HOUSE VOTES TO ORDER US TROOPS TO LEAVE IRAQ BY AUGUST 2008
IRAQ SPENDING BILL GIVES BUSH $124 BILLION TO FIGHT WARS IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, BUT SETS DEADLINE TO COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL
24 March 2007

Even as Pres. Bush has increased the troop "surge" to 28,000 additional soldiers in Baghdad, the US House today voted by simple majority to pass legislation requiring Bush to complete a "phased redeployment" of all combat personnel currently in Iraq by 2008.

• BBC: "US House votes for Iraq deadline"

 

• SMH: "Bush, Democrats to clash over Iraq"
• Seattle Times: "Bush defines new path, warns of bloody year ahead"
• CNN: "Bush on Iraq: Commitment 'not open-ended'"
• SMH: "Bush vows action on Iran, Syria"
• SMH: "Iraqis question Bush's new strategy"
• Bloomberg: "Bush, Support Slipping, Commits More Troops to Iraq"
• Reuters AlertNet: "US forces raid Iran official office in Iraq - TVs"
• Sabah: "U.S. forces raid Iran official office in Iraq"
• SJ Mercury News: "Senators report Saddam avoided helping Al-Qaida"
• BBC: "Iraq war justifications laid bare"
• HeraldNet: "Senate report refutes reasons for war"

RELATED STORIES:
BUSH ANNOUNCES PLANS TO SEND 21,500 MORE SOLDIERS TO IRAQ
FACING INCREASING CALLS FOR PHASED WITHDRAWAL, IGNORING IRAQ STUDY GROUP ADVICE, BUSH TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR WAR'S MISTAKES
11 January 2007

After much speculation and many leaks, US pres. George W. Bush has announced he will send more than 20,000 additional soldiers into Iraq warzone, will require Iraqi government to take action against sectarian movements fomenting violence across Iraq. Bush also said that "Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me". [Full Story]

SENATE REPORT SAYS HUSSEIN NEVER HAD AL-QAEDA TIES
SADDAM HUSSEIN NEVER WORKED WITH BIN LADEN OR AL-ZARQAWI, DESPITE CLAIMS BY TOP U.S. OFFICIALS
9 September 2006

As the 5th anniversary of the attacks of 11 September 2001 approach, the US Senate's Intelligence Committee has issued a report officially finding that Saddam Hussein never collaborated with al-Qaeda in any sense. In fact, he was hunting Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who would later name his organization "Al-Qaeda of Mesopotamia" or as per Pentagon briefings "Al-Qaeda in Iraq". [Full Story]

DESPITE THOUSANDS OF CIVILIAN DEATHS, FEW MURDER CASES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN IRAQ WAR
WASH. POST REPORTS CAUTION AMONG MILITARY BRASS TO HOLD SOLDIERS ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY VIOLATE THE LAWS OF WAR
28 August 2006

While prisoner abuse has been a widely reported charge, with shocking images and public outrage to keep attention on the subject, there has been relatively little similar public outrage expressed over situations where civilians have died in questionable circumstances. The Washington Post reports there has been a tendency not to investigate many such deaths, with top officials saying "in private" that there's "a tendency to consider Iraqi civilian deaths an unintended consequence of combat operations". [Full Story]

MOST WANTED INSURGENT LEADER KILLED IN AIR-STRIKE
AL-ZARQAWI, LEADER OF 'AL-QAEDA IN IRAQ' TERROR GROUP, CONFIRMED KILLED BY IRAQ GOV'T, OWN GROUP
8 June 2006

Reports from Baghdad suggest Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed by a US airstrike on 7 June 2006. The official announcement was made by Iraq's prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, and was later confirmed by US Gen. Casey. The White House issued a statement of cautious relief, saying the removal of Zarqawi could be a moment of hope for Iraq, but will not end the ongoing sectarian and insurgent violence. [Full Story]

NO WMD, JUSTIFICATIONS FOR WAR IN QUESTION
26 January 2004

David Kay, chief weapons inspector for the Iraq Survey Group, who recently left his post, reports there was no evidence to indicate the presence of any weapons of mass destruction, any stockpiles, or any competent programs to develop such weapons. Kay said evidence was found that indicated there had been programs in the past, but that it appeared that all the weapons had been destroyed, and that the programs were in disarray, and no production facilities existed. [Full Story]