Grasp that Jalal's either sincere or idiotic statement has repurcussions. For example, Nouri has launched Operation Command Tigris. The US press ignores it but we've covered it here. It is a major issue. He's sending the Iraqi military into disputed and oil-rich Kirkuk. The Kurds claim Kirkuk as their own. And, at present, that's a solid claim. Does the KRG deserve Kirkuk?
Right now, it probably does. Baghdad does not. That's not taking sides on ethnic or historical grounds. That's noting that Iraq's Constitution (written and passed in 2005) outlined how Kirkuk would be resolved in Article 140: a census and referendum. Both would be held by the end of 2007. Nouri becomes Prime Minister of Iraq in spring of 2006. And refuses to implement Article 140. One of the things he promises in the contract known as the Erbil Agreement (2010) is that he will implement Article 140. Nouri has still refused to implement Article 140. When Nouri refuses to honor the Constitution he took an oath to uphold, that means, by default, the other side looks better.
Operation Command Tigris is seen as a way for Baghdad to take control of Kirkuk. Al Mada notes that Kurdistan Regional President Massoud Barzani has been attempting to work out a unified opposition position with Jalal on this issue. Barzani issued a statement declaring that public opinion is against it and that they have waited for Talabani to solve the issue but no solution has come forward and what is taking place is unconstitutional. The statement is posted on the Kurdistan Regional Government's website. In the statement, Barzani notes that there were concerns and fears about the formation of the so-called Operation Command Tigris and it does nothing to help with the application of Article 140. Instead, Operation Command Tigris was formed with intentions and goals that go against the hopes of the Kurds, against the democratic process and does nothing to help the Baghdad-government and KRG get along. Barzani notes that he waited so that Talabani would have an opportunity to put into play promises he had made about stopping the situation; however, that has not come to be.
Jalal's shennangians have gotten real old. So it's not a surprise that he's coming under increasing criticism. Iraqiya MP Hamza Allrtani tells All Iraq News that the people should not forget that when the political blocs came up with a plan to withdraw confidence and merely needed Talabani to pass it on to Parliament, Jalal refused to do so. Dar Addustour adds that Kurdish MP Moahmmed Chihod is calling for Jalal to appear before Parliament to give a status report on his months -- since the middle of September -- of talks with political blocs to resolve the cricis.
How different would things have been if, in the fall of 2010, Jalal had agreed with US Vice President Joe Biden to become Ambassador to the US and allow Ayad Allawi to become the president of Iraq? Had that taken place, would Nouri forever be rescued that way Jalal repeatedly rescues him? Would the political crisis still be ongoing? Those are things worth pondering.
In the meantime, Jalal's promises are a bit like those from the Ministry of Electricity -- they always promise a solution . . . at some future date. Al Rafidayn reports that the promise on elecrticity now is the end of 2013 will see near 24-7 electricity for Baghdad.
Government actions have consequences. Al Mada reports that Rahim Taha Taiawi took his own life last night. The teacher shot himself inside his Salahudding Province home. Why? He was said to have been in shock over Nouri's announced decision to cancel the food-ration card system. The man was said to have been worried how he would provide for his family without the system (he had 14 children). Al Mada notes that Iraq's provinces have witnesses mass demonstrations against the announced decision. Though many have noted their objections to last week's announcement -- including Iraqiya, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Moqtada al-Sadr -- one person who's had nothing to say is the President of Iraq. As the people take to the streets, how telling that Jalal had nothing to say.
US Senator Patty Murray is the Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Her office noted the following yesterday.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Murray Press Office
Monday, November 12th,
2012 (202)
224-2834
Senator Murray Attends Veterans
Day Memorial Celebration
Murray:
Veterans Day is a time to reflect on
the shared duty we owe to our nation’s veterans
(Washington,
D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’
Affairs Committee, attended Evergreen Washelli Cemetery’s 63rd Annual
Veterans Day Memorial Celebration with veterans and their families. She spoke
of the importance of honoring the shared duty owed to our nation’s veterans,
specifically in ensuring veterans can easily access the care and benefits they
deserve.
Key
excerpts from Senator Murray’s speech:
“Today is a day
to ask ourselves whether we have kept faith with our veterans; whether we are
keeping the promises we made to them as a nation when they signed up to serve.
