Monday, April 13, 2009

Iraq snapshot

Monday, April 13, 2009.  Chaos and violence continue, the US military announces deaths, the 5 US soldiers killed in Iraq Friday return to the US, Nouri goes after the press, Iraq's LGBT community remains targeted, Barack's half-brother makes the news, and more.
 
 
Today the US military announced: "A Coalition forces Soldier died of injuries sustained during an explosively formed projectile attack on a convoy five kilomenters south of Karbalah, Iraq April 13 at approximately 7:40 a.m.  The Soldier's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin and release by the department of Defense.  The incident is currently under investigtion."  Yesterday the US military announced: "One U.S. Coalition Soldier died of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated in Salah-ad Din Province, April 12. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin and release by the Department of Defense." The total number of US service members killed in Iraq since the start of the illegal war is 4273. Friday 5 US soldiers were announced dead.  Cindy Sheehan (Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox) observed, "Today five US soldiers were killed in Iraq and we won't ever know for sure how many Iraqis were killed.  The families of the US soldiers will never have a 'normal' Easter again.  All of their days will be filled with pain and longing, but holidays, birthdays and other anniversaries will be especially hard.  My heart is breaking for the awful and pointless spiral of grief that these families are just embarking upon.  Some may not yet know that it was their son, father, brother, uncle, or friend that was murdered today.  I saw the report of Casey's death on the news at least five hours before the Army notified us."  (Cindy's guest on the audio Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox this week are James Martinez discussing the finacial crisis, housing and more and Annie Garrison on the Blue Angels use of San Francisco to boost recruitment.  That episode is posted online already.)  It was Good Friday in 2004 when Cindy and her family met her son Casey Sheehan at the airport for the last time.  Sunday the 5 US soldiers killed on Friday arrived at Dover Air Force Base.  Jeff Montgomery (Delaware's News Journal) observes, "It was the heaviest loss of American lives in Iraq in 13 months, and the largest number of casualties returned to America in full sight of the public since the Defense Department opened the process to news coverage last week, after a 18-year blackout."
 
The Defense Dept identified the five as: "Staff Sgt. Gary L. Woods Jr., 24, of Lebanon Junction, Ky., Staff Sgt. Bryan E. Hall, 32, of Elk Grove, Calif., Sgt. Edward W. Forrest Jr., 25, of St. Louis, Mo., Cpl. Jason G. Pautsch, 20, of Davenport, Iowa, and PV2 Bryce E. Gautier, 22, of Cypress, Calif."  Sheryl Edelen (Courier-Journal) reports on Gary L. Woods Jr., "Woods' father, Gary Woods St., said that his son, who went by his middle name, Lee, was a talented musician who sang and played the trombone, drums, piano and guitar while a student at Bullitt Central High School.  He was also a member of the school's football team.  But after finding satisifation in ROTC classes, his son entered the military after high school, he said."  Bob White (Lebanon Junction News Enterprise) adds, "Woods is surived by his parents, siblings and a wife, Christie, his father said."  Tony Bizjak (Sacramento Bee) reports on Bryan Edward Hall, "Hall, 32, had served in the military for 14 years and had been deployed in Iraq since September. . . . Hall had received three Army commendation medals, according to military records, as well as several Army achievement, good conduct and war on terrorism medals."  Dave Marquis (Sacramento's News10.net) quotes Debbie Lords, who is a neighbor of the Bryan Edward Hall's parents, stating, "I don't know what I'm thinking.  I just really feel for John and Betty right now.  It was their oldest son, their oldest child." Paul Hampel (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) reports on Edward Forrest Jr., "Forrest was based at Fort Carson in Colorado and lived near the base with his wife and two sons, ages 2 and one month.  Forrest was a 2003 graduate of Rockwood Summit High School.  He was on his third tour of duty in Iraq."  His sister Melissa Forrest-Pliner tells Hampel, "I asked him not to re-enlist.  I told him I didn't want him to be a hero.  I just wanted him to be my brother."  South County Times adds, "In high school, Sgt. Forrest, known as 'Eddie,' was a long distance runner on the track team, and was also on the wrestling team" and quotes his coach Rolland Garrison stating, "He was a very enthusiastic member of the track and field program here at Rockwood Summit.  He was a very good kid with a great smile."  Molly Hottle (Des Monies Register) reports on Jason Graham Pautsch, "David Pautsch was informed of his son's death Friday night, just 12 hours after the two had spoken on the phone. 'He believed n what he was doing,' David Pautsch said. 'This is what he wanted to do'." Nicole Murphy (WAQD, link has text and video) spoke with David Pautsch who explained the call he received, "'On behalf of the Secretary of the Army I just want to let you know, give our condolences and notify you that your son was killed in Mosul."  Pautsch continues, "You're stunned and you're shocked and you find it hard to believe that it could actually be happening but then it seeps and that's when the emotions hit."  Pautsch goes on to explain that he believes his son was protecting the US from the "terrorists" in Iraq and he also shares, "I'm thrilled for Jason that he's in heaven."  Eugene W. Fields (Orange County Register) reports on Bryce E. Gautier, "Gauier, a medic, joined the Army in January of 2008 and had been in Iraq since January of this year, according to Army documents.  He received the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.  Gautier graduated in 2005 from Rancho Alamitos High in Garden Grove, according to school district spokesman Alan Trudell." Tom Roeder and Maria St. Louis-Sanchez (Colorado Springs Gazette) note Gauier's MySpace page and add, "His sense of humor is evident from a posting on the site, which Gautier last updated three days before his death. 'Winners make the rules, losers just follow them,' Gautier wrote. 'In the Army now.' Gautier's brother, Even, left a simple eulogy on his Web page: 'My brother Bryce was one of the American soldiers killed in the suicide bombing in Iraq this morning.  I love you bro. I will miss you'."
 
In 'liberated' Iraq, gays and lesbians continue to be targeted for death.  The Denver Post editorialized on the topic yesterday and opened with:
 
The U.S. State Department must not stand idly by if the Iraqi government fails to protect basic human rights, even if the persecution stems from traditional cultural or religious beliefs.        
We applaud Colorado Congressman Jared Polis for his efforts last week to shine the spotlight on the killings of homosexuals in Iraq, and to press the State Department to demand accountability from the Iraqi government.           
The first openly gay man to be elected to the House, Polis has been investigating the treatment of gays in Iraq for several months, according to The Post's Michael Riley. His research led to the discovery of a transgender Iraqi man who told the congressman he had been arrested, beaten and raped by security forces with Iraq's Ministry of Interior.           
Human-rights groups have passed information to Polis that claims another man was beaten into confessing he belonged to a gay-rights group and that the man had been sentenced to execution by an Iraqi court.         
 
