Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Another US service member dies in Iraq

AP reports the US military has announced another death in Iraq, this one taking place yesterday "while conducting military operations in central Iraq." Deaths keep mounting.

Such as Sean Ferguson whose death made yesterday's news cycle. KSEE 24 News reports the decorated Iraq War veteran was back in Iraq as a contractor for the State Dept and they quote Ralph Jordan speaking on behalf of the fallen's family, "A 29-year-old man whose life has really been unselfishly given. . . . I'm a direct beneficiary of that, everyone is." KFSN (link has text and video) notes, "A memorial service for Army Sergeant Sean Ferguson will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints on Saturday morning. Friends and family say Ferguson was passionate about his service and fighting for freedom."

Meanwhile Carrie Johnson does a bad report for NPR on today's Morning Edition. The US military is holding Ali Mussa Daqduq. Are they going to release him? Are they going to try him in the Iraqi courts? Are they going to try him in a military court? Will they bring him to the US and try him in a civilian court? Johnson notes that Senator Lindsey Graham is among those saying a US civilian trial would be a mistake. Where the report falters is in actual details. He was not, as Johnson states, captured five years ago. It will be five years next March. To say he's accused of the deaths of 5 US soldiers is really kind of tacky. Who are the five? Why aren't you naming them?

Here's the US military's release on the January 20, 2007 attack that they are saying Ali Mussa Daqduq is responsible for:


Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070121-01
Jan. 21, 2007

Karbala Provincial Joint Coordination Center attacked by militia
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

KARBALA, Iraq – The Provincial Joint Coordination Center (PJCC) in Karbala was attacked with grenades, small arms and indirect fires by an illegally armed militia group Jan 20. Five U.S. Soldiers were killed and three wounded while repelling the attack.
Initial reporting by some media outlets indicated falsely that the attack was conducted by Coalition forces.

“The PJCC is a coordination center where local Iraqi officials, Iraqi security forces and Coalition forces stationed within the center meet to address the security needs of the population,” said Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, Deputy Commander for Multi-National Division-Baghdad. “A meeting was taking place at the time of the attack to ensure the security of Shiite pilgrims participating in the Ashura commemorations.”

“The attack on the Karbala Provincial Joint Coordination Center was aimed at Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces working together toward a better future for the citizens of Karbala,” said Lt. Col. Scott R. Bleichwehl, Spokesperson for Multi-National Division-Baghdad.
The location has been secured by Coalition and Iraqi security forces.
The deceased Soldiers’ names are being withheld pending notification of their next of kin.

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – BAGHDAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS NCO IN CHARGE, MASTER SGT. DAVID LARSEN BY E-MAIL AT: DAVID.J.LARSEN@US.ARMY.MIL This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; OR BY PHONE AT COMMERCIAL: (914) 822-8174, OR IRAQNA: 011-964-790-192-4675.

Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070121-01
Jan. 21, 2007

Karbala Provincial Joint Coordination Center attacked by militia
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

KARBALA, Iraq – The Provincial Joint Coordination Center (PJCC) in Karbala was attacked with grenades, small arms and indirect fires by an illegally armed militia group Jan 20. Five U.S. Soldiers were killed and three wounded while repelling the attack.
Initial reporting by some media outlets indicated falsely that the attack was conducted by Coalition forces.

“The PJCC is a coordination center where local Iraqi officials, Iraqi security forces and Coalition forces stationed within the center meet to address the security needs of the population,” said Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, Deputy Commander for Multi-National Division-Baghdad. “A meeting was taking place at the time of the attack to ensure the security of Shiite pilgrims participating in the Ashura commemorations.”

“The attack on the Karbala Provincial Joint Coordination Center was aimed at Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces working together toward a better future for the citizens of Karbala,” said Lt. Col. Scott R. Bleichwehl, Spokesperson for Multi-National Division-Baghdad.
The location has been secured by Coalition and Iraqi security forces.
The deceased Soldiers’ names are being withheld pending notification of their next of kin.

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – BAGHDAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS NCO IN CHARGE, MASTER SGT. DAVID LARSEN BY E-MAIL AT: DAVID.J.LARSEN@US.ARMY.MIL This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; OR BY PHONE AT COMMERCIAL: (914) 822-8174, OR IRAQNA: 011-964-790-192-4675.

So that's what the military said in real time. It's a real shame that an NPR report can add a thing to it. For example, the accused is apparently the last of those alleged to be responsible for the attack to still be held. Barack Obama released the ringleader. Were I the defense counsel, I would certainly think that was pertinent and belonged in a so-called news report. The five dead also have names. That's pretty pertinent as well. It's shameful that NPR did a report on an attack and couldn't take the time to name the five killed. The US military -- above -- couldn't because the families hadn't all been notified on January 21, 2007. What's NPR's excuse today? We'll drop back to the June 9, 2009 snapshot for names of the five US soldiers killed while serving in Iraq and for Barack's decision to release others who are alleged to have taken part in the attack:


