Michael Knights is part of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. It's to the right of my tastes but I have and will attend public events when the topic's Iraq and I have the time to do so. Like the institute, Knights is to the right of me -- far to the right. So why do I feel like I've been defending him all week? Did he say that, in 20 years, Iraq would have a functioning government?
We don't know. The report used faulty punctuation and the paragraph clearly left a quote only to end with end quote punctuation. What Knights did say in quotes (later in the article) was "someday."
Today, we've got Knights at BBC. I saw the headline (a friend e-mailed it) and thought, "Well the BBC has repeatedly been wrong about elections in Iraq." The title of the piece is "Analysis: Maliki bolsters Iraq re-election chances." It's not a BBC analyst, it's Knights.
But I'm reading his analysis and I'm not seeing the headline backed up.
So is it his headline or BBC's headline?
Knights piece isn't really focused on current events of the end of the week. So let's just add a few in. Thursday, the Iraqi press was reporting on Nouri's supposed desire to improve relations with Saudi Arabia. That 'outreach' was always going to be difficult. It only became worse when, the next day, Nouri began making (yet again) accusations that Saudi Arabia was attempting to destabilize Iraq. Or you can take his BP efforts currently which will not please the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Granted, Nouri and his State of Law are never going to poll well in the KRG. But antagonizing the KRG again -- after he spent the summer trying to pretend he was a diplomat and improving relations with the KRG -- it doesn't let him look like a leader. He yet again appears to be a hot head and a thug. And that's without even commenting on his latest nonsense aimed at Turkey -- one of Iraq's leading trade partners.
Nouri has an image problem -- having demonstrated since 2006 that he picks fights, attacks rivals (of every sect) and delivers nothing for either the Iraqi people or the Iraqi government.
Some might argue that he brings in billions in revenue each month. No, he doesn't. Nouri did not create oil or the world's need for it and Iraq's oil riches have nothing to do with him (other than he steals a great deal to keep him and his family rolling in the high life).
Prime Minister since the spring of 2006.
Where are the improvements?
The Iraqi people still need reliable electricity. They still need potable water. That's drinking water, water they can gather in a cup or container and immediately use as opposed to water that they must first boil or use purification tablets on before it's fit for human consumption. Cholera outbreaks result from using Iraq's water without boiling or tablets.
And let's point out something else. Each month, the oil revenues are in the billions, double-digits.
This water we're talking about. For some Iraqis it does pour out of the faucet. For some. For many Iraqis -- in cities and towns -- they're going to a well or a river or lake.
Nouri's failure with regards to water is not a minor issue. It's appalling. This is the 21st century and Iraq's really one of the richest countries in the world. The population is around 30 million. At the start of the year, AFP reported that 2012 saw "$94.03 billion in oil revenues" for the government. 30 million people, 94 billion in revenues. Yet, according to the United Nations, at least 23% of Iraqis lived below the poverty line in 2007. In 2009, Xinhua reported on Iraq's Central Statistics Office finding that 6,210,000 Iraqis lived below the poverty line. Layla Mohammed (Iraqi News) reported in August that the Human Rights Ministry stated 6.4 million Iraqis were living below the poverty line.
So, by Iraq's own figures, the number has slightly increased (by .2%).
This in a country where the oil revenues in 2012 were over 90 billion and the population was 30 million. In other words, the government could have given each Iraqi 30 million dollars from the 2012 revenues. They had the money to do that but Nouri couldn't even use a tiny fraction of that money -- wouldn't use a tiny fraction of that money to lift the Iraqi people out of poverty.
(Actually, the people are owed money from the revenues. Moqtada al-Sadr's the only politician who regularly brings that up.)
Nouri's a failure in every way -- and we could note security and legal and so much more.
But let's move back to Knights' analysis. It's more even-handed than the headline suggests. And there are real nuggets in it but he makes mistakes and maybe the answer can be found in this passage: Initially viewed as weak when he entered office in 2006, Mr Maliki only
bloomed into a more successful and confident leader in 2008 when the
US-led surge allowed for decisive security operations against the Mehdi
Army, a militia associated with the populist Shia leader Moqtada Sadr. Building on the momentum from these military victories, Mr Maliki began a
remarkably effective consolidation of executive power that has placed
Iraq's security services, the Supreme Court, the treasury, central bank
and state media under his hand.
Military victories? He's referring to the attacks on Basra and Sadr City. Forget the fact that Nouri jumped the gun -- as then Gen David Petraeus testified to Congress in April 2008 -- and, as a result, the initial stages of the 'victory' in Basra was almost lost.
The reality is that Knighs' looking at it from an American point of view.
Shi'ites in Iraq were not thrilled by the operation. The whole point of the operation (which the US planned) was for Nouri to show he could be 'tough' with Shi'ites.
Point being, this did not go over well the Shi'ite community. This is also when you first see massive defections in the Iraqi military. It had ** happened ** many times before with the police programs. (C.I. note, 11-10-2013, corrected from "hadn't many times" to "happened many times".) But this was the first time the Iraqi military registered mass desertions.
