Iraq Body Count counts 619 violent deaths in Iraq through yesterday. WSWS continues to support Nouri al-Maliki, a despot and a thug. In today's article -- I'm not linking to that trash -- we learn why. They tongue the crotch of Nouri over his 'refusal' on the issue of war with Syria. Well, he's given US forces the greenlight to operate out of Iraq. Or did you miss that, WSWS? His only reason for saying 'no' to more than that is because of concerns of the ethnic make up in the region. It really amazes me that WSWS embraces Nouri -- the thug who declares war on unions, the thug who goes after Basra oil workers. I've learned more and more to ignore WSWS but this nonsense, that went up this morning, was e-mailed to the public account. We're not interested in highlighting it and the continued propping up by WSWS of Nouri al-Maliki is outrageous and shameful. It's really getting into some strange territory as it rushes to defend Nouri (a US puppet kept in place by US Special Ops -- which remain in Iraq -- and by the CIA).
Oh, wait, the trash will get a link:
Violence has risen following the attack by Iraq’s security forces on a protest in the northern town of Hawija last month, following a raid on an army position, killing about 53 people and injuring 150 more.
That's how they cover the April 23rd massacre of a sit-in in Hawija when Nouri's federal forces stormed it. Alsumaria noted Kirkuk's Department of Health (Hawija is in Kirkuk) announced 50 activists have died and 110 were injured in the assault. AFP has been reporting 53 dead for several days now -- indicating that some of the wounded did not recover. UNICEF noted that the dead included 8 children (twelve more were injured). But WSWS wants you to know it was "following a raid on an army position." I'm sorry, does WSWS just takes sides to beat up on women? They're not very objective when it comes to women. Whether slamming Kathryn Bigelow or Katrina vanden Hevuel, the men of WSWS really get their rocks off on that. So it's strange to read the 'detached' coverage of Nouri's assault on the protesters which includes making a false connection between people participating in a sit-in and an attack on an army. It's also curious that WSWS is a-okay with the military patrolling Iraq. With the military being used against the Iraqi people. WSWS isn't concerned about that but the Iraqi people in those areas have expressed outrage.
Here's the only other time WSWS bothered to cover the Hawija massacre:
This violence follows armed raids by government troops on a Sunni camp in Hawija, near Kirkuk, 170 kilometres north of Baghdad, four days after militants attacked a military and police checkpoint, seized weapons and killed a soldier. Ensuing clashes left 53 people dead, including three soldiers.
Look, there it's a Sunni camp! It's not even a peaceful demonstration. And isn't it cute, that they want to drop back to four days prior when the reality is that four days prior (Friday, April 19th) the Iraqi military shot dead a protester in Hawija. We covered it in that day's snapshot. WSWS has never covered it. Even Jane Arraf Tweeted on it the day it happened:
jane arraf
Protestor killed in clashes with #Iraq army in Huwaijah near Kirkuk. Army says it was defending position. Witnesses say soldiers opened fire
The military then encircled the sit-in and refused to allow the protesters to leave or MPs with food and medicine to enter. Members of Parliament were refused entry. Here's Dirk Adriaensens (BRussels Tribunal) reporting on the massacre:
The parliamentary investigative committee in the Hawija massacre, that left more than 50 peaceful protesters dead, revealed on Tuesday 30 April that 90% of the victims of the Iraqi SWAT team raid were shot in the head, abdomen and chest. Some protesters were shot while their hands were tied behind their backs. The report affirms that the protest area was free of weapons. This confirms the claim made by the demonstration organizers, who assured the peaceful nature of the protest and vehemently denied possessing weapons or inciting violence.
Chairman of the Iraqi Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, MP Salim Al-Jabouri, revealed that “senior Iraqi military officers” were involved in the Hawija army raid. He claimed that these officers had “issued kill orders” to soldiers. “The issue does not stop at an army raid, but it goes beyond this to include executions and murder; while some of the wounded were specifically targeted. This represents a crime against humanity,” he added.
Minister of Industry & Minerals Ahmad Nasir Dilli al-Karbuli, Education Minister Muhammad Tamim, and Minister of Science & Technology Abd al-Karim al-Samarrai resigned as a reaction to the incidents.
"We are staying restrained so far, but if government forces keep targeting us, no one can know what will happen in the future, and things could spin out of control," said Abdul Aziz al-Faris, a tribal leader in Hawija.
A Western diplomat, who was not authorized to speak publicly and agreed to talk only on condition of anonymity, said: "Bottom line, it looks like excessive force was used and a lot of unarmed people were killed. There were more people killed than there were arms".
And let's again note the eye witness account that the BRussells Tribunal carried:
I am Thamer Hussein Mousa from the village of Mansuriya in the district
of Hawija. I am disabled. My left arm was amputated from the shoulder
and my left leg amputated from the hip, my right leg is paralyzed due to
a sciatic nerve injury, and I have lost sight in my left eye.
I have five daughters and one son. My son’s name is Mohammed Thamer. I am no different to any other Iraqi citizen. I love what is good for my people and would like to see an end to the injustice in my country.
