BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE
AS HE EASES INTO HIS 6TH YEAR OF NO JOBS CREATION, FADED CELEBRITY BARRY O HAS AN IDEA.
HE THROWS DOWN THE CHALLENGE TO CONGRESS TO CREATE JOBS.
REACHED FOR COMMENT, BARRY O EXPLAINED HE STILL HADN'T WORKED THROUGH HOUSE OF CARDS YET BECAUSE HE WAS STILL BINGING ON WHO'S THE BOSS AND "WHO KNEW THE SHOW WAS 8 SEASONS? AND HOW ABOUT THE SEXUAL TENSION BETWEEN JUDITH LIGHT AND THAT DANNY PINTAURO? NO SPOILERS, GUYS, I'LL FIND OUT WHERE IT ENDS UP!"
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
MSNBC and microphone jockey Rachel Maddow attempted to fool people into
believing they were attempting to do 'news' with a hideous 'special' in
2013 entitled Hubris: Selling The Iraq War. If the title sounded familiar, it was because it was from David Corn and Michael Isikoff's book of the same title, their September 2006 book of the same title. Seven years later, MSNBC pretended to be timely.
The special was nothing but crap. That's all it was ever going to be.
Rachel Maddow is a carny barker and a War Hawk. She spent her days at
Air America Radio refusing to interview veterans against the war,
glorifying the war and insisting the US military could not leave.
Those beliefs did not make her a star on Air America Radio.
They were, however, what MSNBC was looking for and because she continues
to whore her awful ratings don't matter to the network. They put a
lipstick on their monkey and yell "Dance!" and Rachel does.
You have to feel sorry for her. She's got no long range career. She
gets more rough looking each year and no woman's ever found a successful
TV market for that. Her stupidity gets worse and worse --
including but not limited to last week's smackdown on HBO where she was
called out for yet again wasting air time with faux scandals meant to
inflame.
We mention this for several reasons including that MSNBC is attempting another faux documentary.
(Christopher Guest should sue them -- or better yet, parody them, we all know Scott Baio could play Maddow in a minute.)
This one's called Why We Did It.
We?
Toady's like Rachel Maddow always identify up.
Rachel (and MSNBC-GE-ComCast-Corporations-United) won't be offering anything of value. You should grasp that.
Whores may warm the beds but they never feed the minds.
So Rachel will have professional liar Lawrence Wilkerson on again but
this time she'll have him on with his true love -- his true love --
he'll always be his true love: Colin Powell.
Maybe Larry and Collie can make out.
Colin The Blot Powell will again get spit shined because that's what corporate stooges like Rachel end up doing.
She'll have the usual ridiculous guests from the CIA and Big Oil but don't look for Dahr Jamail or anyone who actually mattered on Iraq to show up. Norman Solomon won't be a surprise guest.
Nor Janeane Garofalo.
Think about it, Janeane, before Air America even existed, was publicly against the war. Unlike Rachel's low rated program Unfiltered (the highest of all the programs Maddow hosted or co-hosted), The Majority Report actually delivered ratings when Janeane was a co-host. (Without her, the show sunk like a stone.)
And Janeane is camera ready, smart and attractive. But MSNBC gave the
cloying Rachel Maddow her own show. Where she vouches for her own
goodness with one lie after another but fails to bring in viewers or
actual information.
Rachel Maddow is a War Marketeer.
That's all she'll ever be.
She's out to out-butch every other man and woman and she's been that way
her whole life. That's why she supports wars -- all wars -- and why
she's so off-putting.
I don't have a major problem, for example, with Dana Milbank. But I
also don't mistake him for a reporter or anyone important on the topic
of Iraq. He's a columnist -- most noted for his sexism -- especially via the "Mad Bitch" 'joke' he did in 2009.
This is the sewer MSNBC wades though to find guests.
A columnist like Dana Milbank who can point to one (so-so) piece of
pre-Iraq War reporting on Iraq? (Remember when his feelings were hurt
by Michael Massing over this issue back in 2004?) His work was
nothing. Contrast that with Robert Scheer's
work and the fact that the Los Angeles Times got rid of Scheer to be
part of the drumbeat for war. But Scheer won't be part of the special.
Again, Janeane won't be on it. Norman Solomon won't be on. Dahr Jamail won't be on. Laura Flanders who did some solid radio on Iraq before and during the early years of the illegal war will not be on the program.
We'll hear what wouldn't pass for DC cocktail chatter 8 years ago presented as 'information.'
The Iraqi people will yet again be ignored as though they don't even matter.
Grasp that.
MSNBC is about to do another Iraq "documentary" which ignores the Iraqi people.
To further ensure that sweeping generalities and broad abstractions are the only thing presented, they won't book Cindy Sheehan
either. Don't ever get close to grief or truth on these specials, just
step back and watch MSBNC's Brave Little Lesbian go down to the hairy
root on Colin Powell.
Maddow will be cheered by some for being such a wonderful whore.
We're not cheering her here.
Ray McGovern is a bit of a joke -- to put it mildly. But he believes
he's educated on 'the blot' and wants to run defense for Collie Powell.
(He did that last year at Consortium when he wondered if 'good
soldier' Collie might have just been conned himself. If you never get
what a craven whore Robert Parry has become, go into Consortium's archives looking up Ron Kovic and you'll find out that Colin Powell was disgusting and a liar long before the Iraq War.)
Only War Marketeers like Rachel Maddow allow history to be rewritten to benefit the scoundrels.
They strip everything of meaning and context so that all that's left is factoids and 'based on a true story.'
And it's meaningless and unimportant.
To tell the story, you need the Iraqi people.
There was a ridiculous piece by the New York Times this week
where they let a veteran pontificate on how no one could understand
unless they were there. No, no, no. You were a guest -- an uninvited
one -- in another country. Do not for one moment think you speak for
the Iraqi people
Only the Iraqi people can speak for themselves and your brief experience
in their country is neither historic or unbiased. You are the warrior
that entered their country to attack. You can take pride in that, you
can disown that, you can atone for it, whatever, but never pretend you
can speak for the Iraqi people.
And MSNBC needs to stop pretending that their studio interviews with generic American talking heads makes for a documentary.
Or that they care about Iraq.
If they gave a damn about Iraq, they'd be covering what's going on now.
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BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE
FORGET 2 BROKE GIRLS, DID YOU CATCH 2 BROKE ASS FOOLS?
IN A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO DISTRACT FROM AMERICA'S GROWING DISAPPOINTMENT WITH HIS PRESIDENCY, CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O JOINED WITH JOE BIDEN FOR A LAME LAP AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE.
THEY'RE WORKOUT WEAR WAS FAKE AS BARRY O'S ATTEMPTS TO CREATE JOBS.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting in the US with Senator Patty Murray.
That's Senator Patty Murray speaking on the floor of the Senate today about a very important issue. For those who need or prefer text, here are her remarks:
Good for Senator Murray.
But I'm really confused here because we've been attending House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearings for years and what Senator Murray's calling for and backing has never been seen as controversial in hearings. It's been seen as needed and no member of either Committee over the years has ever uttered an objection in a hearing. So these objections that are coming now? No one offered to the faces of veterans and their families.
Senator Murray notes the Keil's in her statement today. And no one had an objection when Tracy Keil appeared before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and declared, "I'd like to emphasize this statement: War time changes a family, it shouldn't take away the ability to have one."
Tracy's husband is Iraq War veteran Matt Keil. She appeared before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee June 12. Senator Murray was the Chair of the Committee then (she now chairs the Senate Budget Committee and Senator Bernie Sanders now chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee). Murray had S. 3313, The Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvement Act of 2012. to address these issue. We covered that hearing in the June 27th and June 28th snapshots and let's drop back so we can let Tracy Keil discuss why legislation is needed:
Why did Tracy and Matt suffer?
Because there was nothing in place to take their situation into account. There are many other veterans families in the same situation. They're not asking for a high rise or a shiny car, they just want to be able to have a family. And they can. It is medically possible.
Matt Keil didn't say, "Hey, I want a vacation. I think I'll go to Ramadi and work on my tan." The US government sent him to Iraq and that is where he was injured. How dare anyone in Congress think they can ignore his needs now.
And there was no objection in the Senate in 2012. The following year, US House Rep Rick Larsen noted, "The Senate unanimously approved a version of this bill authored by Sen. Patty Murray last year, but the House did not act on the companion legislation that Larsen had introduced before the end of the 112th Congress. Murray reintroduced the Senate version of the bill earlier this year." So in 2012, universal support and, two years later, someone's 'rethought' it? Maybe they need to explain to the veterans? Rick Larsen is a Democrat. He made his observation when he and Republican House member Steve Stivers joined together to introduce similar legislation in the House.
It also needs to be pointed out that DoD provides this service for service members. It's just VA that's not providing it for veterans. It is thought that the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War have produced approximately 2,000 veterans who could utilize this service. Why are they being denied it? How does this not fall under needed health care.
The costs would not 'break the bank' and it really is the right thing to do. To quote Tracy Keil one more time, "I'd like to emphasize this statement: War time changes a family, it shouldn't take away the ability to have one." Shame on anyone in the US Congress who can't grasp -- or refuses to grasp -- that.
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"THIS JUST IN! THE BRAND SINKS LOWER!"
FORGET 2 BROKE GIRLS, DID YOU CATCH 2 BROKE ASS FOOLS?
IN A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO DISTRACT FROM AMERICA'S GROWING DISAPPOINTMENT WITH HIS PRESIDENCY, CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O JOINED WITH JOE BIDEN FOR A LAME LAP AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE.
THEY'RE WORKOUT WEAR WAS FAKE AS BARRY O'S ATTEMPTS TO CREATE JOBS.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting in the US with Senator Patty Murray.
