Bush’s Fantasy of ‘Progress’ in Iraq

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Mar 15, 2006 "If such constant mayhem is taken as a sign of progress, three years after the U.S. invasion, then Bush will surely be thrilled by what the future holds." Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

In Iraq, 87 Bodies Found in 24 Hours

Staff / Truthdig Mar 14, 2006 The latest carnage appears to be almost wholly sectarian--that is, Shiite versus Sunni--and linked to last month's destruction of an important Shiite shrine. The single-day death tally of 87 follows a spate of weekend attacks that claimed 58 lives. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

N.Y. Times Bureau Chief: U.S. Effort in Iraq Likely to Fail

Staff / Truthdig Mar 13, 2006 On a day when car bombs killed at least 62 people in Baghdad, reinforcing fears of an all-out civil war, John Burns, the N.Y. Times' Baghdad bureau chief, tells Editor & Publisher that this struggle has, in fact, always been a civil war and, worse, that America will "probably" fail in Iraq. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iraqi Death Tally Triples Official Reports

Staff / Truthdig Feb 28, 2006 The violence unleashed after last week's bombing of a Shiite Muslim shrine claimed 1,300 Iraqi lives, triple the number reported by the US military Outside of major U offensives, these have been the deadliest few days in the last three years in Iraq UPDATE: The violence continues with multiple attacks claiming 68 lives on Tuesday. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iraq Teeters Toward Civil War

Staff / Truthdig Feb 23, 2006 After insurgents bomb one of the holiest Shiite shrines in Iraq, at least 138 die in reprisal battles --marking the worst Shiite-on-Sunni violence since the outbreak of the Iraq war. University of Michigan Professor Juan Cole calls the day "apocalyptic." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iran Ascendant After Iraq War

Staff / Truthdig Feb 22, 2006 The L Times charts how America's war in Iraq has made Iran the dominant power in the region, with a stronger nuclear program, strengthened ties to Hamas and a burgeoning core of anti-US Shiites. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Anti-American Cleric Rising as Iraqi Kingmaker

Staff / Truthdig Feb 16, 2006 Moqtada al-Sadr, who led two deadly uprisings against American troops, now controls enough seats in the Iraqi parliament to be a puppet master. Read the New York Times profile, or check out Truthdig's Robert Scheer on the ominous implications of Sadr's ascendancy. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Dream On, Condi

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Feb 15, 2006 There is no way to soft-pedal it: The astounding rise of an anti-American firebrand like Moqtada al-Sadr is an indicator of how wide and complete a political defeat pro-Western forces have suffered in Iraq. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Iraqi Shiites Nominate Jafari as Prime Minister

Staff / Truthdig Feb 13, 2006 The largely ineffectual interim leader is now set to take formal control of the country. He is backed by theocratic Shiites in Iran and the rabidly anti-American cleric Moktada al-Sadr in Iraq. A theocratic state, virulently hostile to U.S. interests? Right now Ahmad Chalabi is almost starting to look good in comparison. | story Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

In Iraq, It Keeps Getting Worse and Worse

Staff / Truthdig Jan 23, 2006 The rebuilding of Iraq was hobbled and mismanaged from the get-go, according to an official history of the program leaked to the New York Times | story The Kurds, in exchange for a quasi-autonomous secular state of their own, will allow Shiite theocracy to dominate the rest of the country Hardly the neocon fantasy of a secular, united and American-friendly Iraqlatimescom/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-alliance22jan22,0,6427404story?coll=la-home-world" title="story">storyMeanwhile, a mass exodus of Iraq's professional, educated class is resulting in a brain drain, just when the country needs its thinkers mostwashingtonpostcom/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/22/AR2006012201112html" title="story">storyAlso, an influential cleric who has led uprisings against the US says that his militia would defend Iran if it was attacked | story. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Lowers Expectations in Post-Election Iraq

Staff / Truthdig Jan 22, 2006 We're settling for reducing the pro-Iranian militia's influence over the military and police. | story Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iraqi Voting Tally Deals Deathblow to Neocon Fantasies

Blair Golson / Truthdig Jan 20, 2006 The parliamentary results are confirmed: Shiites will dominate both the Sunnis and the Kurds in Iraq So while the US tries to intimidate Iran over its nukes, Iranian-bred theocratic Shiites--those most hostile to our interests--are in the ascendancy in Iraq So much for the neocons' "Field of Dreams" scenario for creating democracy in Iraq: "If you break it, they will come" | storyAlso, read Juan Cole on how Bush created a theocracy in Iraq | columnAnd read Robert Scheer on Iran's victory in Iraqcom/eartotheground/item/irans_victory_in_iraq/" title="item">itemUpdate: A former Pentagon analyst is sentenced to 12 years-plus for leaking confidential documents in an attempt to get the U to take the threat of Iran more seriously | storyUpdate No 2: Iran and Iraq are already linking arms on the construction of electricity facilities . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )