Monday, August 17, 2015

If they (the press) only had a brain -- and maybe some impulse control

Last night, we noted that the press was overlooking the obvious with regards to the findings by the Iraqi Parliament on the 2014 fall of Mosul: That then-prime minister and forever thug Nouri al-Maliki had refused to nominate anyone to be in charge of the security ministries throughout his second term (2010 - 2014).

Back in July, 2012, Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) observed, "Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has struggled to forge a lasting power-sharing agreement and has yet to fill key Cabinet positions, including the ministers of defense, interior and national security, while his backers have also shown signs of wobbling support."  

 He never filled them. 

 In January 2011, when they were still vacant, Ayad Allawi (the winner of the 2010 elections) stated they wouldn't be filled.  The world press, always full of something other than wisdom, was insisting that, in a few weeks, Nouri would nominate someone to hold the posts.

 Allawi said Nouri wouldn't and that this was a power grab.

 Allawi was correct.

For four years, Iraq was without heads for the security ministries.

Which is part of the reason the military rise of the Islamic State isn't a surprise.

But yesterday's announcement found the press stumbling yet again.

What's the other thing they missed?

Here's a hint: Alsumaria reports this morning that activists in Baghdad are stating Haider al-Abadi's announcement that he's merging ministries and abolishing others was not among any demands they were making.  They can see replacing the Ministers heading the Ministries of Higher Education (it's always a scandal this time of year due to the exams), Transportation, Electricity and Oil.  But they didn't call for the replacement of others or the merging of any ministries.


The press yesterday presented that as part of ending corruption, remember that?

Anyone see a problem with it?

The dazed and slack jawed world press didn't.

Need another hint?

The abolishing of which ministry would tick me off the most?


As a feminist, abolishing the Minister of State for Women's Affairs would tick me off.

And I'd point out that Iraqi women need this ministry.

And I'd point out that it's never had a real budget throughout its existence.

And -- oh, yeah.

That.

If Haider's moving to end corruption, if that's why he's doing this, how much corruption is ended by abolishing a ministry that's never had a real budget?


None at all.

Could the world press try waking up real soon?

A lot is going on and they're blinding cheering Haider.

The press is supposed to be skeptical.

That's their role.

Instead of being skeptical, they're acting as cheerleaders for Haider.


They did that before for Nouri.

That didn't work out very well.

And no one was held accountable.

Now we can make time here.  I can hold people accountable for the lies they printed from 2010 - 2014 about the 'wonderful' Nouri.  We can mock them and show how they aided the rise of a thug, how they covered his crimes.

We don't really have time for that because so much is going on in Iraq currently.

But if the same press that covered for Nouri is going to cover for Haider, maybe we need to make time?

Let's remember the United Nations last week called for an end to the secret torture chambers in Iraq.

Haider can't be all roses and candy if he's continued Nouri's secret torture chambers.



Maybe you missed that since so many ignored it to pimp Incredible Haider and His Unconstitutional Actions.  But Friday, Stephanie Nebehay (Reuters) reported:

 A U.N. human rights watchdog called on Iraq on Friday to close what it described as secret detention centres where militant suspects, including minors, are "severely tortured".
The panel of 18 independent experts, who reviewed Iraq's record in preventing torture and ill-treatment last month, had challenged Iraqi officials to name a single person the country had jailed for torture in a justice system that had "gone astray".

In its findings issued on Friday, the watchdog voiced concern at information pointing to a pattern whereby militant and other high-security suspects, including minors, were arrested without warrants and detained in facilities - especially those run by the defence and interior ministries. 




Again, that doesn't paint a pretty picture for Haider.


Nor does the Iraq military's bombing of the maternity hospital in Falluja last week.


Al Mada carries an article (which appears to be a translation of a piece by The Washington Institute for Near East Policy) which notes that Haider's proposals actually require Parliament backing and/or Constitutional amendments.


Haider's actions do not have Constitutional backing and yet the world press is presenting him as a miracle worker.  They did something similar when Nouri was abusing his power.

In fact, you really have to wonder if the world press, when not doing its stenography, isn't openly fantasizing that some S&M dom is tying them to a rack and preparing to work them over?

What other conclusion is there to draw from their repeated response of support and applause whenever a world leader ignores the law and abuses his/her position?


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