The Common Ills: Continued violence in Iraq

Monday, September 26, 2011

Continued violence in Iraq

Aswat al-Iraq reports a Kirkuk car bombing claimed 3 lives today and that two additional bombings did "material damage." In addition, they note, "An Iraqi soldier has been killed and another soldier was seriously injured in a joint US-Iraqi security operation in al-Fudheiliya township, 15 km to the east of Nassiriya city, the center of southern Iraq's Thi-Qar Province on Monday, a security source reported."

Throughout the Iraq War, those selling alcohol have been regularly targeted with shootings and bombings. W.G. Dunlop (AFP) reports that, despite this, it remains a busy occupation with many willing to work in any of Baghdad's 96 alcohol stores. This includes Yazidi Shakir who left Mosul to make moeny for his family and now "only gets to see his family in Mosul every two months for 10 to 15 days".

Meanwhile the Tehran Times reports that Ibrahim al-Jaafari has declared that there will be no extension of the SOFA "or a new security agreement with Washington." Of course, that would have more power coming from anyone but al-Jaafari. When Iraqi MPs wanted to bring him back as prime minister following the 2005 elections, the US government made it clear that wasn't happening and Nouri al-Maliki became prime minister instead. Never having had the inside track, it's a bit difficult to believe al-Jaafari's pose as 'insider dishing.'

Bonnie reminds that Kat's "Kat's Korner: Tori's nocturnal prowl" went up yesterday as did Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "The Princess Is Flying The Plane!" On this week's Law and Disorder Radio -- a weekly hour long program that airs Monday mornings on WBAI and around the country throughout the week and is hosted by attorneys Heidi Boghosian, Michael S. Smith and Michael Ratner (Center for Constitutional Rights), topics explored include FBI informants (addressed with reporter Trevor Aaronson) and "Fear Inc, The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America" (discussed with attorney Wajahat Ali).