Why did that happen? Shi'ites didn't want to attack Shi'ites.
If Nouri could get Kurdish votes or Sunni votes, you might say 'Victory!'
But that's not going to happen. That leaves the Shi'ite community.
Michael Knights is wrong to claim that 'victory' was a positive turning point for Nouri.
When you're 'analyzing' you need to grasp that what appeals to you doesn't matter if you're not the target audience.
Equally true, everything that goes wrong in Iraq is the fault of Iran?
Seriously.
I don't doubt that Iran meddles in Iraq politics. I'm sure it does so at least as much as the US meddles.
It's funny, though, how Knights looks at the effort to do a vote of no confidence (May 2012) and sees Iranian influence.
Jalal killed the vote, Jalal Talabani. And did so only after repeated non-stop lobbying from the US. Jalal illegally killed the vote in fact.
Now Iran may have lobbied as well but the US killed it with Jalal. Not the Iranian government. That's a very interesting reworking of history.
Knights writes:
The effort narrowly failed due to strenuous Iranian lobbying on Mr
Maliki's behalf, but it became clear that he would face a major
challenge in securing a third term in 2014. Mr Maliki's low point came in the April 2013 provincial elections.
Not only did they result in a lower haul of seats for his State of
Law list - it won 22%, down from 28% in 2009 - but it also lost control
of key provincial councils like Baghdad and Basra as other Shia parties
allied against him. Worse yet, the role of Maliki loyalists within State of Law also seemed diminished in those elections.
Knights, like many others, argues that the 2013 results were a reflection on Nouri.
I disagree. I'd love to join the chorus screaming, "He's weak! Look at 2013!" I think he is weak but I don't think you can argue that the results reflect on Nouri. They reflect on State of Law. But mainly, they reflect local issues. Nouri, in fact, ensured that it couldn't be a vote on him.
It wasn't a national election.
Set aside the KRG because they won't get behind Nouri. Forget Kirkuk which Nouri won't let vote. That still leaves 14 provinces. Only 12 voted in April. He punished two (Anbar and Nineveh) where he was not popular by making them wait months to vote.
So the results are incomplete and you do not have a true snapshot of voter sentiment.
Knights writes: One scenario for Mr Maliki's replacement may be a "Shia palace coup",
where poor electoral results create an opening for the other Shia
parties to replace him with a new "grey man" that they hope would be
easier to control.
I'm not sure what he means there. In 2010, Nouri faced great Shi'ite backlash from the MPs. He bribed a number to get support.
Iran did pressure Moqtada to support Nouri. That is an instance where Iran -- only Iran -- was pressuring. The deal that was supposedly agreed to was Moqtada would back Nouri and the next go round (that would be what is supposed to take place in 2014) would find Iran backing Moqtada.
Along with that cleric and movement leaders, Ammar al-Hakim also wants to be prime minister. He's not the only one but there are numerous Shi'ite leaders of Shi'ite blocs who want to be prime minister.
Ayad Allawi should have been prime minister in 2010 had the rules been followed and Allawi is what?
Shi'ite.
I'm confused by what Knights writes because whomever the next prime minister is, it's pretty much a given that the person will be Shi'ite.
Dawa was against Nouri having a second term -- publicly against in 2010 for a brief period.
Why?
The easiest explanation is hurt feelings. Dawa is Nouri's political party.
But Nouri chose not to run with them in 2010. Instead he ran on his new political slate State of Law. Should he do so again, Dawa would probably be even angrier.
My point being, if you're going to talk about a Shi'ite coup, I think you need to explain what you're talking about.
Moqtada and Allawi have support within Iraq. One other Iraqi does as well -- and he's long been waiting to be prime minister. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he stepped forward as prime minister this go round.
I don't think Ammar al-Hakim has support outside of ISCI in Iraq. I could be wrong. But he's young -- especially when compared to other Iraqi leaders. Moqtada's young by comparison as well but Moqtada's stood up to Nouri many times. Ammar, as one Iraqi message board likes to note, uses 'wiles' to get around Nouri. It often works for him but it doesn't shot strength to the Iraqi people.
The White House likes Ammar and 2014 may be his year in one way or another. (There's talk among the administration of Ammar becoming president of Iraq, for example.) Ammar's also the popular favorite among those who consider themselves intellectuals and have the White House's ear.
Does Knights think, when he's referring to coup possibilities, that someone new or surprising might emerge among Shi'ite politicians?
I don't know. Again, he failed to explain what he was talking about.
His analysis is brief and frustrating but worth reading.
The following community sites -- plus Latino USA, Pacifica Evening News, Jody Watley and Ms. magazine -- updated last night and today:
US House Rep Jeff Miller is the Chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and his office issued the following:
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Jeff Miller released the following statement today in honor of Veterans Day 2013. "Imagine our lives without the veterans who have bravely defended us.
Where might we be if not for the men and women who answered the call to
serve each and every time our nation faced a determined enemy?
