BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE
CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O IS SO DULL, BORING AND UNPOPULAR THAT NOW EVEN THE PROCESS OF THE ROLL OUT IS MORE INTERESTING TO THE PRESS THAN BARRY O'S NEVER ENDING SPEECHES.
REACHED FOR COMMENT, BARRY O ASSURED THESE REPORTERS THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, "I'LL BE GOING SHIRTLESS NEXT MONTH ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD AND I'LL BE SHOWING BOTH NIPPLES. BOTH OF THEM. THIS WILL CURE EVERYTHING! TRUST ME!"
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
The Press Trust of India notes,
""The US is not asking for 'extradition', but simply the return of Mr
Snowden. We have sent many people back to Russia," ambassador Michael
McFaul wrote on Twitter." Michal McFaul is an idiot who is openly
hostile to Russia and has been for decades so it's another one of
Barack's failed appointments. Extradition is the term. "Return" is not
the term. McFaul is not only an idiot, he's also a liar (a fairly
common trait, many would say, among those who were Hoover Institute
fellows). He knows the difference. Ed Snowden is in another country
and the US government wants him in the US to charge him with crimes.
Russia is being asked to participate in extradition. Just because
McFaul is one of the few ambassadors Barack's appointed who didn't buy his seat doesn't mean that he has integrity.
Snowden is whistle-blower Ed Snowden who remains trapped in a Russian
airport as an elderly man mocks him on TV, as outlets claim the American
public is turning against him and as the US Senate contemplates
measures against Russia. What is going on?
A great deal, but first reality,
Ed Snowden is an American citizen and whistle-blower who had been employed by the CIA and by the NSA before leaving government
employment for the more lucrative world of contracting. At the time he
blew the whistle, he was working for Booz Allen Hamilton doing NSA work. Glenn Greenwald (Guardian) had the first scoop
(and many that followed) on Snowden's revelations that the US
government was spying on American citizens, keeping the data on every
phone call made in the United States (and in Europe as well) while also
spying on internet use via PRISM and Tempora. US Senator Bernie Sanders
decried the fact that a "secret court order" had been used to collect
information on American citizens "whether they are suspected of any
wrongdoing." Sanders went on to say, "That
is not what democracy is about. That is not what freedom is about. [. .
.] While we must aggressively pursue international terrorists and all
of those who would do us harm, we must do it in a way that protects the
Constitution and civil liberties which make us proud to be Americans." The immediate response of the White House, as Dan Roberts and Spencer Ackerman (Guardian) reported, was to insist that there was nothing unusual and to get creaky and compromised Senator Dianne Feinstein
to insist, in her best Third Reich voice, "People want to keep the
homeland safe." The spin included statements from Barack himself. Anita Kumar (McClatchy Newspapers) reports, "Obama described the uproar this week over the programs as “hype” and
sought to ensure Americans that Big Brother is not watching their every
move." Josh Richman (San Jose Mercury News) quoted Barack insisting that "we have established a process and a procedure that the American people should feel comfortable about." Apparently not feeling the gratitude, the New York Times editorial board weighed in
on the White House efforts at spin, noting that "the Obama
administration issued the same platitude it has offered every time
President Obama has been caught overreaching in the use of his powers:
Terrorists are a real menace and you should just trust us to deal with
them because we have internal mechanisms (that we are not going to tell
you about) to make sure we do not violate your rights." The more Barack
attempted to defend the spying, the more ridiculous he came off. Mike Masnick (TechDirt) reviewed Barack's appearance on The Charlie Rose Show and observed of the 'explanations' offered, "None of that actually explains why this program is necessary. If
there's a phone number that the NSA or the FBI gets that is of interest,
then they should be able to get a warrant or a court order and
request information on that number from the telcos. None of that means
they should be able to hoover up everything." As US House Rep John Conyers noted, "But
I maintain that the Fourth Amendment to be free from unreasonable
search and seizure to mean that this mega data collected in such a super
aggregated fashion can amount to a Fourth Amendment violation before
you do anything else. You've already violated the law, as far as I am
concerned." Barack couldn't deal with that reality but did insist, in the middle of June, that this was an opportunity for "a national conversation."
He's always calling for that because, when it doesn't happen, he can
blame the nation. It's so much easier to call for "a national
conversation" than for he himself to get honest with the American
people. And if Barack really believes this has kicked off "a national
conversation" then demonizing Ed Snowden is a really strange way to say
"thank you."
An elderly man mocks him? David Letterman, the true definition of ass
-- actually the true definition of ass with nose hair. Up close, David
Letterman's nose hair is probably his most distinguished characteristic
and, no, that's not a plus. Last night the angry, bitter and, yes,
highly sexist, talk show host decided the thing to do was a skit mocking
Ed Snowden (again mocking, actually). That's because David is
incredibly stupid. That's why women have long complained about their
treatment on his show and why CBS is eager to move Letterman to the
door. Long after he's forgotten -- and he's no Johnny Carson -- Ed
Snowden's revelations will have still made a difference and maybe that's
what pisses Dave off the most these days? No, what pisses him off the
most is that his staid and dull CBS program is a lousy way to end the
career especially when compared to NBC's Late Night with David Letterman -- a program that actually found him offering some cultural significance. But that's when Merrill Markoe
was in charge of the smiling creation known as "Dave" and not the hack
writers Letterman pays on the cheap these days. Today, tired, old
Letterman has all the significance and cachet of Shecky Greene.
Attacking Ed Snowden in skits only ensures that he fades all the
quicker.
The US Senate isn't fading away anytime soon ("sadly," some may add). But Press TV reports
they're "considering possible trade sanctions against Russia" should it
grant asylum to Ed Snowden. Having failed at his efforts to kill the
Winter Olympics, Senator Lindsey Graham is now pushing this because,
clearly, nothing matters more to the citizens of South Carolina than
this issue. See, things are perfect in South Carolina and -- Oh, wait, unemployment has gone up. Well, at least your seat is safe and -- Oh, wait. David Sherfinski (Washington Times) reports
that a significant conservative challenge is mounting against you for
the 2014 GOP primary. Well, at least you'll be known as the senator
obsessed with Russia. Certainly, the unemployed and those fearful of
becoming unemployed will be thrilled with your focus on that. Reuters reports, "A US Senate panel voted unanimously Thursday to seek trade or other
sanctions against Russia or any other country that offers asylum to
Edward Snowden. The 30-member Senate Appropriations Committee adopted by
consensus an amendment to a spending bill that would direct Secretary
of State John Kerry to meet with congressional committees to come up
with sanctions against any country that takes Snowden in."
Which brings us to the poll. After weeks and weeks of attacks from
MSNBC (and Letterman), ABC and the Washington Post want to do a new poll
and how it was shopped around, the results. Or, if you know a damn
thing about polling, the 'results.' I really hoped someone else would
do the work this time but we can only wait so long.
Question 13 is the one that everyone's zoomed in on. Well, no, they
haven't. That would require work. They've zoomed in on what has been
billed as the results of the poll but it's question 13. The false claim
is presented by Jon Cohen and Dan Balz (Washington Post) when they insist,
"In the new poll, 53 percent say Snowden should be charged with a
crime, up 10 percentage points in a month." They at least fail to lead
with that -- probably because they realize it's trumped up and not
reality. Gary Langer (ABC News) opens with, "Public attitudes have shifted against Edward Snowden, with more than
half of Americans now supporting criminal charges against the former
security contractor who’s disclosed details of surveillance by the U.S.
National Security Agency." Out of the mouths of idiots.
So what's the reality?
As always, go to the raw data.
There you'll find the question: "A former government contractors named
Edward Snowden has released information to the media about
intelligence-gathering efforts by the U.S. National Security Agency. Do
you support or oppose Snowden being charged with a crime for disclosing
the NSA's intelligence-gathering efforts? Do you fell that way
strongly, or somewhat?"
First up, the question has changed since June. When you alter the
wording -- which they admittedly did (follow the note by the asterisk),
you can't claim you're measuring the same thing. So let's lose the
notion that the respondents in both polls are responding to the same
question. And since the new phrase is a charged one that benefits the
administration, let's really stop comparing the June and July results --
whores can continue to compare them because whores busy their bodies so
much that their minds never have time for actual thought.
