Sunday, August 04, 2013

Hejira

The violence in Iraq continues.  National Iraqi News Agency reports that the Tikrit police station was attacked with mortars today, a Kirkuk bombing left two brothers injured, a mortar attack in Baghdad left 2 people dead and four injured, a Hilla sticky bombing left one person injured,  a Baghdad roadside bombing claimed 1 life and left four people injured, a Hilla car bombing left two people injured,  1 man was shot dead in Kirkuk and his son was left injured, a Mosul roadside bombing left 4 Iraqi soldiers dead, and a Tikrit car bombing left 1 judge dead and his wife injured.

Iraq Body Count counts 63 violent deaths in Iraq through Saturday, this following July's toll of over 1,000 dead.  Iraqis grapple with what is happening and why.  All Iraq News reports:

MP Ra'ad al-Dahlaki of the Iraqiya Slate stressed that "Iraq is facing security chaos and it is heading towards the brink unless the defects of the security institutions are amended."  
Dahlaki stated to All Iraq News Agency "The security situation is heading towards serious consequences and there is no ray of hope or real intention to address the security file," noting "We wonder why the government could not fix the security deterioration, despite the huge funds spent on this file."


In Baghdad, Ayad al-Tamimi (Al Mada) reports trenches are being dug in the Green Zone around Saddam Hussein's former palace and other buildings to protect them and their inhabitants, that security measures are so huge that those living in the Green Zone are assuming it's just not safe to leave the Green Zone.  In addition, Iraqis are complaining as more money goes to secure the Green Zone while everyone else lives it at huge risk.

Another thing that is taking place is mass arrests.  NINA notes 183 people arrested in Baghdad alone today.  For those not paying attention, mass arrests are among the reasons for the ongoing protests.

In February, large for the eye of the international press, Nouri made a for-show effort of 'releasing' the Iraqis falsely imprisoned.  All of those held in prison without ever being charged were not released.  But Nouri continues to increase the number and this will not bring peace or ease tensisons.

 Alsumaria notes that the continued decline in security in Iraq may have an unexpected impact: Cleric and movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr may be on the verge of announcing his retirement from political life.  Whispers going around insist the announcement will be made Monday.






I'm traveling in some vehicle
I'm sitting in some cafe
A defector from the petty wars
That shell shock love away
-- "Hejira," written by Joni Mitchell, first appears on her album of the same name

 The number of US service members the Dept of Defense states died in the Iraq War is [PDF format warning] 4488.




The latest from Third went up earlier this edition:

 



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