Late Friday, the US military announced: "Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq – A Multi-National Division – North Soldier died Dec. 11 from non-combat related injuries. The Soldier was discovered unresponsive in his living quarters by a non-commissioned officer in the unit. The NCO transported the Soldier to a nearby medical facility on their base, but he was later pronounced dead by attending physicians. The incident is currently under investigation. Task Force Marne extends our deepest condolences to the family during this time of loss. Release of the Soldier’s identity is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin, and will be announced through the U.S. Department of Defense Official Web site at http://www.defenselink.mil/." Iran's Press TV adds, "'A Multi-National Division-North soldier died Dec. 11. He was found not breathing in his living quarters at Camp Speicher, Tikrit, Iraq,' read a US military statement issued on Saturday." The announcement brings to 4370 the number of US service members killed in Iraq since the start of the illegal war.
In other reported violence . . .
Bombings?
Mohammed al Dulaimy (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad roadside bombing which wounded three US soldiers, a mortar attack on the Green Zone, a Mosul roadside bombing which injured two police officers, a second Mosul roadside bombing which injured one Iraqi soldier and a Kirkuk roadside bombing which claimed the lives of 3 police officers and left four more wounded.
Shootings?
Mohammed al Dulaimy (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 1 "Iraqi army first lieutenant" shot dead in Baghdad. Li Xianzhi (Xinhua) reports 1 farmer was shot dead in Khalis (Diyala Province) while 1 "woman was shot dead at another ranch near the provincial capital city of Baquba" and 2 were wounded in a third Diyala Province shooting.
At least 127 people died and nearly five hundred were injured in Tuesday's bombings which have been dubbed "Bloody Tuesday." At Inside Iraq, an Iraqi correspondent for McClatchy shared their thoughts on the bombings:
Within two or three days, our politicians will forget the victims of the Bloody Tuesday because they will be busy with the election campaign. They will give promises to control the security situation, to provide jobs and to improve life and services in Iraq. These promises will evaporate the moment they become lawmakers and all they think about will be their personal interests. All they are going to give us more names for more bad days in our BLOODY LIFE in our BLOODY IRAQ.
Rest In Peace Our Dear Brothers. You Will Be Always In Our Hearts and Minds.
And Callie notes Ralph Nader's "'Just War' Is Just Words" (CounterCurrents):
President Obama's national security adviser, former Marine General James Jones, said two months ago: "The al-Qaeda presence is very diminished. The maximum estimate is less than 100 operating in the country, no bases, no ability to launch attacks on either us or our allies."
Since Mr. Obama repeats George W. Bush's reason for going into Afghanistan-to destroy al-Qaeda-why is he sending 30,000 soldiers plus an even greater number of corporate contractors there in the near future at a cost stated by the White House of one million dollars per solider per year? Is this "proportional force"?
Always small in number, al-Qaeda has moved over the border into Pakistan and anywhere its supporters can in the world-east Africa, north Africa, Indonesia. The gang is a migrant traveler.
Is Obama pouring soldiers into Afghanistan so that they and our inaccurate, civilian-destroying drones can start fighting across the border in Pakistan, as indicated by The New York Times? Beyond the violations of international law and absence of constitutional authorization involved, this could so roil Pakistanis as to make the U.S. experience next door look like a modest struggle.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
iraq
mcclatchy newspapers
mohammed al-dulaimy
inside iraq
xinhua
li xianzhi
press tv
ralph nader
