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Father honours Afghan blast victim The father of the first British woman to be killed while serving in Afghanistan has paid tribute to his "beautiful daughter" who died doing the job she loved. Sarah Bryant, 26, was killed with three other soldiers in the deadliest attack on UK forces in Afghanistan since hostilities began in 2001. Her father Des Feely told the Daily Mail: "It is truly devastating ... an absolute massive shock. Ever since she was a schoolgirl it was her dream to be a soldier. I cannot believe she will not come home." Mr Feely, of Cotehill, Carlisle, said he and wife Maureen were "absolutely devastated to have lost the beautiful daughter we adored". He added: "But I know that at least Sarah died doing the job she loved and for a cause she believed in." Sgt Bryant and the three male soldiers were killed while taking part in a planned operation east of Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province on Tuesday afternoon, when their vehicle was caught in an explosion. Three were killed in the blast and the fourth pronounced dead on arrival at Camp Bastion, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. It is understood the men were special forces reservists with the 23rd SAS Regiment. A fifth soldier wounded in the attack is said to be in a stable condition. The incident took the UK's death toll over a bloody 10-day period to nine. A total of 106 British service personnel have died since the start of operations in Afghanistan in November 2001. Sgt Bryant married fellow intelligence officer Carl Bryant, her long-time sweetheart, two years ago, the Mail reported. She had done two six-month tours to Iraq and been promoted recently to the rank of sergeant in the Intelligence Corps. She spoke the local Pashtu language, and her work involved monitoring Taliban telephone and walkie-talkie communications. The recent series of deaths marks a sharp upturn in violence against troops after a period of relative stability. Tuesday's incident was the biggest single loss of life for British troops since September 2006, when 14 personnel were killed when an RAF Nimrod came down near Kandahar. An inquest in May found that enemy action was not a factor in the aircraft's crash. The MoD would not confirm what kind of vehicle the soldiers were in when they were hit by the blast, but it was reported to be a Snatch Land Rover. Coroners and opposition politicians have voiced concerns that troops in Afghanistan have not been given enough protection against roadside bombs. Experts have called for military vehicles to be given extra protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and for British forces to be provided with more helicopters. Conservative MP Patrick Mercer, a former Army officer, told the BBC: "Helicopters are still vulnerable, but they're not vulnerable to this sort of weapon." Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressed his "deepest condolences" to the families of the soldiers. He said British forces had made "great progress" against the Taliban, noting that the insurgents were increasingly using mines and roadside bombs rather than open combat. Mr Brown told Prime Minister's Questions: "They are no longer fighting as an army. They are fighting as an insurgency. "That is why we are re-ordering the way our forces work in Afghanistan and that is why we are taking new equipment to Afghanistan. "We are well equipped and will be better equipped in the months to come to deal with this new problem." Defence Secretary Des Browne rejected suggestions that British troops in Afghanistan could start "losing heart" after the recent surge in casualties. Speaking after a memorial service in Edinburgh for soldiers who have lost their lives in the country, he said: "We just have to convince everybody that these sacrifices, these losses, are necessary for the safety of the world and I think there's a general acceptance that that is the case." He announced on Monday that hundreds more British personnel would be deployed to Afghanistan, taking troop numbers to a record high of 8,030 by next spring.

Irish Troops under fire in Chad Irish troops came under fire when rebels trying to topple President Idriss Deby attacked a town in eastern Chad where thousands of refugees were taking shelter. There was heavy fighting for about an hour in Goz-Beida before the gunfire died down, said an aid worker in the town. It was not clear if there were casualties. Chad's communications minister, Mahamat Hissene, confirmed the attack. Eastern Chad is temporary home to some 300,000 refugees who have fled the Darfur conflict in Sudan. The region also has camps for 187,000 Chadians displaced by fighting both locally and in Darfur. Chad has suffered from Darfur's five-year-old conflict, just across the border. The EU is deploying 3,700 troops, including 2,200 French soldiers, to help protect Sudanese refugees and Chadians uprooted by the conflict. The senior Irish army spokesman, Commandant Gavin Young, confirmed that an armoured Irish patrol came under fire and returned fire during the attack. There were no Irish casualties. He said Irish and Dutch soldiers based at Camp Ciara, the main Irish military camp near Goz-Beida, had since been providing armed escorts for aid workers caught up in the fighting to take refuge inside Camp Ciara. He could not say how many aid workers had taken up the offer. Commandant Young said the troops came under fire as they were monitoring a clash between the Chadian army and rebel forces. "It is not clear who fired upon our troops. Irish troops briefly returned warning fire from their armoured vehicles. There are no Irish casualties and all vehicles are operational," he said.

