The US government did let the 2009 provincial elections -- both sets (the KRG did not hold them at the same time the other provinces -- minus Kirkuk -- did). It was the Parliamentary elections of 2010 that they overruled because they wanted their pet Nouri al-Maliki to get a second term as prime minister after Nouri's State of Law came in second to Ayad Allawi's Iraqiya. So they backed him on his eight month political stalemate and then they negotiated the Erbil Agreement guaranteeing him a second term as prime minister.
That legal contract found the political blocs granting that concession to Nouri in exchange for Nouri making concessions to them. Nouri got what he wanted (the second term) and then discarded the contract. That created the current stalemate. Now the second place Nouri that the US re-installed in 2010, wants to shut out Iraqiya by forming a majority-government. Al Mada reports that a split if evident in Parliament over the move. And Al Mada quotes State of Law MP Abdul Salam al-Maliki stating that the answer is a majority government and that anyone who disagrees with that is not a supporter of democracy. It's as if State of Law got all the MPs who fell on their heads.
From yesterday's snapshot:
On violence, yesterday was the end of the month. Iraq Body Count's
counts 253 reported violent deaths in Iraq for the month of October.
Last month, their total was 356 which means a reduction of about 100
deaths. AFP, forgetting fairy tales are for bedtime, notes
the government total for October is 136. AFP also forgets to note that
there were over 550 reported mass arrests in Iraq in the month of
October. Nouri's round up largely focused on Sunnis.
Today, Alsumaria reports that in Mosul alone, last month saw the arrest of 90 for 'terrorism.' It really is amazing how US and European press ignore these ongoing mass arrests. Already today Alsumaria is reporting a mass arrest of 9 people for 'terrorism.'
All Iraq News reports that US Ambassador to Iraq "Stephen Beecroft" (that's how he's billed -- maybe he's finally dropped the three names) is praising the Baghdad International Fair which kicked off today. Alsumaria notes this is the 39th Baghdad International Fair and that twenty countries are participating. Nouri attended the opening ceremony and then split.
If you were Nouri, you would too. That's a pathetic showing. And if you doubt it, consider the 8th Erbil International Fair was last month and had 23 countries participating. Poor, inept Nouri, always living in the shadow of the KRG. And it's going to be evident for a prolonged period because Dar Addustour notes it's a ten day event.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
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