Pakistan.......
http://news.antiwar.com/2013/06/10/pakistan-pm-revokes-govts-secret-approval-for-us-drone-strikes/
Drone strikes have been hugely unpopular in Pakistan, with Sharif’s election victory coming in no small part because he promised to end the US attacks. The previous government of the Pakistani Peoples Party (PPP) had publicly criticized the strikes, but the US maintained that they had “tacit” permission to continue them.
The move seems ill-timed, with the administration just having endorsed the Geneva Conference aimed at ending the war, only to find out that the rebels are refusing to participate and trying to extort weapons out of the US as a condition for showing up at all.
http://news.antiwar.com/2013/06/10/pakistan-pm-revokes-govts-secret-approval-for-us-drone-strikes/
Pakistan PM Revokes Govt’s Secret Approval for US Drone Strikes
Vows End to 'Dual Policy' of Public Criticism and Private Acceptance Under Previous Govt
by Jason Ditz, June 10, 2013
Less than a week after officially taking office, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced the revocation of a secret government authorization to the United States to launch drone attacks against the country.
Drone strikes have been hugely unpopular in Pakistan, with Sharif’s election victory coming in no small part because he promised to end the US attacks. The previous government of the Pakistani Peoples Party (PPP) had publicly criticized the strikes, but the US maintained that they had “tacit” permission to continue them.
Sharif appeared to confirm that this had been the case today, insisting that the era of “dual policy” governments issuing public statements that conflicted with their official, secret policies is over.
Efforts to end the drone strikes are also under way in the Pakistani parliament, with the Pakistani Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI), the nation’s largest opposition party, proposing a resolution that would authorize military action against US drones if the attacks don’t end.
Iraq.......
http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2013/06/10/another-bloody-monday-in-iraq-94-killed-289-wounded/
Another Bloody Monday in Iraq: 94 Killed, 289 Wounded
by Margaret Griffis, June 10, 2013
The number of attacks surged dramatically today, with Mosul and northern Iraq taking the brunt of the violence. Overall, at least 94 Iraqis were killed and 289 more were wounded.
In Mosul, five bombs killed 29 people and wounded 114 more, mostly at checkpoints. Separately, Clashes in Tamuz left four policemen dead and eight others wounded. Gunmen killed a policeman and wounded another.
A triple bombing that included a suicide bomber left 15 dead and 50 wounded at a market in Jadida al-Shat.
A car bomb in Tuz Khormato left 11 dead and 30 wounded.
Eight people were killed at a fish market in Taji; at least 24 more were wounded.
Four people were killed and 12 more were wounded when two bombs exploded atSadr City coffee shops.
Four gunmen and a suicide bomber were killed when they attacked their Kirkukprovince base. A car bomb killed three and wounded 12 more.
In Dibis, a suicide bomber killed one person and wounded 14 more.
Four soldiers were gunned down in Alillai.
Two civilians were killed near the Baquba home.
North of Falluja, gunmen killed a Sahwa leader and wounded two bodyguards. In town, clashes occurred.
A roadside bomb killed a civilian and wounded another in Tal Afar.
In Baghdad, a bomb wounded six people in the Amin district.
In Iskandariya, a bomb wounded five people.
Gunmen kidnapped two civilians in Kirkuk.
Clashes took place into Jurf al-Sakhar, but the number of casualties was not reported.
In Ramadi, a sticky bomb failed to kill or injure an Iraqiya candidate.
Syria......
http://news.antiwar.com/2013/06/10/white-house-meetings-focus-on-arms-for-syrian-rebels/
White House Meetings Focus on Arms for Syrian Rebels
New Decision Expected in Next Few Days
by Jason Ditz, June 10, 2013
State Department, military and CIA officials are gathering at the White House todayfor the first in several days of meetings on Syria, centering around the prospect of starting to directly arm rebel fighters.
The move seems ill-timed, with the administration just having endorsed the Geneva Conference aimed at ending the war, only to find out that the rebels are refusing to participate and trying to extort weapons out of the US as a condition for showing up at all.
The timing is mostly about Syrian government forces making some inroads against the rebels, ousting them from the strategically important city of Qusayrand moving on to Aleppo, the big prize in the north of the country.
Though rebel claims that they are on the brink of collapse seem, as always, overstated, some in the Obama Administration seem determined to keep the war going at all costs so they can impose some sort of settlement, and if that means looking even more hypocritical by arming the rebels at the same time they’re trying to organize a peace conference, that is unlikely to be a serious obstacle.
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