Army Rangers' Chad mission delayed The deployment of 50 Irish Army Rangers on an EU peacekeeping mission to Chad has been delayed due to the movement of rebel troops close to the capital, the Defence Forces said tonight. The personnel were to depart for Chad and the Central African Republic tonight. The 54 troops are part of an advance party carrying out reconnaissance, ahead of a full deployment in early March of 400 Irish troops. They were to leave by passenger aircraft and due to arrive in Chad's capital city N'Djamena by 4am tomorrow morning. Another flight of 90 tonnes of cargo, including vehicles, weapons, ammunition, food, water, communications and life support equipment was to depart simultaneously. The forces were to be stationed at Abeche in Chad as part of the UN-mandated, EUFOR Chad/CAR mission. In a statement, the Defence Forces said the deployment had been delayed as of 6.30pm. "Troops for the Initial Entry Force will not deploy tonight as planned. The EUFOR Chad/CAR Operational HQ in Paris has delayed the deployment of all further EU forces, as the airport has been closed due to movement of rebel troops close to the capital, N'Djamena." Currently, the Irish Army has eight personnel in Chad, three as part of EUFOR Chad/CAR Force HQ and an advance party of five members of the Army Ranger Wing. "They are safe and keeping Defence Forces HQ and the mission's Operational HQ in Paris updated," the Defence Forces said. "At present there is no threat to the security of these personnel and they are in regular contact. This situation will continue to be monitored closely." The Army said that whatever action necessary would be taken to ensure the safety of personnel. "The current tensions are a matter for the Chadian authorities. It does not fall within the remit of the UN mandated mission which is focused on the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons in eastern Chad.

AL QAEDA'S VIETNAM: MELTING DOWN IN MESOPATAMIA By RICH LOWRY June 17, 2008 LATELY, the Iraq War has looked more and more like another Vietnam - not for us, but for al Qaeda. CIA Director Michael Hayden says the terror group has suffered "near-strategic defeat" in Iraq. It has been routed from Anbar, Diyala and Baghdad provinces, and now is getting a beating in its last stronghold of Mosul, in the north. It is reviled by the Iraqi populace, and its downward trajectory began with indigenous uprisings at its expense. When the United States lost Vietnam, it lost credibility and saw an emboldened Marxist-Leninist offensive around the Third World. Al Qaeda is a global insurgency and not a nation-state - and thus its circumstances are radically different from ours 40 years ago - but it has suffered a similar reputational loss. The Iraq War had been a powerful recruiting tool for al Qaeda when it was winning. No more. Osama bin Laden rendered what is called the "bandwagon effect" in international relations - the tendency of states to go along with the dominant power - in his homespun Arabic analogy of people liking the strong horse over the weak horse. In Iraq, al Qaeda's proverbial horse is a broken-down nag. Our loss in Vietnam forever shattered the domestic consensus in favor of the Cold War, creating a crisis of national confidence known as the Vietnam Syndrome. Al Qaeda's troubles in Iraq correspond with a similar unraveling of its ideological cohesion. Reports in The New Yorker and The New Republic recently have detailed an Islamist backlash against al Qaeda's indiscriminate killing, partly attributable to its brutish campaign in Iraq. A group devoted to overthrowing secular Arab rulers and fighting America has overwhelmingly identified itself with the mass slaughter of Muslim innocents. Its methods might not have produced revulsion in the broader Muslim world if they were succeeding. Instead, in Iraq, it's been wanton murder in a losing cause. Like we did in Vietnam, al Qaeda in Iraq has run afoul of nationalism and local culture, although in spectacular fashion. It has trampled on the prerogatives of tribal sheiks and issued lunatic decrees, like its banning of the local bread in Mosul - sammoun - because it did not exist at the time of the Prophet. Like we did in Vietnam, it over relied on favored tactics even after they proved ineffective or counterproductive; with us, it was ever more bombing runs in the North and search-and-destroy missions in the South, while in al Qaeda's it has been mass-casualty suicide bombings. Like we were in Vietnam, al Qaeda was sucked into a conflict not of its choosing by the geopolitical assertion of its adversary. America could have ignored North Vietnam's assault on the South as a marginal loss on the strategic periphery of the Cold War. Since Iraq is central to the Middle East and one of the three most important Arab countries, al Qaeda could not tolerate our attempt to establish it as a democratic ally in the war on terror. It would have been like the Cold War-era America writing off a Communist takeover of West Germany. If Vietnam was arguably a winnable war for the United States - once we established a respectable South Vietnamese army backed by our air power - Iraq was winnable for al Qaeda. In the chaos and civil war it stoked in Iraq in 2006, it came close to collapsing our war effort, and has exacted a stiff price for our intervention there. The group remains dangerous, and - if we throw away the gains we've made with a rapid withdrawal - could mount a comeback in Iraq. Regardless, it still has its redoubt in Western Pakistan. Suffering a Vietnam needn't mean a larger strategic defeat, as we ourselves learned. But the United States had the enormous resources of the world's largest and freest economy and the essential justness of its cause. Al Qaeda has neither, just the animating hatreds that have been put on such stark, unflattering display during its Vietnam.

