Sheikh Mohammed Fayyad, one of the organizers of Anbar sit-ins ,said to NINA reporter : "The citizens participated in the prayers that held in the courtyard northern Ramadi and eastern Fallujah cities , stressing that the goal of this trickle is to send one again a message to the governing in Baghdad that our demonstrations are peaceful and backed by citizens deep conviction.
Iraqi Spring MC notes that speakers in Samarra sees Iran behind the 2006 attack on the al-Askari shrines and they cite US General George Casey for that assertion. They also note Samarra protesters are calling for an independent, international investigation and state that they do not trust Nouri's government to conduct the investigation. Alsumaria notes that the cry was also echoed at the Tikrit demonstration. They elaborate on Casey's remarks explaining that they were made in France and that he was speaking at event sponsored by an Iranian opposition group (they probably mean the MEK). NINA quotes Sheikh Hussein Ghazi stating in Samarra, "It has become clear in the light of what is declared by the US forces former commander in Iraq Gen George Casey, a few days ago, about Iran's implication in Samarra bombings that targeted the holy shrine of the two Imams in 2006, and the painful consequences of those bombings that have been carried out with the knowledge of the Iraqi government."
In Falluja, National Iraqi News Agency notes, Sheikh Ghalib al-Issawi called for the closure of the Iranian embassy in Baghdad. Iraqi Spring MC adds that many members of the media were prevented by Nouri's forces from entering the square where the sit-in was taking place.
Alsumaria reports protesters in Dhi Qar Province insist that they will continue their protests until the electricity situation is addressed. (Electricity actually has gotten worse in the last months in Dhi Qar which is what prompted the citizens to take to the streets.)
Turning to the topic of violence, yesterday's snapshot noted, "BBC News reports Baghdad cafes were struck by bombings, 'The bombs went off on Thursday evening when the coffee shops were filled with people watching a football match.' Reuters counts 'at least 22' dead." AP reports today the death toll rose to 36. AFP reports a twin bombing has taken place in Ramadi today and gives the death toll at 9. Alsumaria explains there was a bomb on a civilian car followed by another bombing when citizens rushed to the scene to help following the first bombing. AP states the death toll has increased to 11. Alsumaria also reports that the body of a tribal leader in Kut was discovered shot-dead in his own home.
As violence increases, some fear the return of civil war/ethnic cleansing, some fear it has already arrived. BBC's World Service offer an interview by Mike Lanchin with Iraqi academic May Witwit about the 2006 and 2007 violence. Excerpt.
May Witwit: In our district, bodies just filled the area. It was a dumping place for unidentified corpses. You would not know who -- who would that be? Whether it was a Sunni or a Shi'ite or a Christian or whoever, we didn't know. I mean, a corpse lay at my-my gate for three days and we wouldn't dare remove it.
In the US, Mike Palecek and Chuck Gregory host a once a week radio program entitled The New American Dream Radio Show on Blog Talk Radio (airs Thursdays -- and you can stream it at any time -- here for the latest episode). Last night, Karen Kwiatkowski spoke about The Drone War and whistle-blower Ed Snowden and Alan Maki delivered a must-hear for residents of Minnesota on the minimum wage (the points go beyond Minnesota but that state should especially find Maki's commentary pertinent). It was a lively show.
Didn't care for the music. That's not on the hosts. If you're dead to the industry -- and that artist is -- you can go stream to find out who I'm talking about -- there's usually a reason. In his case, he's a fraud. When he emerged, oh so long ago, he was embraced as authentic. But it was a put-on. So is the new or newer song by the artist featured in the broadcast. Being inauthentic was only part of the artist's problem. He was also ungrateful and many of us felt that his bad manners crossed a line -- when another artist really helps you, and he was helped big time, that's a debt that goes beyond one shout out in a long list of thank yous on your first album. Again, stream the show to find out who I'm talking about if you don't know. (And, no, I'm not making that up to increase interest in the broadcast. But I am sharing that truth for that reason.)
Finally, David DeGraw notes:
The costs of education and student loan debt are used as weapons to enforce a neo-feudal caste system that sentences us to a lifetime of wage slavery. With the already excessive interest rate on this debt set to double on July 1st, one wonders if this will become a tipping point and rallying call for another wave of protest from the all too dormant US wing of the decentralized global Occupy movement. To throw a little fuel on the fire, as we prepare to get back on the frontlines ourselves, here is a stream of consciousness riff inspired by Allen Ginsberg’s epic Howl poem...
Howl Now: The Beaten Masses & Mass Disaster
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by debt...
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The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
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