Thursday, March 28, 2013

Saleh al-Mutlaq: Maybe less popular than Nouri

In Iraq today, the Parliament attempted to hold a session.  Alsumaria reports it was tabled due to the lack of a quorum and that they will try again on Sunday.  Alsumaria reports on other 'progress,' the Ministry of Electricity announced today that this will be the last summer that Iraqis have to resort to generators for electricity in their homes.  Of course, these promises have been made before and been forgotten.

Meanwhile some are arguing that there is progress on the protest issue.  But those arguing it don't appear to be speaking to the protesters.  Iraqi Spring MC -- the official voice of the protesters -- Tweeted three hours ago that there can be no negotiations with Nouri's government until the punishment of the killers of the innocent protesters in Falluja and Mosul -- and this was declared by the Anbar Tribal Sheiks speaking before the protesters today.

And Saleh al-Mutlaq?  Who attended Wednesday's Cabinet meeting?  Not quite the hero he thinks or tried to present.  al-Mutlaq's always been a question mark to many?  Al Mada reports he did not consult with Iraqiya before attending and that Iraqiya is calling on him to review his actions and decide whether he stands with the Iraqi people or not.

Saleh al-Mutlaq's disloyalty is popping up in social media with many pointing out that Iraqiya stood by him twice.  First, when he was disqualified by the Justice and Accountability Commission (called a "Ba'athist") and removed from the list of candidates in 2010, Iraqiya did not walk away from him.  Ayad Allawi demanded (and got) al-Mutlaq and others cleared.  Then in December 2011, Nouri targeted him and Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi.  Iraqiya stood with both and defended both -- even while al-Mutlaq rushed to stab Tareq in the back.  Saleh al-Mutlaq's being called assorted names all over Arabic social media. 

In related news, NINA notes that Iraqiya MP Wahda al-Jumaili states that there are some in the Iraqiya bloc who have been bought off by crooked politicians using public money.  No names are mentioned by al-Jumail but the outlet notes Saleh al-Mutlaq, Mohammed Tamimi (Minster of Education) and Ahmed Karbouli (Minister of Industry) attended the Council meeting Wednesday "despite a boycott by the Iraqiya coalition."

Probably al-Mutlaq shouldn't have tried to present himself as the voice and hope of the protesters.  Today the response is verbal attacks.  The last time he tried to do this, protesters threw things at him.  He's not really popular.  And even within his National Dialogue Front, he's said to be losing influence.

That's what friendship with Nouri al-Maliki will do for you.


The month ends Monday.  Through yesterday, Iraq Body Count counts 367 violent deaths in Iraq so far this month.  Today National Iraqi News Agency reports a Mosul sticky bombing has left three people injured,  and 1 police officer was shot dead in Mosul.


Lastly, Jonathan Turley has an important column for USA Today entitled "Nixon has won Watergate:"

This month, I spoke at an event commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Watergate scandal with some of its survivors at the National Press Club. While much of the discussion looked back at the historic clash with President Nixon, I was struck by a different question: Who actually won? From unilateral military actions to warrantless surveillance that were key parts of the basis for Nixon's impending impeachment, the painful fact is that Barack Obama is the president that Nixon always wanted to be.
Four decades ago, Nixon was halted in his determined effort to create an "imperial presidency" with unilateral powers and privileges. In 2013, Obama wields those very same powers openly and without serious opposition. The success of Obama in acquiring the long-denied powers of Nixon is one of his most remarkable, if ignoble, accomplishments.

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