Hussain al-Shahristani says attacks on oil pipelines have fallen A sharp drop in attacks on pipelines has enabled Iraq to increase oil exports from northern oil fields and profit from the rise in world energy prices. Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani said pipeline attacks fell from an average of 30 a month in 2007 to only four last month. Most of the attacks had been in the north, where Sunni insurgents were active. Mr al-Shahristani told Al-Sharqiya television that the reduction in attacks has enabled Iraq to export more oil from the northern oil fields around Kirkuk to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. The northern pipeline had been frequently shut down for extended periods during the past four years because of sabotage. Iraq's oil exports, most of which come from southern oil fields around Basra, have risen above two million barrels a day for the first time since the US-led invasion of 2003, the ministry said. Officials expect the figure to rise further this month because of increased activity at the northern fields. The boost in exports comes at a time of record-high oil prices worldwide, providing Iraq with a financial windfall as it struggles to rebuild the country after decades of war, UN economic sanctions and misrule. Mr al-Shahristani has said the country expects to reap revenues of 70 billion US dollars by year's end if world prices remain high. Mr al-Shahristani, a Shiite, attributed the drop in attacks to better security provided by "awakening councils" - Sunnis who have abandoned the insurgency and now provide protection in their areas. He said the ministry was recruiting more guards from among Sunni tribes to protect the pipelines, especially the export line to Ceyhan.

Abu Hamza has lost his battle over extradition a result for the good guys at last. .Ed Radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza has lost his High Court battle against extradition to the US where he faces terror-related charges. Two judges ruled that the decision to extradite was "unassailable". Egyptian-born Hamza, 51, from west London, who is fitted with hooks on both partially-amputated arms, is serving a seven-year jail term for stirring up racial hatred and inciting followers to murder non-believers. The US authorities want him to stand trial for allegedly attempting to set up an al Qaida training camp in Bly, Oregon. He could face a total of 11 terrorism charges, including sending money and recruits to assist the Taliban and al Qaida. Sir Igor Judge and Mr Justice Sullivan, sitting at the High Court in London, gave his lawyers 14 days to apply for leave to launch a final appeal to the House of Lords after dismissing his case. Senior district judge Timothy Workman ruled at Westminster Magistrates' Court that Hamza, currently held at Belmarsh top-security prison in south east London, could be extradited, and in February this year Home Secretary Jacqui Smith gave the final approval. The High Court judges said they had reached the "clear conclusion that the order made by Judge Workman was properly made, and that the subsequent decision of the (Home Secretary) was unassailable". Hamza's lawyers had argued at the High Court in London that extradition was unlawful because he would be tried in the US "on the basis of the fruits of torture". They said there was clear evidence that torture was used on some individuals in the process of gathering the information which led to the US extradition request. They also contended that it would be "unjust and oppressive" to extradite because of the passage of time and incompatible with Hamza's human rights. They said any further trial should take place in London.

Harrier Jet Crashes Near Village A Harrier jet has crashed in Rutland, a fire and rescue service spokesman said. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the incident, in the area of Ashwell village, at around 1.47pm, and 10 appliances were deployed. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "We can confirm that just before 1350 today a Harrier GR7 aircraft from RAF Cottesmore came down on open farmland near the village of Ashwell."The pilot ejected prior to the crash and has been taken to hospital by air ambulance. There is no word at this time on the condition of the pilot and there are no reports of casualties on the ground. "It is too early to say what might have caused the incident. However, a board of inquiry is being convened." Rutland's local MP, Alan Duncan, praised the "steady nerve" of British armed forces after being told there were no known casualties among his constituents. The shadow business, enterprise and regulatory reform secretary said: "All residents of Rutland value RAF Cottesmore's role in our community and I'm very pleased that it appears that no one was seriously hurt in this incident."It highlights once again the excellent training of our armed forces and their steady nerve and judgment under pressure."