US House Rep Polis has made his letter to Patricia A. Butenis (Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the US State Dept) [PDF formart warning] here:
 
Dear Ms. Butenis:
Over the past week, I have become aware of egregious human rights violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Iraqis being carried out by Iraqi government officials from the Ministry of the Interior called "Magaweer al-Dakhilya."   
The information I received was derived from two separate testimonials of gay and transgender Iraqi men that were detained, tortured and sentenced to death for being members of an allegedly forbidden organization in Iraq called Iraqi LGBT.  One of these invidividuals was able to escape, while the other was subsequently executed by Iraqi Ministry of Interior Security Forces.   
While I do not know if these executions are being sanctioned at the highest levels of the Iraqi government, it is nonetheless distrubing that government officials and state-funded security forces are involved in the torturing and execution of LGBT Iraqis. 
Even more disturbing was that the United States government appears to be largely unaware that the executions of gay and transgender Iraqis have been able to occur in Iraq given the enormous American presence.  After reaching out to State Department officials in Washington, I was disappointed by their unwillingness to seriously consider these allegations and examine the evidence given to our office by international human rights watchdog organizations.  
I urge you to use every channel at your disposal to properly and promptly invetigate these grave human rights violations.  Please know that I will continue to monitor this situation and hope to be of assistance in this investigation."
 
At his Congressional website, Polis is quoted stating, "The United States should not tolerate human rights violations of nay kind, especially by a government that Americans spend billions of taxpayer dollars each year supporting.  Hopefully my trip and letters to US and Iraqi officials will help bring international attention and investigation to this terrible situation and bring an end to any such offenses."  
 
Last week, we noted the US State Dept and the United Nations have been silent on these and other attacks on the LGBT community in Iraq. The issue gets some attention today. BBC News explains Amnesty International states Nouri al-Maliki's government "must do more to protect" the LGBT community 'in the wak of a reported spate of killings of gay young men" and that they are pressing for "urgent and concerted action."  Nigel Morris  (Independent of London) explains that no arrests have been made in the recent murders -- he says six, it was seven -- and quotes Ali Hili stating, "Since mid-December we've been getting lots of reports about mass arrests and raids on houses, cafes, barbers shops."  Mass arrests?  It sounds like round-ups and those were common in Hilter's Germany where the LGBT community was targeted along with the Jewish community.  (Iraq's Jewish community has been so targeted and so under assault that it barely exists at present.)  Hili continues, "Most of the people who are arrested are found dead, with signs of torture and burns.  We believe a war has been launched by the Iraqi Government and its establishment against gay people."  As noted in the April 8th snapshot, the United Nations Secretary General issues statements all the time, condemning attacks in Iraq, but there has never been a statement from him on condemning the assaults on Iraq's LGBT community. And since the number reported continues to be in error, we'll drop back to the April 6th snapshot to again note:
 
In other violence noted over the weekend, Wisam Mohammed and Khalid al-Ansary (Reuters) reported Saturday that gays are being targeted in Baghdad, with four corpses discovered March 25th and 2 gay men murdered Thursday 'after clerics urged a crackdown'." Sunday Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) reported the two were first "disowned" (by their homophobic and hateful families) and "The shootings came after a tribal meeting was held and the members decided to go after the victims." Tawfeeq reports the other were also disowned (and gives the date of their deaths as March 26th) and states a cafe in Sadr City was torched when it was said to be an LGBT hangout in Baghdad. The Dallas Morning News wrote a brief on the topic and UPI summarized Tawfeeq's report. AFP reported Sunday that the two corpses discovered Thursday "had pieces of paper attached on which was written the word 'Pervert" and that the two men were aged sixteen and eighteen and had also had "their arms and legs broken". In addition, AFP reports another man presumed to be gay was found on Friday -- which would bring the toll to seven -- and this follows Sheikh Jassem al-Muatairi's 'inspiring' sermon denouncing "new private practices by some men who dress like women, who are effeminate. I call on families to prevent their children from following such a lifestyle."
 
Seven.  Not six. Tomorrow the San Francisco Board of Supervisors meets and among the items on the agenda are a motion "Condemning the persecution and murders of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Iraqi Citizens": "Resolution calling on the US Department of State to use all diplomatic channels to work with the Iraqi Government to stop the persecution of Iraqi Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) citizens and immediately stop the murders of Iraqi LGBT citizens." If that takes place (and it should), the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will be the first governing body elected by any group of people to condemn the killings and assaults.

 
 
When my husband was blown up by a roadside bomb in Iraq, shattering my world, it was my sisters who stepped into the void, along with some of my dearest girlfriends. They began the business of filling my shoes while I sat by an ICU bed, praying for signs of life. They lined up food deliveries, kept the curious from the door, organized rides for our kids and paid our bills. They understood the business of ministering.   
"This sucks," my one sister said. "You guys don't deserve this." She knew she could tell it like it was. There was no room for sugarcoating, and I didn't want any sunshine blowing up my backside. The reality was grim.  
Months later, it was my turn in the hospital, when doctors found a potentially cancerous tumor lurking in my abdomen. I turned to my other sister. "I want to be you," I said simply as I lay in my bed with the catheter, too weak to move.  
 
Lee Woodruff's husband is ABC News' Bob Woodruff who was reporting from Iraq when he and Doug Vogt were injured in a roadside bombing January 29, 2006.  The Bob Woodruff Foundation focuses on the physical and psychological wounds of war.  While Bob Woodruff survived, Reporters Without Borders counts 223 journalists as having died in the Iraq War.  (They actually break that does to media assistants -- we don't.  The 'assistants' have long been doing reporting -- as would happen in any war zone but is especially true of the Iraq War.)  The two most recent journalists known to have been killed in Iraq are Haidar Hashim Suhail and Suhaib Adnan of Al-Baghdadia TV who were killed March 10th in an Anbar Province bombing.  So many reporters, Iraq and foreign, have been wounded and given their lives attempting to report from that country and it's not at all appreciated by thug-meister Nouri al-Maliki.   Alsumaria reports:

The Iraqi Government decision to detain back prisoners released by US Forces is subject to a political and security hassle. Baghdad Operations spokesman Brigadier Qassem Ata affirmed that the Command has ordered checkpoints to arrest all freed detainees recently released by US Forces.    
Ata told Al Hayat Newspaper that the operations command has distributed names and photos of released detainees on all checkpoints to detain them after they were involved in recent bombings in Baghdad.       
He noted that keeping those detainees out of prison will deteriorate the security situation and will threaten stability after US Forces withdraw from the cities to their bases at the end of June.       
Asked about the possibility of delaying US withdrawal after latest security incidents, Ata said the US military did not notify us about such intentions.
"The Times" British Newspaper expected yesterday to delay US Forces withdrawal from Iraqi volatile cities. The Newspaper quoted a US Army General as saying that insecurities in Mosul and Baaquba might force US Military to extend their military operations in those cities beyond June 30.          