The reality is 36% favor prosecution, 19% oppose it (in the case
outlined in the question). Somewhat? The case is known. If you have
an opinion on either side, you have a strong opinion, you have a firm
one. This story didn't just emerge yesterday. When you add the
somewhats you get 36%. That's the figure of people who feel they have
to give an answer but don't really have an opinion and they need to be
lumped in with the 11%. That gives you 47% of Americans have no
opinion.
If you think Ed's action warrant criminal prosecution, you have a strong
feeling. If you think (as I do) that Ed doesn't deserve to be
criminally prosecuted, you have a strong feeling. Those of us in the
two camps know where we stand. The 47% of Americans do not.
There are numerous reasons why Americans now feel more 'fogged' about
the issues involved than they did a month ago. This can include the
attacks from MSNBC as well as the near daily attacks by the State Dept
(I believe there have been only two State Dept press briefings that did
not demonize Ed) and by the White House. It can also include, and this
is probably the largest effect, the reports on Ed that divorced his
presence in Russia from the actual story (of revelations by him and the
government's demonization of him). I would also include a chunk in
there (small but significant) for China and Russia in terms of fears of
Americans that he's going to reveal state secrets to those two
governments. That's not going to happen and probably within six to
eight weeks that small chunk of people responding based upon that will
be an even smaller chunk and no longer significant.
We've taken on polls here since 2004. You can check our online record,
there are no mistaken interpretations here thus far. We've taken on
polls with results we agreed with as well as with results we opposed.
It has nothing to do with either (though I'm more inclined to explore a
poll whose 'reported' 'results' raise my eyebrows). The analysis above
is what the data says. People may like it or they may hate it but
that's the reality of the data. It's a real shame that common sense is
in such short supply at ABC where they try to run with a finding that's
both extreme and false. At least the Washington Post, running with the same finding, didn't lead with it.
I would further add that when taking responses in the United States, you
do so in the native tongue. If you're speaking -- as they were in
administering the poll (again, look at the raw data) -- in Spanish, I
think you're poll is clouded. Why? Because you're presenting this as a
national security issue, that's what your poll is doing. If a
respondents isn't comfortable responding in English, that usually means
they hail from another country. Asking a person who has immigrated
questions about national security in a host country can alarm the
respondent. This is a polling no-no. You do not know where the person
hails from, you do not know if they left their country of origin due to
safety concerns, you do not know how safe they feel their answers are,
you do not know if they are a resident who can be deported. Any of
these factors can result in a respondent giving a false response to a
poll on US national security issues and government spying. The entire
poll is flawed and those administrating it wasted everyone's money.
The spying took place and it will now continue. The Voice of Russia (link is audio) noted this development.
Crystal Park: Despite the major public uproar caused by Edward
Snowden's revelation the NSA is spying on Americans' phone records, the
Office of the Director of National Intelligence has announced the
controversial program has been renewed for another three months. Since
Snowden's bombshell, President Obama and other government
officials have defended the NSA program as a necessary tool to fight
terrorism. They have not, however, released the legal reasoning to
justify the surveillance, and energy is clearly building in Congress to
narrow its scope and challenge its legality.
Crystal Park discussed the issues with the ACLU's Patrick Toomey. Excerpt.
Patrick Toomey: The fact that the NSA disclosed the extension of the
order, we think, was a self-serving strategy to show that the court has
not been shaken in its confidence and its reasoning in support of the
program and that it reauthorized the phone record collection of all
Americans' phone calls despite the public uproar that's followed Mr.
Snowden's disclosures. But I would note for the public that the NSA has
not yet revealed the legal reasoning that stands behind the program,
the court order is still secret that the FISA court has not released
that order to the public and, therefore, the public has no way of really
scrutinizing the legal interpretations that went into it.
Crystal Park: Sure, the Americans are not going to know the nitty
gritty and the legality of the program but do you think that this is a
precedent that Edward Snowden has set just by revealing the fact that
the program exists and the NSA realizes that they have an angry public
to answer to? Do you think that, in one way, this is something good
that has come out of the revelation from Edward Snowden?
Patrick Toomey: We certainly think it's good that the public is
learning more. You know, it is unfortunate that the NSA's hand was
forced in this way and we don't believe that their commitment to
transparency goes anywhere beyond really what they view as mere
necessity in their management of public relations. They clearly do not
want to be having this discussion. They think that the debate over the
legality of this program should be off the table. We are glad that Mr.
Snowden has spurred this debate but we really hope that it will produce
much more transparency than just the NSA's disclosure that the program
itself has been extended. We really want the public to have an open
debate about the balance between national security and their liberties.
And that debate is still developing and still really needs to happen in
a public way.
Crystal Park: So, Patrick I assume that you believe the only reason
why the NSA has come out to announce the program has extended is simply
because of what happened with Edward Snowden, otherwise they wouldn't
have done such a thing.
Patrick Toomey: That's exactly right. I think that apart from that, it would not have come out.
Last night, the US House of Representatives had a chance to end the spying. They failed to do so. BBC News reports:
In a 205-217 vote, lawmakers rejected an effort to restrict
the National Security Agency's (NSA) ability to collect electronic
information.
The NSA's chief had lobbied strongly against the proposed measure.
The vote saw an unusual coalition of conservatives and liberal Democrats join forces against the programme.
A fact sheet on the amendment noted:
The Amash-Conyers amendment ends NSA’s blanket collection of
Americans’ telephone records. It does this by requiring the FISA court
under Sec. 215 to order the production of records that pertain only to a
person under investigation.
The amendment has three important practical effects. First,
it ends the mass surveillance of Americans. The government no longer is
authorized under Sec. 215 to hold a pool of metadata on every phone
call of every American. Second, the amendment permits the government to continue to acquire business records and other “tangible things” that are actually
related to an authorized counterterrorism investigation. The
government still has access to this tool under the amendment, but it’s
forced to comply with the intent of Congress when it passed Sec. 215. Third,
the amendment imposes more robust judicial oversight of NSA’s
surveillance. The FISA court will be involved every time NSA searches
Americans’ records, and the court will have a substantive, statutory
standard to apply to make sure the NSA does not violate Americans’ civil
liberties.
What steps would the government take to collect records if the
Amash-Conyers amendment were enacted? The government would have to
provide facts to the FISA court to show that there are reasonable
grounds to believe that the records sought (1) are relevant to an
appropriately authorized national security investigation and (2) pertain
to the person (including any group or corporation) under
investigation.
We know that the government can use that process effectively in its
investigations because it already does. Based on the government’s
public statements, it appears that the government routinely goes to the
FISA court for Sec. 215 orders for tangible things pertaining to persons
under investigation. If the government uses non-bulk collection for
other Sec. 215 orders, there is no good reason why the government needs
bulk collection of Americans’ telephone metadata.
Shaun Waterman (Washington Times) also notes the vote:
Top intelligence officials from the Obama and Bush
administrations, along with senior House lawmakers from both parties,
succeeded Wednesday in heading off the first legislative challenge to
the domestic snooping program exposed by National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden.
Arrayed against them was an equally odd cross-section of the political spectrum. Tea party
libertarian Republicans and Democratic civil rights advocates —
generally at odds — were united behind an amendment to a must-pass
defense spending bill that would defund the National Security Agency’s mass collection of Americans’ phone records.
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"THIS JUST IN! HE REJECTS THE PROFILE!"
Friday, July 26, 2013
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Rep. Barbara Lee
Thursday, July 25, 2013
THIS JUST IN! HE REJECTS THE PROFILE!
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE
CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O IS BEING PSYCHOLOGICALLY PROFILED AND IT IS NOT PRETTY. THE WORK OF ROBERT J. BURROWS DETAILS A MAN WHO WAS NEVER TAUGHT COMPASSION AND LEARNED VIOLENCE IS ITS OWN REWARD.
REACHED FOR COMMENT, BARRY O TOLD THESE REPORTERS, "IT'S ALL FALSE! ALL OF IT! THIS IS WHY I HATE PEOPLE! I'M GOING TO ORDER ANOTHER DRONE STRIKE, EXCUSE ME."