Soldiers' Bodies are Flown Home The bodies of five British soldiers killed in Afghanistan have arrived back in the UK. They were flown into RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire for a repatriation ceremony attended by their families. The men, all from 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, based at Colchester, Essex, died in the past week. Privates Nathan Cuthbertson and David Murray, both 19, and Daniel Gamble, 22, were blown up by a suicide bomber last Sunday. On Thursday, Lance Corporal James Bateman, 29, and Private Jeff Doherty, 20, were killed when they came under Taliban fire.Their deaths take the number of British service personnel killed in Afghanistan since November 2001 to 102.Following a flypast, a moving ceremony took place at the rear exit ramp of the C-17 plane which flew the bodies home, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.As a military band played sombre music, a padre said prayers for the dead men before pall-bearers slow-marched the coffins, draped in Union flags, one by one across the runway to waiting hearses as families with loved ones looking on. After the repatriation, the bodies were transferred into the custody of Wiltshire coroner David Masters, ahead of post mortem examinations. The bodies will then be released back to the families for funerals to take place, a coroner's officer said. He said inquests into the soldiers' deaths would open in the coming week."

Taliban free 600 in attack on jail More than 600 prisoners escaped during a brazen Taliban bomb and rocket attack on the main prison in southern Afghanistan. At least nine police were killed. The complex attack late on Friday included a truck bombing at the main gate, a suicide bomber who struck a back wall and rockets fired from inside the prison courtyard, setting off a series of explosions that rattled Kandahar, the country's second biggest city. A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, said 30 insurgents on motorbikes and two suicide bombers attacked Sarposa Prison and freed about 400 Taliban members. One of the militants who escaped, Abdul Nafai, said the insurgents had minibuses waiting outside the prison during the attack and that dozens of militants fled the scene in the vehicles. Police official Mohammad Jamal Khan said more than 600 prisoners escaped. He said nine police were killed and 12 wounded. Eight prisoners also died in the assault, he said. More than 30 nearby shops were damaged. Mohammad Qasim Hashimzai, a deputy minister at the Justice Ministry, said the Kandahar prison housed nearly 1,000 prisoners and more than half escaped. He said officials couldn't yet offer a precise figure. Hashimzai said there was no advance intelligence to indicate a large-scale attack was imminent, but he said as a precaution the prison's chief official, Abdul Qabir, was under investigation for possible involvement. Wali Karzai, the president of Kandahar's provincial council and the brother of President Hamid Karzai, earlier said the prison held about 350 suspected Taliban fighters. He said all the prisoners escaped, but had no specific number. "There is no one left," he said. Hashimzai said the jail did not meet international minimum standards for a prison. The Kandahar facility was not built as a prison but had been modified into one, he said. A delegation of deputy ministers from the Justice and Interior Ministries left for Kandahar early on Saturday.

Afghanistan Death Soldiers Named Two British soldiers killed in southern Afghanistan have been named by the Ministry of Defence. Lance Corporal James Bateman and Private Sean Doherty, both from 8 Platoon of C (Bruneval) Company, 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, were on a routine foot patrol near their base in the Upper Gereshk Valley, Helmand Province, when they came under Taliban fire. Their deaths mean five soldiers from 2 Para, based in Colchester, Essex, have died in Afghanistan this week, while the total number of British service personnel killed in the country since the start of operations in November 2001 has risen to 102. Pte Sean Doherty, known as Jeff, was born in Coventry and lived at the family home in Southam, Warwickshire. He celebrated his 20th birthday on Tuesday. Pte Doherty joined the Parachute Regiment in March 2006 and his deployment to Afghanistan was his first operational tour. He was described as exceptionally fit and strong with an infectious sense of humour. His family, including a younger brother and three sisters, said in a statement: "JJ was such a wonderful son. He was the light of our lives and we all loved him. He was a hero to his brother and sisters and they loved him dearly." Lance Corporal James 'Jay' Bateman, 29, grew up in Staines, Middlesex, and was a fervent West Ham supporter. He lived in Colchester with his wife Victoria after the couple were married in Salisbury Cathedral last year. Lance Corporal Bateman joined the Parachute Regiment in 2001 and had previously served in Northern Ireland and Iraq. His wife said in a statement: "I would like to firstly thank everybody for their ongoing support. Secondly, I would like you all to know how immensely proud we are of him and all that he has achieved. "I know how he loved the Parachute Regiment and I draw comfort from the fact that he died doing the job he loved, for the country he loved, with the friends he loved."

