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Friday, November 9, 2007

Security gains dramatic, says Iraq Study Group aide

By Bob Deans | Friday, November 9, 2007, 03:39 PM

Security in Baghdad has shown “dramatic” improvement, according to the Iraq Study Group’s executive director, Daniel Serwer, who visited the Iraqi capital in mid-October.

“Baghdad’s much quieter than it was,” said Serwer, a former U.S. diplomat. “It’s dramatic. I was there two days and I think I heard two detonations. No incoming (mortar fire) into the Green Zone at all.”

Serwer was the executive director of the Iraq Study Group. Co-chaired by James A. Baker and Lee Hamilton, the congressionally mandated panel concluded a year ago that conditions in Iraq were “grave and deteriorating.”

Serwer’s anecdotal impressions come amid Pentagon assessments citing progress in reducing bloodshed in Iraq.

Not even the generals are ready to declare victory in a war that has taken the lives of 3,857 U.S. troops. In recent weeks though, said Serwer, positive signs have emerged.

“It’s a mixed picture,” said Serwer, a conflict resolution expert with the U.S. Institute of Peace. “But a mixed picture in Baghdad is a significant improvement.”

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Journalism, elections and Pakistan

By Ken Herman | Friday, November 9, 2007, 08:15 AM

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That’s author and journalism trainer Arnold “Skip” Isaacs doing his thing today in Karachi as he gives Pakistanis some handy tips on journalism and covering elections.

Interesting, at a time when President Musharraf has suspended freedom of the press and cast some doubt on the future of elections in his country.

Anyway, here’s the release that came with the photo distributed from by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.

Noted American author and journalism trainer, Arnold “Skip” Isaacs, today wrapped up his visit to Pakistan with two workshops on elections reporting in the city with local print and electronic media journalists.

Mr. Isaacs, who was in Pakistan by invitation of the U.S. Embassy, gave lectures and conducted a series of journalism training workshops on the elements of local and national elections reporting. He visited Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Khanewal, Sialkot, Bhawalpur in addition to Karachi.

“News media play a crucial role before during and after an election,” trainer Arnold Isaacs emphasized. “Journalists should not let candidates, parties or their supporters control the news.”

While in the city, Mr. Isaacs conducted a workshop for women journalists at the Lincoln Corner at Rangoonwala Community Center, for members of the Association of Television Journalists Pakistan and for reporters of a local daily newspaper. He also spoke to students of the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST).

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