This topic is one that upsets Nouri al-Maliki's thug government. Robert H. Reid (AP) reports the thug government is attempting to close a TV station (Al-Sharqiya) and a newspaper (Al-Hayat) over reports that al-Maliki's thugs are arresting the prisoners as the US releases them.  Reid explains Nouri's government is bothered by the press explaining that arrests of Sahwa ("Awakening" Council members, "Sons of Iraq") might have been politically motivated.  Yesterday Alissa J. Rubin (New York Times) reported on the 12 killed Saturday in the suicide bombing attack in Iskandariyah as they attempted to collect their long overdue pay checks. Rubin explores the continued attacks on the Sahwa and the tensions in the Sunni community as a result. Rubin observes that for all the speculation over the very visible attacks (including arrests), the tensions were always there between the Sahwa movement (Sunni) and the US installed government in Baghdad which is dominated by Shi'ites (and by Iraqis who willingly went into exile and only returned to Iraq after the US invaded). Rubin notes the 27-day imprisonment of Sheik Maher Sarhan Abbas who was arrested "in secret and came to light when The New York Times by chance contacted someone who had seen him in jail." While the US continues to see Abbas as someone to be trusted and while his "Shiite neighbors trusted him" as well, Nouri's foces burst into his home on March 15th, "just after midnight, heavily armed men flung deafening smoke grenades into his home in Hawr Jab, a small village on Baghdad's southern outskirts, his family said. They burst into the bedroom where Sheik Maher and his wife were watching television as their 3-year-old daughter slept in a small bed next to them." Along with Nouri's goons, US forces were present and it's suspceted that they "were probably from a Special Operations unit". The latest hypothesis among "Awakenings" is that their Sunni enemies are telling lies to the Shi'ite government which, loathing the "Awakenings," uses any excuse to arrest them. Rubin includes this:


A senior American official in Iraq was also skeptical of the motives for the arrests. "Why is the government doing this?" said the official, who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the news media.        
"Every time we said to the government, 'You have to let this guy go,' they do it, which they wouldn't if they thought he was really dangerous," the American said. "I think they have their hand in the sectarian cookie jar."     
 
 
Sudarsan Raghavan (Washington Post) reports on the continued tensions as well as the tensions regardding the Kurds.  Of Baghdad, he notes:
 
Today, the city of oatmeal-colored minarets that straddles the Tigris River feels like a military base, with streets tangled by blast walls and checkpoints.  
Backed by U.S. troops and advisers, Iraq's mostly Shiite national police and army control the city. They coexist uneasily with the local Sunni police force and the Sons of Iraq -- former Sunni insurgents who turned against the militant group al-Qaeda in Iraq and allied with the U.S. military.  
Neither the local police nor the Sons of Iraq are allowed to protect the shrine, which is guarded by an array of mostly Shiite units sent by the central government.  
"I don't believe that any people or city feel comfortable when they have an army from outside. The traditions from their areas are different than ours," said Sheik Mudher al-Naisani, a Sunni tribal leader. "That's right, this is one country. But it is better for Iraq that each serve in their own areas."  
While most Iraqis believe that al-Qaeda in Iraq insurgents planted the bombs, many Sunni leaders here place the blame on the national police and U.S. troops who were guarding the shrine. Members of Iraq's national police force have committed some of the most horrendous sectarian crimes since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion; to this day there are widespread suspicions of infiltration by Shiite militias.  
"It was a conspiracy," said Hussen, the Sunni council leader.
 
Are Sunnis who believe that right or wrong?  It doesn't matter because they believe it.  And that's a 2006 event and nothing was ever done to ease the tensions.  These tensions do not go away, they do not vanish.  They may get worked through by the parties involved but an outside power (the US in this case) can never impose anything because it doesn't last.  The US has backed, armed and supported the Shi'ites thereby setting the stage for any bloodbaths that follow a US withdrawal.  If those bloodbaths come (and they are likely), the withdrawal will not be responsible for them.  The culprit will be all the years the US spent propping up a puppet government.  Without the propping up, Nouri (or whomever) would have had to have made peace with the Sunnis long ago.  They're too big of a population group for a leader to blow off and expect to remain in power unless the only reason the leader remains in power (as is the case with Nouri) is because a foreign government that installed him continued to prop him up.  Barack's not promising withdrawal, he's promising a draw down.  But at some point in the future the US will withdraw from Iraq.  When that happens, any violence that follows is not because of the withdrawal, it is because of everything that came before. And, sidebar, Sudarsan Raghavan's done a wonderful job reporting in the above story; however, he's also done a wonderful job writing it -- so much so that it recalls the best of Rajiv Chandrasekaran.
 
 
In the summer of 2006, al-Maliki listed his 'plan' amidst the crackdown on Baghdad and it included attacks on the press. When the January 31st provincial elections took place in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces, al-Maliki attempted to strong arm the press and force them into signing agreements which would allow them to be punished and penalized if al-Maliki was displeased. His latest attacks on the press and freedoms are nothing news and part of a thug pattern which includes yesterday's news:

In Iraq today, a committee in Parliament offered a rebuke of the police. Sameer N. Yacoub (AP) reports the committee was offended that the police raided an art show and seized an illustration "lampooning Iraq's prime minister." No word on whether or not he was in 'Muslim garb' and doing a fist bump. (For those who didn't catch that, it was a reference to the faux outrage over a New Yorker cartoon cover that demonstrated there's more than a little bit of Denmark in the US.)
 
On the topic of art, US Foreign Service Officer Aaron Snip (US State Dept's DIPNOTE) writes of rushing to pull off preparation for an important 2006 visit:
 
Part of my job as Public Diplomacy Officer is to share U.S. culture and values with Iraqis, but it's also to support Iraqi efforts to preserve their own culture. We asked the women to bring in examples of their work, and we hung their paintings along the walls of the meeting hall. Very few of the women had had formal art training. Painting was a hobby for all, a creative outlet for some, and an escape for others. Their artwork spanned the spectrum of their life's experiences. Some paintings were colorful and bright, while others were dark and depressing. All documented the lives of women in Muthanna. 
We chatted with the women about doing a larger gallery showing. Would they be interested in holding a multi-city art exhibition if I could get the funding? They were thrilled with the idea. What began as a meeting with a stoic group of Iraqi women with canvases in hand, ended in a beehive of excitement with ideas flowing freely. Here was a demographic that seldom had the chance to speak out. Their art resonated with me deeply, and I was committed to finding a way to help these women tell their stories. 
I went back to my office that evening and immediately began to work on a proposal. In no time at all, my proposal was approved (who says the Federal Government moves at a glacial pace?), and I was busy working with an NGO to purchase art supplies and canvases for each of the exhibit participants. The artists would paint submissions for an exhibit that would show in Muthanna's three largest cities, Samawa, Rumaytha, and Khider, sometime in the spring. For the artists, it would be the first time most of them had ever displayed their art publicly. One woman told us that she had painted for years, but feared no one would ever see her work. Another woman, considerably older and pointing to a young woman next to her, proclaimed, "I am here for my daughter-in-law! I told my son, 'he must support her dreams!' So I am here to make sure she has a chance!"
 