Undoubtedly, America would not stand as tall as she does without the
enormous sacrifices of our veterans and their families, which is
precisely why Veterans Day is such an important occasion. This weekend
and throughout the rest of the year, we should all consider the spirit
of Veterans Day and reflect upon the vital role veterans have played in
making our nation what it is today. Though there aren't enough words to
truly describe how grateful we are for all our veterans have done, two
words every veteran deserves to hear are 'thank you.'" – Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
RT: This year has proved to be most deadliest in Iraq
for the last five years. Why is the situation on the ground
getting worse? ND: Well, because Iraq is still suffering from the
destruction of its regime and its government and its society by
the United States. The United States employed a classic
divide-and-rule strategy, pitting people of different sects
against each other, inciting violence that is completely
unprecedented in that country. And now has instilled a
sectarian-based government that only represents people of only
one sect. It is still receiving huge amounts of so-called
security assistance from the United States.
The United States built powerful organs of state terrorism in
Iraq. The CIA sent a retired colonel by the name of James Steele
to Iraq in 2004. He eventually recruited 27 brigades of special
police commandos who then waged a reign of terror that killed
tens of thousands of mostly Sunni men and boys in Baghdad and
around the country. They have since been rebranded, first as the
National Police, when one of their torture centers was discovered
back during that period, and now as the Federal Police. They are
still effectively run by Adnan Al-Asadi, who has been the deputy
interior minister there since 2005.
So that regime of state repression and terror that the United
States installed in Iraq is still functioning, and still
conducting extrajudicial executions, in addition to one of the
largest numbers of supposedly legal executions in the world.
You know, in Iraq, you can be sentenced to death for property
crimes; you can be sentenced to death on accusations of
terrorism, in trials that only last, at best, an hour or two,
with very little legal representation. Human rights officials
from the UN have absolutely condemned the justice system –
so-called justice system – that the US has established in Iraq,
and have demanded – the UN Human Rights Council has demanded –
that Iraq immediately cease these hangings.
Sometimes they hang more than 40 people in one day, including
women as well. This is just a reign of terror. And in that sense,
some of the worst aspects of the US occupation are still
continuing today.
An e-mail informs me I forgot to note we were on holiday schedule. My apologies. The community is on holiday schedule.
Another e-mail explains I've forgotten to cover the latest on the Jewish archives.
Nope, just didn't have time and wasn't in the mood to make time. Won't be covering it today either.
The Iraq Inquiry? Even less interested. In fact, it's past time for the report. Chilcot needs to quit issuing press releases and issue the damn report. Unable to tell what happened because this or that body won't let you? Put in the report.
On the issue of violence, this week I didn't always note it in the morning -- two e-mails point that out. It was noted in the snapshots later both days.
Violence is a story of Iraq. It's not the only story. Equally true, some days I'm really not up to going over violence. Especially when I know I can grab it in the snapshot. Violence will go into this entry because I found something interesting topic wise for the next entry and I'd rather include the violence here.
It's over, I'm done writing songs about love There's a war going on So I'm holding my gun with a strap and a glove And I'm writing a song about war And it goes Na na na na na na na I hate the war Na na na na na na na I hate the war Na na na na na na na I hate the war Oh oh oh oh
-- "I Hate The War" (written by Greg Goldberg, on The Ballet's Mattachine!)
The number of US service members the Dept of Defense states died in the Iraq War is [PDF format warning] 4489.
Friday, November 8, 2013. Chaos and violence continue, campaigning gears up in Iraq, Nouri's called on his obvious effort to manipulate, protesters gather across Iraq and note Nouri's visit to DC wasn't as grand as previous ones,Amnesty International condemns the ongoing executions, the US gears up for Veterans Day, a silly fool tries to pull the US into a war in the country of her origin, and more.
Monday is Veteran's Day in the United States. Senator Patty Murray is the former Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee -- she continues to serve on the Committee and she's now the Chair of the Senate Budget Committee. Her late father, David L. Johns, was a Purple Heart recipient (World War II). Her office issued the following today:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Murray Press Office
: A Veterans Day Message from Senator Patty Murray
(Washington, D.C.) –Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement as the nation prepares to observe Veterans Day:
“On Veterans Day, we honor and celebrate the courage and commitment of our nation’s heroes, both past and present. When these brave men and women signed up to serve our country, we agreed to take care of them. They kept their end of the bargain and we must keep ours.
“Our veterans have leadership ability, discipline, and technical skills to not only find work but to excel in a 21st Century workforce. But despite these facts, veterans across the country continue to struggle as they try to find work.
“For too long we have invested billions of dollars in training our young men and women with skills to protect our nation, only to ignore them once they leave the military. For too long, at the end of their career, we patted our veterans on the back for their service and then pushed them out into the job market alone. Thankfully, we have been able to take real, concrete steps toward putting our veterans back to work with new laws like my “VOW to Hire Heroes Act” and other legislative efforts.