Medal of Honor Awarded Posthumously Sent in by Fred Korsack Pathfinder Denmark. SEAL, Master-At-Arms Second Class (Sea, Air And Land), Michael Monsoor, was awarded the  Medal of Honor posthumously, for jumping on a grenade in Iraq, giving his life to save his fellow Seals. This action took place in September 2006. During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego, as his coffin was being moved from the hearse to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEALs were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of two's, with the coffin moving up the center. As Mike's coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin. The slaps were audible from across the cemetery; by the time the coffin arrived grave side, it looked as though it had a gold inlay from all the Tridents pinned to it. This was a fitting send-off for a warrior hero. This should be front-page news.

Former SAS Chief Quits Armed Forces A former head of the SAS has quit the armed forces amid speculation that he was unhappy with the resources provided to troops by the Ministry of Defence, it has emerged. In a statement, Brigadier Ed Butler said that he was resigning his commission in order to spend more time with his family and take up opportunities in the commercial sector. It is understood that he was recently passed over for the post of director of special forces. Paying tribute to the servicemen and women he fought with in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and the Balkans, Brig Butler said that they operated "within the well-known constraints and restraints", leading to speculation that his departure was motivated by concern over troops' equipment and conditions. But sources within the Ministry of Defence insisted that Brig Butler did not intend his comments to be seen as a "protest vote". Brig Butler, one of the UK's most experienced and decorated special forces soldiers, led British troops in Afghanistan as commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade. In his statement, he said he had decided to resign after six months of discussion with his family, who were his "over-riding consideration". He added: "I have had an incredible two dozen years in the Army and have been so privileged to lead some extraordinarily brave men and women, from all three services, on hugely challenging operations. "Their resourcefulness, commitment and ability to continually deliver operational success, within the well known constraints and restraints, is both remarkable and humbling. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude." "It is now time to move on to new challenges and rewards, transferring all the skills and experiences I have learnt in the military into the commercial sector. Most importantly, I can now spend more time with my young family."

An American tank that formed part of the 1944 D-Day invasion force was discovered buried under a street in northern France Bomb disposal experts examined the WWII US tank before it was exhumed in northern France French bomb disposal experts were brought in to ensure the military vehicle posed no danger before it was dug out from its muddy grave in near perfect condition. Council workers came across the M5 tank as they carried out routine repairs to the road in Chartres, 55 miles south-west of Paris. It is thought the tank from the 31st Tank Battalion formed part of the invasion force that liberated France from the Nazis more than six decades ago. Residents recalled the tank entering the cathedral city where it had been carrying out reconnaissance when it either ran out of fuel or broke down. When France was liberated it was pushed down a hole and buried, one resident said. Several battle tanks from the world wars have been unearthed in France. Ten years ago a British tank used in the First World War was found by archaeologists in a vegetable patch in Flesquieres, a French town near the Belgian border. The 27-ton machine, British Mark 4, had been abandoned during the November 1917 Battle of Cambrai..