For more, you can refer to Aaron Snipe's second blog post.  Meanwhile, Iraq was once a book lover's paradise.  Corinne Reilly (McClatchy Newspapers) reports, "The widespread looting that followed the invasion destroyed library collections across Iraq. Booksellers and publishing housing closed as violence spread, and the priorities of many Iraqis shifted from reading and learning to staying alive and finding ways out of the country. In 2007, a series of explosions ripped through Baghdad's Mutanabi Street, shutting down the book market known for decades as Iraq's most popular gathering place for intellectuals and bibliophiles. Many of its shops and cafes have only recently reopened."  By the way, returning to the topic of the press, Russell Crowe is outstanding in State of Play and, while discussing the film, Mary Riddell (Telegraph of London) addresses the global problems newspapers are facing -- as opposed to the fairy tales the New York Times served up this morning. (Ben Affleck is also amazing in the film as is Robin Wright Penn.  And Helen Mirren is in State of Play. Translation, Helen Mirren is wonderful as always.)
 
Turning to some of today's other reported violence (we started with some of today's violence) . . .
 
Bombings?
 
Sahar Issa and Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) report a Baghdad grenade attack which wounded four people and they drop back to Saturday night to note a Balad sticky bombing which claimed the lives of 2 Sahwa members
 
 
Shootings?
 
Sahar Issa and Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) report Turkoman Abdulraham Aziz was shot dead outside his home Sunday while another person was shot dead in Mosul last night. Reuters notes 1 person shot dead in Kirkuk today and, dropping back to Sunday, a Mosul home invasion in which 1 person was shot dead.
 
Corpses?
 
Sahar Issa and Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) report a police captatin was kidnapped in Anbar Province Saturday and his corpse was discovered yesterday.
 
Yesterday the top US commander in Iraq, Gen Ray Odierno, appeared on CNN and was interviewed by John King (link has text and video). He discussed the treaty masquerading as a Status Of Forces Agreement which supposedly binds the US to leave all Iraqi cities by the end of this June and to leave the country by the end of 2011. Despite that alleged 'binding' agreement, Odierno stated US troops might not leave Iraqi cities at the end of June ("If we believe that we'll need troops to maintain a presence in some of the cities, we'll recommend that, but, ultimately, it will the decision of Prime Minister Maliki"), however , "As you ask me today, I believe it's a 10 -- that we will be gone by 2011." He believes. Not "It's a 10, we will be gone in 2011." Believes. Odierno's not staking his reputation on anyone else's promise and he has always worded very carefully on this topic. Jonathan D. Salant (Bloomberg News) puts it this way, "Odierno said he expects to meet the 2011 deadline. There are 142,000 U.S. troops in Iraq." Deborah Solomon (Wall St. Journal) summarizes it as follows, "The top U.S. general in Iraq said the U.S. is on track to withdraw combat troops from Iraq by August 2010 but could adjust the pace over the next 18 months depending on the stability of the country."

In other news, Abo Obama -- aka Samson Obama -- is in the news and, strangely, while everyone else with a criminal arrest record gets stuck with their birth name, reports continue to call him "Samson Obama."  Considering that he gave a phony name at his arrest, maybe they should all stick to his birth name: Abo Obama.  He is the half-brother of Barack and they have been photographed together and Barack has written of him.  wowOwow reports, "Various news outlets report that British officials denied the U.S. president's half-brother Samson Obama a visa because he was accused of sexual assault last November. And, during that incident, Mr. Obama gave police a false name. He was not arrested or charged for that crime. His fingerprints and other data were stored in a national database and the president's estranged half-brother -- the men have not spoken in 20 years, according to the White House -- went back home to Kenya."  Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Brotherly Embarrassment" covered this last night.  For the record, it was sexual assault at underage girls with the youngest being a 13-year-old.  He is over 40 himself.  Strangely, all the reports -- and they're linked in Isaiah's comic -- somehow avoid mentioning his age.  I can't remember a time when someone with an arrest record made the news and the press refused to list his age or, for that matter, his birth name.  The arrest took place in November, either in the last stages of Barack's campaign or after the election -- the press won't tell us that either.  In January, he was enroute to the US -- for the inauguration -- and the UK refused to let him in.  No word on whether he made it into the US or not. And let me plub Kat's "Kat's Korner: The LOtUSFLOW3R Blooms ... and rocks" which is her review of Prince's new album LOtUSFLOW3R.
 

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Iraq's LGBT community

The U.S. State Department must not stand idly by if the Iraqi government fails to protect basic human rights, even if the persecution stems from traditional cultural or religious beliefs.
We applaud Colorado Congressman Jared Polis for his efforts last week to shine the spotlight on the killings of homosexuals in Iraq, and to press the State Department to demand accountability from the Iraqi government.
The first openly gay man to be elected to the House, Polis has been investigating the treatment of gays in Iraq for several months, according to The Post's Michael Riley. His research led to the discovery of a transgender Iraqi man who told the congressman he had been arrested, beaten and raped by security forces with Iraq's Ministry of Interior.
Human-rights groups have passed information to Polis that claims another man was beaten into confessing he belonged to a gay-rights group and that the man had been sentenced to execution by an Iraqi court.

The above is the opening to the Denver Post's Sunday editorial "Killing of gay Iraqis shouldn't be ignored: We applaud Rep. Jared Polis for his efforts last week to shine the spotlight on the killings of homosexuals in Iraq." For more on the issue, you can see this snapshot, this entry and the roundtable Friday night ["Roundtable on Iraq," "Roundtabling Iraq," "the roundtable," "Iraq," "Iraq in the Kitchen," "Roundtable on Iraq," "Talking Iraq," "Iraq," "Talking Iraq roundtable" and "Iraq roundtable"] -- from the roundtable, we'll note Wally's comments -- actually we'll note an entire section. Ava and I typed this up (and took the notes during the roundtable) but were tired and I'm reading over this section this morning and it's fresh and new to me:

Betty: I wanted to talk about Iraq's LGBT population. In the April 2nd snapshot, C.I. noted the reports that they were being executed. No one followed that story this week until we found out, see yesterday's snapshot, that US House Rep Jared Polis went to Iraq and was given information about a gay man sentenced to death for being gay. Why isn't anyone writing about this? Michael Riley (Denver Post) was covering it but I'm not even sure if he grasped all of what he was reporting and, if he did grasp it, I think he intentionally downplayed it. Maybe because he thought if he didn't downplay it, it might be seen as too explosive for print. But read his article. A member of the US Congress has been given information that states a gay man is going to be put to execution because he is gay. The Congress member finds the information and documentation so convincing that he raises the issue on his Iraq trip. I'd say this is pretty big news.

Cedric: I'd agree with you Betty and I'd argue that if all the people writing last week about the executions hadn't been doing that. and that includes C.I. doing the why-are-we-silent writing, we wouldn't have gotten Timothy Williams and Tareq Maher's "Iraq's Newly Open Gays Face Scorn and Murder" in the New York Times this week. That's really the strongest article on this subject that paper has published. And, speculating, I'm wondering is it that the paper previously didn't care about the issue, thought readers didn't care about the issue, thought it wasn't among the important issues or what?

Mike: Well when they can write that stupid article on the Humvee dealership in Iraq then if it's that the paper didn't think LGBT was an "important issue," that's saying a lot. And none of it good about the paper.

Ruth: I honestly think that there is a 'queasy' aspect to it -- I am talking about among the press. It happens far too often, an issue involving an attack on the LGBT community in any country, even our own, never gets the kind of attention it deserves. Never. I think a large portion of the press, especially above the reporters' level, are uncomfortable with LGBT issues and the LGBT community.

Ava: Well, in terms of the New York Times, they have a shameful history on AIDS in the eighties and I would argue that's because of the "queasy" aspect Ruth's talking about. They didn't see gays and lesbians as 'real human beings' so when a disease that wasknown as the "gay cancer" struck, they didn't want to devote the kind of attention they would have if the same disease had targeted red-headed-four-year-old boys, for example.

Mike: I don't want to dominate the roundtable but if I can make another point, and I'll try to be quick, homophobia is out there and it's not going away. It might get reduced, but it's not going away any time soon. And if we're not willing to combat it, then I don't know what's going to happen. I am eager about one thing that's coming up.

Marcia: I agree with you, Mike, but I want to also say how important it is that someone like Mike says that and not just me. I'm a lesbian. It's important that I speak out. But Mike's a straight man and it's really important that he speak out as well. I think the gay community is something like one in ten. The LGBT community needs to speak up but we also need support from the straight community. In terms of what Mike's talking about coming up, I agree. And I'm excited about it as well. It's something we're going to be doing at Third. A regular feature. But I would agree there's a silence and, like Ruth, I would have to say it's because it makes some straight people uncomfortable.

Betty: If I can say one more thing on this topic, I'd just like to point out that gays are being targeted in Iraq. By the clergy, by the police and apparently by their state government. And the fact that so many -- including Liar Barack -- have taken to tossing around terms like "democracy" at a time when homophobia is expressed with criminal intent is appalling. And it's disgusting to see US leaders hail a country where homophobia and homophobic murders are condoned by the governemtn. It's disgusting.

Wally: Well the silence goes beyond the press and it also includes our own State Dept which has never condemened the murders. It didn't condemn under the homophobe Colin Powell, it didn't condemn then under Condi Rice and it's not condemning them under Hillary Clinton. Now I happen to like Hillary and, as most people reading this will know, from something like January through the primary in Puerto Rico, I was on the road campaigning for her. I ended up taking off the semester to do that. I believed in her campaign that much. She's being silent. Now I could be an Obot and say, "She needs more time to speak! She needs to get comfortable!" I could offer a million excuses but the reality is she has not spoken out against it and that's not right, and there's no excuse for it, and I'm embarrassed and ashamed for Hillary. And I'll tell you one more thing, I'd be talking about that like her if she was president. Because I don't believe in hero worship. Unlike the Cult of St. Barack, I don't offer excuses. And I believe Hillary would make a great president. But I believe that because I think she's smart. So when someone that smart and that wise doesn't speak out against the murders, it is appalling and I will call out. I will repeat, Hillary Clinton, I am ashamed and embarrassed by your silence. I am fully aware that there are issues that are policy and that come above Hillary. That would include the Israel situtation, for example. There she's merely executing policy. However, in terms of this issue, in terms of condemning any murders in any country -- I'm talking warfare, supposed or otherwise -- she has the power, due to the office she holds, to issue a state condemning the murders. She hasn't done it. I'm appalled. Shame on you, Hillary, you know better. And Kat I knew Betty's topic, Rebecca, which is why we were holding off on talking.

Kat: Right. And it is an important topic but just to back up a second, I agree with Wally and if Hillary had gotten the nomination, she would be president, we all know that, we all know she got more votes than Barack in the primaries and we all know she would have done better than he did in the general. But if she was president, we wouldn't be playing fan club to Hillary. We'd be doing what Wally just did right now. And Wally gave his all to getting the word out on Hillary. He dropped out of college because he took some weeks off and ended up deciding that it was more important that he campaign for her. The original plan was just to campaign for her for a few weeks, he ended up dropping out to campaign for her. And he still believes she would make a wonderful president but that didn't prevent him from calling her out on her silence and doing so strongly. And if she were president and going back on her word to withdraw one brigade a month from Iraq, we'd all be calling her out. The Obots aren't politically educated or smart. They needed a crush, an empty vessel upon which they could impose their dreams of love and romance. It and they are disgusting. Now in terms of the LGBT community in Iraq, I don't want to hear any garbage about Muslim religion or any of that other s**t. We don't use "Muslim religion" or "Muslim culture" to hide behind murdering Jews or Christians. Murder's wrong. That's not open to debate. That the US has installed a regime in Iraq which thinks it's okay to murder gays and lesbians -- and even if the government is not executing them, they are turning a blind eye to their murders -- explains how sick and perverted this illegal war really was. And to be clear "Muslim religion" or "Muslim culture," gays and lesbians still were in Iraq. They are Iraqis. And they had acceptance before the illegal war. They are a part of Muslim culture whether fundamentalists want to accept it or not. And they are a part of Iraq and they should have been protected.

I loved Wally's comments and told him that after the roundtable Friday night but I really love them reading over it and I'm going to make it a truest -- there will be three at Third now -- retroactively. I don't think anyone will have a problem with that. I'll probably include Kat's remarks because I think they are pertinent to the calling out Wally's doing. Last week, we noted the US State Dept and the United Nations have been silent on these and other attacks on the LGBT community in Iraq. The issue gets some attention today. BBC News offers "Fears over Iraq gay killing spate:"

The Iraqi government must do more to protect homosexuals in the wake of a reported spate of killings of gay young men, Amnesty International has urged.
In the last few weeks, 25 boys and men are reported to have been killed in Baghdad because they were, or were perceived to be, gay, Amnesty said.
In a letter to Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, the rights organisation called for "urgent and concerted action".
It also criticised the government's failure to condemn the killings.

