Saturday, September 29, 2012

A break with Nouri or is State of Law floating a trial balloon


In Iraq where the violence never ends, All Iraq News reports a Baghdad armed attack resulted in 1 soldier being killed and two more injured.  The news outlet also reports that 2 young boys, brothers 8 and 6-years-old, were killed and it appears they were killed with some sort of poison or gas that was sprayed.  Still on children, Al Rafidayn notes that a six-year-old girl was raped and killed in Baghdad.  Alsumaria adds that 1 Iman was shot dead in southeast Baghdad, 1 civilian was shot dead in northwest Baghdad, a Baghdad grenade attack claimed the lives of 2 soldiers with a third left injured, a Mosul bombing injured six factory workers, an Arbil attack left one person injured and a Baquba car bombing left 1 person dead and ine more injured.

Through Friday, Iraq Body Count counts 314 people killed in Iraqi violence so far this month.

 A former governor of Basra was assassinated on Thursday, Mohammed Misbah Waili.  Al Mada reports Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq has called this a "heinous crime" and blames the security forces for the murder.  Al Mada also notes that at Friday's funeral, hundreds of citizens and politicians turned out to pay their respects.  But the violence getting the most attention is the Thursday prison assault.

The prison assault has resulted in many escapees.  And they're not being caught.  Mohammed Lazim (CNN) has  a report on the many still not recaptured.   Why could that be?  Because people are sympathetic to them, because the mass arrests that never end (today alone, Alsumaria reports 18 people arrested.)?  Because people disappear into the Iraqi 'justice' system where families can't find them?  Because Iraq has already executed 96 people this year with plans for another 200?  Because Nouri is seen as targeting Sunnis?  Because there's no amensty law despite promises and talk going back to 2008?

For all those reasons and many more.

If it was the Islamic State of Iraq carrying out the attack, it was Nouri who fueled the response of the people.  With so many prisoners still on the run, clearly people are not aiding the police.  This might end up being a major turning point in the story of  Iraq.


AP reports today, "The Interior Ministry said there had been 'clear collusion' between some guards and inmates in the Tasfirat prison. Weapons were brought in during family visits, and wardens left locks inside the facility open."  Seems like a lot of people could sympathize with the plight of the imprisoned.  A smart leader of Iraq right now would be addressing the issues that led to the event.

All Iraq News reports that State of Law MP Yassin Majeed declared today that the prison assault was proof of the need for an amnesty law.  Not noted in the article is that State of Law has been the biggest obstacle to the passage of an amnesty law.  Also not noted is that Majeed is very tight with Nouri al-Maliki.  It is doubtful he would have made today's statement without a go-ahead from Nouri.  If Nouri did okay the statements, it may indicate that State of Law's about to support the amnesty bill they've kept from passing for some time now.  If Nouri did give the go-ahead, it may be the first intelligent move he's made in over three years.



 In Iraq the political stalemate continues.  Some have pinned their hopes for ending the stalemate on Jalal Talabani, the president of Iraq who fled to Germany and stayed there until two weeks ago when he finally returned to Iraq.  All Iraq News reports he arrived in Baghdad Saturday afternoon.  Al Mada adds that he is talking to the leaders of political blocs about a national conference to resolve the ongoing political crisis.

Nouri al-Maliki was a lousy prime minister in his first term.  The Bush White House installed him as prime minister thinking he would act quickly on their desires.  He didn't.  Nor did he act quickly -- or otherwise -- on the needs of the Iraqi people.  He's an incompetent who can't accomplish anything.  This became obvious to more and more Iraqis and is why Iraqiya, not Nouri's State of Law, came in first in the 2010 parliamentary elections.  That meant Ayad Allawi, head of Iraqiya, or some other member of Iraqiya should have had first shot at forming the government.  This isn't "C.I. says so," this is outlined in the Constitution.  You can also refer to John Barry's "'The Engame' Is A Well Researched, Highly Critical Look at U.S. Policy in Iraq" (Daily Beast):
Washington has little political and no military influence over these developments. As Michael Gordon and Bernard Trainor charge in their ambitious new history of the Iraq war, The Endgame, Obama's administration sacrificed political influence by failing in 2010 to insist that the results of Iraq’s first proper election be honored: "When the Obama administration acquiesced in the questionable judicial opinion that prevented Ayad Allawi's bloc, after it had won the most seats in 2010, from the first attempt at forming a new government, it undermined the prospects, however slim, for a compromise that might have led to a genuinely inclusive and cross-sectarian government."


The following community sites -- plus Pacifica Evening News, Chocolate City, NPR, Jody Watley, and Cindy Sheehan,  updated last night and today:




Jill Stein is the Green Party's presidential candidate.  Her campaign notes an online event taking place tomorrow:


Join us online this Sunday, September 30th at 4pmPST/7pmEST to hear how Jill Stein’s Green New Deal would curb climate change and transition the United States to a sustainable economy. 
 Who: 
  • Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein
  • Colin Beavan, aka No Impact Man, Green Party Candidate for Congress, will moderate the event
  • Bill McKibben, author and climate change expert, will offer scientific, non-partisan background on the issue
Where: http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
RSVP Here
Here’s how to participate in the event:
  • Click here on Sunday 9/30 at 4pmPST/7pmEST. (Yes, it’s that easy!)
  • Host a house party! (Of course, this is optional, but we’d be grateful if you chose to!) Have a little BBQ with neighbors and friends and watch the event together. If you and your guests are impressed with what you learn about the vision of the campaign, collect donations to help that dream become reality!
  • Join the conversation online! Use the hashtag #ClimateTownHall to share your thoughts and questions with us on Twitter. Post comments on our Facebook wall, as well as your own (be sure to tag our page).
Have a question you’d like Jill to answer? You can submit questions both before and during the event in the following ways:
  • Tweet your question using the hashtag #ClimateTownHall
  • Post your question on our Facebook wall. (Please still tag it #ClimateTownHall, so we know it’s related to this event.)
  • Share your question with us on Google+ (again, using the hashtag above).
  • Submit your question during the event on LiveStream.
And, here’s how to help us demand action now!
This event is just one part of an entire day of action. The Green Party is urging local supporters to organize events (or issue a release) in your community to highlight our demand that the US take action now on climate change. The Green Party of NY has drafted a Green Climate Change Model Media Release and Green Climate Change Action Plan you can use for local releases, news conferences, and media events.

The Republicans are climate change deniers, the Democrats are climate change evaders. Contact dunleamark@aol.com or visit the Green Party of New York State website for more information.

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





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