That's Senator Patty Murray speaking on the floor of the Senate today about a very important issue. For those who need or prefer text, here are her remarks:
“On Tuesday I came here to the floor to discuss one issue we are rarely divided on in this building.
And
that is our duty to keep the promise we’ve made to provide not only
care - but opportunity - to all those who’ve honorably served in our
nation’s Armed Forces.
The
comprehensive veterans legislation before us today is really the test
for many members of Congress. Can we put politics aside for the good of
our nation’s veterans to keep
that promise?
Can
we show these heroes that - despite our differences - we will work as
diligently toward getting them the benefits and care they’ve earned as
they have worked for our nation?
“Unfortunately
our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are indicating they’d
prefer to put politics over promises under the guise of an alternative
to this
bill. Given what we have seen recently on other bills supported by a
majority of Americans, I shouldn’t be surprised. But I truly did think
this bill would be a different story. Because it contains ideas from
both Democrats AND Republicans. Because this is
an issue that has historically united this body. And because we have
ALL pledged to do whatever it takes on behalf of our veterans. But once
again, our colleagues have decided to use unrelated issues to sour this
entire effort for the veterans and their families
who stand to benefit the most from this comprehensive legislation.
“Additionally,
with their alternative bill, they’ve stripped away life changing
programs for veterans who are looking to take the skills they’ve learned
from the battlefield to the boardroom. They’ve
decided to halt the expansion of opportunities for caregivers – who are
integral to the health and well-being of some of our most vulnerable
heroes. But among these – and many other – examples of the Republican
effort to derail this landmark legislation, there
is one issue I find most egregious: And that is their shameful
opposition to providing our catastrophically wounded heroes with access
to the reproductive services they so desperately need to start a
family.
“This
shouldn’t be a political issue – Because this is about giving veterans
who have sacrificed everything -- every option we have to help them
fulfill the simple dream of starting a family. As we all
know, our men and women in uniform have become increasingly susceptible
to reproductive, spinal and traumatic brain injuries due to the
changing weapons of war. But thanks to modern medicine, many of these
servicemembers are being kept alive and are returning
home. In fact, as of the New Year, there are 2,348
servicemembers who are living with reproductive, urinary or pelvic
injuries. And like so many of our veterans, these men and women come
home looking to return to their lives, to find employment, and
so often to start a family. Yet what they find when they go to the VA
is that the fertility services available don’t meet their complex
needs.
“In fact, veterans suffering from these injuries find that the VA is
specifically barred from
providing more advanced assisted reproduction techniques such as IVF.
They are told that despite the fact they have made such an extreme
sacrifice for our nation we cannot provide them with the medical
services they need to start
a family. Veterans like Staff Sergeant Matt Keil – and his wife Tracy.
“Despite
returning home from Iraq a quadriplegic, Staff Sergeant Keil and Tracy
started exploring the possibilities of starting a family together. But
because his injuries prevented him from having children
naturally, Tracy turned to the VA and began to explore her options for
fertility treatments. But because of the VA ban, they were turned away.
Out of options, the Keil’s decided this was important enough to them
that they were willing to pay out-of-pocket
for IVF treatment in the private sector – to the tune of almost $32,000
per round of treatment. Thankfully, Staff Sergeant Keil and Tracy
welcomed their twins Matthew and Faith into the world after just one
round of treatments.
“Tracy
told me, ‘The day we had our children something changed in both of us.
This is exactly what we had always wanted, our dreams had arrived. The
VA, Congress and the American People have said countless
times that they want to do everything they can to support my husband or
make him feel whole again and this is your chance. Having a family is
exactly what we needed to feel whole again. Please help us make these
changes so that other families can share in
this experience.’
“Tracy
and Matt are not alone. There are many men and women out there who
share this common thread of a desperate desire to fulfill their dream of
starting a family only to find the catastrophic wounds
they sustained while defending our country are now preventing them from
seeing that dream through.
“It
should not be this way. Unfortunately, Republicans are indicating they
will not join us in overturning this absurd and antiquated ban.
Apparently they’d rather our nation’s heroes spend tens of thousands
of dollars in the private sector to get the advanced reproductive
treatments they need to start a family. They don’t see the problem in
letting our veterans’ marriages dissolve because the stress of
infertility, in combination with the stresses of readjusting
to life after severe injury, driving their relationship to a breaking
point.
“Any servicemember who sustains this type of serious injury
deserves so much more. Because we came VERY close to making this
bill a reality last Congress. In fact, with Tracy Keil watching from the
gallery here, we unanimously passed this legislation.
Unanimously.
“But
here I am today, once again imploring Republicans to stand up and
explain to our men and women in uniform – who I know are paying very
close attention to this debate – And explain to them why they
want to turn their back on the catastrophic reproductive wounds that
have become a signature of these wars. On Tuesday, I spoke to a crowded
room of heroes from Disabled American Veterans – and told them the
heartbreaking story of the Keil Family and why we
need this critical legislation. And if their cheers and applause are
any indication, I’d say they wholeheartedly agree that our women
veterans deserve this, our male veterans deserve this, and our military
families deserve this.
“So
I’ve come to the floor today to ask my colleagues a simple question:
Are you willing to tell all those brave men and women -- that didn’t ask
questions when
they were put in harm’s way -- that you are going to let politics get
in the way of our commitment to them? The catastrophic wounds we have
seen from injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan have meant that our veterans’
dreams to start a family have been put on hold
because of the tremendous cost of IVF services. But we believe that’s a
cost of war that VA absolutely should cover and it’s unacceptable to
let unrelated issues stand in the way.
“Even
the major Veterans Service Organizations and their leaders have said
issues like Iran sanctions have no place in this comprehensive
veterans legislation. People like American Legion Commander Daniel
Dellinger who said, ‘Iran is a serious issue that Congress needs to
address, but it cannot be tied to S. 1982, which is extremely important
as our nation prepares to welcome millions of U.S.
military servicemen and women home from war.’
“Or
IAVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff, who called this comprehensive
legislation, ‘a game changer that will change the trajectory
for millions of veterans for decades to come.’
“As serious and timely as they may be, unrelated issues like Iran sanctions are calculated attempts to intentionally dismantle
our bipartisan effort to expand health care, education opportunities, employment and other benefits for our nation’s heroes.
We can’t allow our commitment to them to lapse or to get caught up in separate issues or political grandstanding.
“I’d
like to once again thank the Senator from Vermont and his staff for
their tireless work to work to bring this legislation here to the floor.
“I
hope our colleagues will reconsider opposing this common-sense step
that will give those who have sacrificed everything the reproductive
treatments they need to start a family.”
Good for Senator Murray.
But I'm really confused here because we've been attending House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearings for years and what Senator Murray's calling for and backing has never been seen as controversial in hearings. It's been seen as needed and no member of either Committee over the years has ever uttered an objection in a hearing. So these objections that are coming now? No one offered to the faces of veterans and their families.
Senator Murray notes the Keil's in her statement today. And no one had an objection when Tracy Keil appeared before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and declared, "I'd like to emphasize this statement: War time changes a family, it shouldn't take away the ability to have one."
Tracy's husband is Iraq War veteran Matt Keil. She appeared before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee June 12. Senator Murray was the Chair of the Committee then (she now chairs the Senate Budget Committee and Senator Bernie Sanders now chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee). Murray had S. 3313, The Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvement Act of 2012. to address these issue. We covered that hearing in the June 27th and June 28th snapshots and let's drop back so we can let Tracy Keil discuss why legislation is needed:
My husband Matt was shot in the neck while on patrol in
Ramadi, Iraq on February 24, 2007 just 6 weeks after we were married.
The bullet went through the right side of his neck, hit his vertebral
artery, went through his spinal cord and exited through his left
shoulder blade. Matt instantly because a quadriplegic. When I first
saw him 3 days after he was injured I was in shock, they explained to me
that he had a "Christopher Reeve type injury." He would be on a
ventilator for the rest of his life and would never move his arms or
legs.
Matt and I looked at each other in
his hospital room at Walter Reed and he asked me if I still loved him? I
said "baby you're stuck with me!" at that moment we knew that we would
be okay if we stayed in this together. I knew that we just needed to
work really hard to get Matt off his ventilator to increase his life
expectancy. Ultimately we moved to Craigh Hospital in Denver to be
closer to family support.
Four weeks to
the day of arriving at Craig Hospital in Denver, Matt was officially off
of his ventilator and we could truly concentrate on him doing physical
rehabilitation. Matt has regained about 10% function of his left arm
but not his hand. He was feeling good and getting used to his new
normal of being in a wheelchair and asking for help for everything.
It
was while we were at Craig Hospital that we started talking about
having a family. Craig doctors talked to us about in vitro fertilzation
and recommended some doctors for us to speak to when we were ready to
start a family. We started to get really excited that even though so
much had been taken away from Matt physically that we could still have
the future we always dreamed of.
My
husband is the most amazing man I have ever met, he is strong, honest
and loyal and he wanted us to both have everything we always wanted
before his injury and we agreed that this injury wasn't the end, it was
the beginning of a new life, and we were in this together.
We
had our whole lives ahead of us. Matt was just 24 when he was injured
and I was 28. We are very fortunate that he survived his injuries that
day and we made a promise to each other on our wedding day "For better
or worse, in sickness and in health" I meant every word and still do
today. It is a challenge for my husband and I everyday but we knew we
still wanted to start a family. I remember back when he was in
rehabilitation at Craig Hospital it's all we could talk about was when
we were going to be adjusted to our new normal and when we would we be
ready to have children. We always knew we had wanted children.
