The Wall Street Journal: ‘Iran should halt the export of sophisticated explosive devices used to attack U.S. troops in Iraq’ (*Shell’s partner, Iran)

Car Bomb Kills Eight in Kirkuk;
U.S. Helicopter Is Forced Down
Associated Press
August 10, 2007 10:44 p.m.

BAGHDAD — A car bomb struck a market in a Kurdish area in the northern city of Kirkuk Friday, killing at least eight people and wounding dozens, police said. South of Baghdad, the military said a U.S. helicopter was forced down, leaving two soldiers injured.

Meanwhile, the Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Friday expanding the United Nations’ role in Iraq in a move aimed at reconciling the country’s rival groups, winning support from neighboring countries and tackling Iraq’s humanitarian crisis.

The resolution authorizes the U.N., at the request of the Iraqi government, to promote political talks among the country’s ethnic and religious groups and a regional dialogue on issues including border security, energy and refugees.

The U.S. and Britain, who have the largest military forces in Iraq and cosponsored the resolution, believe the U.N. should play a greater part there because the world body is viewed by many as a more neutral party that can facilitate talks among feuding parties.

The attack in Kirkuk, a disputed oil-rich city that has seen a recent rise in ethnic tensions, occurred while the capital remained relatively calm under a driving ban aimed at preventing such attacks during a major Shiite pilgrimage.

The helicopter was en route to support a planned mission when it made the forced landing in Youssifiyah, the military said, adding the cause wasn’t immediately clear from initial ground reports but was being investigated. Two soldiers sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to the statement. U.S.-led forces had secured the site and recovered the aircraft, military spokesman Lt. Col. Rudolph Burwell said.

 FIGHT FOR IRAQ 
 
See continuing coverage of developments in Iraq, including an interactive map of day-to-day events in Iraq and a tally of military deaths.An Iraqi army officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to release the information, said the helicopter went down after hitting an electricity pole at about 1:30 a.m. local time. He said the raid in the violence-torn area 10 miles south of Baghdad was targeting a senior leader of the al Qaeda in Iraq organization. Col. Burwell said he couldn’t confirm that report.

It was the second helicopter to go down in less than two weeks. On July 31, an AH-64 Apache helicopter went down after coming under fire in eastern Baghdad. The two crew members were safely evacuated, the military said. Insurgents also shot down a U.S. military helicopter south of Baghdad on July 3, and the two pilots were rescued with minor injuries, the military said.

Scattered violence struck Iraqis nationwide, with at least 15 people killed or found dead. The deadliest attack was a parked car bomb that tore through the stalls as the market was packed with afternoon shoppers in a predominantly Kurdish area in southern Kirkuk, 180 miles north of Baghdad. Police initially said it was a suicide attack, but police Brig. Gen. Sarhad Qader later said it was a parked car bomb; Gen. Qader said at least eight people were killed and 45 were wounded. Tensions have increased in Kirkuk as Kurds seek to incorporate the oil-rich city into their autonomous zone in northern Iraq — a move opposed by Arabs and Turkomen in the area.

A roadside bomb also exploded near a minibus in Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, killing two passengers and wounding four others, while another civilian was killed in a drive-by shooting as he was walking elsewhere in the city, police said. U.S. forces have claimed recent successes in calming the Diyala provincial capital after launching an operation to clear it of insurgents linked to al Qaeda in Iraq.

Hundreds of thousands of Shiites, meanwhile, began the journey home a day after massing in the streets outside a golden-domed shrine in northern Baghdad to commemorate the anniversary of the death of an eighth-century saint, Imam Moussa al-Kadhim. A few shook their fists at U.S. soldiers standing alongside the procession route, but the march was mostly peaceful as authorities imposed a three-day driving ban that was to expire early Saturday. The same festival was struck by tragedy two years ago, when an estimated 1,000 pilgrims were killed in a stampede over a bridge after panic that a suicide attacker was among them. And last year, snipers killed at least 20 people as the pilgrims walked through Sunni areas.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was in Iran to talk about security and electricity deals. Iranian officials told Mr. Maliki that only a U.S. pullout would bring peace to his nation and claimed the Tehran government was doing its best to help stabilize neighboring Iraq. Mr. Maliki said decisions about an American pullout were between Baghdad and Washington. This issue “belongs to the Iraqis only and it is related to the readiness of the Iraqi armed forces and their ability to take over security responsibilities,” he said during the visit.

Mr. Maliki has long played a delicate balancing act in the bitter rivalry between his two allies, putting off Iranian calls for an American pullout while balking at U.S. pressure to take a tougher line against Tehran. President Bush said he hoped Mr. Maliki’s message to Tehran would be the same as the U.S. message — that Iran should halt the export of sophisticated explosive devices used to attack U.S. troops in Iraq or “there will be consequences.”

The U.S. and Britain sought to expand the U.N. mandate in Iraq with a draft resolution facing a Security Council vote on Friday. The sponsors had delayed the vote so that Iraq’s prime minister could revise the text, which would authorize the world body to help the government promote national reconciliation, better relations with its neighbors, and deal with humanitarian concerns that have increased because of insecurity and fighting.

The newly revised text was circulated to the Security Council and Iraq’s Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari sent a letter asking that the mandate of the U.N. mission, which expires Friday, be extended for a year — a requirement before the resolution can be adopted.

Copyright © 2007 Associated Press

*Comment added by John Donovan who says…

As a Shell shareholder I find it absolutely appalling that Royal Dutch Shell is still pressing on with its plans in Iran despite: –

*Sanctions threats against Shell by the American government…
*Iran’s avowed intent to become a nuclear power…
*Iranian threats to eliminate Israel…
*Iranian capture, exploitation and release for propaganda purposes of British sailors/hostages…
*Iranian supply of roadside bombs to blow up American and British soldiers in Iraq…

Shame on Shell

Posted by John Donovan, co-owner of the website:  http://royaldutchshellplc.com/

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.