Report: Chicago Gangs in Iraq

May 3, 2006 --

Gangs Claim Their Turf in Iraq
The Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings and Vice Lords were born decades ago in Chicago's most violent neighborhoods. Now, their gang graffiti is showing up 6,400 miles away in one of the world's most dangerous neighborhoods -- Iraq. (Chicago-Sun Times)

Violence Flares as Iraqi Parliament Convenes
Violence flared across Iraq as the country's Parliament held its first regular business session today. (NY Times)

Iraqi Insurgents Negotiated with U.S. Ambassador, Says Member of Insurgent Group
Iraqi insurgents met with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad seven times, a member of one of Iraqi's "most prominent" militant groups told Asharq al Awsat. The source said negotiations had started earlier this year in Amman, Jordan and claims there's a secret negotiating team representing "the Iraqi resistance." He said the groups presented "a memorandum of agreement" two months ago proposing a solution to end the violence in Iraq but has not received an answer yet. (Asharq al Awsat)

Iraq Reconstruction -- Mix of Progress, Problems and Uncertainty
New Report From Inspector General Finds Gains for Schools, Utilities. (ABC News)

Video Shows Mistreatment of Hussein Official's Body
The dead body of one of Saddam Hussein's top lieutenants was kicked and insulted after U.S. forces transferred it into Iraqi custody, according to a video of the incident that aired on al-Arabiya television on Monday evening. (Washington Post)

Video: Preparing for War: A Mock Iraq
Dexter Filkins reports on the Army's mock villages in Fort Irwin, Calif., used to train soldiers headed to Iraq. (NY Times)

Analysis: Iraq: If Not Now, When?
If there is an endgame to the American presence in Iraq, it is now. (StratFor)

Al Libi Handed Over to Libya
A prominent "Arab Afghan" who ran the Khaldan training camp in Afghanistan, which was used by al Qaeda members, was handed over by the U.S. to Libya last month, "informed Western sources" told al Hayat newspaper. Ibn Sheikh al Libi is believed to have been arrested end of 2001 in Pakistan. Al Libi had been named by the U.S. before the war on Iraq as the source of information about Saddam Hussein training al Qaeda members on use of poisons, which later turned out to be untrue, according to al Hayat. Al Libi never joined al Qaeda himself, notes the paper, but allowed different groups to get training at the camp. (Al Hayat)

Taliban Threat Is Said to Grow in Afghan South
The Taliban, counting on the imminent departure of U.S. troops, appear to be increasing their insurgency in southern Afghanistan. (NY Times)