This morning the New York Times' Alissa J. Rubin and Michael Gordon offered "U.S. Frees Suspect in Killing of 5 G.I.'s." Martin Chulov (Guardian) covered the same story, Kim Gamel (AP) reported on it, BBC offered "Kidnap hope after Shia's handover" and Deborah Haynes contributed "Hope for British hostages in Iraq after release of Shia militant" (Times of London). The basics of the story are this. 5 British citizens have been hostages since May 29, 2007. The US military had in their custody Laith al-Khazali. He is a member of Asa'ib al-Haq. He is also accused of murdering five US troops. The US military released him and allegedly did so because his organization was not going to release any of the five British hostages until he was released. This is a big story and the US military is attempting to state this is just diplomacy, has nothing to do with the British hostages and, besides, they just released him to Iraq. Sami al-askari told the New York Times, "This is a very sensitive topic because you know the position that the Iraqi government, the U.S. and British governments, and all the governments do not accept the idea of exchanging hostages for prisoners. So we put it in another format, and we told them that if they want to participate in the political process they cannot do so while they are holding hostages. And we mentioned to the American side that they cannot join the political process and release their hostages while their leaders are behind bars or imprisoned." In other words, a prisoner was traded for hostages and they attempted to not only make the trade but to lie to people about it. At the US State Dept, the tired and bored reporters were unable to even broach the subject. Poor declawed tabbies. Pentagon reporters did press the issue and got the standard line from the department's spokesperson, Bryan Whitman, that the US handed the prisoner to Iraq, the US didn't hand him over to any organization -- terrorist or otherwise. What Iraq did, Whitman wanted the press to know, was what Iraq did. A complete lie that really insults the intelligence of the American people. CNN reminds the five US soldiers killed "were: Capt. Brian S. Freeman, 31, of Temecula, California; 1st Lt. Jacob N. Fritz, 25, of Verdon, Nebraska; Spc. Johnathan B. Chism, 22, of Gonzales, Louisiana; Pfc. Shawn P. Falter, 25, of Cortland, New York; and Pfc. Johnathon M. Millican, 20, of Trafford, Alabama." Those are the five from January 2007 that al-Khazali and his brother Qais al-Khazali are supposed to be responsible for the deaths of. Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Robert H. Reid (AP) states that Jonathan B. Chism's father Danny Chism is outraged over the release and has declared, "They freed them? The American military did? Somebody needs to answer for it."


While it's no surprise that NPR wouldn't want to address the deal the White House made, it's shocking that they would also work to render the five dead invisible. If you're talking about someone who is alleged to have killed 5 Americans in Iraq, you name the five Americans.


The following community sites -- plus Antiwar.com -- updated last night:


Rebecca's "the e-mails " and Ann's "" aren't showing up on the list above.


We'll close with this from The Bat Segundo Show:


Weird Al Yankovic

Known for his pop song parodies and meticulous comic accuracy, Yankovic discusses his vegetarianism, his bowling experience, and his surprising fights against censors, people who use bad grammar, and political lobbyists who have co-opted his songs. (Link to show.)

Diana Abu-Jaber

In this one hour conversation, the Birds of Paradise author talks quite a bit about food and somehow inveigles Our Correspondent to reveal his hidden thoughts on gastronomy. Other topics include the cutting of curly hair, naming characters after notable American figures, and Elizabeth Taylor. (Link to show.)

Anne Enright

We do our best to talk with as many Irish people as we can, especially when they are funny and candid. Anne Enright was good enough to talk with us. How much can a dash or a colon alter a fictional voice? Quite a good deal, as we learn in this brisk thirty minute talk with the Booker Award winner. (Link to show.)

Lawrence Weschler

Just how much does Mori's notion of the "uncanny valley" and Zeno's paradox have in common? How can one confront a pardoxical form of art? Is it possible for a war film to be too authentic? We discuss these questions and more with the very smart Lawrence Weschler. (Link to show.)

Téa Obreht

We certainly didn't expect to crack up as much as we did with the Orange Award winning novelist of The Tiger's Wife. But in this engaging hour, we get smart and silly with Obreht about Stewart O'Nan, English Bull Terriers in Belgrade, cowboy hats, Emir Kusturica, and whether the idea of death is inherently funny. (Link to show.)

Greetings from The Bat Segundo Show!

Greetings from The Bat Segundo Show, the long-running (and free!) cultural radio program devoted to goofy, thoughtful, and comprehensive conversations with the cultural figures and eccentric minds of our time.

We have five new programs to tell you about! You can listen to the show at the main site or subscribe through iTunes.

Award-Winning Novelists!

Just in time for this week's National Book Awards, we sit down for one lively (and goofy) hour with NBA finalist and Orange Award-winning author Téa Obreht (author of The Tiger's Wife). We also discuss the relationship between spirituality and sensuality and what might happen if the world were run by 12-year-old girls with Booker Award winner Anne Enright.

Uncanny Perspectives

Diana Abu-Jaber's fiction contains such lurid descriptions of food that grown men have been spotted salivating in bookstores and libraries by our team of professionals. While we lacked the time to bring up this shocking development with Ms. Abu-Jaber, we did talk for one hour about gentrifying food trucks, Florida gutterpunk culture, and the pros and cons of having a genre-reading husband.

We also understand that comic songwriting legend Weird Al Yankovic has a keen interest in food. But in our wide-ranging, unusual, and rapid-fire 40 minute conversation, we picked Al's brain on digital distribution, the use of gastrointestinal sounds in music, and tort reform, among many other unusual subjects. Additionally, Lawrence Weschler talked with us about Masahrio Mori's "uncanny valley" theory, Nicholas of Cusa, and whether a war film might become authentic enough to kill an audience.

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