Saturday, September 30, 2017

Baghdad's more interested in attacking the KRG than in fighting ISIS

In Iraq, the fighting continues.



is attacking Hit. Many IS fighters stormed the Local Council building in the center of the city..


Instead of focusing on that, the Iraqi government focuses on threatening the KRG in northern Iraq.


AP reports, "Two Iraqi officials say Iraqi central government officials have moved through Turkey onto the Turkish side of one of the Kurdish region’s international border crossings. The Saturday maneuvers come as Baghdad works to isolate the region [. . .]"  RUDAW adds, "Iranian and Iraqi forces are to launch a joint military exercise on Iran's borders with the Kurdistan Region in the coming days, a senior Iranian security official told his country's state TV."


And yesterday ALJAZEERA noted, "A ban on international flights into Iraq's Kurdish region has gone into effect after the central government in Baghdad retaliated against a vote for secession that has also drawn opposition from neighbouring countries" while REUTERS explained, "The last international flight left Erbil airport on Friday as the Baghdad government imposed an air ban on Iraqi Kurdistan in retaliation for an independence vote that has drawn widespread opposition from foreign powers."  The response?  Ali Sheikho (ANADOLU AGENCY) explains, "Northern Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) has called on the federal government in Baghdad and the UN to lift an air embargo imposed on the Kurdish region following this week’s illegitimate independence referendum."


Well maybe the US government -- that's depended so much on the KRG -- can offer a hand?

Woops.

No.


The US State Dept issued the following on Friday:

Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government's Referendum
 

Press Statement
Rex W. Tillerson
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
September 29, 2017



The United States does not recognize the Kurdistan Regional Government’s unilateral referendum held on Monday.
The vote and the results lack legitimacy and we continue to support a united, federal, democratic and prosperous Iraq.
We remain concerned about the potential negative consequences of this unilateral step. Prior to the vote, we worked with both the KRG and the central government in Baghdad to pursue a more productive framework and to promote stability and prosperity for the people ‎of the Kurdistan region. These aspirations, ultimately, cannot be advanced through unilateral measures such as this referendum.
We urge calm and an end to vocal recriminations and threats of reciprocal actions. We urge Iraqi Kurdish authorities to respect the constitutionally-mandated role of the central government and we call upon the central government to reject threats or even allusion to possible use of force. The United States asks all parties, including Iraq’s neighbors, to reject unilateral actions and the use of force.
The fight against ISIS/ Daesh is not over, and extremist groups are seeking to exploit instability and discord. We urge our Iraqi partners to remain focused on defeating ISIS/Daesh.
We encourage all sides to engage constructively in a dialogue to improve the future of all Iraqis. 



The following community sites updated -- Cindy Sheehan, THE GUARDIAN and Jody Watley -- updated:







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  • xxx

    How about we start by removing Saudi Arabia from sitting on the UN Human Rights Council?

    Some Tweets from Sarah Abdallah:



  • How about we start by removing Saudi Arabia from sitting on the UN Human Rights Council?
  • Reminder that women's rights champion and feminist icon Hillary Clinton took tens of millions from the world's most misogynistic regimes.
  •   Retweeted
    Thanks Saudi Arabia!
  • Considering they're collectively responsible for the death, suffering and displacement of millions of human beings... No, not really.
  • Podesta emails show that Facebook colluded with Hillary Clinton.
  • Yeah. All that spying, prosecution of journalists, expansion of wars and financing of jihadists really has me nostalgic for Barry. 🙄
  •   Retweeted
    Trumps claims Facebook colluded with Hillary. Media laughs. 2 days later, Trump proven right. Again.
     
  • Correction: Any woman who voted against Hillary Clinton, voted against a lying, cheating, corrupt and warmongering sociopath.
  • Obama didn't cry though while he was dropping bombs on children in 7 different countries.
  •   Retweeted
    Saudi Arabia is using U.S.-made weapons for war crimes in Yemen & blocking UN investigations.
  •   Retweeted
    This Tweet is officially the end of any hope that anyone still had in . John McCain is responsible for so much death, destruction and suffering. To say he has an ounce of "integrity", let alone "courage", is immensely disgusting.
  • John McCain has whitewashed Saudi Arabia's barbaric misogyny for years. Now he acts like a champion of women's rights? Please.
  • You took tens of millions of dollars from the very regime that denied Saudi women the right to drive for this long. Save us the hypocrisy.
  • "Integrity" & "courage" are words that should never be used for a man who has spent his whole career destroying nations & harming innocents.
  • A massive concert was held in 's liberated . A sight you would have never seen under Obama and Hillary's Al-Qaeda "rebels".
     
  • Putin the evil dictator, wins yet another term!!! Oh wait... That's just Angela Merkel. Nothing to see here. Move along. 😄