“We have also worked to build partnerships with private sector businesses in order to tap into the tremendous amount of goodwill that companies have toward our returning heroes. In fact, just this week, our own Microsoft and Starbucks launched major, nation-wide initiatives to put our men and women in uniform back to work.
“This is the legacy of opportunity we have to live up to for our nation’s veterans. This is the responsibility we all have on our shoulders. It doesn’t end on the battlefield. It doesn’t end after the parades Monday. In fact, it never ends.
“Our veterans don’t ask for a lot and too often they are coming home and facing unnecessary stresses and struggles. On this Veterans Day we need to redouble our efforts – government, businesses, and citizens - to guarantee our veterans get a fair shot and to guarantee them that they are not measured by fear or stigma, but what they can do, what they have done, and what they will do.”
Monday, Olive Garden will be serving a free meal to veterans click here for menus. (They will also be also be giving a 10% discount throughout November for veterans and veterans families.) Hooters notes their way of honoring veterans:
Hooters is showing its gratitude for veterans and active duty military
personnel this Veterans Day. On Monday, Nov. 11, Hooters invites all
veterans and current servicemen and women to enjoy a free meal, up to
$10.99 in value with any drink purchase, by presenting a military ID or
proof of service at any Hooters location across the country.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to show appreciation for our
military personnel who have selflessly sacrificed for the freedom of all
Americans,” said Andrew Pudduck, vice president of marketing, Hooters of
America. “Supporting the military community is very important to the
Hooters family; we hope our veterans and active duty military will join
us on Veterans Day to relax and enjoy a meal on us as a small but
earnest way to say ‘thank you’ for your service.”
In addition, Hooters is sending extra love to the troops with its annual Operation Calendar Drop campaign. The 2014 Hooters Calendar is now on sale and guests are encouraged to
purchase an extra calendar and write a personal message of appreciation
for the troops. Hooters will collect the personalized calendars and
deliver them to U.S. military stationed overseas.
Hoss's Steak & Sea House will
honor Veterans Day on Monday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a free meal:
Parmesan Crusted Tilapia & Rice Pilaf, Grilled or Fried Chicken
Tenders Stuffing & Mashed Potatoes, Meatloaf Stuffing & Mashed
Potatoes, Chicken Parmesan & Pasta, Fried Shrimp & Fries or All
You Can Eat Soup, Salad & Dessert Bar. Any meal includes soup,
salad & dessert bar and beverage.
Golden Corral has a video with Gary Sinise
(above) explaining that this Monday, from four p.m. until nine
p.m., is Military Appreciation Monday and those who have served in the
military receive a free dinner during those five hours. Veterans who feel like a burger on Monday might want to visit Shoney's which notes:
Nothing says “Thank You” like a great burger and Shoney’s is set to
prove it, as the iconic all-American restaurant brand will thank our
nation’s veterans and troops with a FREE All-American Burger™ on
Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, 2013. “For generations,
Shoney’s always has been a ‘Welcome Home’ sign to America’s military,”
said Davoudpour. “On their national day of celebration and honor,
Shoney’s looks forward to welcoming our veterans and troops with a free
burger as we thank those who protect our very freedom. We salute you.” According
to Davoudpour, service members will be treated to Shoney’s Signature
favorite All-American Burger, a freshly prepared, hand-pattied,
grain-fed, 100% ground beef, cooked to order burger, served on a toasted
corn-dusted bun with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles and
mayonnaise. “It’s named after the greatest country on earth,” said Davoudpour, “and has been a guest favorite for years.” Since
acquiring the great American eatery in 2007, Davoudpour has been on a
spirited mission to make Shoney’s better than ever, and return the icon
to its Glory Days, when it became part of American popular culture as
one of the first family casual dining concepts in the United States.
Shoney’s served as a popular post-WWII family destination when it began
serving guests 66 years ago. Davoudpour personally sees that an American
flag flies proudly in front of his Shoney’s restaurants. “Veterans
Day is a day of thanks and for us, being able to serve the many who
serve for our freedom is a privilege,” added Davoudpour. “We are
thankful every day for our veterans and troops, and on their day we look forward to serving them a free burger.” Shoney’s
offer of a free All-American Burger to veterans and active duty
military service members is available on Monday, November 11, 2013 at
participating restaurants while supplies last. There is a limit of one
per day per military service member and the offer is not valid in
conjunction with any other offers. Shoney’s military guests will need to
provide proof of military service. Offer is valid for Dine-in only and
beverage, tax and gratuity are not included.
Applebee's notes: VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY ENJOY A FREE APPLEBEE'S SIGNATUE ENTREE ON VETERANS DAY, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH Available during business hours on November 11, 2013, in all U.S.
Applebee's restaurants. Dine in from limited menu only: Fiesta Lime
Chicken, Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger, 7 oz. House Sirloin, Three-Cheese
Chicken & Sun-Dried Tomato Penne, Chicken Tenders Platter, Double
Crunch Shrimp or Oriental Chicken Salad.. Beverages and gratuity not included. Veterans and active duty military simply show proof of military service. Proof of service includes: U.S. Uniformed Services ID Card, U.S.
