[A-List] ...and in Iraq... Remember Iraq? Kurds report Iraqi army moving north (to Kirkuk)

[Leighm]

Keeping in mind (un)Civil War, and these three items:

Nagl's article in World Policy Journal, he has already indicated that 
Iraq will likely request for advisers to stay on past the end of the 
SOFA... 
http://abumuqawama.blogspot.com/2009/01/iraq-gaza-and-other-vacation-properties.html?showComment=1231874100000#c9149099757841185262

...leaving thousands of troops redesignated as advisors in Iraq even 
after the 2011 deadline. See: 
http://musingsoniraq.blogspot.com/2009/01/pentagon-pushing-for-slow-withdrawal.html

Thomas Ricks (ex-WaPo, now FP magazine) estimates about 35,000. 
http://abumuqawama.blogspot.com/2009/01/iraq-gaza-and-other-vacation-properties.html?showComment=1231820040000#c6989461599072379820

UPI Emerging Threats

Kurds report Iraqi army moving north

ERBIL, Iraq, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- The Iraqi army is allegedly on the verge 
of deploying to Kurdish territories with the aim of controlling the 
disputed city of Kirkuk, Kurdish reports say.

Kurdish media outlets report the 12th Division of the Iraqi army issued 
a request to the Ministry of Defense for greater movement in the Kurdish 
territories. Sources to the Kurdish newspaper Aso said military 
officials are hoping to establish checkpoints in Kirkuk to control 
movement in and out of the city.

Iraq holds provincial elections Jan. 31 in 14 of its 18 provinces. The 
vote in the three Kurdish provinces and Kirkuk is delayed amid 
territorial disputes.

Military commanders with the Kurdish Peshmerga force complained of the 
allegations, saying they are wary of such troop activity on the part of 
Baghdad, the Kurdish Globe reported.

"The movement of the division is not normal and it is a planned agenda; 
therefore, the Kurdish leadership looks suspiciously at that movement," 
said Peshmerga leader Mustafa Chawrash.

Conflict between Kurdish and Iraqi forces reached a boiling point in 
August as Iraqi troops tried to enter the disputed city of Khanaqin in 
the Iraqi province of Diyala. Both forces stood down, however, leaving 
control of the city to local officials.

http://www.upi.com/Emerging_Threats/2009/01/22/Kurds_report_Iraqi_army_moving_north/UPI-19831232660760/