Friday, June 10, 2011

Protests and violence

Violence continues in Iraq today. Reuters notes a Baghdad sticky bombing claimed 1 life and left four people injured, a Baghdad roadside bombing injured two people and, dropping back to last night, 8 rockets hit the Green Zone. Aswat al-Iraq notes 1 police officer was injured in a Kiruk bombing.

And it's Friday so protests took place in Iraq. This was the first protest Friday since the end of the 100 Days -- a device Nouri al-Maliki utilized in an attempt to defuse and defocus the protest movement. 100 Days, Nouri promised, and the issues raised by the protesters (whom he also called "terrorists" repeatedly) would be addressed. The 100 Days ended Tuesday. The issues were not addressed. Below is a screen snap from Al Jazeera Arabic of the protest in Baghdad this morning.

1 protest today


AFP reports that at least 400 gathered in Tahrir Square in downtown Baghdad. AFP is derailed by another Chalabi rally. What is it with the press? They cover all of the official protests. This one was demanding suspects be executed (we've ignored the 'guilty' and will continue to do so). AFP also misses the biggest news about the difference between the two: Chalabi's protest was not hassled, Tahrir Square? They were harassed and pushed out.

AFP does note: "Security forces were out in large numbers at the square, which was closed to vehicle traffic." And that protests also took place in Hilla and Basra (real protests). Meanwhile Aswat al-Iraq adds, "The Iraqi Democratic Trend in the U.S.
State of California called on Iraqis there to a popular gathering tomorrow (Saturday) in support of the demonstrators in Tahreer Square in Baghdad, as well as other provinces."

Back to Ahmed Chalabi, Al Rafidayn reports that Nouri intentionally avoided him and his followers when selecting the new head of the Justice and Accountability Commission. Ahmed's dear friend and fellow thug Ali al-Lami was assassinated last month which, in the puppet government, may be the only thing which actually counts as a resignation. Al Rafidayn states that Mohamed Shia'a has been named (the Iraqi press has been referring to him as "the Sudanese" for days now). Chalabi had hoped that someone from his party (National Congress Party) would receive the post.

Why?

Chalabi and Ali al-Lami used the committee (which Parliament thought they had killed off) to launch witch hunts and drive opponents (Sunnis mainly but also Shi'ites) out of the 2010 election.

That's it, lousy wireless access and it keeps going in and out.
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