Thursday, July 09, 2009

US military announces another death, violence sweeps Iraq

Today the US military announced: "BAGHDAD – A Multi-National Division–Baghdad Soldier died July 8 after being found unresponsive at a Coalition forces facility. The Soldier's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The names of deceased service members are announced through the U.S. Department of Defense Official Web site at http://www.defenselink.mil/ . The announcements are made on the Web site no earlier than 24 hours after notification of the service member's primary next of kin. MND-B will not release any additional details prior to notification of next of kin and official release by the DoD. The incident and cause of death are currently under investigation." It's the first US service member announced death in Iraq for the month and it brings the total number of US service members killed in the illegal war to 4322.

Yesterday's snapshot notes the increased violence in Iraq but in this morning's papers, it's either ignored or treated aside. Too bad for them, reality always bites them in the ass and makes them look like fools. Translation, violence so far today in Iraq, today, is in the news cycle. Nada Bakri offers "Bombings Kill Dozens in Iraq" (Washington Post) about the two suicide bombers in Tal Afar who have claimed the lives of at least 34 people with an additional seventy injured. Bakri explains:

The head of Tal Afar hospital, Salih Kaddaw, said that the first suicide bomber blew himself up near the residence of a policeman in the anti-terrorism force, in an attempt to kill him. The attack took place in the northern Shiite neighborhood of al-Qala. When people gathered to help the injured, the second bomber detonated his explosives, furthering the bloodshed.

Ned Parker and Usama Redha offer "Double suicide bomb attack in northern Iraq kills at least 34, wounds 70" (Los Angeles Times) which explains bomber one detonated outside the home of a police officer and a crowd gathered, at which point, bomber two detonated. BBC has a photo essay of the destruction here. Jamal al-Badrani (Reuters) explains that there are least 41 deaths from bombings in Iraq today.

In this morning's New York Times, Timothy Williams' "Nebulous Sunni Insurgent Urges Attacks" runs inside the paper. It notes yesterday's Mosul car bombings in the final paragraph and focuses on the announcement issued by the Islamic State of Iraq instead. CNN notes "at least 19 people" died yesterday in bombings throughout Iraq with fifty-eight injured and they point out, "Despite a drop in violence in Mousl, the city remains a challenging one with daily reports of attacks." The Salem-News notes a statement by the Muslim Brotherhood and here's an excerpt:



Each day passes revealing a number of facts and proving beyond doubt, the invalidity of the allegations of the U.S-Western coalition justified by the invasion of Iraq. They did not apologize for their shameful crimes against humanity.
The Muslim Brotherhood regarded the withdrawal as a mere deployment of the occupation forces assuming that the independence of Iraq will only be accomplished by the withdrawal of the last soldier of the foreign occupation from the Arab Muslim country.
The Muslim Brotherhood calls for the people of Iraq to completely document the magnitude of the devastation caused by the occupation without prejudice as well as recording the numbers of dead, wounded and displaced by the destruction of the United States war machine. This documentation must materially be evaluated on all the countries that participated in the aggression demanded by the international forums and should be registered as a right of Iraqis not a grant or gift.
The Muslim Brotherhood also demands the prosecution of Bush and his administration and all those who contributed in war crimes and genocide committed against humanity and against Iraqi people before international tribunals.
The Muslim Brotherhood calls on Iraqis to uphold with the national unity, stating they should regard Iraqi blood as a red line that cannot be crossed, while maintaining fre noble resistance against the occupation and the continuation in adhering to the political struggle against the injustices committed against the sons of Mesopotamia such as detention, torture and displacement. Iraqis can administer and take charge of their affairs rather than the mercenary troops interfering in Iraqi affairs (And Allah hath full power and control over His affairs; but most among mankind know it not).

Turning to indefinite detention/imprisonment, five Iranians, said to be diplomats by Iran, were rounded up by US forces in Iraq in January of 2007 and have been held ever since. BBC News reports they have been released.

From World Can't Wait, we'll note this press release for Displaced Films:

This year, people will be able to be part of a historic new web-only series that features a behind-the-scenes look at "boots on the ground" testimony from American soldiers and veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"In March of 2008, two hundred and fifty veterans and active duty soldiers marked the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq by gathering in Washington, DC, to testify from their own experience about the nature of the occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq," said David Zeiger, Director of Sir! No Sir' (the 2006 film that told the suppressed story of the GI Movement to end the Vietnam War), and this series.
"It was chilling, horrifying, and challenging for all who witnessed it. Against tremendous odds, they brought the voices of the veterans themselves into the debate. That was then. Today, we present to you This is Where We Take Our Stand, the inside story of those three days and the courageous men and women who testified. This story is as relevant now as it was one year ago, and we hope that the series will help revive the debate about these wars that has virtually disappeared since Barack Obama became President," he added.

Perry O'Brien, a former medic in Afghanistan and spokesperson for the Iraq Veterans Against the War Winter Soldier Project said, "Here is our challenge to the audience: watch the series; spread it far and wide; and ask yourself if this is about the past, or the present and future. Then add your voice. If you are a veteran or active duty, present your own testimony. If you are not, but you are still a living, breathing member of the human race, then do whatever you can to join and fan the flames of debate. This series is here for you. As the Occupation of Afghanistan is expanded and little changes in Iraq, the voices and stories of Winter Soldier are needed now more than ever."

The first full episode will be posted on Saturday, July 11th.
Preview the Trailer: http://vimeo.com/5448532

I am aware the font and size is all off on that. I have no idea why. We'll leave it as is and hope that it catches the eye for a worthy project. Correction, it posts semi-fine. In this screen, however, the letters to the above press release are three times the size of anything else.

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.