When we heard about the peaceful protests in Al-Hawija, taking place at ‘dignity and honor square’, I began attending with my son to reclaim our usurped rights. We attended the protests every day, but last Friday the area of protest was besieged before my son and I could leave; just like all the other protestors there.
Food and drink were forbidden to be brought into the area….
On the day of the massacre (Tuesday 23 April 2013) we were caught by surprise when Al-Maliki forces started to raid the area. They began by spraying boiling water on the protestors, followed by heavy helicopter shelling. My little son stood beside me. We were both injured due to the shelling.
My son, who stood next to my wheelchair, refused to leave me alone. He told me that he was afraid and that we needed to get out of the area. We tried to leave. My son pushed my wheelchair and all around us, people were falling to the ground.
Shortly after that, two men dressed in military uniforms approached us. One of them spoke to us in Persian; therefore we didn’t understand what he said. His partner then translated. It was nothing but insults and curses. He then asked me “Handicapped, what do you want?” I did not reply. Finally I said to him, “Kill me, but please spare my son”. My son interrupted me and said, “No, kill me but spare my father”. Again I told him “Please, spare my son. His mother is waiting for him and I am just a tired, disabled man. Kill me, but please leave my son”. The man replied “No, I will kill your son first and then you. This will serve you as a lesson.” He then took my son and killed him right in front of my eyes. He fired bullets into his chest and then fired more rounds. I can’t recall anything after that. I lost consciousness and only woke up in the hospital, where I underwent surgery as my intestines were hanging out of my body as a result of the shot.
After all of what has happened to me and my little son – my only son, the son who I was waiting for to grow up so he could help me – after all that, I was surprised to hear Ali Ghaidan (Lieutenant General, Commander of all Iraqi Army Ground Forces) saying on television, “We killed terrorists” and displaying a list of names, among them my name: Thamer Hussein Mousa.
I ask you by the name of God, I appeal to everyone who has a shred of humanity. Is it reasonable to label me a terrorist while I am in this situation, with this arm, and with this paralyzed leg and a blind eye?
I ask you by the name of God, is it reasonable to label me a terrorist? I appeal to all civil society and human rights organizations, the League of Arab States and the Conference of Islamic States to consider my situation; all alone with my five baby daughters, with no one to support us but God. I was waiting for my son to grow up and he was killed in this horrifying way.
I have five daughters and one son. My son’s name is Mohammed Thamer. I am no different to any other Iraqi citizen. I love what is good for my people and would like to see an end to the injustice in my country.
When we heard about the peaceful protests in Al-Hawija, taking place at ‘dignity and honor square’, I began attending with my son to reclaim our usurped rights. We attended the protests every day, but last Friday the area of protest was besieged before my son and I could leave; just like all the other protestors there.
Food and drink were forbidden to be brought into the area….
On the day of the massacre (Tuesday 23 April 2013) we were caught by surprise when Al-Maliki forces started to raid the area. They began by spraying boiling water on the protestors, followed by heavy helicopter shelling. My little son stood beside me. We were both injured due to the shelling.
My son, who stood next to my wheelchair, refused to leave me alone. He told me that he was afraid and that we needed to get out of the area. We tried to leave. My son pushed my wheelchair and all around us, people were falling to the ground.
Shortly after that, two men dressed in military uniforms approached us. One of them spoke to us in Persian; therefore we didn’t understand what he said. His partner then translated. It was nothing but insults and curses. He then asked me “Handicapped, what do you want?” I did not reply. Finally I said to him, “Kill me, but please spare my son”. My son interrupted me and said, “No, kill me but spare my father”. Again I told him “Please, spare my son. His mother is waiting for him and I am just a tired, disabled man. Kill me, but please leave my son”. The man replied “No, I will kill your son first and then you. This will serve you as a lesson.” He then took my son and killed him right in front of my eyes. He fired bullets into his chest and then fired more rounds. I can’t recall anything after that. I lost consciousness and only woke up in the hospital, where I underwent surgery as my intestines were hanging out of my body as a result of the shot.
After all of what has happened to me and my little son – my only son, the son who I was waiting for to grow up so he could help me – after all that, I was surprised to hear Ali Ghaidan (Lieutenant General, Commander of all Iraqi Army Ground Forces) saying on television, “We killed terrorists” and displaying a list of names, among them my name: Thamer Hussein Mousa.
I ask you by the name of God, I appeal to everyone who has a shred of humanity. Is it reasonable to label me a terrorist while I am in this situation, with this arm, and with this paralyzed leg and a blind eye?
I ask you by the name of God, is it reasonable to label me a terrorist? I appeal to all civil society and human rights organizations, the League of Arab States and the Conference of Islamic States to consider my situation; all alone with my five baby daughters, with no one to support us but God. I was waiting for my son to grow up and he was killed in this horrifying way.
I hold Obama responsible for this act because he is the one who gave
them these weapons. The weapons and aircrafts they used and fired upon
us were American weapons. I also hold the United States of America
responsible for this criminal act, above all, Obama.