Nigel Morris' "Iraqi leaders attacked over spate of homophobic murders" (Independent of London) explains Amnesty hasn't yet released the letter to al-Maliki and he notes:

The bodies of four gay men, each bearing a sign with the Arabic word for "pervert" on their chests, were discovered in Sadr City three weeks ago. Following the discovery of another two corpses six days later, an unnamed official in the city told Reuters: "They were sexual deviants. Their tribes killed them to restore their family honour."
No arrests have been made. Ali Hili, the London spokesman for Iraqi LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) said it had received reports of at least 63 killings in the last four months. He told The Independent: "Since mid-December we've been getting lots of reports about mass arrests and raids on houses, cafes, barbers shops." He claimed police and the Ministry of the Interior were behind some of the murders.
"Most of the people who are arrested are found dead, with signs of torture and burns. We believe a war has been launched by the Iraqi Government and its establishment against gay people."
Mr Hili said homosexuals in the country were forced to live in hiding for fear of abduction and death. Some had managed to escape to the west, with another 20 preparing to flee Iraq.
He said: "It's impossible to be gay and out ... It's the most difficult thing to be in Iraq. People visit each other's houses, they meet in places where it's safe ... for the most effeminate cases, we advise them not to go out at all."

The Telegraph of London covers the issue here. Meanwhile Alsumaria reports:

The Iraqi Government decision to detain back prisoners released by US Forces is subject to a political and security hassle. Baghdad Operations spokesman Brigadier Qassem Ata affirmed that the Command has ordered checkpoints to arrest all freed detainees recently released by US Forces.
Ata told Al Hayat Newspaper that the operations command has distributed names and photos of released detainees on all checkpoints to detain them after they were involved in recent bombings in Baghdad.
He noted that keeping those detainees out of prison will deteriorate the security situation and will threaten stability after US Forces withdraw from the cities to their bases at the end of June.
Asked about the possibility of delaying US withdrawal after latest security incidents, Ata said the US military did not notify us about such intentions.
"The Times" British Newspaper expected yesterday to delay US Forces withdrawal from Iraqi volatile cities. The Newspaper quoted a US Army General as saying that insecurities in Mosul and Baaquba might force US Military to extend their military operations in those cities beyond June 30.

This topic is one that upsets Nouri al-Maliki's thug government. Qassim Abdul-Zahra (AP) reports the thug government is attempting to close a TV station (Al-Sharqiya) and a newspaper (Al-Hayat) over reports that al-Maliki's thugs are arresting the prisoners as the US releases them. In the summer of 2006, al-Maliki listed his 'plan' amidst the crackdown on Baghdad and it included attacks on the press. When the January 31st provincial elections took place in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces, al-Maliki attempted to strong arm the press and force them into signing agreements which would allow them to be punished and penalized if al-Maliki was displeased. His attacks on the press and freedoms are nothing news and part of a thug pattern which includes yesterday's news:

In Iraq today, a committee in Parliament offered a rebuke of the police. Sameer N. Yacoub (AP) reports the committee was offended that the police raided an art show and seized an illustration "lampooning Iraq's prime minister." No word on whether or not he was in 'Muslim garb' and doing a fist bump. (For those who didn't catch that, it was a reference to the faux outrage over a New Yorker cartoon cover that demonstrated there's more than a little bit of Denmark in the US.)

Germany's DPA reports Mosul saw "hundreds of Kurds" protest today as they demanded to be included in the Kurdistan Regional Government. Unrelated in terms of Mosul but the KRG notes:

Fact sheets about the Kurdistan Region

Some essential fact sheets about the Kurdistan Region. Please click the links below to view, download and save the files in PDF format.

The Kurdistan Region in brief

About the Kurdistan Regional Government

Travelling to the Kurdistan Region
A guide to flights, hotels, communications, currency, national holidays, places of interest and specialist travel agencies.

Doing business in the Kurdistan Region
An overview of direct investment, chambers of commerce, company registration, trade missions, visas, and trade shows.

See also
Economy and business

Natural resources: Oil & gas

Kurdistan Region Investment Law

Kurdistan Region Oil and Gas Law

Travel information

Investment guide, The Kurdistan Region: Invest in the Future





Noam Chomsky is on Democracy Now! this morning. It's the interview that aired two Friday's ago on WBAI during the fundraising. The one that had many saying, "Wow, what bravery . . . after the election." Expect a lot more of that now that it's easy to criticize. In fairness to Noam, he didn't endorse Barack. Howard Zinn would like everyone to remember (that cares about politics) that he did not endorse Barack. Of course, he did endorse Barack. He endorsed him and then the outrage was so loud and so clear, he turned around and endorsed Ralph. Or pretended to. Speaking to SewerNet March 19th (we don't link to sites that may be sexual predators and why else would they e-mail various people in attempts to gather information on a 14-year-old boy?), he was asked about his endorsement of Barack and he replied:

Endorsed Obama? (Laughs.) Yes -- I endorsed Obama, I wanted him to win. I wanted Bush and Cheney out of there. I wanted change -- and the truth is I didn't have much choice. It was Bush or Obama. I chose Obama.

So now he's a Barack endorser yet again. I don't need to hear from Coward Zinn's Defense. I'm not Jim, I won't be nice. Coward went on to 'host' a Barack ball in DC and then realized how shameful and embarrassing that was so he and his defense decided not to attend. When called on it, at Third, the defense railed that Coward and he weren't participating. Yes, you were. You allowed your names to be used as sponsors -- allowed it even after you decided not to attend. You were hosting that ball and so was Coward Zinn. It's not our fault that he chose 2008 to remove his spine. It's not our fault that he chose 2008 to sell out his integrity and his life's work.

Again, Noam should have said what's broadcast today on Democracy Now! back in 2008. But, to his credit, he didn't endorse Barack (he endorsed Cynthia McKinney) and he didn't schill for Barack and he certainly didn't host an inauguration party for Barack.

Noam could have spoken out more (and loudly) but he didn't disgrace himself. He's off on his assessment of Palin and his remarks about learning about 'parts of America' ("flyover country" -- he says using an apparent GOP term) via right-wing talk radio is rather sad. Noam's not able to mix with the people? Did he puchase Neverland from Michael Jackson? In terms of populist anger and what might happen, that was noted here long ago and we didn't have to distort Sarah Palin (intentionally or not) in order to do so.

On populist rage, here's an example of it, from ETAN:

Tax Day Protests Against the War Economy and Paying for War

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ruth Benn, Coordinator
National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC)
Brooklyn, New York
800-269-7464 (718-768-3420) or nwtrcc@nwtrcc.org


Brooklyn, NY ­ On Wednesday, April 15, at post offices, federal buildings, and public squares around the country, last minute taxpayers and passers by will be met with signs demanding “Taxes for Peace Not War!” Handouts will explain what the government tries to obscure: the obscene amount of U.S. tax dollars being spent on war at the expense of jobs, infrastructure, human needs programs­even a healthy economy.