In
2008 we moved into a fully handicap accessible home built for us by
Homes For Our Troops. We were starting to feel like things were falling
into place in our lives. We felt like we were starting to get back on
track to where we were before Matt was injured.
His
injury unfortunately prevents him from having children naturally. In
mid 2008 I started asking the VA what services they could offer my
husband and I to assist us with fertility. I can remember hitting road
blocks at every turn. I decided to take things into my own hands and
write letters and make phone calls to try and get anyone to listen to us
that we needed help. Fertility treatments are very expensive and since
I had left my full time job we were still adjusting to living on one
income.
I felt helpless and hopeless and
thought that our dreams of having a family may never come true. The VA
finally said that they would cover the sperm withdrawal from my husband .
. . that costs $1,000 and that they would store the sperm for us at no
charge.
It was very difficult when I found
out there was no help available for us from the VA or Tricare. I felt
very defeated, sad, disappointed and in some ways I felt helpless. I
researched everything I could about how to get Tricare to cover some of
the costs but they couldn't because it was a direct result of my
husband's injury and that fell under the VA. The VA said that they had
no programs in place for this sort of thing. I even started asking non
profits to assist with the cost and they couldn't help due to the other
immediate needs of injured service members.
Why did Tracy and Matt suffer?
Because there was nothing in place to take their situation into account. There are many other veterans families in the same situation. They're not asking for a high rise or a shiny car, they just want to be able to have a family. And they can. It is medically possible.
Matt Keil didn't say, "Hey, I want a vacation. I think I'll go to Ramadi and work on my tan." The US government sent him to Iraq and that is where he was injured. How dare anyone in Congress think they can ignore his needs now.
And there was no objection in the Senate in 2012. The following year, US House Rep Rick Larsen noted, "The Senate unanimously approved a version of this bill authored by Sen. Patty Murray last year, but the House did not act on the companion legislation that Larsen had introduced before the end of the 112th Congress. Murray reintroduced the Senate version of the bill earlier this year." So in 2012, universal support and, two years later, someone's 'rethought' it? Maybe they need to explain to the veterans? Rick Larsen is a Democrat. He made his observation when he and Republican House member Steve Stivers joined together to introduce similar legislation in the House.
It also needs to be pointed out that DoD provides this service for service members. It's just VA that's not providing it for veterans. It is thought that the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War have produced approximately 2,000 veterans who could utilize this service. Why are they being denied it? How does this not fall under needed health care.
The costs would not 'break the bank' and it really is the right thing to do. To quote Tracy Keil one more time, "I'd like to emphasize this statement: War time changes a family, it shouldn't take away the ability to have one." Shame on anyone in the US Congress who can't grasp -- or refuses to grasp -- that.
RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
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"He sinks lower"
"THIS JUST IN! THE BRAND SINKS LOWER!"
Thursday, February 27, 2014
THIS JUST IN! THE BRAND SINKS LOWER!
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE
EYE BROWS ARE RAISED BY FADED CELEBRITY BARRY O'S RECENT COMMENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS "BUILDING IRON MAN."
IT'S A DESPERATE DISTRACTION ATTEMPT AS BARRY O TRIES TO USE A SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER TO SPIT SHINE HIS OWN TARNISHED BRAND, LIKE WHEN SUBWAY TRIES TO DO A MOVIE TIE-IN.
59% OF AMERICANS HAVE REGISTERED THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT WITH BARRY O.
A MOVIE TIE-IN WON'T CHANGE THAT.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
February 15th, in DC, Peter Galbraith did a presentation the Kurds. Mutlu Civiroglu (Rudaw) reported on it last week noting:
Speaking about the current situation in the Kurdistan Region, and contrasting it with the rest of Iraq, Galbraith noted that American citizens needed a visa to travel to Iraq, but not to the Kurdistan Region.
He noted that many international airlines do not fly to Baghdad, but they do to Erbil.
Talking about his most recent visit to Kurdistan, Galbraith said each time he goes to Erbil he cannot recognize the city because of the rapid development.
The success of the KRG -- especially when compared to other parts of Iraq -- really inflame Iraq's chief thug and prime minister Nouri al-Maliki. Eight years, Nouri's had to bring peace to Iraq but he's failed. He's failed so poorly that his actions only encourage more violence. And yet, in the north, it's a completely different story for the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Monday, the US Consulate in Erbil issued the following:
Deputy Principal Officer Stephen Gee and Consulate General Erbil staff joined businesspeople, members of the diplomatic community and friends from around the Iraqi Kurdistan Region to attend the opening of well-known U.S. franchise Pizza Hut on February 18 in Erbil.
Kuwait-based Kout Food Group plans to open a second Pizza Hut restaurant in Erbil, provide a pizza delivery service and expand to Dahuk and Sulaimaniyah.
And this week, more business news for the KRG, not for Nouri. First off, let's note Joseph Pennington:
Joseph Pennington, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Counselor, assumed his duties as Consul General in Erbil in July 2013. Prior to his arrival in Erbil, Mr. Pennington served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic (2010-13) and held the same position in Yerevan, Armenia (2007-10).
Here's a photo of Pennihgton:
On February 15, Consul General Joseph Pennington attended the grand opening of U.S. franchise Cinnabon/Carvel Ice Cream's first shop in Iraq, in Erbil. Storeowners plan to expand to Dahuk, Sulaimaniyah, Baghdad, Basra, and Najaf.
Judit Neurink (Rudaw) reports Ace Hardware, Marriot and Hyatt Hotels are among those "setting up shop in Kurdistan" and a reception Pennington attended to note continued interest on the part of American businesses. Neurick reports:
American companies in Kurdistan are mainly active in oil and gas, security and building. Pennington expects these activities to broaden in the future. “There is a lot of interest in the States for doing business here. But as it is Iraq, security plays a role and companies are cautious. Of course, here are fewer attacks than elsewhere in Iraq, but there still are threats.”
The reception was held at a moment of diplomatic tension between the US and Kurdistan, with Kurdish President Massoud Barzani cancelling a visit to the White House over the fact that Kurdistan’s two main political parties – the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan -- still feature on a terrorism blacklist from the days they resisted Saddam Hussein’s regime.
Kurdish politicians have shown frustration over the lack of support from Washington in their conflict with Baghdad over oil revenues, which has recently led to Baghdad withholding Kurdistan’s constitutional part of the national budget.
Although none of the diplomats at the reception wanted to comment on this hot issue, Qubad Talabani, the KRG Minister for Coordination and Follow Up, voiced some frustration. Until a year-and-a-half ago he was the KRG representative in Washington, where he set up the business council.
“I’d like the United States to see us as an asset, but they still see us through the Iraqi lens,” he said when asked for his dearest wish for the relations with the US. “What we do here has implications in Turkey, in Syria and on the oil markets. Our relationship should reflect that.”
Qubad Talabani's words matter. Not just due to his position, but especially due to his family. Those are stronger words than his father's ever managed. He is the second son of Iraq's First Lady Hero Ibrahim Ahmed and Iraq's President Jalal Talabani. In recent weeks, Hero has spent her time in dialogue with the Iranian government (primarily reassuring them that a government would be formed in the KRG following last fall's elections). Jalal? December 2012, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani suffered a stroke. The incident took place late on December 17, 2012 following Jalal's argument with Iraq's prime minister and chief thug Nouri al-Maliki (see the December 18, 2012 snapshot). Jalal was admitted to Baghdad's Medical Center Hospital. Thursday, December 20, 2012, he was moved to Germany. He remains in Germany currently.
Qubad is correct, there are regional implications and the US government needs to see the KRG through its own lens, not as it seen by Baghdad.
As the business continues to pour into the KRG, it must be very humiliating for Nouri. The security levels in the KRG, contrasted with the non-stop violence in the rest of Iraq, must leave Nouri feeling small and impotent. And that must mix with his own greed leading him to rage against the KRG and attempt to destroy its efforts to transport oil to Turkey via a pipeline. Nouri's government repeatedly insisted last week that Turkey had agreed not to provide Turkey with oil via a KRG and Turkey pipeline but would instead provide crude oil only via Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organisation. Business Day Online notes that KRG spokesperson Safeen Dizayee disagrees and states, "Absolutely we have not reached any agreement to export oil via SOMO. The dialogue and discussions are still underway."
\
Nidal al-Leithi (Al-Monitor) reports:
Former Iraqi Oil Minister Issam al-Chalabi revealed that a latent crisis is brewing between Iraq’s Oil Ministry and the largest oil companies in Iraq.
In a statement to Azzaman, Chalabi, who is now serving as an international adviser for energy affairs, held the Ministry of Oil responsible for this crisis, saying that it will affect oil production in the long run.
Chalabi criticized the role Turkey played in the oil crisis between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). He told Azzaman that Turkey would have to terminate its contract with the KRG and go back to its previous policy, which is contracting with the federal government in terms of oil investments and pipeline extensions.
I'm not really sure why his opinion is worth quoting. He was an Oil Minister. Decades ago. March 1987 to October 1990. (He then fled Iraq.) And he's been making this argument for years. Not really sure why anyone cares. There is no oil law. Nouri swore to the US government in 2007 that he'd get the oil and gas law passed, he never did. Chalabi insists this means Saddam's oil law is in place.
That's really not how it works. And the KRG has more rights -- and has since 2003 -- than it did under Sadam Hussein's presidency. Kirkuk Now notes, "On Sunday, Nechirvan Barzani, the Prime Minister of the KRG, held talks in Baghdad with the Kurdish ministers and the members of the Iraqi Parliament concerning the continuing disagreements between the two governments." On that Sunday meeting, the Kurdistan Regional Government notes:
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EYE BROWS ARE RAISED BY FADED CELEBRITY BARRY O'S RECENT COMMENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS "BUILDING IRON MAN."