Uniformed Services Retired ID Card, current Leave and Earnings Statement
(LES), veterans organization card (i.e. American Legion, VFW),
photograph of yourself in uniform, wearing uniform, DD214 and citation
or commendation.
The VFW calls on Americans to remember our veterans and honor them for their service and sacrifice
November 08, 2013
Each
Nov. 11, Americans celebrate our veterans by honoring them for their brave
service to our nation. These
courageous men and women who have donned the uniform did not do it for the
praise or the accolades. They did it because they answered the call to duty,
and they selflessly and heroically served our nation. There is no doubt that they
are truly America’s finest. The
America that we all know is a product of their service and dedication. For
generations, they have kept our nation free and defended democracy from tyranny
and oppression. They’ve protected freedom-loving people all around the world. And we must also remember the thousands
who are deployed all over the world today, defending our freedoms at this very
moment. We pray for their safe return, and the VFW stands ready to support
their families while they are away. The VFW understands freedom is not free,
and it is our veterans and their loved ones who pay the price. As we honor them
on Veterans Day, and each day after, we should reflect on the sacrifices
they’ve made to ensure America’s victories, as well as the many liberties we
enjoy as a result of their stalwart sense of duty. Since
America’s founding, it has been those who have worn the uniform–those who have
tenaciously defended American values–who we will be forever grateful to:
America's proud Airmen, Coastguardsmen, Marines, Sailors and Soldiers. The VFW salutes you and thanks you for your
service.
But where is the majority of the U.S. peace
movement? Maybe I just don’t know; I’m only one person, seeing part of
the picture. I would like a list of solidarity actions U.S.
peace organizations have held for Syrians since March 18, 2011,
demanding the regime stop massacring civilians, or petitions they
circulated for the release of prisoners of conscience. How have U.S. peace organizations shown solidarity with nonviolent resistance to a brutal regime in Syria? Neglected
by the global community is how Syrian civil resistance people felt in
the first phase of the uprising, lasting till midsummer 2011,
characterized—despite isolated incidents of violence— by consensus
around nonviolence. I realize that’s subjective, but it’s useful to
examine what that feeling could mean. It could mean that Syrian uprising
folk indeed experienced little solidarity from peace movements abroad.
The Afghanistan War was not started just by Bully Boy Bush or just Bully Boy and Colin Powell (where is that proof Colin, you never did provide it). It was also started by some people who meant well. Some feminists who cared but who had gotten ever closer to militarism (a stance that is continuing and you can see whenever Anne Marie-Slaughter is given 'props' and 'shout outs' and, sadly, when her ilk are promoted at conferences that the Feminist Majority Foundation sets up).
A lot of well meaning feminists worked, in the 90s, on the issue of the abuse of women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. That US work was rendered obsolete when some feminists made nice with the White House and allowed the lie to be pimped that the Afghanistan War was in part or whole about women's rights.
What invasion in history ever improved women's rights? That's insanity. You can't be on the left and feel that the US needs to be "The Cops of The World." This is not a new claim, this is not a new belief. Listen to Phil Ochs's "Cops Of The World" if you're as uninformed as Mohja.
Veterans Day is Monday. Do you know how many young veterans are suffering right now? Do you know how many are waiting on VA ratings? Or that there are young veterans who are suffering and don't even know there's help out there.
They have been overtaxed. Regardless of what you think of either war, the two big ones of the last years aren't like the previous US wars in that you didn't do one tour of duty and then get out. You did several. You did them over and over. You did long tours and had less down time between them. The military was close to the breaking point. These men and women are not toys or trinkets. They do not exist to battle personal whims.
What does Mohja want done? She wants Americans to stand in solidarity with various groups they know nothing about. Because she says so. That's the proof, a ridiculous person with petty grudges she's been working for decades. Has she even been back to Syria in the last four years?
She gets bitchy, "instead of amplifying Johnny-come-lately armed extremists, or promoting
regime narratives such as that touted by the Lebanese-born nun, Mother
Agnes-Mariam. Demand the release from prison of civilian resistance
activists; protest when they are killed. Find and know the civilian
resistance in Syria; support them."
You know there's a place for bitchy and goodness knows I appreciate bitchy when it's pulled off.
"Lebanese-born nun" -- uh, Mohja, you were born where? It wasn't the US, it was Syria. Why are you mocking a nun for being from Lebanon? She's in Syria now. While your family fled when you weren't even five-years-old. Mojha's family brought their grudge against the Assad family with them. When any country gives you the chance to start over, start over. Never bring your grudges to the airport -- they're heavy and they don't fit into an overnight bag.*
There is no 'solidarity' answer for Syria which is a civil war -- played out by foreign interests (including the US government). Mojha knows that -- even she's not that stupid. The White House wants war on Syria and Mojha's agitating hard to deliver it -- which makes her as much of a tool of war and destruction as Andrew Bowmen (though he doesn't try to hide who he is). If she wants to change the government in Syria, she needs to get her ass over there. She's been primed for it by her family for years, she's grown up hating the family that's led Syria. And she thinks she can pretend she's got a plan. She's got nothing but hate. She was raised on hate and she's chosen to let it consume her.
