Iraqi woman killed in pre-dawn US raid - Two Iraqi commanders arrested for allowing US assault

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19 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (AP) — A deadly pre-dawn raid by U.S. forces that killed a woman in southern Iraq on Sunday drew sharp fallout from Iraqi authorities who demanded an investigation and ordered the arrest of two high-ranking Iraqi military officers for allegedly allowing the operation without Baghdad's approval.

At least one person died in the raid, which the U.S. military said targeted the financier of Shiite militia factions believed to be aided by the Iranians. Iraqi officials placed the death toll at two.

But the larger issues could be over possible violations of an agreement that took effect Jan. 1 and governs the responsibilities and actions of U.S. forces. Under the pact, the U.S. military has to advise Iraqi authorities on operations or work in joint U.S.-Iraq units.

The Defense Ministry spokesman, Mohammed al Askari, said an Iraqi brigade commander and a battalion commander were arrested for "allowing American troops to conduct a military operation in Kut province without informing Iraqi government or coordinating with it."


read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hwK_CSpBxsNuVUEaDuOwmSSCiqGwD97Q6CGG0


Anger at deadly U.S. military raid in southern Iraq

26 Apr 2009 13:42:51 GMT
Reuters

BASRA, Iraq, April 26 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Iraqis protested against U.S. forces on Sunday after U.S. soldiers killed a man and a woman in an overnight raid that was condemned by the provincial governor.

As a funeral procession made its way through Kut carrying the cloth-draped coffins of the two people killed in the raid, protesters shouted angry slogans and demanded the release of the seized men, calling Americans "criminal occupiers."

"We condemn this horrific incident. It violates the agreements between U.S. forces and the Iraqi government," said Latif al-Tarfa, governor of Wasit province. "Innocent people were killed and the city is now very tense."

. . . Major Aziz al-Amara, who commands a rapid reaction force in Kut, said all of those targeted in the raid were innocent. One of those arrested was a police captain.

"They were poor people. They do not cause any political or security problems," he said.


read: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LQ609143.htm

[thunder rising]

1. "aided by the Iranians" the new Al-Quida buzz phrase. Sounds better than we wanted to kill something

Just easier on all those deluded Christians.

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3. desperate to keep the folly of their Iraq invasion at bay

. . . the military makes a last ditch raid to uncover something they could use to discredit Iran, as the State Dept. prattles on about clenched fists and such. This just plays into the hands of those in the region who feel the US is unfairly targeting Iraq's sovereign neighbor, as well as spotlights the arrogance of our military forces in disregarding the sovereignty behind the agreements they made just months ago. And they have the gall to conflate their grudge against Iran with their own reckless assault.

This bunch Obama has assembled at the Pentagon and allowed to remain in charge in Iraq will only only produce the same imperialistic, destabilizing outcome from all of their opportunistic maneuvering - no matter what seemingly rational policy is behind their continuing offensive there - because they're operating with the belief that they can 'defeat an ideology' there and they're determined to 'win' that battle. They've said that victory is imperative to their mission.

Unless Iran is allowed to forge ahead with their ongoing, multiplying economic and security agreements and cooperation with the Maliki regime, unencumbered by the US grudge match - there will be none of the 'stability' that will impel the American military to let go of their Iraq prize. I'm not convinced that dynamic which compels them to hang on to defend against the escalating violence isn't part of some deliberate effort (by opponents or others) to keep us bogged down there. The rhetoric and offensive against Iran and their interests in Iraq accommodates that all too well.

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2. dupe

[Bandit]

4. Wow the USA didn't keep it's word on an International Agreement

I am Shocked...Shocked I tell you.. It never fails to amaze me why any country would ever trust the USA on anything...

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5. let's hope Iraqis realize that

. . . when the SOFA comes up for referendum

[ConcernedCanuk]

7. "It never fails to amaze me why any country would ever trust the USA on anything..." - We don't

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We just sorta hope the USA won't break THIS agreement/treaty TOO much.

And then there's that big War-Machine thing going on . . .

When the USA's War-Machine grinds to a halt . .

figure it out.

Payback . .

itsabitch

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8. right

. . . and, there are other influences which deliberately perpetuate the conflict in ways which aggravate any agreements made to disengage. That may or may not be part of the MIC.

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6. Iraqi PM: US raid is 'violation' of security pact - calls it a CRIME, wants those responsible

BAGHDAD (AP) — An Iraqi official says the prime minister has called a deadly pre-dawn raid by U.S. forces a "violation of the security pact."

The fallout over Sunday's raid that killed a woman in southern Iraq is one of the most serious challenges to the agreement that requires American commanders to coordinate raids and other planned strikes with the Iraqi government and military.

A statement read by a spokesman's office says al-Maliki has affirmed that the raid "is considered a violation of the security pact."

The statement also says al-Maliki is asking the top U.S. commander in Iraq to "release the detainees and hand over those responsible for this crime to the courts."


read: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hwK_CSpBxsNuVUEaDuOwmSSCiqGwD97Q97Q00