Civil war in Iraq: External Links July-December 2006

The following are Articles and Commentary for July through December 2006 related to civil war in Iraq.

Also see:
 * External Links for January-March 2006 and April-June 2006
 * External Links for 2002 and 2003; 2004; 2005; and 2007.

July 2006

 * Robert H. Reid, "Blast Kills 66 in Baghdad Shiite District," Associated Press (1010 WINS), July 2, 2006.
 * "Sunni Bloc Ends Parliament Participation," Associated Press (Washington Post), July 2, 2006.
 * "Undersecretary of Iraqi industry ministry kidnapped," Xinhua (China View), July 2, 2006.
 * "Gunmen kidnap undersecretary of Iraqi Health Ministry in Baghdad," Xinhua (People's Daily Online), July 2, 2006.
 * "Iraqi deputy minister kidnapped at gunpoint," Times Online (UK), July 4, 2006: "Iraq’s deputy electricity minister and 19 of his bodyguards have been abducted at gunpoint by a gang of men who ambushed their convoy in eastern Baghdad today, police and Interior Ministry sources have said."
 * "Gunmen Kidnap Deputy Cabinet Minister, 19 Bodyguards in Iraq," MensNewsDaily.com, July 3, 2006.
 * Sameer N. Yacoub, "Iraq Provincial Governor Threatens to Quit," Associated Press, July 4, 2006.
 * Richard Beeston, "Handover boosts Iraq exit strategy. Withdrawal of British troops from desert province marks an important milestone," Times Online (UK), July 6, 2006.
 * Robert Kose, "Iraq is the war that keeps on giving," Bangor Daily News (ME), July 8, 2006.
 * Solomon Moore, "Police Abuses in Iraq Detailed. Confidential documents cover more than 400 investigations. Brutality, bribery and cooperation with militia fighters are common, a report says," Los Angeles Times, July 9, 2006.
 * "Gunmen kill 42 Sunnis in rampage. Car bombs kill 19 others near Shiite prayer site," CNN, July 10, 2006.
 * Kirk Semple, "Baghdad Erupts in Mob Violence," New York Times, July 10, 2006.
 * John Amato, "Iraq in Turmoil," Crooks and Liars, July 10, 2006: "More soldiers charged with murder and Nic Robertson reports on the violence that is sweeping through Iraq. ... Well over a hundred civilian casualties today…." QT and WMP video links.
 * Juan Cole, "At least 80 Dead in Civil War Bloodbath. Government Forced to Depend on Local Gunmen," Informed Comment, July 10, 2006.
 * Jonathan Steele, "Shia massacre revives fears of civil war," Guardian Unlimited (UK), July 10, 2006: "Mahdi army blamed for Baghdad street slaughter ... Shias killed as car bombs explode near mosque."
 * Patrick Cockburn, "Dozens die as sectarian attacks escalate in Iraq," Independent (UK), July 10, 2006.
 * Edward Wong, "Another round of sectarian violence hits Iraq, leaving dozens dead," New York Times (International Herald Tribune), July 10, 2006.
 * Joshua Partlow and Bassam Sebti, "Torrent of bombings and gunfire kills at least 40 Iraqis. Maliki urges nation to unite," Boston Globe, July 11, 2006.
 * Ibon Villelabeit, "Gunmen ambush bus in Baghdad, kill 10: police," Reuters (Washington Post), July 11, 2006.
 * Richard Sisk, "Crackdown in Baghdad ineffective, gen. admits," New York Daily News, July 11, 2006.
 * "Iraq’s Civil War Spins out of US and Iraqi Government Control," DEBKAfile, July 11, 2006.
 * Phillip Robertson, "City of vengeance," Salon, July 12, 2006: "A savage outbreak of retaliatory killings has pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war. In the first of three exclusive reports, our correspondent investigates the Mahdi Army's Baghdad death squads." Subscription or free preview required. re Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army
 * Jenny Booth, "Takeover by militants in west Baghdad 'is thwarted'," Times Online (UK), July 12, 2006.
 * Dahr Jamail and Ali Fadhil, "Merchants of death in Iraq," Asia Times, July 13, 2006.
 * James Hider, "Baghdad starts to collapse as its people flee a life of death," Times Online (UK), July 13, 2006.
 * "Gunmen ambush Shi'ite pilgrims in Iraq, kill five," Reuters AlertNet, July 14, 2006.
 * "Suicide attack on north Iraq cafe," BBC, July 16, 2006.
 * Bassem Mroue, "State of emergency extended after brazen Iraq abduction," Associated Press (Detroit Free Press), July 16, 2006.
 * Robert H. Reid, "Iraq oil official seized; 26 die in cafe," Associated Press (Boston Globe), July 16, 2006.
 * Alastair Macdonald, "Attack in town near Baghdad kills dozens - police," Reuters AlertNet, July 17, 2006.
 * "Attack on Iraqi market kills 42," BBC, July 17, 2006.
 * Raed Jarrar, "Another Reason for Bringing the Troops Home," Mother Jones (Article created by Foreign Policy in Focus), July 17, 2006.
 * "100 civilians a day are dying in Iraq. U.N.: 2-month surge coincides with spike in sectarian violence," Associated Press (Dallas Morning News), July 18, 2006.
 * "UN says 6,000 Iraqi civilians killed in May-June," Reuters AlertNet, July 18, 2006.
 * Geov Parrish, "The last throes of Iraq. US politicians must do more than strategize for November," WorkingForChange, July 18, 2006.
 * "Media ignore memo from U.S. Embassy on deteriorating situation in Iraq," Media Matters for America, June 19, 2006. See memo.
 * "U.S. military confirms sharp rise in attacks. General says extremists planning 'all-out' attack on Baghdad," Associated Press (MSNBC), July 20, 2006.
 * Dana Bash, "Sen. Reid: Iraq devolves into 'civil war'. Democratic leader will try to revive Senate debate on Iraq," CNN, July 20, 2006.
 * Patrick Cockburn, "America's domestic policy vs America's foreign policy," The Independent (UK), July 22, 2006.