“It is often believed that wars and military spending increases are good for the economy. In fact, most economic models show that military spending diverts resources from productive uses, such as consumption and investment, and ultimately slows economic growth and reduces employment,” according to economist Dean Baker in a 2007 study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

The Obama administration’s promises to end the war in Iraq­eventually­but leaving 50,000 “advisers” in the country sounds more like continued occupation of a sovereign country. The expansion of war in Afghanistan and into Pakistan brings daily reports of more civilian deaths piled onto the thousands already killed by U.S. actions in the region. Obama’s 2010 budget includes further increases for the Pentagon, which is already funded at levels higher than any time since World War II­hardly an indication that the U.S. is on the road to peace.

Tax day protesters hope to bring attention to the connection between wasteful war spending and the budget crises of states, cities, and towns that are slashing essential programs.

Conscientious objectors to paying for war will be among those making a visible protest on tax day. “Haven’t Paid Federal Taxes Since 1998” is a sign carried by Lincoln Rice in Milwaukee. Don Schrader of Albuquerque carries his “I Refuse to Pay Federal Income Tax for War” sign wherever he goes. Many of these war tax resisters keep their income low to avoid federal taxes; others pay their tax due to charities rather than the IRS, despite the potential consequences. On tax day Boston activists will be among the groups publicly presenting grants from redirected tax dollars to peace, justice, and humanitarian groups.

Similar events will take place around the country. See the listing below, collected by National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, or on the internet at http://www.nwtrcc.org/taxday2009.htm.

The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC), founded in 1982, is a coalition of local, regional and national groups providing information and support to people who are conscientious objectors to paying taxes for war. NWTRCC initiated the War Tax Boycottin 2008, which includes a list of public war tax refusers at wartaxboycott.org.

-- 30 –

War tax resisters are available for interviews. Please contact NWTRCC if you need contacts in your area.

LIST OF TAX DAY ACTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2009

List in formation. Updated at http://www.nwtrcc.org/taxday2009.htm.

CALIFORNIA
Bay Area – Northern California War Tax Resistance, http://www.nowartax.org. April 14, 7 - 8 pm: In front of Herbst Theater, where Amy Goodman will be speaking about “Standing Up to the Madness” to help show attendees one way they can stand up. April 15: 6 - 9 am at Glen Park BART, where we will attract the early morning media, and then educate the commuter foot traffic with our display and hand-outs. April 15th, 11 am – 1 pm, at Civic Center Plaza, where we’ll join the “Tea Party” protesters against government waste and pork, while reminding them that the worst examples are found in the military budget. 4 - 6 pm at Balboa Park BART, showing off our new federal spending banner and educating taxpayers about government spending priorities

COLORADO
Colorado Springs – Citizens for Peace in Space. Leafleting with tax pie charts and other information at the Post Office. Time TBA.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington – Washington Area War Tax Resistance. Vigil and leafleting at IRS headquarters, 1111 Constitution NW. Noon.

KANSAS
Newton – Heartland Peace Tax Fund. Articles, survey with collection of testimonies from Mennonite war tax resisters, mailings with income tax pie chart, and more.

KENTUCKY
Louisville ­ Fellowship of Reconciliation-Louisville chapter. (502) 458-8056 or . Leafleting and penny poll at corner of Fifth & Market. Noon.

INDIANA
South Bend – Michiana War Tax Refusers. (574) 289-2126, Peter Smith or http://www.michianapeacejustice.org. Vigil and leafleting at the Main Post Office. 5 pm–9 pm.

IOWA
Dubuque–Citizens’ Tax Moratorium. (563) 583-2586. Vigil and leafleting downtown at Federal Building, 6th and Locust. 5:30 pm–7:30 pm. (Also every Monday, 5:30 pm–6:30 pm.)

MAINE
Across the State – Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center and other groups. (207) 525-7776. Leafleting with flyers about war taxes, budget priorities, and related issues at post offices and busy places. Before or on April 15.
Bangor: Jane Livingston, 947-4117, or Gerald Oleson, 947-2970
Belfast: Larry Dansinger, 525-7776
Bath/Brunswick: Mary Beth Sullivan, 443-9502
Ellsworth: Frank Donnelly, 461-5080
Farmington: Eileen Liddy, 645-4755
Kennebunk: Jamilla El Shafei
Portland: Peace Action Maine, 772-0680 or Bill Slavick, 773-6562
Damariscotta: Suzanne Hedrick, 563-7041

MASSACHUSETTS
Boston - New England War Tax Resistance, (781) 237-4690 or Larry Rosenwald. A festive event including presentation of grants from redirected tax dollars to three Peace and Justice groups. Outside the South Postal Annex near South Station. 8:30 PM

Greenfield - Pioneer Valley War Tax Refusers, Email or (413) 774-2640. Picket with leaflets and placards along Main St., urging non-payment of Federal Income tax.. Printed matter will be offered at a sidewalk table by the Food Co-op, with the hope of opening a friendly exchange of views on this vital concern. 9 am until noon.

MISSOURI
St. Louis - St. Louis Covenant Community of War Tax Resisters, (314) 725-5303 . Actions in collaboration with Women in Black, WILPF, the Instead of War Coalition. Tuesday, April 14: 11:30 am Gather and vigil in the Delmar Loop Plaza (6635 Delmar). Noon, process and leaflet through a restaurant district with the pie chart and the leaflet that the U.S. Committee to End the Israeli Occupation on taxes and U.S. military aid to Israel. 12:30 Procession ends at Sen. Claire McCaskill Office's (5850 Delmar). Vigil in front of the office till 1 pm and then turn in tax resistance letters to the Senator's staff.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Across the State – New Hampshire Peace Action or Ginny Schneider. The call is out for people to set up tables with penny polls, educational materials, a petition to deliver to members of Congress, and a bookmark to give out in towns across the state at schools, post offices and town squares.

NEW YORK
New York City – NYC War Resisters League, NYC People’s Life Fund, and the Rude Mechanical Orchestra. (718) 768-7306 or http://www.warresisters.org. Meet and leaflet at Manhattan IRS office,110W. 44th Street, at 4 pm, then at 5:30 pm march to main post office at 8th Ave. and 34th St. for vigil, leafleting, redirection ceremony.

New City - Rockland Coalition for Peace & Justice, http://www.rocklandaction.org . Annual Tax Day vigil on the steps of the Rockland County courthouse. 11:30 am - 12:30 pm.

NORTH CAROLINA
Asheville – Ashville Area War Tax Resistance. 828-242-5610. Banners and flyer distribution in front of the downtown public library, visible throughout town from the Library to the Federal Building to the Post Office on Coxe Avenue. 3-5 pm, followed by potluck and discussion with Veterans for Peace and War Resisters League.

