The Common Ills: Iraq: Violence, elections and a strong poll for Barzani

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Iraq: Violence, elections and a strong poll for Barzani

Journalist and activist Donna Mulhearn has made five trips to Iraq. In a column for the Illawarra Mercury, she describes the day before the invasion and the friend she last saw that day, a friend whose store has been boarded up and whose location was unknown on every trip back to Iraq she's made. From her column:

As the world marks the 10-year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq this year, the mainstream media hosts many ‘‘experts’’, ‘‘analysts’’, former generals and politicians, most of whom have never been to Iraq or, if they have, resided in the Green Zone, Saddam’s former palace, a virtual foreign city-state surrounded by concrete and razor wire.
This retelling of history from the view of official sources excludes the experience and opinions of my friend in the photo store, whose life was obviously affected in ways we still don’t know.
Throughout this year some media commentators will also smugly pose the question they have always posed by way of justification. In my opinion a lazy, dishonest question: ‘‘But isn’t Iraq better now that Saddam Hussein is not in power?’’
Iraqis respond with a look of bewilderment when they hear this question. That’s because it’s a question that assumes that although Saddam has gone, nothing else has changed. But everything has changed.

Witness Iraq is a website set up by attorney Comar Law to help Iraqi refugees in the US receive some form of justice for the illegal war:

On March 13, 2013, Witness Iraq filed suit against the Bush Administration related to the conduct of key government officials leading up to the war.
The lead plaintiff, Ms. Sundus Saleh, with her children in Jordan:

Click here for a FAQ related to the lawsuits.
Click here to sign a Change.org Petition requesting the Federal Courts to conduct an inquiry into the Iraq War.
Witness Iraq seeks to hold political leaders accountable for the Iraq War, and to document the plight of those who witnessed and survived the Iraq War.

The Iraq War continues as the violence makes clear. National Iraqi News Agency reports a Baquba roadside bombing has left two police officers injured, and, last night, a Baghdad roadside bombing left six people injured. All Iraq News adds that a bombing to the south of Tikrit left two police officers injured while a bombing to the north of Tikrit claimed the life of 1 Iraqi soldier and left three more injured. Alsumaria reports a Kirkuk bombing killed a husband and wife (they were farmers on a tractor when the bomb exploded), a Mosul home invasion has left one police officer injured, and a police patrol in a village south of Mosul was targeted with a bombing leaving 2 police officers dead.

Yesterday's violence included an attack on protesters in Tuz Khurmatu:

The death toll continued to mount today. Shannon Young (Free Speech Radio News -- link is audio and text) explains, "Three bombing attacks killed more than 30 people across Iraq Tuesday as the security situation in the country descends into another cycle of sectarian violence. The New York Times reports the deadliest attack killed 16 people and wounded more than 50 as Shiites protested insecurity with a highway blockade in the Salahuddin province." National Iraqi News Agency notes that protesters at a Tuz Khurmatu sit-in were attacked by 1 suicide bomber with "an explosive belt" who took his own life and left many demonstrators dead or injured. World Bulletin counts 2 suicide bombers and 71 injured. This evening, NINA reported the final toll from medical and security sources: 27 dead and 80 injured. All Iraq News states it was one suicide bomber combined with a mortar attack. AFP informs, "Among the dead were a former deputy provincial governor and his two sons, as well as a former provincial councillor." Alsumaria identifies the former deputy manager as Ahmed Abdul Wahid and note that the vice president of the Turkmen Front, Ali Hashem Mukhtar Oglu, is the other official who died. Yasir Ghazi (New York Times) explains, "Security forces imposed a curfew in Tuz Khurmatu and ordered people to close their shops."

UPI notes today that the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Iraq, Martin Kobler, has condemned the bombings. Hurriyet Daily News adds he's not the only one condemning the attacks:

Turkey has voiced concern and sadness over the killing of senior Iraqi Turkmen officials in a suicide bombing in the city of Tuz Khurmatu on June 25 in the wake of increasing violence across the country.

A declaration released following a bimonthly meeting of the National Security Council (MGK) on June 25 particularly emphasized the “deep sadness” over the killing of deputy head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, Ali Haşim Muhtaroğlu. “The increasing violence and terror incidents in recent days have been condemned,” the MGK statement said. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up inside a tent packed with Turkmen protesters in the town, killing at least eight people and wounding 55.

Al Mada reports that the protest started on Sunday and that the Turkmen blocked off the international highway linking Baghdad to Kirkuk (and beyond) in protest over the decaying security in Iraq. Alsumaria also notes that Turkmen MP Nabil Hrbo called today for protection of the Turkmen and stated that if Nouri's government cannot provide it, he will request the United Nations to oversee security issues for the Turkmen.

Yesterday also the announcement of the results of Anbar Province's vote last week. Nineveh Provinces results were announced today. All Iraq News reports:

Member of the Commissioners Board, Suroor al-Hitawi said "Brotherhood and Coexistence Slate won the first place with 11 seats followed by Muhahidoun (United) Slate which won 8 seats while Nineveh Sincerity Slate got 4 seats," noting that "Wafa Nineveh Slate won four seats, Nineveh Alliance won three seats, Iraqiya United Patriotic Allaince won two seats."

The elections saw a degree of civility between the parties running that was not seen in the April 20th elections (when 12 provinces voted). Since the vote has been announced, Saleh al-Mutlaq's gotten very vocal in slams and attacks. National Iraqi News Agency reports:

The Iraqiya MP, Walid al-Mohammadi called on Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq to stay away from accusations and vulgar descriptions to the winners of the provincial elections, stressing that he is trying to hide his failure behind these accusations.
Mohammadi said in a press statement today 26, June: "The descriptions launched by al-Mutlaq towards Motahedoon coalition is because his losing in the elections," urging him to be more balanced in his comments after losing in the elections.

Saleh al-Mutlaq is no longer a member of Iraqiya. He joined with Nouri to yet again save his own ass and he's been called out by various members of Iraqiya. (Including Iraqiya leader Ayad Allawi who referred to al-Mutlaq in last week's BBC interview but didn't say al-Mutlaq's name.)

The KRG is a semi-autonomous northern part of Iraq. The Kurdistan Regional Government is made up of three provinces but also claims the disputed Kirkuk. The three official provinces are expected to hold their provincial elections in September.

Many wonder if KRG President Massoud Barzani will step down as some feel he should (the KRG Constitution limits the president to two terms). Alsumaria reports on a new poll of the KRG which find that 69% of those surveyed want Barzani to serve a third term. That number is much larger than any press reports have indicated. If other polls show similar results, it's very likely that Barzani will declare the two terms started with the passage of that clause and that it was not retroactive which would allow him one more run for the presidency.

The following community sites -- plus The NewsHour, Susan's On the Edge, Ms. magazine's blog, Pacifica Evening News, The Diane Rehm Show, The Bat Segundo Show, Antiwar.com and Black Agenda Report -- updated last night and this morning: