Did the crowd turn out?
Goodness, did they.
Iraqi Day 
Methaq Al-fayyadh
Huge protest in #baghdad
Mustafa Habib
Breaking: Demonstrators pass the security barriers & they go to the gates of the #Green_Zone. #Baghdad
This was the third protest Moqtada had called in the last nine days.
It's also the only one western press elected to cover.
Violence is the 'hook' for their stories.
Qassim Abdul-Zahra (AP) reports:
Saturday's
protests were called for by influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and
clashes that erupted as crowds pushed toward the Green Zone left two
policeman and three protesters dead, according to police and hospital
officials.
The
officials said six other policemen were injured along with dozens of
protesters. The violent outbreak prompted the government to call for a
"full investigation."
The western media is all over this story . . .
Well AP is.
Qassim Abdul-Zahra's report is reprinted all over (like here).
And a longer version also includes:
Mr al-Sadr's office issued another statement on Saturday night following news of protester casualties claiming that "excessive force" was used against the demonstrators and threatened greater protests.
"The next time the blood of our martyrs will not go in vain," the statement read.
Dozens of protesters were injured?
Try hundreds.
- #BREAKING: Two riot police, five protesters declared dead so far in #Baghdad protests http://ara.tv/nx2gn
- BREAKING: At least 5 people killed, 320 were injured after a protest turned deadly in #Baghdad, #Iraq - @Duhokpost
Al Arabiya English
Jean-Marc Mojon
Conflict News 
It would appear the forces overreacted in their responses -- from the deaths and wounded tolls alone, they overreacted.
It would appear AP under-reacted in their reporting -- including what was at the heart of the protests -- corruption.
Baghdad also saw rocket attacks today.
Friday, US President Donald Trump spoke with Iraq's Prime Minister Hayder al-Abadi. The White House issued the following:
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
February 10, 2017
Readout of the President’s Call with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi of Iraq
President Donald J. Trump spoke yesterday with Prime Minister Haider
al-Abadi of Iraq to underscore the support of the United States for the
Iraqi people in our shared fight against the terrorist group the Islamic
State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). President Trump emphasized the buildup
of the United States military. President Trump also congratulated
Iraqi forces on their recent progress in Mosul, thanked Prime Minister
al-Abadi for his leadership, and expressed condolences for the many
Iraqi lives lost in the counter-ISIS campaign. The two leaders
discussed the strong partnership between the Iraqi and United States
militaries, as well as the great sacrifice by both countries. Both
leaders spoke to the threat Iran presents across the entire region.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to the long-term partnership
between the United States and Iraq grounded in the U.S.-Iraq Strategic
Framework Agreement.
The following community sites -- plus Cindy Sheehan and BLACK AGENDA REPORT -- updated:
This is a thing?
31 minutes ago
John Stauber
1 hour ago
Aretha?
16 hours ago
Popeye's Chicken
23 hours ago
The 'Patriot' takes a Stand
23 hours ago
The betrayal
1 day ago
The e-mail for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