OREGON
Eugene ­ Community Action of Lane County. (541) 485-1755. Penny poll and literature distribution at downtown Eugene post office.

Portland – Oregon Community for War Tax Resistance/WRL. (503) 238-0605. April 11: redirection of tax dollars at the public library. April 15: Holding “Burma Shave” signs on the local bridges during morning rush hours

PENNSYLVANIA
Bethlehem – LEPOCO. (610) 691-8730 or http://www.lepoco.org. Contact the office to get leaflets and connect with others for leafleting at area post offices.

Newtown, Bucks County - Coalition for Peace Action and Penn Action. http://www.cfpabuxmont.org, http://www.pennaction.org or 215-380-6804. Tax Day Vigil Silver Lake Park next to Lockheed Martin, Route 413 bypass in Newtown, Bucks County, PA. Invest our Tax Dollars in a Peace Economy! NOT in Lockheed Martin. 4:30-5:30 pm. More protests at Lockheed Martin April 23, http://www.brandywinepeace.com.

VERMONT
Burlington – Bread and Roses Committee. (802) 355-2977. Leafleting at Post Office.

WASHINGTON
Olympia - Olympia Movement for Justice & Peace, http://www.omjp.org, Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation, http://www.olyfor.org. Annual protest vigil against the self-destructive madness of paying for U.S. wars, occupations, and continued imperialism around the globe. Main Post Office at 9th & Jefferson. 10 am into the evening.

Seattle ­ NACC. (206) 547-0952, http://seanacc.org. Leafleting at several post offices from 4 to 5 pm (and other times).

WISCONSIN
Milwaukee – Milwaukee War Tax Resistance and Casa Maria Catholic Worker. Lincoln Rice or 414-344-5745. Hold signs and pass our leaflets on at Milwaukee's main post office located at 345 W St. Paul Ave. 5 pm–6 pm.


Bonnie reminds that Kat's "Kat's Korner: The LOtUSFLOW3R Blooms ... and rocks" and Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Brotherly Embarrassment."

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.


















thomas friedman is a great man






oh boy it never ends
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Washington Post front pages Iraq, NYT whines

Fifteen feet tall, half a mile long, the walls wind like a concrete ribbon through the heart of this scarred holy city, the cradle of Iraq's sectarian war. Shiite pilgrims flow alongside them toward the shattered al-Askari mosque, a symbol of a resuscitating Iraq. Shiite national security forces -- and not a single local Sunni policeman -- patrol the area.
On the other side of the walls, shops lie shuttered; alleys are blanketed by silence. Padlocked red doors, built into the partition, prevent Shiite visitors from mixing with the city's mostly Sunni citizens. Here, Mohammed al-Saeed, a Sunni shopkeeper, fumes.
"This wall is a sectarian wall," he said. "They don't trust us."

Though the New York Times can't file a thing in the print version of today's paper (national edition) from Iraq, the Washington Post features Sudarsan Raghavan's "An Iraqi City Divided by Walls, by Sect, By Bitterness" on the front page. That's the opening to Raghavan's article and we'll discuss it in today's snapshot. Consider it the must-read today and you can pair it with Alissa J. Rubin offers "Arrests of a Council's Members Deepens the Bitterness of Sunnis in Iraq" (New York Times) from yesterday.

R.M. Schneiderman's "Commander Says U.S. Still on Schedule to Leave Iraq" is the closet thing to Iraq filed by the New York Times today and it doesn't make the paper. RM pulled pajama duty and reports on the Sunday morning chat and chews -- apparently to provide some of that 'journalism excellence' the paper of little to no record can't shut up about in today's business pages. As much as RM's 'report' is junk so is the garbage in the business pages about state-of-the-press.

The Associated Press, how it works, where its revenues come from, is all lost on the New York Times this morning and it's hard to believe Docker Boy David Carr and all the rest are so stupid (but maybe they are) as they serve up half-baked revisionary garbage in which the only problem for newspapers or the AP was in being late to the party. For the New York Times, any article on the lack of newsprint being the first and last stop should include the names: Jayson Blair and Judith Miller. Among many, many others.

But keep pretending the problem is everyone else, kids. Pretend you didn't market an illegal war and see it blow up in your faces. Pretend you do actual reporting. It's good to know the paper's staff can keep pretending . . . even if the public can't.

If people don't trust you, they won't pay for your services. And why should they trust you as you and every other outlet refused to call out the lie of "sandstorm" and "dust storm" last week?

Best of all is seeing the New York Times' pampered Docker Boys play the victim (it's like a newsprint version of Dislcosure, Fatal Attraction or any other Michael Douglas film) at the same time that the paper is threatening to shut down the Boston Globe. Let's all pretend they're not doing that. (Yes, the business section mentions that but refuses to explore that NYT is responsible. The Docker Boys couldn't be on their high horses about what 'victims' they were while also holding NYT accountable. Their days on the unemployment line will come.)


An article by James Glanz made the New York Times' edition on Saturday. I didn't see it in the national edition (not the one I purchased in Boston before we left Saturday morning, nor the one delivered to the house). "Contractor Must Pay in Iraq Fraud, Court Rules" addressed the Fourth Circuit's decision that if Custer Battles committed fraud (this was fraud committed on the US tax payers, fraud with their money, a point Glanz can't come out and admit), the argument that "We weren't in the US, we were in Iraq" is not a protection from liability.

In non-progress news, Alsumaria reported Saturday: "A number of Iraqi lawmakers affirmed that the Parliament Presidency has switched from the legal framework to the political framework mainly after the Federal Court delayed decision regarding the legitimacy of Accordance Front candidate Iyad Al Samirrai to head the Parliament.
Iraqi politicians affirmed that the Council will decide about this issue the first week after resuming sessions pointing out to the possibility of agreeing on Al Samirrai as Parliament Speaker."

Bonnie reminds that Kat's "Kat's Korner: The LOtUSFLOW3R Blooms ... and rocks" and Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Brotherly Embarrassment."

Iraq's Foreign Ministry notes:


Foreign Minister Visits Italian Embassy to Offer Condolence

Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari visited Italian Embassy in Baghdad on the 8th. Apr .2009 to offer condolences on behalf of the Iraqi Government and his name to the people and Government of Italy and to the families of the victims of the region L'Aquila which struck by the earthquake and hoping patience and speedy recovery for the injured.

Minister Zebari was received by Mr. Maurizio Milan , the Italian Ambassador in Baghdad and Embassy staff members who expressed their appreciation for his Excellency's condolence on this painful incident.

The condolences ceremony was attended by Dr. Soroud Najeeb Director of Minister's Office, Ambassador Hussain Moala'a Head of Europe Department and Mr. Tahseen Enna, Chief of Protocol Department in the Ministry.



The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.



the new york times
alissa j. rubin


the washington post
sudarsan raghavan


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