If that seems harsh, let's looking a Mojha's opening:
I marched (er, clothed) with CODEPINK women when they stood butt-naked across the main strip in my Arkansas hometown protesting the U.S. military invasion of Iraq. As a longtime anti-interventionist, I am on U.S. peace group mailing lists out the wazoo.
I'm sorry Mojha, is Iraq no longer on your to-do-list? Did you get bored? Did it become a little too much for you, a little too real? Iraq is in shambles. Because of the actions of the government in the country you chose to live in. In a text and video report, RT notes, "With over 7,000 civilian casualties so far, 2013 has already become the
deadliest year in Iraq since 2008. In its new project, a timeline of the
violence, RT brings the sad record into the spotlight." But Mojha marched against Iraq a few years ago so she's checked it off her to-do list.
How is the US out? For Fiscal Year 2014, the US State Dept is requesting that Congress provide it with $1,180,000,000 -- over a billion dollars for the State Dept mission in Iraq.
That doesn't sound like the US government is out of Iraq.
Iraq and the United States are negotiating an agreement that could
result in the return of small units of American soldiers to Iraq on
training missions. At the request of the Iraqi government, according to
General [Robert L.] Caslen, a unit of Army Special Operations soldiers was recently
deployed to Iraq to advise on counterterrorism and help with
intelligence.
That doesn't sound like the US military's out of Iraq either.
So how is the US finally out of Iraq?
Oh, right! The US press withdrew! (All but the New York Times, CNN and AP.)
And some Americans like the silly Mojha are bored with Iraq and have lost interest, is that how the US is 'out' of Iraq? Then there's the ridiculous Thomas E. Ricks who stops performing fellatio on the war machine long enough to type, "From a comment the other day. I think this is actually a healthy attitude,
one I wish I could emulate more: " The comment is from a Iraq War veteran who no longer wants to think about Iraq. I'm not going to slam the veteran for that or any Iraqi refugee who made it out and wants to just focus on what's in front of them. In both cases, that's more than understandable. But Ricks saying he wishes "I could emulate [it] more? That'a pathetic.
He's not a journalist anymore. He's a salesman for counterinsurgency -- war on a native people. So it's not like he's stepped away from war. He's just ignored the Iraq War because telling the truth got too hard for him. He'd rather look the other way on the issue of Barack's September 2012 move with Special Ops going back into Iraq. He'd rather whore for other wars. And I know he got lost when he was embedded with the military and frequently forgot he was a journalist, but could someone make clear to Thomas E. Ricks that he's not a veteran, that you have to serve in the military to be a veteran?
Armed men with sectarian insignia patrol Iraqi
streets. There are at least five armed militias working in collaboration
with the Iraqi security forces, apart from the special units that are
directly connected to the prime minister’s office. Even Maliki’s son,
Ahmed, has his own armed men and conducts military operations, although
he has no police or security portfolio.
According to Navi Pillay, the UN high Commissioner for Human Rights,
there are massive human rights violations in Iraq. The Iraqi legal
system under Maliki does not comply with the simplest global norms. From
January-October 2013, 140 Iraqis have been executed by the Ministry of
Justice, in defiance of the calls by many international human rights
organizations for an immediate death penalty moratorium.
“The law has become a sword held to the necks of Iraqis,” said Osama Nujaifi, the Iraqi Speaker of the Parliament.
Iraqi government sources confirm that there are some 30,000 Iraqis in
prison; 17,000 languish there without trial. Arbitrary arrests are
common practice in Iraqi streets. Documented and filmed horror stories
of torture and death in Iraqi prisons make the infamous Abu Graib abuses
look like child’s play. Many of the detainees disappear, their families
unable to ascertain if they are dead or alive.
Maliki claims that he leads a vibrant democracy, but he heads an
authoritarian regime and monopolizes six high governmental posts: chief
of staff, minister of defense, minister of interior, chief of
intelligence, and head of national security. Even his partners in the
Shiite alliance have been excluded, let alone his Sunni opponents. He is
supported by the theocracts in Iran and he has supported the Syrian
regime, one of the most notorious autocracies in the region. In a
televised interview, Maliki threatened to liquidate those who
demonstrate for justice and better services, and described them as a
‘stinking bubble’. Indeed, his SWAT forces used lethal weapons against
peaceful protestors several times. In the town of Hawija, for example,
at least 50 unarmed men were slaughtered last April. In other cities,
such as Basra, Nassyria, Fallujah, and Mosul, protestors have been
beaten, arrested and killed.