August 2006

 * Anne Plummer Flaherty, "It's official! U.S. Generals admit Iraq headed for civil war," Capitol Hill Blue, August 3, 2006.
 * Dana Priest and Mary Jordan, "Top U.S. generals fear Iraq civil war," Washington Post (Seattle Times), August 4, 2006.
 * William Branigin and Mary Jordan, "Generals voice fear of civil war in Iraq. Say reduction in troop numbers may be delayed," Washington Post (Boston Globe), August 4, 2006.
 * John Aravosis, "I think Bush is preparing the American people for an all-out disaster in Iraq," AMERICAblog, August 4, 2006.
 * "Veteran Baghdad Reporter Explodes Upbeat U.S. Assessments," Editor & Publisher, August 15, 2006.
 * Paul Reynolds, "New phase in Mid-East power struggle," BBC, August 16, 2006.
 * Daniel L. Byman and Kenneth M. Pollack, "Iraq Runneth Over. What Next?" Washington Post, August 20, 2006.
 * Amanda Terkel, "Hagel: Iraq Is In A ‘Very Defined Civil War’," Think Progress, August 20, 2006.
 * Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya, "Beating the Drums of War. US Troop Build-up: Army & Marines authorize 'Involuntary Conscription'. The Timing of U.S. Troop Build-up: Iran and the Broader Middle East," Global Research (Canada), August 23, 2006.

