U.S. and Iraqi Forces Hunt Most Wanted

Prime Minister Says Politicians And Officials With Ties To Extremists Will Be Arrested

(AP)  Iraq's prime minister says U.S. and Iraqi authorities are working together to arrest and prosecute Iraqi politicians and top officials suspected of links to armed extremist groups.

"There is coordination between us and the (U.S.-led) Multinational Forces (that) started at the beginning of this year ... to determine who should be arrested and the reasons behind arresting them," Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told The Associated Press in an interview Saturday.

His comments were in response to a question about whether lists had been prepared of senior Iraqi officials, politicians and lawmakers targeted for arrest.

Al-Maliki said Iraqi authorities would begin preparing cases against unspecified officials and would refer them to investigative judges, who under the Iraqi legal system can issue indictments like American grand juries.

The prime minister gave no further details, such as how many people were targets of investigations or any specific names. He also did not specify when cases would be forward to investigative judges.

U.S. officials would not comment on the purported lists or even confirm if they exist, citing a policy not to discuss intelligence operations.

"We will not discuss actual, alleged, or potential intelligence activities in order to protect operational security," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a military spokesman. "Obviously, such a list would fall under this type of activity."

Garver noted that the coalition does have authority to "take all necessary measures" to maintain security, but said it would not arrest people "for political reasons."

Five Iraqi officials — two of them generals and the others from Sunni and Shiite parties — have told the AP that U.S. officials and Iraqi intelligence agents were drawing up such lists of top officials and politicians to be arrested under the Baghdad security plan.

All five said they had direct knowledge of the lists, but none would speak on the record because the issue is so sensitive.

An Iraqi army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Qassim Moussawi, alluded to "lists" but stopped short of confirming its existence.

"This subject has some delicate intelligence elements," he said at a news conference last month, without elaborating.

One of the Iraqi officials who spoke to AP said al-Maliki had asked the Americans to make the arrests to provide his government with political cover.

"There is a list of lawmakers, undersecretaries at several ministries and politicians who are involved in terrorist activities," the official said. "There is no immunity for lawmakers ... the prime minister is determined to pursue this."

A U.N. Security Council resolution gives the U.S.-led coalition the authority to detain anyone suspected of presenting a security risk to multinational forces. One Iraqi general said some people on the list were believed to be providing financial help to extremists.

Deputy Health Minister Hakim al-Zamili was arrested Feb. 9 by U.S. and Iraqi soldiers for allegedly diverting millions of dollars from his ministry to the Shiite militia, the Mahdi Army.

Iraqi officials give various estimates about the number of people on the list, ranging from 50 to more than 100. The discrepancy could not be explained, but it could be due to changes in the list based on intelligence operations or linked to an effort by Iraqi leaders to pare the list down for political reasons.

[radiob-2009]

ABC is reporting that this is to occur in two weeks, that coincides with the reported time of the Iran, Syria, Iraq and US meeting over the future of Iraq.

[duffyn]

Things are looking better in Iraq. As much as I do not like bush & co, I sincerely hope they continue to improve. Maybe the pressure and idea that our troops may not be there forever has finally lit a fire under their collective b*tts. We understand the bad guys are laying low right now - hope they keep doing that!

[ikez78]

Long overdue.

[lars008-2009]

Thomas Jefferson knew about fascist nazi islam..... he killed plenty of them....

In 1786 Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They asked him by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven.[1]

[bm6005]

Liars008

You're posts are tiring.

[lars008-2009]

What Thomas Jefferson learned
from the Muslim book of jihad

http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan07/jeff_quran.htm
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2007/691/
http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2002_winter_spring/terrorism.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=+Thomas Jefferson barbary

[trueprogress]

It is about time. Hooray for our side !

Go get them ! Enough of this BS PC ACLU style. Opps did I offend you ?

What I would like to see next :

I can not imagine that during WWII we would allow a TV or radio station to broadcast propaganda, such as Al Jazeera does ( tapes/interviews etc) .

There has to be many people there who are one or two removed from knowing where the big Awholyone Osama Bin is held up in his JOker Hideout. (What we can't find him ! Yes we can ! )
Unlike Batman we could...
Go to the station. Shut it down. Interrogate all the key players, find him. and Kill the SOB.

[trueprogress]

If this could save one American life, it would be worth it !

Let's go, put the editors of Al Jazeera under our pressure, perhaps visit them at night, and let them know , we are serious. They do not get a pass. Just an idea to anyone in the US miliary, State Dept, or perhaps the President if he is reading this. God bless our troops !

[cbs_oliver]

I guess there is a new deck of cards with pictures of Iraqis to be killed or captured - a new murder deck.

I guess there will be another murder deck after that - and another deck after that - and another - and another - and another - and on and on and on?

[tbweb]

Islam has very strict rules, I am shocked that Islam itself tolerates Islamist extremist. *** are executed, theives hands are cut off, women must cover themselves in public and they are always on their knees praying. Yet, Islamist extremist blow up kids, rape, cut off heads on the web and commit atrocities that seem to be tolerated by Islam proper for lack of a better term. Islam itself should be dealing with these extreme elements, not the west, not the U.S. or anyone from outside Islam. These crimes are all being committed in Islams name and if these extremist continue Islam won't have much of a name left that garners any respect.

[karlimhof]

The BUSH WAR is illegal

the resumption of hostilities was only a matter of time since Bush was elected with his neocon sidekicks....

blame barbara bush for iraq......
Posted by lars008

[lars008-2009]

What Thomas Jefferson learned
from the Muslim book of jihad

Thomas Jefferson knew about fascist nazi islam..... he killed plenty of them....

In 1786 Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They asked him by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven.[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan07/jeff_quran.htm
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2007/691/
http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2002_winter_spring/terrorism.htmh
ttp://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=+Thomas Jefferson barbary
http://http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson islam
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson muslim

[bluestardad]

! The Bush administration is funding Iran Contra style, al Qaeda in Lebanon! Everyone knows that the Saudi Royal Family is a family friend of Bushs and that puts him at odds with American national interest! Israeli Neocons are pushing the Bush administration to attack Iran. The Blind support of Israel is ruining Americas credibility as a negotiator in the Middle East. Afghanistan is falling apart because this administration has pulled assets from that theater of war. The longer we interject American military and money in the Middle East the longer the problems will exists. If America pulls out of the Middle East then the countries will have to work out their differences between themselves and true peace will be achieved. Israeli lobbying groups are selling access to American elected officials as you can see in their lobbying group advertisement below. Israeli Neocons are causing our Elected officials to fight their wars in Proxy! Follow the money do not take my word for it see how many Congressmen are influenced by AIPAC money and how they are voting on Iraq!

http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm


Congress America disdains your actions!
Write your Representatives and Senators! http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Here is the House Speakers email address: [e-mail]

[lars008-2009]

these stupid silly little fascist nazi Islamic muslims are no different from the stupid silly little fascist nazi germans

"When they came to arrest the Jews, I did not say any thing. I am not a Jew.
When they came to arrest the communists, I did not say anything. I am not a communist.
When they came to arrest the socialists, I did not say anything. I am not a socialist.
When they came to arrest the homosexuals, gypsies, mentally retarded, etc. I did not say anything, I am none of the above.
When they came to arrest me, there was no one to speak for me."