IT'S A DESPERATE DISTRACTION ATTEMPT AS BARRY O TRIES TO USE A SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER TO SPIT SHINE HIS OWN TARNISHED BRAND, LIKE WHEN SUBWAY TRIES TO DO A MOVIE TIE-IN.
59% OF AMERICANS HAVE REGISTERED THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT WITH BARRY O.
A MOVIE TIE-IN WON'T CHANGE THAT.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
February 15th, in DC, Peter Galbraith did a presentation the Kurds. Mutlu Civiroglu (Rudaw) reported on it last week noting:
Speaking about the current situation in the Kurdistan Region, and contrasting it with the rest of Iraq, Galbraith noted that American citizens needed a visa to travel to Iraq, but not to the Kurdistan Region.
He noted that many international airlines do not fly to Baghdad, but they do to Erbil.
Talking about his most recent visit to Kurdistan, Galbraith said each time he goes to Erbil he cannot recognize the city because of the rapid development.
The success of the KRG -- especially when compared to other parts of Iraq -- really inflame Iraq's chief thug and prime minister Nouri al-Maliki. Eight years, Nouri's had to bring peace to Iraq but he's failed. He's failed so poorly that his actions only encourage more violence. And yet, in the north, it's a completely different story for the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Monday, the US Consulate in Erbil issued the following:
Deputy Principal Officer Stephen Gee and Consulate General Erbil staff joined businesspeople, members of the diplomatic community and friends from around the Iraqi Kurdistan Region to attend the opening of well-known U.S. franchise Pizza Hut on February 18 in Erbil.
Kuwait-based Kout Food Group plans to open a second Pizza Hut restaurant in Erbil, provide a pizza delivery service and expand to Dahuk and Sulaimaniyah.
And this week, more business news for the KRG, not for Nouri. First off, let's note Joseph Pennington:
Joseph Pennington, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Counselor, assumed his duties as Consul General in Erbil in July 2013. Prior to his arrival in Erbil, Mr. Pennington served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic (2010-13) and held the same position in Yerevan, Armenia (2007-10).
Here's a photo of Pennihgton:
On February 15, Consul General Joseph Pennington attended the grand opening of U.S. franchise Cinnabon/Carvel Ice Cream's first shop in Iraq, in Erbil. Storeowners plan to expand to Dahuk, Sulaimaniyah, Baghdad, Basra, and Najaf.
Judit Neurink (Rudaw) reports Ace Hardware, Marriot and Hyatt Hotels are among those "setting up shop in Kurdistan" and a reception Pennington attended to note continued interest on the part of American businesses. Neurick reports:
American companies in Kurdistan are mainly active in oil and gas, security and building. Pennington expects these activities to broaden in the future. “There is a lot of interest in the States for doing business here. But as it is Iraq, security plays a role and companies are cautious. Of course, here are fewer attacks than elsewhere in Iraq, but there still are threats.”
The reception was held at a moment of diplomatic tension between the US and Kurdistan, with Kurdish President Massoud Barzani cancelling a visit to the White House over the fact that Kurdistan’s two main political parties – the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan -- still feature on a terrorism blacklist from the days they resisted Saddam Hussein’s regime.
Kurdish politicians have shown frustration over the lack of support from Washington in their conflict with Baghdad over oil revenues, which has recently led to Baghdad withholding Kurdistan’s constitutional part of the national budget.
Although none of the diplomats at the reception wanted to comment on this hot issue, Qubad Talabani, the KRG Minister for Coordination and Follow Up, voiced some frustration. Until a year-and-a-half ago he was the KRG representative in Washington, where he set up the business council.
“I’d like the United States to see us as an asset, but they still see us through the Iraqi lens,” he said when asked for his dearest wish for the relations with the US. “What we do here has implications in Turkey, in Syria and on the oil markets. Our relationship should reflect that.”
Qubad Talabani's words matter. Not just due to his position, but especially due to his family. Those are stronger words than his father's ever managed. He is the second son of Iraq's First Lady Hero Ibrahim Ahmed and Iraq's President Jalal Talabani. In recent weeks, Hero has spent her time in dialogue with the Iranian government (primarily reassuring them that a government would be formed in the KRG following last fall's elections). Jalal? December 2012, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani suffered a stroke. The incident took place late on December 17, 2012 following Jalal's argument with Iraq's prime minister and chief thug Nouri al-Maliki (see the December 18, 2012 snapshot). Jalal was admitted to Baghdad's Medical Center Hospital. Thursday, December 20, 2012, he was moved to Germany. He remains in Germany currently.
Qubad is correct, there are regional implications and the US government needs to see the KRG through its own lens, not as it seen by Baghdad.
As the business continues to pour into the KRG, it must be very humiliating for Nouri. The security levels in the KRG, contrasted with the non-stop violence in the rest of Iraq, must leave Nouri feeling small and impotent. And that must mix with his own greed leading him to rage against the KRG and attempt to destroy its efforts to transport oil to Turkey via a pipeline. Nouri's government repeatedly insisted last week that Turkey had agreed not to provide Turkey with oil via a KRG and Turkey pipeline but would instead provide crude oil only via Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organisation. Business Day Online notes that KRG spokesperson Safeen Dizayee disagrees and states, "Absolutely we have not reached any agreement to export oil via SOMO. The dialogue and discussions are still underway."
\
Nidal al-Leithi (Al-Monitor) reports:
Former Iraqi Oil Minister Issam al-Chalabi revealed that a latent crisis is brewing between Iraq’s Oil Ministry and the largest oil companies in Iraq.
In a statement to Azzaman, Chalabi, who is now serving as an international adviser for energy affairs, held the Ministry of Oil responsible for this crisis, saying that it will affect oil production in the long run.
Chalabi criticized the role Turkey played in the oil crisis between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). He told Azzaman that Turkey would have to terminate its contract with the KRG and go back to its previous policy, which is contracting with the federal government in terms of oil investments and pipeline extensions.
I'm not really sure why his opinion is worth quoting. He was an Oil Minister. Decades ago. March 1987 to October 1990. (He then fled Iraq.) And he's been making this argument for years. Not really sure why anyone cares. There is no oil law. Nouri swore to the US government in 2007 that he'd get the oil and gas law passed, he never did. Chalabi insists this means Saddam's oil law is in place.
That's really not how it works. And the KRG has more rights -- and has since 2003 -- than it did under Sadam Hussein's presidency. Kirkuk Now notes, "On Sunday, Nechirvan Barzani, the Prime Minister of the KRG, held talks in Baghdad with the Kurdish ministers and the members of the Iraqi Parliament concerning the continuing disagreements between the two governments." On that Sunday meeting, the Kurdistan Regional Government notes:
Several viewpoints were exchanged regarding recent developments
throughout the course of the meeting. A four-point declaration was
unanimously adopted outlining the Kurdistan Region’s position:
- Iraqi Kurdistan is part of Iraq according to the Constitution and is
therefore entitled to all rights and authorities granted to it as
stipulated by the Constitution. This includes its share of the budget
derived from the national income. The central government cannot cut
salaries under any pretext to use as leverage against the KRG.
-
Although the KRG has other options at its disposal to provide salaries
and meet other needs of its people, negotiations should continue
between the Iraqi Federal Government and the KRG based on the
fulfillment of the Kurdistan Region’s constitutional rights.
-
We call upon the Iraqi Prime Minister to rescind this illegal and
unconstitutional policy. The Kurdistan Region’s share of the budget and
salaries is a constitutional right and should be disbursed. Pending
issues with the KRG should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation.
- We call upon respected religious authorities, the United Nations, governments of countries with relations with Iraq, member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and member states of the Arab League to take responsibility by using their influence to end the policy of economic sanctions levied against the people and the government of the Kurdistan Region. This policy is unjustified in its entirety, blatantly violates constitutional law, and stands against international accords and the basic principles of human rights.
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Wednesday, February 26, 2014
THIS JUST IN! BEEN CAUGHT LYING!
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE
FADED CELEBRITY BARRY O CAN'T STOP LYING IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE HIMSELF SEEM IMPORTANT.
FEBRUARY 20TH, HE CLAIMED THAT 7 MILLION AMERICANS HAD HEALTH CARE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
TO WHICH THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS LIAR AND POLIFACT SAYS LIAR
SOMEONE GRAB THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER BECAUSE BARRY'S PANTS ARE ON FIRE.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Tasnim News Agency reported today that Hoshyar Zebari, Foreign Minister of Iraq, was due in Tehran today for the start of a two-day visit.
Of course he was.
Why?
The most likely reason is because Iraq has no Minister of Defense. Dropping back to February 21st:
To be fair, the blood lusting White House isn't the only one supplying weapons. Al-Manar reports that Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari met yesterday with Russian officials and the Russian government has "agreed to speed up the delivery of Russian arms to the oil-rich Arab country."
In the US, there would be some objection if Zebari's US counterpart Secretary of State John Kerry was sticking his nose into what would clearly be Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's area; however, Iraq has no Minister of Defense. Nor do they have a Minister of Interior or a Minister of National Security.
Yesterday, Ahmed Rasheed (Reuters) reported, "Iran has signed a deal to sell Iraq arms and ammunition worth $195 million, according to documents seen by Reuters - a move that would break a U.N. embargo on weapons sales by Tehran." Today, Heba Qudsi (Asharq Al-Awsat) notes, "Diplomats in the Iran sanctions committee at the UN, speaking anonymously, expressed concern about the deal but refused to make further comment." But one Iranian diplomat, outside of Iran, did comment. Tasnim News Agency reports, "Iran's Ambassador to Baghdad Hassan Danaeifar on Tuesday denied reports claiming that Iraq has signed a contract to purchase arms from the Islamic Republic." Mary Casey and Cortni Kerr (Foreign Policy) add that "Maliki would neither confirm nor deny the reports." So what happened?