September 2006

 * Robert Burns, "Pentagon Says Iraq Violence Spreading," Associated Press (Forbes), September 1, 2006.
 * Louise Roug, "Killings on rise in Iraqi capital. Toll exceeded 330 last week in Baghdad despite crackdown; 4 U.S. troops killed," Baltimore Sun, September 5, 2006.
 * Ellen Knickmeyer, "Body Count in Baghdad Nearly Triples. Morgue's Revised Toll for August Undermines Claims by Leaders of Steep Drop in Violence," Washington Post, September 8, 2006.
 * Thomas E. Ricks, "Situation Called Dire in West Iraq. Anbar Is Lost Politically, Marine Analyst Says," Washington Post, September 11, 2006.
 * Rebecca Santana, "Iraq to Dig Trenches Around Baghdad," Associated Press (Forbes), September 15, 2006.
 * "Saudis plan fence around Iraqi border. 560-mile barricade designed to keep out extremists," Associated Press (MSNBC), September 27, 2006.

October 2006

 * Jane Arraf, "Calling Bob in Baghdad," Blogging Baghdad/MSNBC, October 10, 2006: "I'm more puzzled by comments that the violence isn't any worse than any American city. Really? In which American city do 60 bullet-riddled bodies turn up on a given day? In which city do the headless bodies of ordinary citizens turn up every single day? In which city would it not be news if neighborhood school children were blown up? In which neighborhood would you look the other way if gunmen came into restaurants and shot dead the customers?"
 * David Brown, "Study Claims Iraq's 'Excess' Death Toll Has Reached 655,000," Washington Post, October 11, 2006.
 * "110 Bodies Found in Baghdad in 24 Hours," Reuters (Washington Post), October 11, 2006.
 * John Cole, "Top Ten GOP Excuses Regarding the Casualty Estimates," Balloon Juice, October 11, 2006.
 * Arthur Silber, "The Missing Moral Center: Murdering the Innocent," Once Upon a Time... Blog, October 11, 2006.
 * John Amato, "Bush: I am, you know, amazed that this is a society which so wants to be free that they’re willing to — you know, that there’s a level of violence that they tolerate," Crooks and Liars, October 11, 2006. (WMP and QT links).
 * "General seeks UK Iraq withdrawal," BBC, October 13, 2006: "The presence of UK armed forces in Iraq 'exacerbates the security problems' and they should 'get out some time soon', the head of the British Army has said."
 * Ellen Knickmeyer and Muhanned Saif Aldin, "Dozens Of Iraqis Killed in Reprisals. River Towns Trade Sectarian Strikes As Militias Move In," Washington Post, October 16, 2006.
 * Sinan Salaheddin, "Sunnis flee fighting that has killed 91," Associated Press (MercuryNews.com), October 16, 2006.
 * Frank James, "Expert: Iraq in civil war," The Swamp Blog/Chicago Tribune, October 16, 2006.
 * Colum Lynch, "Iraq Aims to Limit Mortality Data. Health Ministry Told Not to Release Civilian Death Toll to UN," Washington Post (GlobalSecurity.org), October 20, 2006.
 * Patrick Cockburn, "Iraq under fire and on the run," New Zealand Herald, October 24, 2006.
 * Judd Legum, "REPORT: Top U.S. Military Officer Recommends 'We Remove All Troops From Baghdad'," Think Progress, October 28, 2006.
 * "LEAKED MEMO: Karen Hughes Thinks Small In Combating Iraq Insurgency," Think Progress, October 28, 2006.
 * Kim Sengupta, "Operation enduring chaos: The retreat of the coalition & rise of the militias. Iraq's savage sectarian war, with its indiscriminate torture and killings, is an even greater obstacle to peace than the insurgency. What will happen to the country when the coalition troops eventually pull out?" The Independent (UK), October 29, 2006.
 * Amit R. Paley, "In Baghdad, a Force Under the Militias' Sway. Infiltration of Iraqi Police Could Delay Handover of Control for Years, U.S. Trainers Suggest," Washington Post, October 31, 2006. re Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq

November 2006

 * Patrick Cockburn, "Baghdad is under siege," Belfast Telegraph (UK), November 1, 2006.
 * "Kroll pulls security team out of Iraq. Kroll withdrew its bodyguard teams from Iraq and Afghanistan after four workers died in Iraq," Associated Press (NewYorkBusiness.com), November 1, 2006. re Kroll, Inc.
 * David R. Baker, "Bechtel pulling out after 3 rough years of rebuilding work," San Francisco Chronicle, November 1, 2006. re Bechtel
 * Mike Whitney, "Baghdad is Surrounded. 'The American Era in the Middle East Has Ended'," CounterPunch, November 2, 2006.
 * Robert H. Reid, "Saddam Verdict Could Spark More Violence," Associated Press (Forbes), November 4, 2006.
 * John Heilprin, "1999 War Games Foresaw Problems in Iraq," Associated Press (1010 WINS), November 5, 2006.
 * Sudarsan Raghavan, "Scores Kidnapped At Iraqi Ministry," Washington Post, November 15, 2006.
 * Robin Wright, "Bush Initiates Iraq Policy Review Separate From Baker Group's," Washington Post, November 15, 2006. re Iraq Study Group
 * Hannah Allam and Mohamed al Dulaimy, "Al-Sadr loyalists take over Iraqi television station," McClatchy Newspapers (Mercury News), November 25, 2006.
 * Maureen Dowd, "No One to Lose to. A civil war?" Tennessee Gurilla Women Blogspot, November 25, 2006.
 * John F. Burns and Kirk Semple, "U.S. Finds Iraq Insurgency Has Funds to Sustain Itself," New York Times, November 26, 2006.
 * "John Roberts Tells Kurtz: Iraq Worse Than Media Shows," Editor & Publisher, November 26, 2006.
 * Edward Wong, "Iraqi Leader Says Politicians Are Causing Violence," New York Times, November 26, 2006.
 * "John Roberts Tells Kurtz: Iraq Worse Than Media Shows," Editor & Publisher, November 26, 2006.
 * David Luban, "What Makes a War?" Balkinization Blogspot, November 26, 2006.
 * Louise Roug, "Angry Shiites hurl stones at Maliki's motorcade," Los Angeles Times, November 27, 2006.
 * Ross Colvin, "Bombings push Iraq closer to abyss," Reuters, November 27, 2006.
 * Nir Rosen, "Anatomy of a Civil War: Writer Nir Rosen on Iraq's Descent Into Chaos," Democracy Now!, November 27, 2006.
 * Anna Crane, "Turning Point: Media Starting to Describe Iraq Conflict as 'Civil War'," Editor & Publisher, November 27, 2006.
 * Martha Raddatz, "White House Says Iraq in 'New Phase'," ABC News, November 27, 2006.
 * "Bush steps up diplomacy ahead of NATO, Iraq meetings," Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), November 27, 2006.
 * Dan Froomkin, "It's a Civil War, Stupid," Washington Post, November 27, 2006.
 * Dafna Linzer and Thomas E. Ricks, "Anbar Picture Grows Clearer, and Bleaker," Washington Post, November 27, 2006.
 * "Dana Priest: Washington Post Avoids ‘Civil War’ Language Because Iraqi Gov’t Does Not Use It," Think Progress, November 27, 2006.
 * Robin Wright and Thomas E. Ricks, "Civil War in Iraq Near, Annan Says. Study Group Begins Two-Day Meeting," Washington Post, November 28, 2006.
 * "Powell: Iraq Is In A Civil War And Bush Should Stop Denying It," Think Progress, November 29, 2006. Includes video link to Colin Powell speaking on CNN.

December 2006

 * Scott Malone, "Iraqi violence 'self-sustaining': U.S. intel chief," Reuters, December 1, 2006.
 * Jonathan S. Landay, "Study says violence in Iraq has been underreported," McClatchy Newspapers, December 7, 2006.
 * Sheldon Alberts, "Iraq risks a 'slide toward chaos'," CanWest News Service (Victoria Times Colonist), December 7, 2006. re Iraq Study Group report
 * Editorial: "Worsening crisis in Iraq," The Herald (UK), December 7, 2006.
 * Sylvia A. Smith, "Souder reflects on turbulent winds of change. Revises opinions on Iraq war, GOP in the minority," Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Ind.), December 24, 2006. re Mark Souder