Today is a day to take stock of where we have fallen short in delivering the
care and benefits our veterans earned; to take stock of what our veterans need
today and what they will need tomorrow; and to ask – what more can we do to
ensure our veterans can easily access the care and benefits they
deserve?”
“At the end
of the day, the only way that we will be able to ease the difficult transition
home for these men and women is by working together – with private and public
partnerships, with investments in unique new programs, with unified
encouragement to seek mental health care and overcome stigmas, and very
importantly, with a plan to get these veterans back to work.”
“Our
servicemembers and veterans have done everything we have asked of them. While
they don’t ask much in return, surely we can – and must – do better on their
behalf.”
The full
text of Senator Murray’s speech:
“Today is a
very special day in America. On this day, we celebrate and honor the great
sacrifices our veterans have made for each of us. It is because of their
sacrifice that we are a free people; that we enjoy the rights and privileges of
citizenship; that just last week we democratically and freely elected – as we do
every four years – a president of the United States.
“We are a free
country because of you. You who have worn the uniform have borne the burden of
the United States. I am so proud to stand with you today as we honor and
recognize this service to our nation.
“But as we
spend time today reflecting on, and giving thanks for, the sacrifices made by
those who have served, let us also reflect on the shared duty we owe to our
nation’s veterans.
“Today is a day
to ask ourselves whether we have kept faith with our veterans; whether we are
keeping the promises we made to them as a nation when they signed up to
serve.
“Today is a day
to take stock of where we have fallen short in delivering the care and benefits
our veterans earned; to take stock of what our veterans need today and what they
will need tomorrow; and to ask – what more can we do to ensure our veterans can
easily access the care and benefits they deserve?
“The answer
to each of these questions is – as all of you know – that we have more work to
do.
“That is why
I was proud the President signed my VOW to Hire Heroes legislation into law late
last year.
“Thanks to
this legislation, we’ve been able to take a real, concrete step toward putting
our veterans back to work.
“But you
know, and I know, it’s only that – a first step. The next step must be building
partnerships with businesses across the country to hire our nation’s heroes.
“Yet even as we
work to build these partnerships, we face another critical challenge as
thousands of our veterans begin their transition home. It is a challenge we are
all too familiar with, which is ensuring timely access to top quality mental
health care.
“Not every
veteran will be affected by these invisible wounds. But when a servicemember or
a veteran has the courage to stand up and ask for help, VA and DoD must be
there: every – single – time.
“They must be
there with not only timely access to care, but also the right type of
care.
“Challenges
like PTSD or depression are natural responses to some of the most stressful
events a person can experience.
“And we will do
everything possible to ensure that those affected by these illnesses – can get
help, can get better, and can get back to their lives.
“At the end
of the day, the only way that we will be able to ease the difficult transition
home for these men and women is by working together – with private and public
partnerships, with investments in unique new programs, with unified
encouragement to seek mental health care and overcome stigmas, and very
importantly, with a plan to get these veterans back to work.
“Our
servicemembers and veterans have done everything we have asked of them. While
they don’t ask much in return, surely we can – and must – do better on their
behalf.
“Let me close by saying that as we honor the many
sacrifices and accomplishments of veterans across the country, we must also
remember the many veterans who have been impacted by the devastation of
Hurricane Sandy.
“Some have been
displaced from their homes. Others may have difficulty reaching their normal VA
medical facility. Some who rely on their VA compensation and pension benefits to
make ends meet are experiencing difficulties receiving their checks as a result
of the hurricane.
“So while we
keep those affected in our thoughts and our prayers, I would encourage everyone
to reach out to your local veteran service organizations to see what you can do
to help. The American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans
of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America,
AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans of America – each of these organizations, and others,
is a resource for veterans affected by Hurricane Sandy.
“Thank you for
having me here today. I am honored to be your partner in the United States
Senate, and I look forward to continuing to work together to make some real
changes for veterans in the coming years.”
###
Kathryn Robertson
Specialty Media Coordinator
Specialty Media Coordinator
Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray
448 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510
202-224-2834
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
iraq al mada dar addustour all iraq news alsumaria kitabat iraq
iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraqiraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq
iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraqiraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq
iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraqiraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq
iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq iraq
