Monday, October 22, 2012

Protests re-emerge in Iraq



Much to Nouri al-Maliki's distress, protests have begun again in Iraq. They've been small and the foreign press (US and European) has ignored them, but they are taking place. Just Saturday, teachers were protesting.  It's not ending there.  Dar Addustour reports a Maysan Province demonstration on Sunday in which people gathered (dozens) to protest the lack of basic services as well as a probelm specific to the province, sinking homes. Though the protest was peaceful, the people were surprised to see Nouris security forces storm in using batons and attacking the people, hurling threats and insults at the people, firing into the air and injuring one child who was shot.

For those who remember January 2011, this is how it started in Iraq.  Scattered protests building up to the February 25th protests across Iraq, as the cry for improved basic services, jobs and addressing 'the disappeared' in Iraq's 'justice' system.  As various governments were threatened in the region and a few brought down, Nouri grew worried. That's when he made his 'promise' that he wouldn't go for a third term (since rescinded by his attorney and many others), insisted that he would fix things in 100 days, begged Iraqis to stop protesting.  It was kick the can, what Nouri always does.  Stall, distract and hope your opponents are exhausted and just give up.  In this case, Nouri's opponents were the Iraqi people.

Now it would appear that the protests are re-starting.

 The violence never stopped. Al Rafidayn reports a Nineveh Province roadside bombing claimed the life of 1 Iraqi soldier and left another injured and a Salahuddin Province roadside bombing left one police officer injured. Also in Salahuddin Province, All Iraq News notes a Samarr cemetery bombing targeted a mosque but left no one dead or injured.


 Bonnie reminds that Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "The Cowardly Debater" went up last night.  On this week's Law and Disorder Radio,  an hour long program that airs Monday mornings at 9:00 a.m. EST on WBAI and around the country throughout the week, hosted by attorneys Heidi Boghosian, Michael S. Smith and Michael Ratner (Center for Constitutional Rights) topics addressed include military commission and David Hicks, attorney Noura Erakat speaks with the hosts about the Russell Tribunal on Palestine Findgins and Ilan Pappe's speech at the Russell Tribunal is broadcast.


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