Iraq update November 17, 2007

First off, Omar over at Iraq the Model has one - Troops and locals stop twenty car bombs from reaching the streets of Baghdad. Also, Omar and Mohammed have just celebrated their blog's 4 year anniversary.

• Yesterday a joint US-Iraqi force with help from local anti-al-Qaeda awakening fighters in the Adhamiyah district in northeastern Baghdad found and disarmed more than 20 vehicles rigged as VBIEDs in a parking lot.

An update on the politics of Iraq via MNF-I - Gates, Mullen Discuss Progress, Future Objectives for Iraqi, Coalition Forces. The important bit is:

• “There have been some positive developments in the political arena, (but) they have not been on the benchmark legislation,” Gates continued. “They have passed a slew of other legislation.”
  

Improvement in Baghdad via MNF-I - Market Thriving, Economy Improving in Baghdad Neighborhood

• BAGHDAD — Only seven months ago the Sugasimche (Fish Market) area in the Raabi neighborhood of the Adhamiyah district was filled with a violent, criminal element that struck fear into residents who didn’t feel safe to walk the streets.
  

Al Qaeda getting taken out (from MNF-I) over the last couple of days here, here, here, here, here, and here.

And lastly, over at Small Wars Journal blogs there is a plan that addresses the Iran problem inside Iraq. It's a good read if you have the time. Confronting Iran Securing Iraq’s Border: An Irregular Warfare Concept