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
While Ed Snowden was asked of, Iraq was not raised at either the State Dept press briefing or Carney's Air Force One briefing. This despite the fact that US officials say Iraq is now in the midst of a civil war. From Tuesday's Today (NBC):
Richard Engel: Iraq is now back in a civil war, US officials tell NBC News. The hard fought US surge there, the benefits of American war to stop Iraq's civil war, are being wiped out. In car bombs, ambushes and gun fights more than 250 killed in ten days. Abu Ghraib prison notorious for American abuses and humiliations that United States [. . .] remains an open wound. On Sunday, attackers free hundreds some say up to 500 inmates in a jail break include dozens of al Qaeda fighters.
The Sunday prison attacks and breaks only became news outside of Iraq when the number of prisoners who escaped (between 500 and one thousand) was announced on Monday. Yesterday, the Islamic State of Iraq claimed credit for the two prison assaults and breaks. On yesterday's Nightly News with Brian Williams, Richard Engel reported on Iraq.
Richard Engel: Iraq is back in a civil war -- bad for Iraqis. More than 600 killed just this month in bombings and Sunni versus Shi'ite vengeance. And bad for Americans -- after all nearly 4,500 US troops died to bring stability to this strategic, oil rich country A trillion dollars was spent, hundreds of thousands of American troops were deployed and deployed again. But now Iraq is tearing itself apart again. al Qaeda in Iraq won a big victory this weekend, perhaps enough to reconstitute itself. They staged a major prison break, a major assault on Iraq's notorious Abu Ghraib Prison. Hundreds of militants were freed from their cells. Iraqi officials today said at least 250. al Qaeda in Iraq puts the number even higher at 500. Militants stormed the prison, car bombs blasting open the gates, as suicide bombers rushed in and reinforcements fought off guards with mortars and assault rifles. Nothing good seems to come from Abu Ghraib. It was Saddam Hussein's dungeon. After his fall, it held US detainees and became infamous for graphic images of prisoner abuse and humiliation. And now a prison break releasing militants who will likely target the Iraqi government but who also have years of training fighting American troops. Richard Engel, NBC News.
AFP's Mohamad Ali Harissi spoke with The World (PRI) today noting:
Sunday night, just one or two hours before midnight, two prisons -- one in the north and one in the west of Baghdad -- were attacked at the same time and the battle continued until six or seven a.m. the next morning . At least twenty police men and soldiers were killed and at least 26 prisoners died in these battles. But what's more important is that hundreds of prisoners escaped from both prisoners.
The World also featured a conversation with guest host Carol Hills Time's Michael Crowley. Excerpt.
Matthew Crowley: I think the most worrisome aspect of this is the larger context: Sectarian violence in the region if flaring up, to say the least. ... To be honest, I don't know which is worse. In other words, should we be more concerned that al Qaeda in Iraq is strong enough, savy enough emboldened enough that they would stage these attacks? Or is the more concerning part that they have now freed a large number of their hardened brothers in arms who had been taken off the battlefield, so to speak? And incidentally one expert on Iraq to whome I spoke with something called the Institute for the Study of War here in Washington, a former army intelligence officer, said that al Qaeda leaders in these prisons actually become more radicalized when they're in prison. In fact, they may actually have become more dangerous in captivity. [. . .]
Carol Hills: Most US troops pulled out of Iraq more than a year ago and the idea was that Iraq was fairly secure. And so this prison break can't bode well in what area. What does this mean?
Michael Crowley: In the piece I wrote about this for Time.com today, I opened with Barack Obama's presidency has been filled with several surprises in the Middle East but, actually, up until now, Iraq has not been one of them.
How serious has the prison break become? INTERPOL issued the following today:
LYON, France – A regional security alert has been issued by INTERPOL at the request of Iraq following a mass breakout from two Iraqi prisons involving hundreds of dangerous prisoners, many of them members of Al-Qaida.
During the night of 21 July, gunmen attacked the Taji and Abu Ghraib prisons near Baghdad using mortars to gain access and free the prisoners, killing at least 20 members of the Iraqi security forces in the process. INTERPOL said the jailbreaks constituted a major threat to global security.
Many of the escaped prisoners were senior-level Al-Qaida members, some of whom had been sentenced to death.
Following confirmation of the escape from INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Baghdad, the Command and Coordination Centre at the General Secretariat headquarters issued the alert to member countries in the region to warn them of the threat posed by the fugitives.
INTERPOL is working closely with NCB Baghdad to collect information on the escaped prisoners, including photographs and fingerprints, with the view to issuing a global Orange Notice, to assist law enforcement officers regionally and worldwide in their search and eventual identification of the fugitives.
An Orange Notice can be issued by INTERPOL’s General Secretariat or an NCB for any act or event that poses a serious and imminent threat to the safety of citizens around the world.
A resolution underlining the need for member countries to alert the General Secretariat to prison escapes of suspected terrorists and other dangerous criminals was adopted at the INTERPOL General Assembly in 2006.
In addition to the INTERPOL notice, others are weighing in on possible meanings. Jabbar Yaseen and Liz Sly (Washington Post) quote the Middle East Forum's Aymenn al-Tamimi stating, "This is a significant milestone in the resurgence of al-Qaeda in Iraq,” he said. “A good deal of the progress achieved from 2006 onwards has essentially been undone now.” David Blair (Telegraph of London) observes, "The mass breakout from two of Iraq’s biggest prisons is yet more evidence of how close the country is to suffering the terrible sectarian bloodshed of 2006-07 once again. [. . .] The increasingly poisonous and sectarian nature of Iraqi politics – with Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, purging Sunnis from his government – is leading to greater alienation and violence."
The break outs and the increased violence are also prompting comments from Iraqis. Sunday, Cleric and movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr has already decried the 'leadership' that has allowed the problems to emerge and thrive. Today, All Iraq News reports National Dialogue Front MP Haidar al-Mulla is calling for Nouri al-Maliki to be replaced as a result of "his failure in running the security file." Mulla is quoted stating, "All realize well the failur of the CGAF in running the security institution in light of the continuing security breaches over the past eight years especially after Maliki dominated the management of this file without engaging any other side. The one-sided administration of the security file proved failure, so the issue needs changing the CGAF and his strategy and plans." Nouri should be held accountable for the security failures. He is over the security ministries having refused to nominate anyone to head them. Over a year ago, Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) observed, "Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has struggled to forge a lasting power-sharing agreement and has yet to fill key Cabinet positions, including the ministers of defense, interior and national security, while his backers have also shown signs of wobbling support." These positions were supposed to be filled no later than December 2010. They have never been filled. The Constitution requires they be filled for someone to be moved from "prime minister-designate" to "prime minister." But the Iraqi Constitution was circumvented by the US-brokered Erbil Agreement.
The Erbil Agreement was needed because Nouri's State of Law came in second and Barack was adamant that, the will of the Iraqi people be damned, Nouri would have a second term.
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"THIS JUST IN! THE FAIRY TALE UNRAVLES!"
CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O IS BEING PSYCHOLOGICALLY PROFILED AND IT IS NOT PRETTY. THE WORK OF ROBERT J. BURROWS DETAILS A MAN WHO WAS NEVER TAUGHT COMPASSION AND LEARNED VIOLENCE IS ITS OWN REWARD.
REACHED FOR COMMENT, BARRY O TOLD THESE REPORTERS, "IT'S ALL FALSE! ALL OF IT! THIS IS WHY I HATE PEOPLE! I'M GOING TO ORDER ANOTHER DRONE STRIKE, EXCUSE ME."
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
While Ed Snowden was asked of, Iraq was not raised at either the State Dept press briefing or Carney's Air Force One briefing. This despite the fact that US officials say Iraq is now in the midst of a civil war. From Tuesday's Today (NBC):
Richard Engel: Iraq is now back in a civil war, US officials tell NBC News. The hard fought US surge there, the benefits of American war to stop Iraq's civil war, are being wiped out. In car bombs, ambushes and gun fights more than 250 killed in ten days. Abu Ghraib prison notorious for American abuses and humiliations that United States [. . .] remains an open wound. On Sunday, attackers free hundreds some say up to 500 inmates in a jail break include dozens of al Qaeda fighters.
