today as part of the International Day to Shut Down Guantanamo. We speak with a former Guantanamo detainee currently in Cuba as part of an international delegation calling for the closure of the prison camp as well as the brother of a Guantanamo detainee who has been held there since 2002.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/11/1536256
"A Deep Sense of Depression and Hopelessness" - Guantanamo Attorney on State of Imprisoned Clients
We speak with Gita Gutierrez, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights and has traveled to Guantanmo many times to represent detainees there.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/11/1537200
The President announced the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region and he vowed to seek out and destroy those who are providing material support to U.S. enemies in Iraq.
President Bush: "Succeeding in Iraq also requires defending its territorial integrity and stabilizing the region in the face of extremist challenges. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.
"We're also taking other steps to bolster the security of Iraq and protect American interests in the Middle East. I recently ordered the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region. We will expand intelligence-sharing and deploy Patriot air defense systems to reassure our friends and allies. We will work with the governments of Turkey and Iraq to help them resolve problems along their border. And we will work with others to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons and dominating the region."
Hours after the President spoke, U.S. forces raided the Iranian consulate office in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil. The troops broke into the office, seized documents and computers and arrested five employees.
On Iraq, President said he took responsibility for past mistakes, but he said more troops are needed to pacify Baghdad and other parts of the country.
President Bush: "So America will change our strategy to help the Iraqis carry out their campaign to put down sectarian violence and bring security to the people of Baghdad. This will require increasing American force levels. So I've committed more than 20,000 additional American troops to Iraq. The vast majority of them -- five brigades -- will be deployed to Baghdad. These troops will work alongside Iraqi units and be embedded in their formations. Our troops will have a well-defined mission: to help Iraqis clear and secure neighborhoods, to help them protect the local population, and to help ensure that the Iraqi forces left behind are capable of providing the security that Baghdad needs."
The troop increase has already begun. Ninety advance troops from the 82nd Airborne Division arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday. During his speech President Bush also openly rejected calls from Democrats on Capitol Hill to begin withdrawing troops.
President Bush: "This new approach comes after consultations with Congress about the different courses we could take in Iraq. Many are concerned that the Iraqis are becoming too dependent on the United States, and therefore, our policy should focus on protecting Iraq's borders and hunting down al-Qaeda. Their solution is to scale back America's efforts in Baghdad or announce the phased withdrawal of our combat forces. We carefully considered these proposals, and we concluded that to step back now would force a collapse of the Iraqi government, tear the country apart, and result in mass killings on an unimaginable scale. Such a scenario would result in our troops being forced to stay in Iraq even longer and confront an enemy that is even more lethal. If we increase our support at this crucial moment and help the Iraqis break the current cycle of violence, we can hasten the day our troops begin coming home."
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/11/1536230 EXCLUSIVE..."I'm Scared Out of My Mind" - Live From Iraq, Active Duty Army Sgt. Speaks Out Against War Escalation
In an Democracy Now! exclusive, we go to Iraq to speak with Army Sergeant Ronn Cantu who is serving his second tour in Iraq. Cantu recently signed a petition to Congress - known as an Appeal for Redress - calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. He says, "Everything we do here is on the defense. Any troops increase over here - they will just be more sitting ducks, more targets."
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/11/1536236 As Bush Commits More Troops to Iraq, UFPJ Calls For March on Washington to End War
We speak with Leslie Cagan, the national director of United For Peace and Justice. The group has called for a March on Washington on January 27 to end the war. Cagan says, "I do not think anybody really understood just how deeply the feeling against the war is in this country was until Nov. 7th."
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/11/1536241 Iraqi-American in Najaf: More U.S. Troops Will Result in More Resistance
As President Bush announces plans to escalate the war in Iraq and send over 20,000 more troops, we go to Najaf to get response from Sami Rasouli, an Iraqi-American living in Najaf.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/11/1536247 Torture, Suicide and Imprisonment: A Look Back at Five Years of Guantanamo
Today is the fifth anniversary of the first prisoners being sent to the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Since then, more than 750 men and boys from 40 countries have been imprisoned at there. Not one of them has been put on trial. Hundreds have been released without charge and sent home. Three have committed suicide at least 40 others have tried to do so. We look back at some of our coverage over the years, including interviews with former Guantanamo detainees and interrogators, attorneys, human rights activists and more.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/11/1536252 Former Guantanamo Prisoner, Brother of Current Prisoner in Cuba to Call for Closure of Prison Camp
Protests are scheduled across the world today as part of the International Day to Shut Down Guantanamo. We speak with a former Guantanamo detainee currently in Cuba as part of an international delegation calling for the closure of the prison camp as well as the brother of a Guantanamo detainee who has been held there since 2002.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/11/1536256 "A Deep Sense of Depression and Hopelessness" - Guantanamo Attorney on State of Imprisoned Clients
We speak with Gita Gutierrez, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights and has traveled to Guantanmo many times to represent detainees there.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/11/1537200
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Blair vows to maintain Britain's 'hard power' role in world
12.01.2007 18:43
Mr Blair said the challenge faced by the world since the 9/11 attacks in the United States resembled the free world's fight against "revolutionary communism in its early and most militant phase".
"Put simply, September 11, 2001 changed everything," Mr Blair said in a policy speech aboard HMS Albion in the southern English naval port of Plymouth, which set the tone for the period after he leaves office later this year.
"Our commitment has to go beyond our armed forces. In truth, this battle we are engaged in is a hearts and minds battle as much as a military one," he said.
Without giving details, the Prime Minister pledged more spending on the armed forces to meet the unconventional global threat from a movement of fanatics wielding a warped version of Islam.
Despite recent increases in funding, he said, much more has to be invested to meet the military missions carried out by British troops.
He referred to shortfalls for British troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, though he said they had been exaggerated.
"So our enemy will see their strategic advantages as terrorism and time. They are not a conventional army," he said.
"They can't be defeated by conventional means. But this is the enemy our armed forces face today."
He said the enemy also knows how to sow doubts among the British public by killing British soldiers overseas.
"Yet to retreat in the face of this threat would be a catastrophe. It would strengthen this global terrorism, proliferate it, expand its circle of sympathisers," he said.
"My choice would be for armed forces... to be war fighters as well as peacekeepers; for a British foreign policy keeps our American alliance strong and is prepared to project hard as well as soft power."
- AFP
Parrot Press
US forces carry out provocative raid
12.01.2007 19:19
In the early hours of yesterday morning, US forces raided the Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, detaining at least five employees. The arrests were clearly aimed at reinforcing the bellicose message contained in President Bush’s speech, just hours before, that the American military would “interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria” and “seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.”
US offensive in Baghdad begins surge of killing and repression
The escalation of the Iraq war that was outlined by US President Bush on Wednesday night is already well underway. Beginning last Saturday, Iraqi government and US forces have pursued an operation to dislodge anti-occupation resistance fighters from Haifa Street—a major thoroughfare in the heart of Baghdad that follows the west bank of the Tigris River and leads into the “Green Zone” area where the US embassy and offices of the Iraqi government are housed.
sam