Reuters saw the documents, it's silly for the governments of either Iran or Iraq to deny the deal. Ahmed Rasheed, Patricia Zengerle, Matt Spetalnick, Ned Parker and Mark Heinrich (Reuters) report today:
Hasan Suneid, a senior lawmaker from Maliki's Dawa Party who heads parliament's security and defence committee, said Iraq had bought weapons from Iran and insisted this was within its right and violated no international sanctions.
"The U.S. government is not the Iraqi government's guardian," Suneid told reporters at the national parliament.
"We have the right to buy arms from any state that is friendly and cooperates with Iraq. The arms we purchased from Iran are nothing more than light weapons and ammunition.
"We have the right to select different sources for weapons. Iran is a friendly, neighboring state just like Kuwait, Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia," he said.
World Bulletin quotes Nouri's spokesperson Ali Musawi declaring, "Nothing prevents us from buying arms and ammunition from any party."
The issue was raised today when State Dept spokesperson Jen Psaki was giving the daily briefing:
QUESTION: Okay. So my three very brief ones. You were asked, I believe, yesterday about this alleged arms deal between Iraq and Iran.
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: Did – have you gotten any more clarity on that?
MS. PSAKI: Sure. Well, as I mentioned yesterday, we raise our concerns at the highest levels with the Government of Iraq and reiterated that any transfer of arms from Iran is in direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The Government of Iraq assured us that it would look into this matter. Today, we have seen the press release issued by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense denying that any contracts for military equipment were signed with Iran. And we will continue to follow up with the Government of Iraq on this issue.
QUESTION: You take them at their word? You believe their denial?
MS. PSAKI: Well, suffice it to say, we will continue to discuss the issue with the Government of Iraq, and we’ve of course seen their statement.
QUESTION: The issue in general of buying things from Iran or the issue specifically as related to this report that came out about this big – alleged big sale?
MS. PSAKI: Both.
QUESTION: So you’re not necessarily convinced that their denial is bona-fide?
MS. PSAKI: I’m not. I’m just conveying that, obviously, we’ll continue the discussion and these reports remain a concern of ours. But of course, we’ve seen the statement that they put out.
QUESTION: Well, are you heartened by the denial? I mean, or do you – that they say it’s not true? Is that a good thing?
MS. PSAKI: They did say that. We’ve seen that. They assured us they’d look into it, and this was a follow-up to that.
QUESTION: Second one is, I’m --
QUESTION: (Inaudible) Iraq.
MS. PSAKI: Hold on one moment, Said. One moment, one moment.
QUESTION: On Iraq.
QUESTION: Well, no. I’ve got a --
MS. PSAKI: Oh, on Iraq? Okay.
QUESTION: No, I got a --
QUESTION: I just want to ask you on this very issue --
MS. PSAKI: Okay.
QUESTION: There was a breakdown of lists. I mean, buying $35 million worth of, let’s say, mortars, or the equipment for tanks or whatever. I mean, it was really a very thorough and specific breakdown, which shows that the laundry list --
MS. PSAKI: I think I went through a thorough list with you yesterday.
QUESTION: I understand.
MS. PSAKI: Okay.
QUESTION: I’m saying that there was today – there was a laundry list published of the exact specific equipment and so on that the Iraqis allegedly signed back in November immediately after the return of Nuri al-Maliki from his visit to Washington. So I’m saying that your – the veracity of their denial – is it something that you believe, as Matt said, or despite the fact that it was really that specific?
MS. PSAKI: I think I’ve already answered the question. I don’t have anything more to add.
QUESTION: And what if it proves that they actually did contract the Iranians? What would you do?
MS. PSAKI: Well, as I said yesterday, that would raise serious concerns, given it would be a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
The developments come as Global Security Newswire is reporting the US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is considering ending the US government's business relationship with Michelin over the company's business relationship with Iran (see Josh Rogin's report for The Daily Beast).
Patricia Zengerle (Reuters) notes that US Senator John McCain is calling for answers and stating this could jeopardize the US government's plan to allow Iraq to purchase 24 Apache attack helicopters. Geoff Holtzman (Talk Radio News) quotes White House spokesperson Jay Carney declaring today, "Any transfer or sale of arms from Iran is in direct violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution." Yes, it is a point that State Dept spokesperson Jen Psaki made on Monday.
In other Iraq and Iran news, Fars News Agency reports that the Iranian Ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Danayee-Far, denied today that the Embassy in Baghdad was under fire. Shots were heard. But National Iraqi News Agency reports police says "a member of the force charged with protecting the Iranian embassy in central Baghdad, committed suicide by shooting himself."
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"THIS JUST IN! HE'S NOT A KING!"
FADED CELEBRITY BARRY O CAN'T STOP LYING IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE HIMSELF SEEM IMPORTANT.
FEBRUARY 20TH, HE CLAIMED THAT 7 MILLION AMERICANS HAD HEALTH CARE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
TO WHICH THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS LIAR AND POLIFACT SAYS LIAR
SOMEONE GRAB THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER BECAUSE BARRY'S PANTS ARE ON FIRE.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Tasnim News Agency reported today that Hoshyar Zebari, Foreign Minister of Iraq, was due in Tehran today for the start of a two-day visit.
Of course he was.
Why?
The most likely reason is because Iraq has no Minister of Defense. Dropping back to February 21st:
To be fair, the blood lusting White House isn't the only one supplying weapons. Al-Manar reports that Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari met yesterday with Russian officials and the Russian government has "agreed to speed up the delivery of Russian arms to the oil-rich Arab country."
In the US, there would be some objection if Zebari's US counterpart Secretary of State John Kerry was sticking his nose into what would clearly be Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's area; however, Iraq has no Minister of Defense. Nor do they have a Minister of Interior or a Minister of National Security.
Yesterday, Ahmed Rasheed (Reuters) reported, "Iran has signed a deal to sell Iraq arms and ammunition worth $195 million, according to documents seen by Reuters - a move that would break a U.N. embargo on weapons sales by Tehran." Today, Heba Qudsi (Asharq Al-Awsat) notes, "Diplomats in the Iran sanctions committee at the UN, speaking anonymously, expressed concern about the deal but refused to make further comment." But one Iranian diplomat, outside of Iran, did comment. Tasnim News Agency reports, "Iran's Ambassador to Baghdad Hassan Danaeifar on Tuesday denied reports claiming that Iraq has signed a contract to purchase arms from the Islamic Republic." Mary Casey and Cortni Kerr (Foreign Policy) add that "Maliki would neither confirm nor deny the reports." So what happened?
Reuters saw the documents, it's silly for the governments of either Iran or Iraq to deny the deal. Ahmed Rasheed, Patricia Zengerle, Matt Spetalnick, Ned Parker and Mark Heinrich (Reuters) report today:
Hasan Suneid, a senior lawmaker from Maliki's Dawa Party who heads parliament's security and defence committee, said Iraq had bought weapons from Iran and insisted this was within its right and violated no international sanctions.
"The U.S. government is not the Iraqi government's guardian," Suneid told reporters at the national parliament.
"We have the right to buy arms from any state that is friendly and cooperates with Iraq. The arms we purchased from Iran are nothing more than light weapons and ammunition.
"We have the right to select different sources for weapons. Iran is a friendly, neighboring state just like Kuwait, Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia," he said.
World Bulletin quotes Nouri's spokesperson Ali Musawi declaring, "Nothing prevents us from buying arms and ammunition from any party."
The issue was raised today when State Dept spokesperson Jen Psaki was giving the daily briefing:
QUESTION: Okay. So my three very brief ones. You were asked, I believe, yesterday about this alleged arms deal between Iraq and Iran.
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: Did – have you gotten any more clarity on that?
MS. PSAKI: Sure. Well, as I mentioned yesterday, we raise our concerns at the highest levels with the Government of Iraq and reiterated that any transfer of arms from Iran is in direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The Government of Iraq assured us that it would look into this matter. Today, we have seen the press release issued by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense denying that any contracts for military equipment were signed with Iran. And we will continue to follow up with the Government of Iraq on this issue.
QUESTION: You take them at their word? You believe their denial?
MS. PSAKI: Well, suffice it to say, we will continue to discuss the issue with the Government of Iraq, and we’ve of course seen their statement.
QUESTION: The issue in general of buying things from Iran or the issue specifically as related to this report that came out about this big – alleged big sale?
MS. PSAKI: Both.
QUESTION: So you’re not necessarily convinced that their denial is bona-fide?
MS. PSAKI: I’m not. I’m just conveying that, obviously, we’ll continue the discussion and these reports remain a concern of ours. But of course, we’ve seen the statement that they put out.
QUESTION: Well, are you heartened by the denial? I mean, or do you – that they say it’s not true? Is that a good thing?
MS. PSAKI: They did say that. We’ve seen that. They assured us they’d look into it, and this was a follow-up to that.
QUESTION: Second one is, I’m --
QUESTION: (Inaudible) Iraq.
MS. PSAKI: Hold on one moment, Said. One moment, one moment.
QUESTION: On Iraq.
QUESTION: Well, no. I’ve got a --
MS. PSAKI: Oh, on Iraq? Okay.
QUESTION: No, I got a --
QUESTION: I just want to ask you on this very issue --
MS. PSAKI: Okay.
QUESTION: There was a breakdown of lists. I mean, buying $35 million worth of, let’s say, mortars, or the equipment for tanks or whatever. I mean, it was really a very thorough and specific breakdown, which shows that the laundry list --
MS. PSAKI: I think I went through a thorough list with you yesterday.
QUESTION: I understand.
MS. PSAKI: Okay.
QUESTION: I’m saying that there was today – there was a laundry list published of the exact specific equipment and so on that the Iraqis allegedly signed back in November immediately after the return of Nuri al-Maliki from his visit to Washington. So I’m saying that your – the veracity of their denial – is it something that you believe, as Matt said, or despite the fact that it was really that specific?
MS. PSAKI: I think I’ve already answered the question. I don’t have anything more to add.
QUESTION: And what if it proves that they actually did contract the Iranians? What would you do?
MS. PSAKI: Well, as I said yesterday, that would raise serious concerns, given it would be a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
The developments come as Global Security Newswire is reporting the US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is considering ending the US government's business relationship with Michelin over the company's business relationship with Iran (see Josh Rogin's report for The Daily Beast).
Patricia Zengerle (Reuters) notes that US Senator John McCain is calling for answers and stating this could jeopardize the US government's plan to allow Iraq to purchase 24 Apache attack helicopters. Geoff Holtzman (Talk Radio News) quotes White House spokesperson Jay Carney declaring today, "Any transfer or sale of arms from Iran is in direct violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution." Yes, it is a point that State Dept spokesperson Jen Psaki made on Monday.
In other Iraq and Iran news, Fars News Agency reports that the Iranian Ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Danayee-Far, denied today that the Embassy in Baghdad was under fire. Shots were heard. But National Iraqi News Agency reports police says "a member of the force charged with protecting the Iranian embassy in central Baghdad, committed suicide by shooting himself."
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"THIS JUST IN! HE'S NOT A KING!"
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
THIS JUST IN! HE'S NOT A KING!
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE
YOU KNOW IT'S BAD FOR AMERICA'S FADED PRINCESS WHEN THE PRESS CALLS HIM A KING. BARRY O'S FACING JUDICIAL REBUKE FOR HIS EFFORT TO BE, IN HIS WORDS, "A STRONG BLACK WOMAN."
SPEAKING TO THESE REPORTERS EARLIER TODAY, THE DAHLI BAMA EXPLAINED, "AMERICA IS JUST NOT READY FOR A STRONG BLACK WOMAN! THEY COULDN'T HANDLE OMOROSA AND THEY CAN'T HANDLE ME."
WHETHER THAT'S TRUE OR NOT, THE CASE APPEARS TO BE ABOUT THE FORMER SENATOR ATTEMPTING TO LEGISLATE WHICH IS NOT A POWER THE PRESIDENT HAS.
"THEY CAN TWIST IT AROUND ALL THEY LIKE, BOYS, BUT THIS IS JUST ABOUT THEIR REFUSAL TO EMBRACE A STRONG BLACK WOMAN. HELL, I'M HARRIET TUBMAN, MISS JANE PITTMAN AND CHERYL TIEGS ROLLED INTO ONE!"
INFORMED THAT CHERYL TIEGS IS NOT KNOWN TO BE BLACK, BARRY O RESPONDED, "FINE THEN, CHERYL LADD, OKAY? WILL THAT WORK FOR YOU? CHERYL LADD!"
BEFORE THESE REPORTERS COULD INFORM HIM THAT CHERYL LADD WAS ALSO NOT KNOWN TO BE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, BARRY O HAD ALREADY SASHAYED OFF WHILE SINGING "I WILL SURVIVE."
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
For roughly seven weeks, Nouri al-Maliki has assaulted Anbar Province. The chief thug and prime minister of Iraq has been armed with US weapons which has used on the Iraqi people. Far from condemning him, the US government has repeatedly congratulated him as he has terrorized the people of Anbar.
National Iraqi News Agency reports:
Fallujah educational Hospital said on Monday 24 Feb. that the number of victims of random shelling on the city of Fallujah was the martyrdom and wounding of / 722 / people since the beginning of military operations.
According to Dr. Ahmed Al-Shami head of resident doctors at the hospital in Fallujah told the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA / that the shelling by the army on residential neighborhoods, killed / 106 / persons and wounded / 616 / others, most of them women and children.
They're one of the two hospitals in Falluja that have been repeatedly shelled by Nouri's military in the last weeks (a War Crime -- the other hospital shelled in Falluja is Falluja General Hospital). They're short on supplies.
They're a hospital serving the Iraqi people and they're short on supplies but Nouri's not shipping in supplies, he's not doing a damn thing. They're dependent upon the Intenrationl Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
Nouri's not only terrorizing the people and attacking the hospitals, he's refusing to supply the hospitals.
And the US government backs this despot. They get in bed with this tyrant.
106 civilians dead, six-hundred-and-sixteen injured. And the US government doesn't give a damn.
Felicity Arbuthnot, "Iraq Puppet Government Offers Financial Bounty to Extrajudicial Killers" (Global Research).
In a recent article on the website of the publication Foreign Policy, he writes: “Iraq has defeated Al Qaeda before and we have a holistic strategy to defeat Al Qaeda again.” He is surely including in his “holistic strategy” all those across Iraq, not alone in Western Anbar Province, who are demonstrating, rising up and have had heartily enough of his brutal, divisive, sectarian regime.
Military bombing in Falluja today left three civilians injured. Saturday, NINA reported, "Army forces stationed around Falluja pounded with heavy artillery and tanks" leaving 5 people dead ("including two children") and five more injured.
5 dead from the military shelling Falluja on Saturday.
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YOU KNOW IT'S BAD FOR AMERICA'S FADED PRINCESS WHEN THE PRESS CALLS HIM A KING. BARRY O'S FACING JUDICIAL REBUKE FOR HIS EFFORT TO BE, IN HIS WORDS, "A STRONG BLACK WOMAN."
SPEAKING TO THESE REPORTERS EARLIER TODAY, THE DAHLI BAMA EXPLAINED, "AMERICA IS JUST NOT READY FOR A STRONG BLACK WOMAN! THEY COULDN'T HANDLE OMOROSA AND THEY CAN'T HANDLE ME."
WHETHER THAT'S TRUE OR NOT, THE CASE APPEARS TO BE ABOUT THE FORMER SENATOR ATTEMPTING TO LEGISLATE WHICH IS NOT A POWER THE PRESIDENT HAS.
"THEY CAN TWIST IT AROUND ALL THEY LIKE, BOYS, BUT THIS IS JUST ABOUT THEIR REFUSAL TO EMBRACE A STRONG BLACK WOMAN. HELL, I'M HARRIET TUBMAN, MISS JANE PITTMAN AND CHERYL TIEGS ROLLED INTO ONE!"
INFORMED THAT CHERYL TIEGS IS NOT KNOWN TO BE BLACK, BARRY O RESPONDED, "FINE THEN, CHERYL LADD, OKAY? WILL THAT WORK FOR YOU? CHERYL LADD!"
BEFORE THESE REPORTERS COULD INFORM HIM THAT CHERYL LADD WAS ALSO NOT KNOWN TO BE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, BARRY O HAD ALREADY SASHAYED OFF WHILE SINGING "I WILL SURVIVE."
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
For roughly seven weeks, Nouri al-Maliki has assaulted Anbar Province. The chief thug and prime minister of Iraq has been armed with US weapons which has used on the Iraqi people. Far from condemning him, the US government has repeatedly congratulated him as he has terrorized the people of Anbar.
National Iraqi News Agency reports:
Fallujah educational Hospital said on Monday 24 Feb. that the number of victims of random shelling on the city of Fallujah was the martyrdom and wounding of / 722 / people since the beginning of military operations.
According to Dr. Ahmed Al-Shami head of resident doctors at the hospital in Fallujah told the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA / that the shelling by the army on residential neighborhoods, killed / 106 / persons and wounded / 616 / others, most of them women and children.
They're one of the two hospitals in Falluja that have been repeatedly shelled by Nouri's military in the last weeks (a War Crime -- the other hospital shelled in Falluja is Falluja General Hospital). They're short on supplies.
They're a hospital serving the Iraqi people and they're short on supplies but Nouri's not shipping in supplies, he's not doing a damn thing. They're dependent upon the Intenrationl Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
Nouri's not only terrorizing the people and attacking the hospitals, he's refusing to supply the hospitals.
And the US government backs this despot. They get in bed with this tyrant.
106 civilians dead, six-hundred-and-sixteen injured. And the US government doesn't give a damn.
Felicity Arbuthnot, "Iraq Puppet Government Offers Financial Bounty to Extrajudicial Killers" (Global Research).
In a recent article on the website of the publication Foreign Policy, he writes: “Iraq has defeated Al Qaeda before and we have a holistic strategy to defeat Al Qaeda again.” He is surely including in his “holistic strategy” all those across Iraq, not alone in Western Anbar Province, who are demonstrating, rising up and have had heartily enough of his brutal, divisive, sectarian regime.
Military bombing in Falluja today left three civilians injured. Saturday, NINA reported, "Army forces stationed around Falluja pounded with heavy artillery and tanks" leaving 5 people dead ("including two children") and five more injured.
5 dead from the military shelling Falluja on Saturday.
But that was ignored by western outlets.
Instead, they promoted a ridiculous lie that either demonstrates a lack
of character or a greater stupidity than even their strongest critics
have ever accused them of.
For example, WG Dunlop reported that "Iraq announces 72 hour truce in Falluja." You can also clich here because the story was all over, despite being highly suspect.
Can you do basic math?
I think I can.
72 hours is three days.
The press -- not just AFP -- reported a 72 hour truce. Saturday, Sunday and Monday would be 72 hours.
Press TV offered video of the false claim. KUNA put a time on it -- the 72 hours would end at 6:00 am Monday.
For a 72 hour truce to end at 6:00 am Monday (Iraq time), it would have
needed to begin Friday morning at six. Can we all count?
Six a.m. Friday to six a.m. Saturday is 24 hours. Six a.m. Saturday
morning to six a.m. Sunday morning is 24 hours -- our total is now 48.
Sorry to go so slowly but it appears the press can't do basic match so
we need to go slow, real slow. Sunday six a.m. to Monday six a.m. would
be 24 more hours. Add that to our previous 48 -- that's 48 plus 24 --
and you get 72.
AFP and others are either stupid or liars.
On Saturday, five people in Falluja died from the military bombing. For
there to be a 72 hour truce, that attack couldn't have happened.
But they ignored it.
And also pretended that a 72 hour truce could be 24 hours less than 72.
Along with being unable to count, they're unable to have context or common sense.
Nouri's word is worthless. His first term as prime minister
demonstrated it but it was his second term that really drove it home.
For those with common sense, anyway. A lot of people don't have common sense, they're more at to 'reason away,' as Aretha Franklin noted in her cover of The Doobie Brothers' "What A Fool Believes" (her cover of the song -- which made it to number 17 on the R&B chart -- first appears on her 1980 album Aretha):
Keeps sending him
Somewhere back in her long ago
She can still believe there's a place in her life
Hey, someday, someway, she will return
He had a place in her life
She never made him think twice
As he rises to her apology
Anybody else would surely know
He's watching her go
Oh, yeah
What a fool believes he sees
No wise man has the power to reason away
What seems to be
Is always better than nothing
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Nothing at all
Nothing at all
The press is so adorably as they struggle so desperately to believe in Nouri, hanging on by fingertips.
My fingertips are holding onto
The cracks in our foundations
And I know that I should let go
But I can't
-- "Foundations," written by Kate Nash, first appears on her Made of Bricks
They should have let go, they wouldn't have looked so foolish trumpeting a truce on only Nouri's word.
Sunday, NINA explained:
5 civilians have been killed and ten others injured on Sunday 23, Feb as a result of the bombing of military forces to Fallujah despite the decision to suspend military operations for three days .
A security source told the reporter of the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA / "The army forces stationed outside the city of Fallujah pounded, with heavy artillery and tanks, Fallujah despite the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces' decision yesterday to stop military operations in Fallujah for / 3 / days ."
He added, "The bombing killed five civilians and wounded / 10 / others , including 3 children ."
Did they note that?
Not AFP.
5 civilians have been killed and ten others injured on Sunday 23, Feb as a result of the bombing of military forces to Fallujah despite the decision to suspend military operations for three days .
A security source told the reporter of the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA / "The army forces stationed outside the city of Fallujah pounded, with heavy artillery and tanks, Fallujah despite the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces' decision yesterday to stop military operations in Fallujah for / 3 / days ."
He added, "The bombing killed five civilians and wounded / 10 / others , including 3 children ."
Did they note that?
Not AFP.
Not any western outlet. They all averted their eyes as though Nouri had
walked into the room with his fly open and no one wanted to be the one
to tell him to zip up.
NINA reports today:
Army forces are building earthen mounds on all main and branch roads
around the city of Fallujah and its villages to prevent the entry of any
vehicle or getting out of it.
A security source told the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA / that these measures led to the displacement of hundreds of families from areas near to these mounds as al-Falahat, al- Nasaf and Albu al-Alwan villages.
A security source told the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA / that these measures led to the displacement of hundreds of families from areas near to these mounds as al-Falahat, al- Nasaf and Albu al-Alwan villages.
Is the US government concerned about that?
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"He's a loser"
"THIS JUST IN! LOSER!"
Sunday, February 23, 2014
THIS JUST IN! LOSER!
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE
AMERICA'S ONE TIME CRUSH BARRY O CAN'T CATCH A BREAK THESE DAYS.
HE'S FAILED TO CLOSE GUANTANMO AND HE'S CONTINUED ALL OF BULLY BOY BUSH'S ILLEGAL ACTIONS BUT, NOW, SOMETHING EVEN WORSE.
HE'S SUCH A PRISSY LITTLE BITCH THESE DAYS, HE CAN'T EVEN WIN A BEER BET.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
As Al-Monitor's Amal Sakr pointed out earlier this month, over 9.5 million Iraqis -- out of 34.7 million -- "are living below the poverty line." Iraq's chief thug and prime minister Nouri al-Maliki's on year eight, the end of his second term, and he's done so very little to help improve the Iraqi economy or create jobs.
That's all changing, however.
This week, Nouri introduced a new jobs program.
And if he can get people to carry around video camera or use their cell phones to film, he can create even more jobs by turning the whole thing into a television program.
He could make a programming bloc of it, pairing it with the forced confessions which already air on Iraqi TV.
The program could be called Who Wants To Be A Vigilante?
In a country marked by poverty, Nouri's grand idea?
Vigilante justice -- which is more justice than the country currently has, granted.
Al-Shorfa reports Nouri's attempting to turn the country into bounty hunters. Kill a 'terrorist' and you'll get 20 million dinars (that sounds better in Iraqi currency, in US dollars it's $17,172.53) and 30 million dinars ($25,758.80) if they capture the 'terrorist' alive.
Anyone else bothered by this?
Apparently not.
White House hasn't said a word.
So if you are an Iraqi in Iraq and you have someone you dislike, grab your gun, find them and shoot.
All you have to do is claim the person was a 'terrorist.'
You might get a reward.
But certainly you won't get prison because Nouri's not doing 'Most Wanted.' No, he's not providing a list of ten people for you to hunt down.
He's leaving it up to you to determine who is and who isn't a 'terrorist.'
And, hey, mistakes get made.
So you kill an innocent person or two.
Again, is anyone else bothered by this?
Vigilante justice in Iraq.
There are thousands of people on death row in Iraq right now -- at least 50 are foreign nationals from other countries. There have been repeated cries for a moratorium. These are ignored.
And Iraqis are encouraged to embrace and cheer on executions.
Into this environment, you want to turn the country into vigilantes?
At what point is the US government going to assist the Iraqi government with supporting rule of law?
Those of us who had to sit through those awful 2011 Congressional hearings where the State Dept offered one tight-lipped official after another -- who could never explain what the billions they were getting for Iraq were going to be spent on -- well know, the State Dept was going to work on so many issues. Rule of law was one. Women's rights was another.
They boasted loudly -- in generalities.
Well, as Human Rights Watch recent report entitled (PDF format warning) "'NO ONE IS SAFE: Abuses of Women in Iraq's Criminal Justice System" proves, the State Dept clearly failed at attempts to improve the lives of women or the rule of law.
Fiscal Year 2012 is the most recent year USAID has posted numbers for. In FY2012, USAID spent $13.5 million of US tax payer dollars -- spent them in Iraq on strenghtening what?
The rule of law and human rights.
The big ticket item for that year? $148.4 million -- US tax payer money -- was spent in Iraq on "Democracy and Governance."
Talk about money wasted. Sadly, it's not refundable.
The State Dept never gets asked about any of those problems.
It's hard to tell if the US press is just an enabler or a co-conspirator.
At any rate, it was just weeks ago that Nouri made the same appeal but without cash.
There was no embrace of it so now Nouri's tossing money and hoping that will put over the plan.
The plan, please note, that reveals what a total failure Nouri al-Maliki is.
With all the weapons provided by the US and other foreign governments, with all the 'intelligence' the US military is currently providing Nouri, with command of the Iraqi forces, the unconstitutional Tigris Operation Command, SWAT, the federal police and so much more, he still can't defeat the people he's defined as the 'enemy' (the ones others call Iraqis).
Mike Phipps (BRussells Tribunal) observes:
The pernicious narrative, peddled by the Iraqi Government and picked up in the mainstream media, that Al-Qaeda had taken over Fallujah, was a long way from the truth. But it helped to secure an immediate delivery of arms to the Iraqi regime from its US puppeteers to help quell the protests in Anbar.
For protests is what they are. They began over a year ago, demanding the freeing of tens of thousands of detainees held without charge by the security forces. Brutal torture and rape - regardless of gender - are widespread in Iraq’s jails. Last year alone, the state executed 169 people, putting it third in the league behind China and Iran.
The Iraqi Government’s accusation of an external Al-Qaeda takeover was made to justify a ferocious siege and bombardment of the Fallujah and Ramadi. As Iraqi activist Haifa Zangana has pointed out, “Al-Maliki selectively chooses not to mention the regime's own militias: Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Iraqi Hezbollah, the Badr brigades, factions of the Mahdi army and the Mokhtar army. The latter's leader has bragged on Baghdadiya TV, about their responsibility for several attacks. No investigation has been done and no one was arrested. There is also hardly any mention of the Iraqi Special Forces inherited from the occupation, especially trained by Colonel James Steele under US ambassador John Negroponte and attached now directly to al-Maliki's office. Above all, there is no mention of the plethora of foreign-led special operation agents, private security contractors, and organised networks of professional killers, some of whom, many Iraqis believe, are protected by the regime, in the shadow of the US' biggest embassy in the world, in the fortified green zone in Baghdad.” http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/01/here-list-real-forces-behind-violence-iraq-201411613100570815.html
Government shelling of the towns in Anbar Province has been intense. Human Rights Watch has accused the regime of “indiscriminate mortar fire in civilian neighbourhoods” and “killing its own citizens unlawfully”. http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/01/09/iraq-protect-anbar-residents-abuses. Hundreds of people have been killed and more than 200,000 displaced.