The Sunday prison attacks and breaks only became news outside of Iraq when the number of prisoners who escaped (between 500 and one thousand) was announced on Monday. Yesterday, the Islamic State of Iraq claimed credit for the two prison assaults and breaks. On yesterday's Nightly News with Brian Williams, Richard Engel reported on Iraq.
Richard Engel: Iraq is back in a civil war -- bad for Iraqis. More than 600 killed just this month in bombings and Sunni versus Shi'ite vengeance. And bad for Americans -- after all nearly 4,500 US troops died to bring stability to this strategic, oil rich country A trillion dollars was spent, hundreds of thousands of American troops were deployed and deployed again. But now Iraq is tearing itself apart again. al Qaeda in Iraq won a big victory this weekend, perhaps enough to reconstitute itself. They staged a major prison break, a major assault on Iraq's notorious Abu Ghraib Prison. Hundreds of militants were freed from their cells. Iraqi officials today said at least 250. al Qaeda in Iraq puts the number even higher at 500. Militants stormed the prison, car bombs blasting open the gates, as suicide bombers rushed in and reinforcements fought off guards with mortars and assault rifles. Nothing good seems to come from Abu Ghraib. It was Saddam Hussein's dungeon. After his fall, it held US detainees and became infamous for graphic images of prisoner abuse and humiliation. And now a prison break releasing militants who will likely target the Iraqi government but who also have years of training fighting American troops. Richard Engel, NBC News.
AFP's Mohamad Ali Harissi spoke with The World (PRI) today noting:
Sunday night, just one or two hours before midnight, two prisons -- one in the north and one in the west of Baghdad -- were attacked at the same time and the battle continued until six or seven a.m. the next morning . At least twenty police men and soldiers were killed and at least 26 prisoners died in these battles. But what's more important is that hundreds of prisoners escaped from both prisoners.
The World also featured a conversation with guest host Carol Hills Time's Michael Crowley. Excerpt.
Matthew Crowley: I think the most worrisome aspect of this is the larger context: Sectarian violence in the region if flaring up, to say the least. ... To be honest, I don't know which is worse. In other words, should we be more concerned that al Qaeda in Iraq is strong enough, savy enough emboldened enough that they would stage these attacks? Or is the more concerning part that they have now freed a large number of their hardened brothers in arms who had been taken off the battlefield, so to speak? And incidentally one expert on Iraq to whome I spoke with something called the Institute for the Study of War here in Washington, a former army intelligence officer, said that al Qaeda leaders in these prisons actually become more radicalized when they're in prison. In fact, they may actually have become more dangerous in captivity. [. . .]
Carol Hills: Most US troops pulled out of Iraq more than a year ago and the idea was that Iraq was fairly secure. And so this prison break can't bode well in what area. What does this mean?
Michael Crowley: In the piece I wrote about this for Time.com today, I opened with Barack Obama's presidency has been filled with several surprises in the Middle East but, actually, up until now, Iraq has not been one of them.
How serious has the prison break become? INTERPOL issued the following today:
LYON, France – A regional security alert has been issued by INTERPOL at the request of Iraq following a mass breakout from two Iraqi prisons involving hundreds of dangerous prisoners, many of them members of Al-Qaida.
During the night of 21 July, gunmen attacked the Taji and Abu Ghraib prisons near Baghdad using mortars to gain access and free the prisoners, killing at least 20 members of the Iraqi security forces in the process. INTERPOL said the jailbreaks constituted a major threat to global security.
Many of the escaped prisoners were senior-level Al-Qaida members, some of whom had been sentenced to death.
Following confirmation of the escape from INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Baghdad, the Command and Coordination Centre at the General Secretariat headquarters issued the alert to member countries in the region to warn them of the threat posed by the fugitives.
INTERPOL is working closely with NCB Baghdad to collect information on the escaped prisoners, including photographs and fingerprints, with the view to issuing a global Orange Notice, to assist law enforcement officers regionally and worldwide in their search and eventual identification of the fugitives.
An Orange Notice can be issued by INTERPOL’s General Secretariat or an NCB for any act or event that poses a serious and imminent threat to the safety of citizens around the world.
A resolution underlining the need for member countries to alert the General Secretariat to prison escapes of suspected terrorists and other dangerous criminals was adopted at the INTERPOL General Assembly in 2006.
In addition to the INTERPOL notice, others are weighing in on possible meanings. Jabbar Yaseen and Liz Sly (Washington Post) quote the Middle East Forum's Aymenn al-Tamimi stating, "This is a significant milestone in the resurgence of al-Qaeda in Iraq,” he said. “A good deal of the progress achieved from 2006 onwards has essentially been undone now.” David Blair (Telegraph of London) observes, "The mass breakout from two of Iraq’s biggest prisons is yet more evidence of how close the country is to suffering the terrible sectarian bloodshed of 2006-07 once again. [. . .] The increasingly poisonous and sectarian nature of Iraqi politics – with Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, purging Sunnis from his government – is leading to greater alienation and violence."
The break outs and the increased violence are also prompting comments from Iraqis. Sunday, Cleric and movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr has already decried the 'leadership' that has allowed the problems to emerge and thrive. Today, All Iraq News reports National Dialogue Front MP Haidar al-Mulla is calling for Nouri al-Maliki to be replaced as a result of "his failure in running the security file." Mulla is quoted stating, "All realize well the failur of the CGAF in running the security institution in light of the continuing security breaches over the past eight years especially after Maliki dominated the management of this file without engaging any other side. The one-sided administration of the security file proved failure, so the issue needs changing the CGAF and his strategy and plans." Nouri should be held accountable for the security failures. He is over the security ministries having refused to nominate anyone to head them. Over a year ago, Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) observed, "Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has struggled to forge a lasting power-sharing agreement and has yet to fill key Cabinet positions, including the ministers of defense, interior and national security, while his backers have also shown signs of wobbling support." These positions were supposed to be filled no later than December 2010. They have never been filled. The Constitution requires they be filled for someone to be moved from "prime minister-designate" to "prime minister." But the Iraqi Constitution was circumvented by the US-brokered Erbil Agreement.
The Erbil Agreement was needed because Nouri's State of Law came in second and Barack was adamant that, the will of the Iraqi people be damned, Nouri would have a second term.
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"THIS JUST IN! THE FAIRY TALE UNRAVLES!"
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
THIS JUST IN! THE FAIRY TALE UNRAVLES!
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE
AMERICA'S PRINCESS BARRY O REMAINS UPSET OVER THE BIRTH OF THE ROYAL PRINCE IN ENGLAND.
"HE'S CONVINCED THAT THE BABY HAS CUT INTO HIS OWN POPULARITY," VALERIE JARRETT WHISPERED TO THESE REPORTERS EARLY THIS MORNING AT AN UNDISCLOSED MDONALD'S IN THE CAPITOL WHERE SHE WAS PLIED WITH SAUSAGE MCMUFFINS.
AS SHE DEMANDED CINAMON MELTS, JARRETT INSISTED, "BITCH BE TRIPPING. HE IS SO UNPOPULAR AND SO UNLOVED THAT I TEASE HIM HE'S THE NEW MILLI VANILLI. YOU WATCH MUCH VH-1 BEHIND THE MUSIC?"
A NEW WALL STREET JOURNAL - NBC POLL FINDS 50% OF AMERICANS DISAPPROVE OF BARRY O'S JOB PERFORMANCE WHILE A MCCLATCHY - MARIST POLL FINDS 52% OF AMERICANS DISAPPROVE OF BARRY O'S JOB PERFORMANCE.
BURROWING THROUGH A FRUIT 'N YOGURT PARFAIT, JARRETT INSISTED, "FOOL'S LOST IT. HE'S CONVINCED ALL HE NEEDS TO DO IS TAKE HIS SHIRT OFF DURING NEXT MONTH'S VACATION AND THE PEOPLE WILL LOVE HIM ALL OVER AGAIN. DAMN IT, WHERE'S THE GRANOLA THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN THIS PARFAIT?"