Iraqi Spring MC notes the protest today in Falluja and in Baquba, in Tikrit, in Rawa, in Baiji, in Samarra, and in Jalawla. Protests have been taking place since December 21st. as the 11th month mark looms, the US press continues to refuse to cover what's taking place. Al Mada reports that Anbar Province speakers noted Nouri al-Maliki's visit to Iraq last week and how this visit was different and found Nouri in a weaker position than during past visits. Speakers noted that the ongoing protests were exposing injustice and corruption. Sheikh Saad Fayyad spoke about how the sit-ins would end -- when Nouri met their demands and when killers were held accountable. And by killers -- also noted by Sheikh Mustafa Sabri -- they are referring to the Nouri-sanctioned militias who are hunting and killing Sunnis. Maybe that's why the US press can't cover the protests, it's not a lot of fluff the way they're used to.
Nouri's spent the week attacking cleric and movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr who has ignored Nouri, advising his followers not to even bother to protest Nouri's attacks. All Iraq News notes:
MP,
Bahaa al-Araji, of Sadr Trend assured that the head of Sadr Trend,
Muqtada al-Sadr, has no personal dispute with the Premier, Nouri
al-Maliki.
He
stated to AIN "The recent statement issued by Sadr in which he
criticized Maliki was an answer for an inquiry by some of his followers
because he is a representative for the Religious Authority."
As of last week, it seems more likely that Iraq
will go to the polls again soon, in April 2014. But current PM, Nouri
al-Maliki, doesn’t have too many friends or fans left – so the
likelihood of a new national leader is high. And it seems that many
Iraqis might be betting on former terror-inducing religious man, Muqtada
al-Sadr, or another cleric, Ammar al-Hakim, for the job. Both men have
recently been proving themselves adept politicians.
Amid growing levels of violence, political tension and
general governmental disarray, what might best be described as Iraq’s
Shiite Muslim political block is splintering. These days their block is
just as fragmented and disillusioned as any other political grouping in
the country.
But there are two younger Shiite politicians who are
becoming more and more popular, with both Shiite Muslim voters and
non-Shiite voters. They are Ammar al-Hakim who leads the Islamic Supreme
Council of Iraq and Muqtada al-Sadr, who heads the so-called Sadrist
block, which includes political, military and social wings.
Somewhat ironically – considering the pair is becoming
more popular with non-Shiite Muslims as well – both politicians come
from fairly strong religious backgrounds and famous religious families;
both wear the uniform of the religious man, or theological scholar, in
Iraq, including a black turban which signifies they are Shiite Muslim
descendants of the Prophet Mohammed. It’s also ironic considering that
in recent days, the pair seems more popular in secular Iraqi political
circles than the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, himself, who
wears secular, Western-style clothing.
Al-Sadr and al-Hakim appear to be forging their own paths
through the political quagmire that is Iraq’s nascent democracy. For one
thing they are seen as being in touch with the people, having focused
on social service to the ordinary Iraqi citizen – and this is in
contrast to al-Maliki’s party, which is seen as working mainly for its
own political gains and its elite, at the expense of any other
interests.
Provincial elections held earlier this year resulted in
some serious gains for the followers of al-Sadr and al-Hakim. The State
of Law coalition led by al-Maliki was able to win 87 seats in the nine
mostly-Shiite Muslim provinces of Iraq. Meanwhile al-Hakim’s Islamic
Supreme Council of Iraq won 61 and the Sadrists won 58. Previously
al-Sadr had joined with al-Maliki to shut al-Hakim out of any coalition.
But recently al-Sadr has switched sides, forming an alliance with
al-Hakim and standing against al-Maliki’s State of Law in some areas.
And that allegiance allowed them to win the leaderships of two very
important parts of the country, Baghdad and the oil-rich and prosperous
southern city of Basra.
It is quite possible that al-Hakim and al-Sadr are able to
repeat this performance in the upcoming 2014 parliamentary elections in
Iraq, which, it was recently announced, would take place in April next
year.
Additionally al-Hakim and al-Sadr are popular with more
than just their traditional constituencies, having both been vocal in
their support for a more inclusive system, where Sunni Muslims and other
groups are not marginalized. Al-Sadr has been supportive of
anti-government demonstrations held in the Sunni Muslim-dominated Anbar
province and al-Hakim has said he considers such demonstrations a
legitimate right of the Iraqi people. The two leaders have also been
positive when it comes to Iraq’s other powerful political group, the
Iraqi Kurdish.
It's campaign season in Iraq. Al-Shorfa notes, "The Iraqi Ministry of Planning on Friday (November 8th) announced it has
allocated 865 billion dinars ($744 million) for a plan to support
Iraqis living in poverty with loans and jobs." Ayad Jannah (Kitabat) responds wondering where Nouri's concern for the poor has been all these years as Iraqis have suffered and Iraqi cities have been turned into slums? Jannah notes Nouri travels in an armored car, a luxury car, while living in lavish palaces but he's let the Iraqi people live in squalor.
Through yesterday, Iraq Body Countnotes 165 violent deaths so far this month. Their count for the year so far is 7,500. Still on violence, World Bulletin notes, "The leader of Al-Qaeda Ayman Zawahiri has announced that the rebel group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) will be dissolved, leaving only the Nusra Front to carry out its operations."
