Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : American Presidential Politics and foreign affairs -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: richardred who wrote (16676)	1/17/2007 1:07:01 PM
From: richardred	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 71588

Top Iraqi condemns US over Iran Exterior of the building raided by the US forces in Irbil The outside of the Iranian liaison office raided by US forces One of Iraq's most powerful Shia politicians has condemned the arrest of Iranians by US forces in Iraq as an attack on the country's sovereignty. The comments by Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, made in a BBC interview, are seen as the strongest expression yet of Iraq's concern about the US approach to Iran. They follow two recent US raids in which Iranians were arrested. The remarks are interesting as Mr Hakim is seen as close to President Bush, says the BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad. Late last year, US troops descended on Mr Hakim's residential compound in Baghdad and detained two Iranian officials. They were later released, but last week, five more were detained at the Iranian liaison office in Irbil. They are still being held. US officials say they are linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard which they allege trains and arms Iraqi insurgents. Delicate balance Iran, which has demanded their immediate release, says they are diplomats engaged in legitimate work. Iraq has sought to bring about a dialogue between the US, Iran and Syria, Mr Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, told the BBC. Any tension between Washington and Tehran might have adverse consequences for Iraq, he said. We fully respect the views, policies and strategy of the United States, which is the strongest ally to Iraq, but the Iraqi government has national interests of its own Hoshyar Zebari Iraqi Foreign Minister "Regardless of the Iranian position we consider these actions as incorrect," Mr Hakim said. "They represent a kind of attack on Iraq's sovereignty and we hope such things are not repeated." On Sunday, Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said that Iraq needed a constructive relationship with Iran. "We can't change the geographical reality that Iran is our neighbour. This is a delicate balance and we are treading a very thin line. "We fully respect the views, policies and strategy of the United States, which is the strongest ally to Iraq, but the Iraqi government has national interests of its own," Mr Zebari said. Mr Hakim is said to be close to President George W Bush and has backed his new plan for Iraq. Speaking after a lengthy meeting with Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, Mr Hakim said that, under the plan, Iraqi security forces would be in charge for the first time in four years, while the multinational troops provide support. "This came about at the request of the Iraqis. They met and decided to carry out these operations and be fully responsible while the multinational forces support them," said Mr Hakim. news.bbc.co.uk

To: richardred who wrote (16676)	1/17/2007 5:27:54 PM
From: Peter Dierks	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 71588

Pakistan Strikes Al Qaeda's Winter Hideout January 16, 2007 12:17 PM Habibullah Khan and Alexis Debat Report: Gretchen Peters contributed to this report. Five compounds of al Qaeda's winter hideout, where foreigners and local militants train to make bombs, were the target of an air strike this morning in South Waziristan, Pakistan, according to a senior Pakistani official. Around 30 were killed, including many foreign fighters from Uzbekistan and Chechnya. There is also suspicion that some Europeans might be among the dead. So far, officials there do not expect to find any high-value targets, such as Osama bin Laden or his top deputy Ayman al Zawahri, amongst the dead. "We had confirmed intelligence of 25 to 30 personnel, including a few foreign terrorists and their local facilitators," said the spokesman for the Pakistan Army, Major General Shaukat Sultan. "As a result of the strike, three out of five compounds have been destroyed, and two could not be hit." • Pakistan Releases Releases Surveillance Video of Bombed Terror Camp Major General Sultan added that some terrorists might have escaped from the compounds that were missed in the strike. While the Pakistan Army has claimed credit for the strike, local residents reported having heard a drone circling the area, leading to suspicion that this was actually a strike by the U.S. The intelligence was developed jointly and over several months by Pakistan and the U.S., according to a Pakistani official. blogs.abcnews.com From: Brumar89 1/17/2007 4:44:48 PM