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Through Monday, Iraq Body Count counts 684 violent deaths in Iraq so far this month. With eights days left in the month, AFP is declaring July to have "the highest monthly figure in a year marked by spiraling violence."
Federal News Radio notes, "Hundreds of convicts, including senior members of al Qaeda, broke out of Iraq's Abu Ghraib jail after comrades launched a military-style assault, authorities said on Monday." The Sunday prison news only became news outside of Iraq when the number of prisoners who escaped were announced on Monday. Dan Murphy (Christian Science Monitor) concludes:
These weren't attacks on mosques or markets, designed to spread terror by killing unprepared civilians in public spaces. These were attacks on the militarized prisons of Abu Ghraib and Taji, both of which have large contingents of insurgents among their inmates and have long been targets for Iraq's jihadis. Yet the government of Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was forced to scramble attack helicopters and rush troops to join pitched battles. Even so, they may not have staved off a stunning symbolic defeat.
Alsumaria reports today that al Qaeada in Iraq has issued a statement claiming responsibility for 'invading' the prisons in Abu Ghraib and Taji and breaking down the walls to allow for the release of the prisoners. BBC News adds, "In an online statement, al-Qaeda said Sunday's attack was the final one in a campaign aimed at freeing inmates and targeting justice system officials." Salam Faraj and Mohamad Ali Harissi (AAP) point out the note proclaims "dark days ahead."
Ari Soffer (Israel National News) explains, " Iraqi officials had initially denied that any prisoners had escaped, but were forced to backtrack as the sheer scale of the jailbreak became clear." Mohammed Tawfeeq and Joe Sterling (CNN) note, "At least 21 inmates and at least eight prison guards were killed, the Iraqi Justice Ministry said, while 25 inmates and 14 guards were wounded." Mona Mahmood and Peter Beaumont (Guardian) report:
Yousef Ali had just sat down at his home near Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison at shortly after 9pm on Sunday evening to break his Ramadan fast when he was startled by the sound of explosions from the direction of the prison. "We began to hear mortars and gunfire, followed by two car bombs," he said. "We could tell there was a big fight inside the prison. We could see aircraft hovering above the prison and nearby areas."
The scope and magnitude of the attacks drawfed earlier attempts at breaking out which is another reason that the prison attacks and break outs are news. Also making the events news? The issue of how and the issue of what it says about the state of Iraq today as well as the issue of the attempt to locate the escapees. On the last one, Carol J. Williams (Los Angeles Times) reports, "Iraqi security forces on Tuesday set up dragnets at airports and along highways leading out of the country in a hunt for hundreds of Al Qaeda-allied militants broken out of jail by a massive, coordinated assault on two prisons near Baghdad, Arab media reported." NBC News' Richard Engel reported (video and text) on the prison break this morning for NBC's Today:
Checkpoints were set up Tuesday as the search continued for up to 500 militants freed by the attack, which followed the deaths of 250 Iraqis in 10 days of violence.
[. . .]
They added that checkpoints had been set up around Abu Ghraib, as the search for the escapees continued.
Both attacks took place exactly a year after The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's most senior leader, Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, launched a campaign dubbed "Breaking the Walls" to make freeing imprisoned members a top priority.
“The mujahideen brigades set off after months of preparation and planning to target two of the biggest prisons of the Safavid government," the group said in the statement, Tuesday.
Suada al-Salhy (Reuters) also quotes that section of the statement from the Islamic State of Iraq, "In response to the call of the mujahid (holy warrior) Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to seal the blessed plan of 'Breaking the Walls'... the mujahideen brigades set off after months of preparation and planning to target two of the biggest prisons of the Safavid government." David Blair (Telegraph of London) offers this on the statement and its meaning:
Let's move on to the questions of how the two attacks were carried out. Colin Freeman (Telegraph of London) notes that questions are being asked about the hows of the attack and break out:
Questions were also asked as to why it took the Iraqi government 10 hours to send in helicopter gunships to quell the fighting at Abu Ghraib, a delay that some said suggested poor command and control within the security establishment.
One Iraqi politician, who asked not to be named, claimed that the assault on the prison at Taji was planned simply to divert security forces from what was to be the main strike at Abu Ghraib, where an estimated 15,000 inmates are held.
He added that a number of senior Sunni guards at Abu Ghraib had gone missing since, and that it was possible that they had been acting as "inside men". Other reports claimed that inmates had started riots just prior to the attacks to distract the guards, and had been armed with weapons.
Adam Schreck (AP) observes, "The attacks, among the most stunning in Iraq since a surge in violence began in April, have provoked sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers of the government's efforts to keep the country's safe." All Iraq News notes that cleric and movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr has declared the prison attacks are the "beginning of the terrorist attacks and the biggest security breach in Iraq." He is calling for Nouri and others to appear before the Parliament for questioning. Ibrahim al-Jaafari is the head of the Iraqi National Alliance. He is also a former prime minister of Iraq and, had the White House not stepped in, but would have been renamed prime minister for a second term. (Instead, in 2006, the Bush White House insisted Nouri be named prime minister; just as, in 2010, the Barack White House insisted Nouri get a second term despite the will of the voters.) All Iraq News reports that al-Jaafari is calling for an investigation into the prison attacks and escape. Comments are also coming in from US observers. RT offers:
However, despite widespread claims that the escapees are largely affiliated with Al-Qaeda, there is no way of knowing, says Sara Flounders, head of the International Action Center. She also told RT that not much is known about Abu Ghraib itself after the US handed over control to the Iraqi government, following its withdrawal from the country.
“The state of security hasn’t substantially improved since. We know also there are many operatives left in Iraq that continue US policy aims. There’s a lot that’s uncertain and unknown today in Iraq. We do know there was a prison break. But before we rush to label everyone Al-Qaeda, let’s be aware that Abu Ghraib itself as a prison was notorious for US torture techniques… it was turned back over to the Iraqi government and we have no idea if any conditions improved.”
But ultimately, Flounders concludes that the international audience shouldn’t be surprised at the news, because Western efforts in Iraq have not shown any signs of addressing the actual spread of sectarian violence after the toppling of Saddam Hussein, while billions of dollars were misspent – an opinion shared by defense consultant Moeen Raoof.
“The Iraqi government isn’t controlling anything… [It] hasn’t been spending its oil funds on security… the toppling of Saddam Hussein was a fatal, fatal mistake,” one that will be repeated in Afghanistan, after complete US withdrawal, he believes.
And there's is criticism from a US Senator. Lauren Fox (US News and World Reports) notes:
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., blamed the Obama Administration Tuesday for the massive prison break in Abu Ghraib outside of Baghdad.
"It's the result of our failure to leave a residual force behind. The whole place is unraveling," McCain says. "We won the peace and lost the war. It is really tragic. And those people who are out of Abu Ghraib now, they are heading right to Syria."
Press TV finds someone who also feels the US government is to blame -- along with the British government:
“This is a legacy of the occupation of Iraq by the United States and the British for the past ten years or so,” said Sabah Jawad in a Tuesday interview.
“They recruited a lot of pro-Ba’athists within the security system. There [are] a lot of people in the security system who do not feel allegiance to Iraq as such,” he added.
The analyst highlighted links between the terrorists in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East, including in Syria, and said, “They (terrorists) have links with the regional powers. They are part and parcel of the whole plan to destabilize and divide the Middle East on sectarian lines as well.”
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"THIS JUST IN! ANGST!"
AMERICA'S PRINCESS BARRY O REMAINS UPSET OVER THE BIRTH OF THE ROYAL PRINCE IN ENGLAND.
"HE'S CONVINCED THAT THE BABY HAS CUT INTO HIS OWN POPULARITY," VALERIE JARRETT WHISPERED TO THESE REPORTERS EARLY THIS MORNING AT AN UNDISCLOSED MDONALD'S IN THE CAPITOL WHERE SHE WAS PLIED WITH SAUSAGE MCMUFFINS.
AS SHE DEMANDED CINAMON MELTS, JARRETT INSISTED, "BITCH BE TRIPPING. HE IS SO UNPOPULAR AND SO UNLOVED THAT I TEASE HIM HE'S THE NEW MILLI VANILLI. YOU WATCH MUCH VH-1 BEHIND THE MUSIC?"
A NEW WALL STREET JOURNAL - NBC POLL FINDS 50% OF AMERICANS DISAPPROVE OF BARRY O'S JOB PERFORMANCE WHILE A MCCLATCHY - MARIST POLL FINDS 52% OF AMERICANS DISAPPROVE OF BARRY O'S JOB PERFORMANCE.
BURROWING THROUGH A FRUIT 'N YOGURT PARFAIT, JARRETT INSISTED, "FOOL'S LOST IT. HE'S CONVINCED ALL HE NEEDS TO DO IS TAKE HIS SHIRT OFF DURING NEXT MONTH'S VACATION AND THE PEOPLE WILL LOVE HIM ALL OVER AGAIN. DAMN IT, WHERE'S THE GRANOLA THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN THIS PARFAIT?"
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Through Monday, Iraq Body Count counts 684 violent deaths in Iraq so far this month. With eights days left in the month, AFP is declaring July to have "the highest monthly figure in a year marked by spiraling violence."
Federal News Radio notes, "Hundreds of convicts, including senior members of al Qaeda, broke out of Iraq's Abu Ghraib jail after comrades launched a military-style assault, authorities said on Monday." The Sunday prison news only became news outside of Iraq when the number of prisoners who escaped were announced on Monday. Dan Murphy (Christian Science Monitor) concludes:
These weren't attacks on mosques or markets, designed to spread terror by killing unprepared civilians in public spaces. These were attacks on the militarized prisons of Abu Ghraib and Taji, both of which have large contingents of insurgents among their inmates and have long been targets for Iraq's jihadis. Yet the government of Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was forced to scramble attack helicopters and rush troops to join pitched battles. Even so, they may not have staved off a stunning symbolic defeat.
Alsumaria reports today that al Qaeada in Iraq has issued a statement claiming responsibility for 'invading' the prisons in Abu Ghraib and Taji and breaking down the walls to allow for the release of the prisoners. BBC News adds, "In an online statement, al-Qaeda said Sunday's attack was the final one in a campaign aimed at freeing inmates and targeting justice system officials." Salam Faraj and Mohamad Ali Harissi (AAP) point out the note proclaims "dark days ahead."
Ari Soffer (Israel National News) explains, " Iraqi officials had initially denied that any prisoners had escaped, but were forced to backtrack as the sheer scale of the jailbreak became clear." Mohammed Tawfeeq and Joe Sterling (CNN) note, "At least 21 inmates and at least eight prison guards were killed, the Iraqi Justice Ministry said, while 25 inmates and 14 guards were wounded." Mona Mahmood and Peter Beaumont (Guardian) report:
Yousef Ali had just sat down at his home near Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison at shortly after 9pm on Sunday evening to break his Ramadan fast when he was startled by the sound of explosions from the direction of the prison. "We began to hear mortars and gunfire, followed by two car bombs," he said. "We could tell there was a big fight inside the prison. We could see aircraft hovering above the prison and nearby areas."
The scope and magnitude of the attacks drawfed earlier attempts at breaking out which is another reason that the prison attacks and break outs are news. Also making the events news? The issue of how and the issue of what it says about the state of Iraq today as well as the issue of the attempt to locate the escapees. On the last one, Carol J. Williams (Los Angeles Times) reports, "Iraqi security forces on Tuesday set up dragnets at airports and along highways leading out of the country in a hunt for hundreds of Al Qaeda-allied militants broken out of jail by a massive, coordinated assault on two prisons near Baghdad, Arab media reported." NBC News' Richard Engel reported (video and text) on the prison break this morning for NBC's Today:
Checkpoints were set up Tuesday as the search continued for up to 500 militants freed by the attack, which followed the deaths of 250 Iraqis in 10 days of violence.
[. . .]
They added that checkpoints had been set up around Abu Ghraib, as the search for the escapees continued.
Both attacks took place exactly a year after The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's most senior leader, Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, launched a campaign dubbed "Breaking the Walls" to make freeing imprisoned members a top priority.
“The mujahideen brigades set off after months of preparation and planning to target two of the biggest prisons of the Safavid government," the group said in the statement, Tuesday.
Suada al-Salhy (Reuters) also quotes that section of the statement from the Islamic State of Iraq, "In response to the call of the mujahid (holy warrior) Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to seal the blessed plan of 'Breaking the Walls'... the mujahideen brigades set off after months of preparation and planning to target two of the biggest prisons of the Safavid government." David Blair (Telegraph of London) offers this on the statement and its meaning:
No Iraqi would have missed the subliminal message of al-Qaeda’s triumphant
announcement yesterday. When the movement’s leaders claimed credit for two
audacious prison breaks outside Baghdad, they declared how “months of
preparation and planning” had culminated in these blows against a “Safavid
government”.
The Safavids have not actually been in government for a while – for a good 300
years, in fact. They were a Persian dynasty that dominated Iran and its
empire, including a big slice of present-day Iraq, in the 16th and 17th
centuries. Under their founder, Shah Ismail I, the Safavids managed the
extraordinary feat of making Shia Islam the state religion in Iran, while
imposing their faith on conquered peoples living between the Tigris and
Euphrates.
Iraqis will grasp the analogy: al-Qaeda’s Sunni zealots believe that the Shia
politicians who dominate Baghdad today are heirs to foreign invaders. Once,
the violence in Iraq was directed towards the Anglo-American occupiers;
today, the killing has become a sectarian struggle between a Shia majority
that holds the reins of power and a beleaguered Sunni minority.
Let's move on to the questions of how the two attacks were carried out. Colin Freeman (Telegraph of London) notes that questions are being asked about the hows of the attack and break out:
Questions were also asked as to why it took the Iraqi government 10 hours to send in helicopter gunships to quell the fighting at Abu Ghraib, a delay that some said suggested poor command and control within the security establishment.
One Iraqi politician, who asked not to be named, claimed that the assault on the prison at Taji was planned simply to divert security forces from what was to be the main strike at Abu Ghraib, where an estimated 15,000 inmates are held.
He added that a number of senior Sunni guards at Abu Ghraib had gone missing since, and that it was possible that they had been acting as "inside men". Other reports claimed that inmates had started riots just prior to the attacks to distract the guards, and had been armed with weapons.
Adam Schreck (AP) observes, "The attacks, among the most stunning in Iraq since a surge in violence began in April, have provoked sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers of the government's efforts to keep the country's safe." All Iraq News notes that cleric and movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr has declared the prison attacks are the "beginning of the terrorist attacks and the biggest security breach in Iraq." He is calling for Nouri and others to appear before the Parliament for questioning. Ibrahim al-Jaafari is the head of the Iraqi National Alliance. He is also a former prime minister of Iraq and, had the White House not stepped in, but would have been renamed prime minister for a second term. (Instead, in 2006, the Bush White House insisted Nouri be named prime minister; just as, in 2010, the Barack White House insisted Nouri get a second term despite the will of the voters.) All Iraq News reports that al-Jaafari is calling for an investigation into the prison attacks and escape. Comments are also coming in from US observers. RT offers:
However, despite widespread claims that the escapees are largely affiliated with Al-Qaeda, there is no way of knowing, says Sara Flounders, head of the International Action Center. She also told RT that not much is known about Abu Ghraib itself after the US handed over control to the Iraqi government, following its withdrawal from the country.
“The state of security hasn’t substantially improved since. We know also there are many operatives left in Iraq that continue US policy aims. There’s a lot that’s uncertain and unknown today in Iraq. We do know there was a prison break. But before we rush to label everyone Al-Qaeda, let’s be aware that Abu Ghraib itself as a prison was notorious for US torture techniques… it was turned back over to the Iraqi government and we have no idea if any conditions improved.”
But ultimately, Flounders concludes that the international audience shouldn’t be surprised at the news, because Western efforts in Iraq have not shown any signs of addressing the actual spread of sectarian violence after the toppling of Saddam Hussein, while billions of dollars were misspent – an opinion shared by defense consultant Moeen Raoof.
“The Iraqi government isn’t controlling anything… [It] hasn’t been spending its oil funds on security… the toppling of Saddam Hussein was a fatal, fatal mistake,” one that will be repeated in Afghanistan, after complete US withdrawal, he believes.
And there's is criticism from a US Senator. Lauren Fox (US News and World Reports) notes:
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., blamed the Obama Administration Tuesday for the massive prison break in Abu Ghraib outside of Baghdad.
"It's the result of our failure to leave a residual force behind. The whole place is unraveling," McCain says. "We won the peace and lost the war. It is really tragic. And those people who are out of Abu Ghraib now, they are heading right to Syria."
Press TV finds someone who also feels the US government is to blame -- along with the British government:
“This is a legacy of the occupation of Iraq by the United States and the British for the past ten years or so,” said Sabah Jawad in a Tuesday interview.
“They recruited a lot of pro-Ba’athists within the security system. There [are] a lot of people in the security system who do not feel allegiance to Iraq as such,” he added.
The analyst highlighted links between the terrorists in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East, including in Syria, and said, “They (terrorists) have links with the regional powers. They are part and parcel of the whole plan to destabilize and divide the Middle East on sectarian lines as well.”
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"Detroit"
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"Mistresses"
"The Drone War"
"Barack's Drone War"
"Mistresses"
"Why Helen Thomas' peers killed her in 2010"
"Congress wants to give more money to warfare"
"Once upon a time . . ."
"THIS JUST IN! ANGST!"
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
THIS JUST IN! ANGST!
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE
CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O CONGRATULATED KATE MIDDLETON AND PRINCE WILLIAM ON THE BIRTH OF THEIR BABY PRINCE.
HE THEN BROKE DOWN SOBBING WONDERING, "IF I'M NOT THE YOUNG PRINCE ANYMORE WHAT AM I?"
WHITE HOUSE PLUS SPOKESMODEL JAY CARNEY AND TOKEN LITTLE PERSON VALERIE JARRETT RUSHED TO ASSURE HIM HE WAS STILL CELEBRITY IN CHIEF AND BELOVED BY ALL IN THE VILLAGE BUT BARRY O WAS HAVING NONE OF IT.
"IF I'M NOT THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL, I'M NOTHING!" BARRY O WAILED.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
How bad are things in Iraq today? So bad that the issue was actually raised to State Dept press spokesperson Jen Psaki in today's briefing:
QUESTION: Iraq?
QUESTION: You don’t think that you’re trying to avoid anything here?
MS. PSAKI: I think this has become a game, so I’m moving on to the next question.
QUESTION: Yeah. Insurgents in Iraq attacked two prisons during the weekend and freed more than 1,000 prisoners, most of them from al-Qaida. Are you aware of that? And to what extent you are concerned?
MS. PSAKI: I’m not – I haven’t seen this report that you’re referring to, but I’m happy to look into it.
QUESTION: Well, still on Iraq.
QUESTION: Jen --
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: On Iraq?
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: Yeah. Okay. This morning, I saw Mr. Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in Iraq. It’s his last day. He paints a very bad picture of what’s going on in Iraq. And the feeling – not from him, but from others – I’m getting that the United States actually is not involved. It’s looking sort of neutrally at all this violence that’s going on.
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm. Well, I would refute that, Said. We are deeply concerned by the levels of violence. We’re encouraged that many political and religious leaders have taken a strong stance against this violence, which is very important, and that they’ve continued to explore ways to address ongoing political and security issues. We welcome recent political developments, including the reciprocal visits in Erbil and Baghdad between Prime Minister Maliki and Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Barzani, discussions by Iraqi leaders to address issues arising from recent protests in western Iraq, and legislative initiatives in the Iraqi parliament.
In terms of our involvement, U.S. officials in Baghdad and Washington remain intensely engaged with senior Iraqi leaders to support their efforts to resolve differences through direct dialogue and the political process. The level of our engagement is reflected even recently by calls placed last week by Vice President Biden to Iraqi leaders, and we’ll continue to work with leaders to overcome the threat of terrorism and their efforts to bring justice to those who continue to perpetrate* such despicable crimes.
We should all be very disturbed that the State Dept spokesperson had no idea on Monday afternoon about the prison attacks Sunday evening. Iraq has seen many prison breaks in the last year. But yesterday saw two attacks which were rather spectacular:
Meanwhile in Iraq, NINA notes that unidentified gunmen began "simultaneously attacking the Taji and Abu Ghraib prisons" with gun fire, "improvised explosive devices and RPG launchers." They also report that the military and the police ("supported with helicopters") were surrounding the prisons. Jack Phillips (Epoch Times) adds:
Al Jazeera reported on its front page that the attack was taking place on Sunday night, and involved assailants with rocket-propelled grenades, but it did not offer more details.
The Associated Press also confirmed there were clashes at the prison on Sunday.
Charles Lister, with IHS Jane’s Terrorism & Insurgency Centre–an intelligence organization, wrote that a “senior ISIS commander claims Abu Ghraib & Taji prison attacks have been a success. Convoys of escaped prisoners now en route to ‘safety.’” At around 6 p.m., Lister added that “several jihadi sources claim fighting is over at Abu Ghraib.”
Jane Arraf (Al Jazeera -- report is text and video) notes of the attacks, "[Abu Ghraib prison] is now home to several high-ranking al-Qaeda prisoners, as is the prison in Taji. It appears to be an attempt to free those prisoners." All Iraq News reports that the prison attacks have been stopped. Alsumaria adds that, during the attack, prisoners in Abu Ghraib rioted and burned portions of the prison.
Again, how does the US State Dept, spending billions in Iraq, not know of the events from Sunday. Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) observes, "Security forces battled militants outside two major penitentiaries near the Iraqi capital of Baghdad and thwarted prison breaks, the Justice Ministry said Monday." Press TV notes, "Initial reports said the attacks on prisons had been foiled, and no casualties had been reported." But today, AFP reports, "Militants attacked two Iraqi prisons including the notorious Abu Ghraib in a bid to free inmates, sparking all-night clashes in which at least 41 people, officials said on Monday." France 24 adds, "Commentors on micro-blogging website Twitter, including some accounts apparently operated by jihadists, claimed thousands of prisoners had escaped." National Iraqi News Agency reports on a press conference in Baghdad today in which MP Hakim al-Zamili declaring "that between 500 to one thousand prisoners escaped from Abu Ghraib prison."
What prompted the attacks? No one knows at this point. But Saturday, as NINA reported, Nouri had the army raid Badush Prison at dawn in Nineveh Province and that a prison source "explained that the inspections included all sections including the women's and events' prison, noting that those forces warned prisoners from the use of any of these arms and machines and mobile devices inside the compound. The source did not mention if these things had been confiscated or not." It is possible that the raid on Badush Prison prompted the raids (out of concern for those in the two prisons -- out of concern that future plans would be foiled, whatever).
The Press Trust of India notes, "Iraq is witnessing its worst eruption of violence in five years." BBC News observes, "United Nations figures released earlier in July showed that more than 2,500 Iraqis were killed in violent attacks in the three months from April to June." Through Saturday, Iraq Body Count counts 584 violent deaths for the month of July thus far. Sunday on Al Jazeera, Jane Arraf offers observations on the violence.
Jane Arraf: And really, it's the scope of the targets, the widening of the targets, and the coordinated nature of the attacks such as the eleven car bombs that hit the capital last night that really have people worried. When you think of the amount of coordination that would have to go into that, these security checks they bypassed, the sheer amount of money and then the suicide bombers who have been blowing themselves up lately, it all really points, according to most Iraqis, to an alarming rise in violence here that security forces can't handle.
Ahlul Bayt News Agency reports, "The main causes of terrorism in Iraq and other regional nations are not ignorant or jobless people, but the Global Arrogance, headed by the US and Israeli regime that have extremism under their control and use it in their own favors, Sheikh Khalid al-Mala told al-Alam on Monday."
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CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O CONGRATULATED KATE MIDDLETON AND PRINCE WILLIAM ON THE BIRTH OF THEIR BABY PRINCE.
HE THEN BROKE DOWN SOBBING WONDERING, "IF I'M NOT THE YOUNG PRINCE ANYMORE WHAT AM I?"
