In other violence, National Iraqi News Agency reports the Ministry of the Interior announced they killed 12 suspects "on the outskirts of the city of Fallujah," an al-Radhwaniya roadside bombing claimed 2 lives and left six more people injured, 1 person was shot dead in Alkhotway, 1 person was shot dead in Hartha, 1 person was shot dead and another left injured in an Abu Ghraib attack, an eastern Mosul battle left 2 rebels dead, a Mosul roadside bombing left 2 police members dead and a third injured, 2 Ramadi suicide bombers took their own lives and the life of 1 police member (with four more injured), 1 male corpse was found dumped on a street in Kirkuk (Alsumaria notes he was blindfolded and his hands were bound), and 3 corpses were found dumped "in an orchard are in Arab Jaour, south of Baghdad" (shot "in the head and chest"). Through yesterday, Iraq Body Count counts 435 violent deaths in Iraq so far this month.
In yesterday's snapshot, I called Jane Arraf out for her latest lies including that Moqtada's followers would vote for Nouri because Moqtada had retired from politics. I noted that we'd gone over all of this before (see the the February 18th snapshot) but that Moqtada's supporters would not vote for Nouri. In addition to those long standing reasons, I also pointed out that al-Sadr's candidates were running the election, they've always planned on that.
'Not so,' insists an e-mail from a US journalist, 'not so! Moqtada retired and the bloc with him.'
Uh, no. Does your outlet how deeply stupid you are?
Let's briefly review.
Moqtada al-Sadr announced his political retirement February 15th. February 18th, he delivered a speech -- CounterPunch posted the speech in full -- emphasizing his decision. February 26th, NINA noted the rumors that Moqtada left Iraq, "The sources noted in a press statement that Mr. Muqtada al-Sadr left today's afternoon the city of Najaf heading to the Islamic Republic of Iran in order to complete his religious studies and stay away from the political scene as he officially announced for all Iraqis." Yet March 14th, Moqtada returned to Iraq.
Clearly, Moqtada has not stepped away from the political scene. Things might be easier for Nouri if he had.
Who was it that got Moqtada to return? Who should Nouri blame for that?
From the March 14th snapshot:
Background. Nouri's big mouth ended up tanking his own two-day conference. For those who missed it, Nouri's fat mouth was flapping last Saturday insulting many as he spoke to France24. France 24's Mark Perelman interviewed (link is text and video) Nouri for a half hour broadcast which aired Saturday. In the interview, Nouri's well noted paranoia was on full display as he repeatedly declared, in the very first two minutes, his alleged 'victory' over those attempting to turn Iraq and Syria into one country ("there are goals to create a one state," "create a state -- one part in Syria and one part in Iraq"). He continued to gab and began accusing other countries of supporting terrorism (he was supposedly going to reveal proof of his gossip in the conference but, as usual, his fat mouth made empty promises). He also insulted Moqtada.
That's right, Moqtada returned because Nouri attacked him on French television.
Moqtada's retirement was brief. While retired he went to Iran. His followers did not -- that includes the candidates who are running in the election. Are.
Ashraq al-Awsat reports today:
A “crisis” between current Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and the Sadrist movement will erupt following the legislative elections later this month, according to comments by veteran Iraqi MP Hassan Al-Alawi on Monday.
Alawi, an independent MP who is running in the April 30 poll as a member of the Sadrist Movement, said that a clash between the movement and the prime minister’s State of Law Coalition over the shape of the next government of Iraq was all but inevitable.
Alawi told Asharq Al-Awsat: “The Sadrists have [taken] a strong stance against a third term for Maliki regardless of the number of seats they win or Maliki wins, and regardless of the pressure exerted by foreign parties, especially the Iranians.”
Get it? Are. Alawi "is running in the April 30 poll as a member of the Sadrist Movement."
Jane Arraf's lied for years -- maybe not in her post-country briefings, but in her role as a reporter, yes.
Speaking of bad journalists, April 9th we were showing skepticism about the latest claims from Iraq's Minister of Oil that a solution to the unresolved oil issues between Baghdad and Erbil would "be reached within days." Very unlikely based on the past history and the current events but some reporters did run with it, treating the pronouncement as fact. It's not happening "within days." All Iraq News reports today:
MP, Mahmoud Othman, of the Kurdistani Alliance ruled out settling the disputes between the Kurdistani Regional Government and the Central Government.
He stated to AIN "I do not expect solving the problems between Baghdad and Erbil before the elections."
Another failure for Nouri.
For the last few weeks, Nouri's been moving prisoners out of Abu Ghraib prison. World Bulletin notes that "the prison was also used as a torture facility by Saddam Hussein's Baathist regime." AFP adds, "In 2004, then under control by U.S. troops, Abu Ghraib was at the center of a scandal over detainee abuse." AP also offers a brief sentence about the Abu Ghraib War Crimes, "Under U.S. troops, Abu Ghraib was at the center of a 2004 scandal over detainee abuse." Only France24 notes, "Fresh abuse claims surfaced in 2013 after the facility became known as Baghdad Central Prison."
And the reason they're talking today? Fars News Agency reports:
The Iraqi justice minister announced the closure of a
prison in West of the capital Baghdad, and evacuation of all inmates
over security concerns.
Hassan al-Shimmari said on Tuesday that 2400 inmates have been
transferred from the Baghdad Central Prison, formerly known as Abu
Ghraib prison and situated 32 kilometers (20 miles) West of Baghdad, to
prisons located in central and North provinces, press tv reported.
Nouri's shutting down the prison because he's such a failure at security, he can't even guarantee the protection of a Baghdad prison.
What a loser, what a failure. And yet he thinks he deserves a third term as prime minister.
The following community sites -- plus Antiwar.com, Tavis Smiley, Susan's On the Edge, Jake Tapper, Janis Ian, Iraq Inquiry Digest, Cindy Sheehan and Black Agenda Report -- updated:
asharq al-awsat
rowena mason
all iraq news