Soldier's death in Afghanistan blamed on helicopter fault A British soldier bled to death in Afghanistan because of faulty equipment, compounded by incompetence, according to a military inquiry into the incident. Corporal Mark Wright, who died from his injuries in a minefield after rescuing an injured colleague, could have lived if the helicopter summoned to help had been equipped with a winch, the inquiry reveals. Wright, a 27-year-old paratrooper posthumously awarded the George Cross, was among seven soldiers trapped in a minefield in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, in September 2006. They had to wait five hours for a US Knighthawk helicopter to rescue them. Wright died before the aircraft reached a military hospital in Camp Bastion. The report of the military inquiry, presided over by Major General Andrew Farquhar and yet to be published, says there were no British helicopters equipped to get soldiers out of a minefield. Had there been, it is understood to say, "Cpl Wright's wounding may not have proved fatal". It concludes that Wright died because of the non-availability of an aircraft equipped with a suitable winch, that British soldiers did not have a map of the mined area even though one was available, radio problems led to a communications breakdown, and soldiers had to provide their own mine extraction kits. It says that Britain's armed forces need to have their own combat search and rescue capability. None of the problems was mentioned at the time of the incident. An MoD spokeswoman said yesterday: "We have helicopters, equipped with a hoist, allocated for medical support, of the type and in the number appropriate to the circumstances ... At the time of the incident, all of the helicopters in theatre would have been fully equipped. However, a fault with another system necessitated all of the winches being returned to the UK as a matter of urgency for inspection to ensure their reliability." Paul Harrington, lawyer for Wright's parents, said: "There was a systemic failure by the MoD in providing adequate resources, equipment and intelligence which led to a wholly avoidable death and serious injuries." Wright's father, Bob, was reported to be furious with the MoD, accusing it of "trying to hide the truth". Harrington is also acting for three soldiers who lost legs in the incident and are suing for negligence. Des Browne, the defence secretary, said yesterday that Britain could be engaged in Afghanistan for decades. He added in an interview with the People: "But there is only so much our forces can achieve. The job can only be completed by the international community working with the Afghan government and its army. It is a commitment which could last decades, although it will reduce over time." Defence officials say the commitment does not mean that Britain will deploy its present level of troops in Afghanistan - about 7,700 - for decades.

Suicide Bomb Death Soldiers Named Three soldiers killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan, taking the total number of British troops killed in the country to 100, have been named by the Ministry of Defence. They are Private Nathan Cuthbertson, Private Daniel Gamble and Private Charles David Murray, all of 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment (2PARA). The men were fatally injured when a lone insurgent detonated an explosive device as their routine foot patrol was returning to base. Four soldiers were injured in the attack in the Upper Sangin Valley in Helmand Province and evacuated to Camp Bastion for treatment. One was pronounced dead on arrival and, despite medics' efforts, another two died from their wounds. The fourth soldier is expected to make a good recovery. Pte Gamble's parents, who have not been named, said: "Dan died doing the job he was so proud to do, with the regiment he was so proud to be a part of. "He was special because he had trained in the Afghan Pashtu language. He was special to his family and friends - a true hero in every sense, he will be missed by so many people more than he would ever know." Pte Murray's family described his as "a little guy with a big heart". In a statement, they said: "David always dreamed of being a soldier like his uncle, papa and grandad. "He made us proud, every day, in everything he did. He was the little guy with a big heart, although he would never admit it. He had the biggest, cheekiest grin that we had ever seen and he always made us laugh with his cheeky way." Pte Cuthbertson's best friend Private Lee Cunliffe said: "I am truly sorry and gutted about what has happened to him out here, I have lost my best friend. He was an excellent soldier and man. I will never forget him and the good times we had together."

New agreement lets US strike any country from inside Iraq (Postwar Iraq takes shape) Baghdad: A proposed Iraqi-American security agreement will include permanent American bases in the country, and the right for the United States to strike, from within Iraqi territory, any country it considers a threat to its national security, Gulf News has learned. Senior Iraqi military sources have told Gulf News that the long-term controversial agreement is likely to include three major items. Under the agreement, Iraqi security institutions such as Defence, Interior and National Security ministries, as well as armament contracts, will be under American supervision for ten years. The agreement is also likely to give American forces permanent military bases in the country, as well as the right to move against any country considered to be a threat against world stability or acting against Iraqi or American interests. The military source added, "According to this agreement, the American forces will keep permanent military bases on Iraqi territory, and these will include Al Asad Military base in the Baghdadi area close to the Syrian border, Balad military base in northern Baghdad close to Iran, Habbaniyah base close to the town of Fallujah and the Ali Bin Abi Talib military base in the southern province of Nasiriyah close to the Iranian border." The sources confirmed that the American army is in the process of completing the building of the military facilities and runways for the permanent bases. He added that the American air bases in Kirkuk and Mosul will be kept for no longer than three years. However, he said there were efforts by the Americans to include the Kirkuk base in the list of permanent bases. The sources also said that a British brigade was expected to remain at the international airport in Basra for ten years as long as the American troops stayed in the permanent bases in Iraq. Iraqi analysts said that the second item of the controversial agreement which permits American forces on Iraqi territories to launch military attacks against any country it considers a threat is addressed primarily to Iran and Syria. Iran has raised serious concerns in the past few days over the Iraqi-American security agreement and followed it with issuing religious fatwas and called for demonstrations, mainly by the powerful Shiite leader Moqtada Al Sadr movement, who is close to Iran, against the agreement.