Still on the violence, Nouri's only real achievement has been to preside over more and more executions. To be clear, his last round of multiple executions was, yet again, about targeting Sunnis. Amnesty International issued the following today:
A sharp increase in the use of the death penalty in Iraq has brought
the number of known executions to the highest in the decade since the
toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003, with at least seven prisoners sent
to the gallows yesterday, sparking fears that many more death row
prisoners are at risk, Amnesty International said. "Iraq’s
increased use of the death penalty, often after unfair trials in which
many prisoners report having been tortured into confessing crimes, is a
futile attempt to resolve the country’s serious security and justice
problems," said Phillip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Director at
Amnesty International. "In order to actually protect civilians
better from violent attacks by armed groups, authorities in Iraq must
effectively investigate abuses and bring those responsible to justice in
a system that is fair, without recourse to the death penalty." At
least 132 people have been executed in Iraq so far this year – the
highest number since the country reinstated capital punishment in 2004.
However, the true number could be higher and the Iraqi authorities have
yet to publish full figures. Previously, only in 2009 (at least
120 executions) and in 2012 (at least 129) were the figures of known
executions comparable to this year’s total, but each time for the whole
calendar year. "The stark rise in executions witnessed in 2012 has
only gotten worse in 2013. The government apparently refuses to accept
that the death penalty does nothing in deterring attacks by armed groups
against civilians in Iraq or other serious human rights abuses," said
said Phillip Luther. Death sentences are often handed down after
deeply unfair trials, where prisoners do not have access to proper legal
representation and "confessions" to crimes are frequently extracted
through torture or other ill-treatment. In recent statements
announcing the execution of 23 prisoners in September and 42 in October,
the Iraqi Ministry of Justice misleadingly states that all death
sentences are reviewed and confirmed by the Court of Cassation before
executions take place. But the Court of Cassation regularly fails
to address the admission by trial courts of contested evidence,
including withdrawn “confessions” and allegations of coercion and
torture, when approving death sentences at the review stage. The
generally paper-based procedure fails to give defendants a genuine
review. "For justice to prevail in Iraq the authorities have a
long way to go to address the flaws in their criminal justice system,
investigate claims of torture and other ill-treatment in custody, and,
where applicable, grant re-trials in full compliance with international
fair trial standards," said Phillip Luther. "The authorities in
Iraq must stop their reliance on the death penalty, by immediately
declaring a moratorium on executions as a first step and commuting all
death sentences to prison terms." Amnesty International opposes
the death penalty – the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment
– in all cases without exception, as a violation of the right to life.
I don't mean the Iraqi media, they're targeted enough and, even so, they will still manage over the next 48 hours to report on the protests.
I mean the western media.
The AFPs, for example, and the others who went goo-goo-gaa-gaa over Nouri's visit. But though they're in Iraq, they don't cover the protests -- they don't cover the ongoing protests.
Ongoing?
Since December 21st. It's almost eleven months straight of protests.
You'd think the western press would have something to show for it. Unless you're the Guardian, you really have nothing to show for it.
B-b-but I mentioned "ongoing protests" in a single sentence of a 750 sentence article!
Oh, what a proud moment that must have been for you. Next up, no doubt, you'll also learn how to wipe yourself while using the toilet.
The immaturity of the western press is matched by their whorish nature.
You're so very pleased to talk about Sunnis attacking or Sunnis in al Qaeda in Mesopotamia. But you're not all concerned with the Sunnis who protest.
Gee, maybe you need to take a look at your responsibility for the violence in Iraq.
You have an aggrieved population protesting -- for 11 months -- and you're not covering the protests and you're not interviewing the protesters.
The protests have been peaceful on the protesters' side (Nouri's forces have attacked the protesters, not the other way around).
But you want see the streets of Iraq bleed? You keep rendering invisible the people trying to be heard through peaceful means.
It's so easy to criticize from the safety of the US!
Setting aside the fact you're being paid to do a job, there's also two words for you: Feature article.
If you're too scared or intimidated to go to the protests themselves, you can still interview the protesters after the protests. An hour after, the next day, what have you.
Stop pretending you have an excuse for not covering the protests.
There are no excuses for it. They've been going on for almost eleven months. Maybe before they hit the one-year mark, you might want to try reporting on them.
In a text and video report, RT notes, "With over 7,000 civilian casualties so far, 2013 has already become the
deadliest year in Iraq since 2008. In its new project, a timeline of the
violence, RT brings the sad record into the spotlight." Through yesterday, Iraq Body Countnotes 165 violent deaths so far this month. Their count for the year so far is 7,500. Still on violence, World Bulletin notes, "The leader of Al-Qaeda Ayman Zawahiri has announced that the rebel group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) will be dissolved, leaving only the Nusra Front to carry out its operations."
The following community sites -- plus Jody Watley, Antiwar.com, Tavis Smiley, Pacifica Evening News, Adam Kokesh and Ms. magazine's blog -- updated last night and this morning:
