The Common Ills: Violence slams Iraq, State of Law tries to steal Kirkuk

Iraq is slammed with violence yet again today but remember, kids, Barack 'ended' the war. They didn't get the memo in Hilla. Press TV says it was a car bombing and that 4 are dead and eleven injured. Security forces tell All Iraq News that the car was parked next to a gas station (which amplified the bombing) and that 7 people were killed and fifteen injured. AFP focuses on two bombgs in Mohoudiya -- the first, a car bombing, claimed 2 lives and left two injured while the second bombing ("seconds later") claimed 1 life and left three people injured. All Iraq News adds that a Shirqat sticky bombing claimed the life of 1 police officer and that an attorney was shot dead outside his Mosul home.

The United States government caused the violence. Car bombings did not roll Iraq prior to the US invasion. They continued to cause it even after Bully Boy Bush left the White House. By refusing to honor the election results, by backing Nouri al-Maliki for a second term as prime minister even though his State of Law came in second. They didn't just back him during the eight month political stalemate when he refused to allow the winner of the election to form a government, no, the United States also negotiated a contract: The Erbil Agreement. Weary political blocs, desperate to end the stalemate went along with contractual promises.

Nouri made various concessions in the contract and the political blocs agreed he could have a second term as prime minister. The US brokered the contract and promised that it was legal, binding and that it would have the full support of the US government. Nouri used it to become prime minister and then refused to honor the contract. He took what he wanted and then broke the contract. And the US government that had sworn they would back this contract acted like they'd never heard of the Erbil Agreement.

When votes don't matter, when the Iraqi Constitution doesn't matter, you not only destroy faith in any prospect of democracy, you also set up an illegitimate government that does not have any authority. That breeds violence and it also ensures that the political stalemate continues.

All Iraq News notes that the talk is President Jalal Talabani is reportedly going to try another attempt to address the political crisis. Wael Grace (Al Mada) reports there was a push in Parliament to limit the three presidencies to two terms. The three presidencies are the posts of President of Iraq, Prime Minister of Iraq and Speaker of Parliament. This move is, in part, to prevent Nouri al-Maliki from having a third term. Jalal Talabani is also serving a second term. Grace notes that Moqtada al-Sadr's bloc favors the limitation and has spoken publicly previously about how it is needed to avoid a new dictatorship from emerging in Iraq. As was to be exepcted, State of Law stamped their feet and said no such law was needed and they worry about the legality.

State of Law is 'known' for respecting the Constitution. (That was sarcasm.) As further proof of their lack of respect for the law, Alsumaria reports that State of Law MP Abbas al-Bayati is stating that State of Law feels the solution for disputed Kirkuk is for it to become an 'independent' province. He's a liar. First off, the Constitution addresses this in Article 140. Nouri has refused to implement Article 140. Second, they're not suggesting something like the KRG that is semi-autonomous. They're saying it's a province. One of many provinces in Iraq. It will not be independent, no more so than any other province that is not in the Kurdistan Regional Government. What that means is the the issue was not resolved -- as outlined in the Constitution -- by a referendum and census but instead Kirkuk would become part of the central government out of Baghdad. Kirkuk is oil rich. It is disputed for that reason. It is also disputed because of its history with various groups claiming they were displaced at various points in history. The Constitution addressed this because it is a serious dispute. That's why Article 140 was written. State of Law continues to subvert and ignore the Constitution. This is how the second place political slate that the US put into place again in 2010 rules Iraq and sews tension and distrust when not breeding violence.

Oh, the rain never comes
Count my blessings on my thumbs
And the dogs just want to sleep in the sun
All day

You know I'll miss you
And thus it begins
But I'll release you
And thus it continues
Someday we'll be happy again
-- "J For Jules," written by Aimee Mann, first released by her group 'Til Tuesday on the album Everything's Different Now

The one and only Aimee Mann is on tour. It's a bad economy and many acts are struggling with ticket sales. Aimee delivers a first-rate show and she's one of the finest American songwriters to emerge in the last thirty or so years. She has a new album called Charmer. Upcoming dates include:

11/08/12	Capitol Theatre Columbus OH
11/09/12	20th Century Theatre Cincinnati OH
11/10/12	Royal Oak Music Theatre Royal Oak MI
11/11/12	Pabst Theatre Milwaukee WI
11/13/12	The Pageant St Louis MO

See All Tour Dates

Thursday, November 08, 2012

Violence slams Iraq, State of Law tries to steal Kirkuk