This is what WSWS repeatedly ignores when they run the crazed rantings on Iraq.
It's amazing that they've elected to back a tyrant. Jason Ditz (Antiwar.com) notes of the ongoing violence:
Since then it is clear the Maliki government has had no real answer. Threats of further military operations are the order of the day, and a number of TV stations in Sunni areas were shut down for being unfriendly to the government. This of course is just fueling anger among Sunnis who already believed they were being persecuted, and is making it easier for militants to recruit.
World Bulletin provides a list of the most violent attacks this year.
Let's change topics for a moment. Ava and I noted last June ("TV: When sitcoms preach, public affairs go funny") just how crazy 'journalist' Jane Mayer had become:
And whether you'd call it that or something else, it was one embarrassment after another. There was Mayer coming off like an out-of-touch elitist who really didn't know a damn thing about the country that she lived in and was begging to be ridiculed as she babbled on, "And what you begin to realize is out in the country, if you're from the East Coast, where I live, that there is a completely alternative universe and a completely alternative media universe. And there are even alternative sets of facts that they put out."
There was a story, a small story, in what Mayer had in front of her. It was about a homophobic preacher. But she was so out of touch with American that she repeatedly lost sight of that. Which is how you got Mayer being incredulous that "sixty-six percent of the Republican voters in Mississippi don't believe in Darwin's theory of evolution. They believe that the human race was created as told in Genesis!" This shocked her.
What should have shocked her was that she's claiming 66% of Mississippi residents don't believe in evolution. That's actually a left-wing lie. We hadn't heard that number before so we had to search it out. When we did we found numerous left-wing sites tossing "66%" around and linking to this PPP poll which actually found 60% of Mississippi Republicans saying that they did not believe in evolution. But when you're filled with hate and ignorance, like Jane Mayer, you just add 6% to the actual poll.
In the real world, a place Mayer's passport bears no stamp from, that's a fairly standard figure. Gallup's 2009 survey found only 39% of Americans believed in evolution (25% said no, 36% said no opinion).
"They believe that the human race was created as told in Genesis!" she marveled. We're surprised she's surprised. Earlier this month, Gallup's polling found that 46% of Americans believe in the creation story laid out in Genesis.
Yesterday, Jane Mayer dragged her hate and stupidity onto The Diane Rehm Show and, as Betty points out in "Jane Mayer's War on Adjectives," made a real spectacle of herself. Betty's written a great piece of media criticism and make sure you read it. One detail to add is that Jane Mayer also appears in the film she's defending from 'censorship.' (Censorship is not a roundtable on the topic after a film is aired nor is censorship a TV station's introduction to the film that's about to start.) She's nuts and she's a professional embarrassment as she goes around 'forgetting' to say, 'I'm in the film, I'm friends with the director and, by the way, I suggested the focus of the documentary to him.'
Back to Iraq. We were talking about Nouri's war on the oil workers in Basra. WSWS doesn't care about that. Fortunately, others do. This is from US Labor Against the War:
Hearing on criminal complaint against Hassan Juma'a
postponed for the 4th time!
The case has been postponed again until the 19th of May.
The
judge said that the South Oil Company [SOC] lawyer had failed to
present any evidence or witnesses to support the criminal complaint
filed against Hassan Juma'a Awad, President of the Iraq Federation of
Oil Unions. The SOC lawyer stated that the Ministry of Oil had not
provided the information that the company requested after the last
postponement. The lawyer said that the SOC had sent someone to Baghdad
to obtain it, but still had not received a response. |
| The judge said that he will give the SOC one last chance until May 19th.
The
judge confirmed that based on everything he had seen concerning
Hassan’s involvement in worker demonstrations, that these demonstrations
were peaceful and were motivated by a list of demands about workers
rights - and that the right to engage in such demonstrations is granted
under the Iraqi constitution. He said that if no new facts or information is provided by the SOC by the 19th, he might dismiss the case. Hassan Juma'a said he has a very positive feeling about it , and thinks that the international solidarity campaign has contributed to the positive attitude of the judge. We'll have to wait until the 19th to celebrate any victory! These charges are an unprecedented use of the Iraqi penal code number 111 of 1969 against a labor activist; it was previously used to repress state employees during the Saddam era. Hassan faces imprisonment if the court finds that as a result of his actions, “the interests of the state [were] harmed.” But our pressure can make a difference. We were able to hand deliver our letter signed by labor organizations in the U.S., Europe and around the world, demanding an end to attacks on trade to more Iraqi officials, full list is provided below:
|
Here's what you can do to increase pressure on the al-Maliki regime:
|
| The
neo-liberal assault on worker rights is global. The multinational
corporations seeking to suppress the Iraqi labor movement are the same
corporations seeking to cripple unions and undermine the conditions of
workers in every country. The struggle for labor and human rights in Iraq is part of a universal struggle. A victory for the Iraqi labor movement strengthens labor movements around the world. |
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
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