The Pentagon is considering following up its arms shipments with the deployment of more troops in the region to train Iraqi forces. This would be fitting, given the atrocities the US military inflicted on this unhappy country along with a deliberate sectarian set of state institutions. It is almost ten years since the first round of collective punishment was inflicted on Fallujah - by US forces.
The 2004 bombardment was a war crime. NGO's and medical workers estimated that between 4,000 and 6,000 mostly civilians were killed. In addition, 36,000 of the city's 50,000 homes were destroyed, along with 60 schools and 65 mosques and shrines, and up to 200,000 residents were forced to flee.
Months later, the US admitted that it had used white phosphorous as a battlefield weapon in the assault on Fallujah. A documentary on the Italian RAI channel showed images of bodies recovered afterwards, which it said proved the incendiary, similar in effect to napalm, had been used against men, women and children who were burned to the bone. Unconfirmed reports suggest the Iraqi regime is using similar munitions this time around.
Xinhua reports that Nouri's forces are boasting that they've retaken Sulaiman Bek and killed 48 rebels. That might pass for 'success' to the extreme stupid. But those paying attention to the seven-week-plus operation Nouri's launched -- a campaign of terror on Anbar -- are fully aware that, when the Anbar assault was launched weeks ago, Sulaiman Bek was controlled by the Iraqi government. And those paying attention are also aware that Sulaiman Bek is not in Anbar Province, it's in Salahuddin Province.
In other words, Nouri's assault on Anbar can seen as causing Nouri's government to lose control of Sulaiman Bek and exposing the utter weakness of Nouri's leadership.
Those really paying attention are probably also remembering that five days ago, February 17th, Nouri's forces were boasting that they'd retaken Sulaiman Bek.
Maybe this time their boasts are accurate?
Maybe.
AFP observes:
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AMERICA'S ONE TIME CRUSH BARRY O CAN'T CATCH A BREAK THESE DAYS.
HE'S FAILED TO CLOSE GUANTANMO AND HE'S CONTINUED ALL OF BULLY BOY BUSH'S ILLEGAL ACTIONS BUT, NOW, SOMETHING EVEN WORSE.
HE'S SUCH A PRISSY LITTLE BITCH THESE DAYS, HE CAN'T EVEN WIN A BEER BET.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
As Al-Monitor's Amal Sakr pointed out earlier this month, over 9.5 million Iraqis -- out of 34.7 million -- "are living below the poverty line." Iraq's chief thug and prime minister Nouri al-Maliki's on year eight, the end of his second term, and he's done so very little to help improve the Iraqi economy or create jobs.
That's all changing, however.
This week, Nouri introduced a new jobs program.
And if he can get people to carry around video camera or use their cell phones to film, he can create even more jobs by turning the whole thing into a television program.
He could make a programming bloc of it, pairing it with the forced confessions which already air on Iraqi TV.
The program could be called Who Wants To Be A Vigilante?
In a country marked by poverty, Nouri's grand idea?
Vigilante justice -- which is more justice than the country currently has, granted.
Al-Shorfa reports Nouri's attempting to turn the country into bounty hunters. Kill a 'terrorist' and you'll get 20 million dinars (that sounds better in Iraqi currency, in US dollars it's $17,172.53) and 30 million dinars ($25,758.80) if they capture the 'terrorist' alive.
Anyone else bothered by this?
Apparently not.
White House hasn't said a word.
So if you are an Iraqi in Iraq and you have someone you dislike, grab your gun, find them and shoot.
All you have to do is claim the person was a 'terrorist.'
You might get a reward.
But certainly you won't get prison because Nouri's not doing 'Most Wanted.' No, he's not providing a list of ten people for you to hunt down.
He's leaving it up to you to determine who is and who isn't a 'terrorist.'
And, hey, mistakes get made.
So you kill an innocent person or two.
Again, is anyone else bothered by this?
Vigilante justice in Iraq.
There are thousands of people on death row in Iraq right now -- at least 50 are foreign nationals from other countries. There have been repeated cries for a moratorium. These are ignored.
And Iraqis are encouraged to embrace and cheer on executions.
Into this environment, you want to turn the country into vigilantes?
At what point is the US government going to assist the Iraqi government with supporting rule of law?
Those of us who had to sit through those awful 2011 Congressional hearings where the State Dept offered one tight-lipped official after another -- who could never explain what the billions they were getting for Iraq were going to be spent on -- well know, the State Dept was going to work on so many issues. Rule of law was one. Women's rights was another.
They boasted loudly -- in generalities.
Well, as Human Rights Watch recent report entitled (PDF format warning) "'NO ONE IS SAFE: Abuses of Women in Iraq's Criminal Justice System" proves, the State Dept clearly failed at attempts to improve the lives of women or the rule of law.
Fiscal Year 2012 is the most recent year USAID has posted numbers for. In FY2012, USAID spent $13.5 million of US tax payer dollars -- spent them in Iraq on strenghtening what?
The rule of law and human rights.
The big ticket item for that year? $148.4 million -- US tax payer money -- was spent in Iraq on "Democracy and Governance."
Talk about money wasted. Sadly, it's not refundable.
The State Dept never gets asked about any of those problems.
It's hard to tell if the US press is just an enabler or a co-conspirator.
At any rate, it was just weeks ago that Nouri made the same appeal but without cash.
There was no embrace of it so now Nouri's tossing money and hoping that will put over the plan.
The plan, please note, that reveals what a total failure Nouri al-Maliki is.
With all the weapons provided by the US and other foreign governments, with all the 'intelligence' the US military is currently providing Nouri, with command of the Iraqi forces, the unconstitutional Tigris Operation Command, SWAT, the federal police and so much more, he still can't defeat the people he's defined as the 'enemy' (the ones others call Iraqis).
Mike Phipps (BRussells Tribunal) observes:
The pernicious narrative, peddled by the Iraqi Government and picked up in the mainstream media, that Al-Qaeda had taken over Fallujah, was a long way from the truth. But it helped to secure an immediate delivery of arms to the Iraqi regime from its US puppeteers to help quell the protests in Anbar.
For protests is what they are. They began over a year ago, demanding the freeing of tens of thousands of detainees held without charge by the security forces. Brutal torture and rape - regardless of gender - are widespread in Iraq’s jails. Last year alone, the state executed 169 people, putting it third in the league behind China and Iran.
The Iraqi Government’s accusation of an external Al-Qaeda takeover was made to justify a ferocious siege and bombardment of the Fallujah and Ramadi. As Iraqi activist Haifa Zangana has pointed out, “Al-Maliki selectively chooses not to mention the regime's own militias: Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Iraqi Hezbollah, the Badr brigades, factions of the Mahdi army and the Mokhtar army. The latter's leader has bragged on Baghdadiya TV, about their responsibility for several attacks. No investigation has been done and no one was arrested. There is also hardly any mention of the Iraqi Special Forces inherited from the occupation, especially trained by Colonel James Steele under US ambassador John Negroponte and attached now directly to al-Maliki's office. Above all, there is no mention of the plethora of foreign-led special operation agents, private security contractors, and organised networks of professional killers, some of whom, many Iraqis believe, are protected by the regime, in the shadow of the US' biggest embassy in the world, in the fortified green zone in Baghdad.” http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/01/here-list-real-forces-behind-violence-iraq-201411613100570815.html
Government shelling of the towns in Anbar Province has been intense. Human Rights Watch has accused the regime of “indiscriminate mortar fire in civilian neighbourhoods” and “killing its own citizens unlawfully”. http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/01/09/iraq-protect-anbar-residents-abuses. Hundreds of people have been killed and more than 200,000 displaced.
The Pentagon is considering following up its arms shipments with the deployment of more troops in the region to train Iraqi forces. This would be fitting, given the atrocities the US military inflicted on this unhappy country along with a deliberate sectarian set of state institutions. It is almost ten years since the first round of collective punishment was inflicted on Fallujah - by US forces.
The 2004 bombardment was a war crime. NGO's and medical workers estimated that between 4,000 and 6,000 mostly civilians were killed. In addition, 36,000 of the city's 50,000 homes were destroyed, along with 60 schools and 65 mosques and shrines, and up to 200,000 residents were forced to flee.
Months later, the US admitted that it had used white phosphorous as a battlefield weapon in the assault on Fallujah. A documentary on the Italian RAI channel showed images of bodies recovered afterwards, which it said proved the incendiary, similar in effect to napalm, had been used against men, women and children who were burned to the bone. Unconfirmed reports suggest the Iraqi regime is using similar munitions this time around.
Xinhua reports that Nouri's forces are boasting that they've retaken Sulaiman Bek and killed 48 rebels. That might pass for 'success' to the extreme stupid. But those paying attention to the seven-week-plus operation Nouri's launched -- a campaign of terror on Anbar -- are fully aware that, when the Anbar assault was launched weeks ago, Sulaiman Bek was controlled by the Iraqi government. And those paying attention are also aware that Sulaiman Bek is not in Anbar Province, it's in Salahuddin Province.
In other words, Nouri's assault on Anbar can seen as causing Nouri's government to lose control of Sulaiman Bek and exposing the utter weakness of Nouri's leadership.
Those really paying attention are probably also remembering that five days ago, February 17th, Nouri's forces were boasting that they'd retaken Sulaiman Bek.
Maybe this time their boasts are accurate?
Maybe.
AFP observes:
Authorities have tried everything from
wide-ranging operations against militants and offers of training and
jobs for tribesmen who fight for the government, to restricting vehicle
use in the capital.
But nothing has yet succeeded [. . .]
But nothing has yet succeeded.
But nothing has yet succeeded.
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"Oh, Laura Flanders, why do you have to lie?"
"The Education of Miss Dahli Bama"
"THIS JUST IN! BAMA MEETS LAMA!"
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