The Common Ills: Holy day does not stop violence in Iraq

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Holy day does not stop violence in Iraq

Kelley B. Vlahos (Antiwar.com) has a must read column entitled "Washington's Silence On Iraq:"

Violence has escalated in Iraq at a rate not seen since 2008 when the final Strategic Framework and Security Agreement between Bush and Maliki was signed. Nearly 6,000 Iraqis were killed since the beginning of the year, 490 in October, as of Sunday. Sectarian violence on both sides is washing over Iraqi towns and cities like an epidemic, including the North, where Kurdistan had once been known as the safest place in Iraq.
Washington, which for years claimed the invasion, in part, was to foster a democratic ally in the region, has been curiously silent on why this is happening and what it means for Iraq, with much of the mainstream news following suit.
Some might call it "moving on," or "closure." Others may call it desertion.

It's a really strong column. Don't miss her section on State Dept spokesperson Marie Harf remarks at the October 9th press briefing (see the October 9th snapshot) and the journalist asking Harf about violence in Iraq is Al Quds' Said Arikat.

Today is the first of the four holy day of Eid. CNN notes, "For Muslims around the world, Eid al-Adha is a time of celebration, marked with visits from far-flung relatives, gift-giving and elaborate feasts."

Iraqiya leader Ayad Allawi offered his holy day greeting -- a call for security for the Iraqi people -- via Twitter.

‏@AyadAllawi

نهنئكم بحلول عيد الاضحى المبارك اعاده الله على شعبنا الكريم بالامن، سائلين المولى عز وجل ان يحفظ #العراق ارضاً وشعباً pic.twitter.com/Yuacl6WnZ3

But holy day or not, the violence continued. Mustafa Mahmoud, Suadad al-Salhy and Andrew Heavens (Reuters) report, "A bomb exploded near a mosque in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Tuesday, killing eight Sunni worshippers after the first prayer of the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice, or Eid al-Adha, police and medical sources said." NINA notes the death toll has risen to 10 with twenty-two injured. Sameer N. Yacoub (AP) updates it to 12 dead and twenty-four injured -- either toll (or both) may go higher before the end of the day. Saad Abedine, Joseph Netto, Mohammed Tawfeeq and Qadir Sediqi (CNN) report, "The bomb went off as worshippers were leaving the mosque, police said."

Through yesterday, Iraq Body Count puts the death toll for the month from violence at 498.

Though the western media is focused on the bombing noted above, that's not the only violence in Iraq today. NINA reports an Aneh bombing left an Iraqi soldier and an Iraqi military captain injured, a military and police operation in Tikrit has left 3 suspects dead and a fourth injured, a Mosul bombing killed 3 members of the police force, and 2 brothers en route to a mosque were shot dead in Mosul.

In other violence news, All Iraq News reports the police commander in Baiji has been dismissed due to what it seen as security failures. No word on when Nouri gets dismissed for security failures throughout Iraq.

Two community sites -- and Susan's On the Edge, Jody Watley, Adam Kokesh, Chocolate City, Antiwar.com, Black Agenda Radio and Pacifica Evening News -- updated last night and this morning: