BIG SCOOP! Wikileaks posts U.S. rules of engagement in Iraq!

[kpete]

BIG SCOOP! Wikileaks posts U.S. rules of engagement in Iraq!
by EZ writer
Sun Feb 03, 2008 at 07:25:44 PM PST

According to a 2005 document posted by wikileaks.com, U.S. troops
were authorized to pursue former members of Saddam Hussein's government and "terrorists" across Iraq's borders into Iran and Syria.
http://www.wikileaks.org/wiki/US_Rules_of_Engagement_for_Iraq

The Web site provides a PDF view of the document.

The document notes that in some cases, U.S, forces could enter Iraq and
Syria without permission from the Secretary of Defense or from the President.
From the document:

Approval by the defense secretary is not required to conduct uninterrupted pursuit and engagement of positively identified former regime military aircraft, terrorist and senior ((former)) military leadership and senior nonmilitary elements of former Iraqi regime command and control across international borders.

It went on to state that a U.S commander in such an operation should consult with top commanders in Baghdad, "time permitting."

The New York Times article on the document notes that it is "unknown" whether such cross border raids were actually conducted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/washington/04rules.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

According to wikileaks:

The document comes from the same courageous national security whistleblower "Peryton" who disclosed Guantanamo bay's main manuals and a classified report on Fallujah, all of which were independently verified and released by Wikileaks in December 2007.

Bravo to wikileaks for posting this.
From the Wikileaks summary:

On first reading, the document contains a number of items of interest to the press, including rules about mosque attacks, detention of immams, cross border incursions (including Iran and Syria), the use of mines and riot control agents, terrorist targeting, the destruction of Iraqi government property used by insurgents and even kafkaesque rules for attacks on WMD mobile production labs.

Deeper reading by those more familiar with the US-Iraq war is likely to reveal other items of interest, for instance variations in the declaration that Al Quds, the Mahdi Army and armed supporters of Muqtada Al-Sadr are enemies who may be engaged at will.

The document forms a talking point to most US operations in Iraq and the degree of official sanction for them.

more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/3/221319/1501/292/449224

[ck4829]

1. K&R

[L. Coyote]

2. Freedom of Information is the enemy of Juntas everywhere! KICK!