WP: Iraqis Bicker Over Defense Post (New Violence; 2 US Jets missing)

[Pirate Smile]

Iraqis Bicker Over Defense Post
New Violence Kills 20; U.S. Says Two Fighter Jets Missing

By Caryle Murphy
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 3, 2005; Page A15

BAGHDAD, May 3 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jafari struggled Monday to reach a last-minute consensus within his broad Shiite political coalition on a Sunni Arab to fill the key post of defense minister, while his new cabinet prepared for a swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday.

The political negotiations took place on another day of insurgent violence in which bombings killed more than 20 Iraqis, raising the death toll to nearly 140 since Jafari announced the formation of his government last week.

Late Monday night, two U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier were reported missing in Iraq, the U.S. military said early Tuesday. The status of the aircraft and their crew was not immediately known, the military said in a statement.

Five cabinet positions in the new Shiite-dominated government are reserved for Sunni Arabs, including a deputy premiership, and have been filled with candidates acceptable to both sides. The Sunni Arab nominee for a sixth position, minister for human rights, is also expected to be approved.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/02/AR2005050200349.html

[ckramer]

1. Iraqi Leaders Seek Deal Amid Bloodshed

Iraq's incoming prime minister struggled to find a Sunni Arab to run the key Defense Ministry in time to join Iraq's first democratically elected government when it takes office Tuesday. A torrent of bloodshed — at least 140 killed in five days — followed the approval of a Cabinet that mostly shut out members of the disaffected Sunni minority.

Disputes persisted over the Defense Ministry on Monday after Prime Minister-designate Ibrahim al-Jaafari filled six of the seven Cabinet seats left undecided last week, said al-Jaafari aide Laith Kuba. The defense portfolio — in charge of some 70,000 soldiers and national guardsmen — is destined for a Sunni, part of an attempt to balance the conflicting demands of Iraq's many religious and ethnic factions.

link

[Dhalgren]

2. Two Hornets missing!!!!

My gods, this is big! Is there any other reports on this? Jesus, if the insurgents can take down two jet fighter/bombers then things are definitely not what we are being told...

[dArKeR]

3. Incompetent IDIOTS! Why does Rumsfeld allow the announcement

of two missing pilots? This will lead the rebels to be on the look out for them and hunting them down. Iraqis' might have noticed a flash, an explosion, seen something in the distance falling from the sky... but didn't pay attention too closely and just forgot about it. But NOW, being alerted by a completely incompentent aWol administration, these pilots are being hunted and if captured will be at least tortured, beaten, held ransom, filmed making statements, executed...

That is, unless the repukes already know they're dead or rescued. Then it's just the usual propaganda from the repukes.

Secondly, look at the WHORE WP buries the missing pilots in the third paragraph and surely not in the title. I know 100% that many many people read nothing but the title and first paragraph of a story. WP should be RICO'd.

[dArKeR]

4. Look at the pic on the link. The inside of the apartment building is on

fire. In Asia, all buildings are made of concrete, walls and floors. Any know the construction of the typical Iraq building? This had to be a really big explosion to set fire to the inside of floors one to six!

[teryang]

5. Status not known?

This is implausible.

With the command and control network and look down battlefield management capabilities that our forces have, the caveat "not immediately known" is a way to report a loss, without disclosing the facts.

Recovery efforts would have begun immediately.