Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The spin from Barry

Last night Barack Obama took to the airwaves again -- either to flaunt his ignorance or his ability to lie with a straight face, you be the judge. Alsumaria TV notes, "In the annual State of the Union address, US President Barack Obama praised the progress made in Iraq in the political process and the new government formation." The government really wasn't formed. If the Constitution were followed to the letter and intent, Nouri wouldn't be prime minister. He didn't form a Cabinet, he left spots empty and filled 3 himself. THat's not what the Constitution allows. But with pressure from the US government, the Iraqi Parliament waived him through. Over a month later and he still hasn't filled that Cabinet. It's less tha two months away from the one-year anniversary of the March 7th elections and Iraq still doesn't have a full Cabinet.

That's before you get into the power-grab Nouri's currently attempting. People's Daily Online reports (link has text and audio), "The Iraqi parliament warned that a court ruling of linking the central bank, election commissions and other independent bodies to the cabinet is a threat to the country 's democracy and overseas savings, an official news paper said on Wednesday."


In a month that's not yet ended but has already seen more spectacular bombings than Iraq's seen in one month in a long, long time, even though the death toll for this (ongoing) month has already passed the official toll for last month, Barack wanted to stand up last night and insist that violence was down.

We've heard this sort of lying before from George W. Bush. Barack only demonstrated last night that he was worse than even Bush. Congratulations to the White House for that proud moment. NPR analyzed the speech, Tom Gjelten taking the Iraq and Afghanistan part, "But the level of violence in Iraq remains high, and the seeds of renewed sectarian strife and political instability have been planted with the return to Iraq of Moqtada al-Sadr, whose Iran-backed Shiite militia was responsible for much anti-Sunni violence in earlier years."

Progress insisted Barack but Walter Pincus (Washington Post) reports this morning:

A top U.S. oversight office has recommended that the United States halt further funding for a $26 million education academy for senior Iraqi security officials after discovering that the Iraqi government had never agreed to operate or maintain the facility.
The United States has spent more than $13 million on the project.


Barack declared, "Look to Iraq, where nearly 100,000 of our brave men and women have left with their heads held high; where American combat patrols have ended; violence has come down; and a new government has been formed. This year, our civilians will forge a lasting partnership with the Iraqi people, while we finish the job of bringing our troops out of Iraq. America's commitment has been kept; the Iraq War is coming to an end." And ignored that he is actively seeking an extension to the SOFA and that the back up plan is to switch the military over to the US diplomatic staff in Iraq and call that a 'pullout.'

The following community sites -- plus Cindy Sheehan, War News Radio, Jane Fonda and Iraq Inquiry Digest -- have updated last night and this morning:


And we'll close with this from Paul Canning:

  • Ugandan lesbian asylum seeker threatened with removal by UK this Friday
  • 'Kill the gays' bill author sends her message: she should "repent and reform" or be imprisoned
  • Placed like other lesbian asylum seekers in fast track
  • Are new rules on treating such cases being applied?
  • Action alert: how you can help

Updating

The author of Uganda's notorious 'kill the gays' bill has contacted a US journalist to pass the message to a lesbian asylum seeker to return home - but to stop being homosexual or she will be arrested.

Uganda-born student, Brenda Namigadde, 29, is currently detained in Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre and has a removal order for this Friday, 28 January. Asylum has been refused on grounds she is not believed to be lesbian and she has been placed in 'fast track. A fresh claim for asylum with new evidence was put in yesterday.

In an astonishing interview with the bill's author, David Bahati MP, Melanie Nathan of LezGetReal relates how Bahati contacted her, concerned about how Namigadde might be effecting Uganda's image.




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