US Secret Deal with Iraq
Washington has repeatedly denied wanting a permanent military presence in Iraq, however a secret security agreement is being negotiated in Baghdad that would perpetuate the US military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, give free reign to US forces conducting the “war on terror”, and help contain Iran’s influence in the region.
Turkey’s Secularists Attempt to Oust AKP
This past week, Turkey’s Constitutional Court began hearing a trial that could see the governing AKP (Justice and Development Party) outlawed, and its members banned from politics for five years. Meanwhile, two days ago, the government detained 21 people on grounds of coup-plotting.
Covert Ops in Iran
Contrary to claims of taking a more diplomatic approach with Iran, the Bush administration has significantly expanded US covert operations against the Islamic republic courtesy of a $400 million budget approved by Congress last year, thus foreshadowing preparations for war.
US-Afghan Taliban Peace Talks
The United States has begun signalling a new strategy in the seven-year long Afghanistan War: peace talks with the Afghan Taliban.