WHITE HOUSE PLUS SPOKESMODEL JAY CARNEY AND TOKEN LITTLE PERSON VALERIE JARRETT RUSHED TO ASSURE HIM HE WAS STILL CELEBRITY IN CHIEF AND BELOVED BY ALL IN THE VILLAGE BUT BARRY O WAS HAVING NONE OF IT.
"IF I'M NOT THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL, I'M NOTHING!" BARRY O WAILED.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
How bad are things in Iraq today? So bad that the issue was actually raised to State Dept press spokesperson Jen Psaki in today's briefing:
QUESTION: Iraq?
QUESTION: You don’t think that you’re trying to avoid anything here?
MS. PSAKI: I think this has become a game, so I’m moving on to the next question.
QUESTION: Yeah. Insurgents in Iraq attacked two prisons during the weekend and freed more than 1,000 prisoners, most of them from al-Qaida. Are you aware of that? And to what extent you are concerned?
MS. PSAKI: I’m not – I haven’t seen this report that you’re referring to, but I’m happy to look into it.
QUESTION: Well, still on Iraq.
QUESTION: Jen --
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: On Iraq?
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: Yeah. Okay. This morning, I saw Mr. Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in Iraq. It’s his last day. He paints a very bad picture of what’s going on in Iraq. And the feeling – not from him, but from others – I’m getting that the United States actually is not involved. It’s looking sort of neutrally at all this violence that’s going on.
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm. Well, I would refute that, Said. We are deeply concerned by the levels of violence. We’re encouraged that many political and religious leaders have taken a strong stance against this violence, which is very important, and that they’ve continued to explore ways to address ongoing political and security issues. We welcome recent political developments, including the reciprocal visits in Erbil and Baghdad between Prime Minister Maliki and Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Barzani, discussions by Iraqi leaders to address issues arising from recent protests in western Iraq, and legislative initiatives in the Iraqi parliament.
In terms of our involvement, U.S. officials in Baghdad and Washington remain intensely engaged with senior Iraqi leaders to support their efforts to resolve differences through direct dialogue and the political process. The level of our engagement is reflected even recently by calls placed last week by Vice President Biden to Iraqi leaders, and we’ll continue to work with leaders to overcome the threat of terrorism and their efforts to bring justice to those who continue to perpetrate* such despicable crimes.
We should all be very disturbed that the State Dept spokesperson had no idea on Monday afternoon about the prison attacks Sunday evening. Iraq has seen many prison breaks in the last year. But yesterday saw two attacks which were rather spectacular:
Meanwhile in Iraq, NINA notes that unidentified gunmen began "simultaneously attacking the Taji and Abu Ghraib prisons" with gun fire, "improvised explosive devices and RPG launchers." They also report that the military and the police ("supported with helicopters") were surrounding the prisons. Jack Phillips (Epoch Times) adds:
Al Jazeera reported on its front page that the attack was taking place on Sunday night, and involved assailants with rocket-propelled grenades, but it did not offer more details.
The Associated Press also confirmed there were clashes at the prison on Sunday.
Charles Lister, with IHS Jane’s Terrorism & Insurgency Centre–an intelligence organization, wrote that a “senior ISIS commander claims Abu Ghraib & Taji prison attacks have been a success. Convoys of escaped prisoners now en route to ‘safety.’” At around 6 p.m., Lister added that “several jihadi sources claim fighting is over at Abu Ghraib.”
Jane Arraf (Al Jazeera -- report is text and video) notes of the attacks, "[Abu Ghraib prison] is now home to several high-ranking al-Qaeda prisoners, as is the prison in Taji. It appears to be an attempt to free those prisoners." All Iraq News reports that the prison attacks have been stopped. Alsumaria adds that, during the attack, prisoners in Abu Ghraib rioted and burned portions of the prison.
Again, how does the US State Dept, spending billions in Iraq, not know of the events from Sunday. Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) observes, "Security forces battled militants outside two major penitentiaries near the Iraqi capital of Baghdad and thwarted prison breaks, the Justice Ministry said Monday." Press TV notes, "Initial reports said the attacks on prisons had been foiled, and no casualties had been reported." But today, AFP reports, "Militants attacked two Iraqi prisons including the notorious Abu Ghraib in a bid to free inmates, sparking all-night clashes in which at least 41 people, officials said on Monday." France 24 adds, "Commentors on micro-blogging website Twitter, including some accounts apparently operated by jihadists, claimed thousands of prisoners had escaped." National Iraqi News Agency reports on a press conference in Baghdad today in which MP Hakim al-Zamili declaring "that between 500 to one thousand prisoners escaped from Abu Ghraib prison."
What prompted the attacks? No one knows at this point. But Saturday, as NINA reported, Nouri had the army raid Badush Prison at dawn in Nineveh Province and that a prison source "explained that the inspections included all sections including the women's and events' prison, noting that those forces warned prisoners from the use of any of these arms and machines and mobile devices inside the compound. The source did not mention if these things had been confiscated or not." It is possible that the raid on Badush Prison prompted the raids (out of concern for those in the two prisons -- out of concern that future plans would be foiled, whatever).
The Press Trust of India notes, "Iraq is witnessing its worst eruption of violence in five years." BBC News observes, "United Nations figures released earlier in July showed that more than 2,500 Iraqis were killed in violent attacks in the three months from April to June." Through Saturday, Iraq Body Count counts 584 violent deaths for the month of July thus far. Sunday on Al Jazeera, Jane Arraf offers observations on the violence.
Jane Arraf: And really, it's the scope of the targets, the widening of the targets, and the coordinated nature of the attacks such as the eleven car bombs that hit the capital last night that really have people worried. When you think of the amount of coordination that would have to go into that, these security checks they bypassed, the sheer amount of money and then the suicide bombers who have been blowing themselves up lately, it all really points, according to most Iraqis, to an alarming rise in violence here that security forces can't handle.
Ahlul Bayt News Agency reports, "The main causes of terrorism in Iraq and other regional nations are not ignorant or jobless people, but the Global Arrogance, headed by the US and Israeli regime that have extremism under their control and use it in their own favors, Sheikh Khalid al-Mala told al-Alam on Monday."
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"35 years is the key phrase"
"THIS JUST IN! HE NEEDS A REST!"
Sunday, July 21, 2013
THIS JUST IN! HE NEEDS A REST!
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE
CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O HAS FOUND A CLIMATE MATE: CHINA.
REACHED FOR COMMENT BY THESE REPORTERS, BARRY O TOLD THESE REPORTERS, "NO ONE SHOULD BE SURPRISED BY THIS. CHINA IS ME, 35 YEARS AGO. CHINA COULD HAVE BEEN MY BROTHER."
AT THIS MOMENT, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMODEL JAY CARNEY RUSHED INTO THE ROOM, MUMBLED SOMETHING ABOUT BARRY O BEING "VERY TIRED" ANDHUSTLED HIM OUT OF THE ROOM.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Good for US State Dept spokesperson Marie Harf who did something unheard of today.
Happy Friday. Welcome to the daily briefing. I have something to read at the top, and then happy to open it up to your questions. The United States condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist bombing inside a mosque today in Diyala province in Iraq. Attacks against innocent people are reprehensible. That this attack occurred in a place of worship and during the Holy Month of Ramadan is especially despicable and cowardly and exposes the nature of those perpetrating these attacks. Our condolences go out to the victims of these attacks and their families.
That is how she opened today's press briefing. This was not in response to a question, that is how she opened. Good for Harf, good for the US State Dept. The Congress is giving them billions for Iraq, they need to be noting the country in some manner regularly.
While the State Dept was front and center on the bombing, Nouri's forces were otherwise occupied.
Iraqi Spring MC reports that Nouri's SWAT forces spent the morning forcing Baquba stores to close. Maybe if they had been focused on doing actual work and not terrorizing shop owners, Iraqi Spring MC wouldn't have been reporting the Abu Bakr Mosque in Diyala's Wajihiya district was bombed? This morning, Reuters counted 20 dead and NINA counted at least 60 injured. It's not as though Nouri's SWAT forces contributed nothing however, Iraqi Spring MC notes that they are preventing concerned Iraqis from making blood donations to help the victims of the bombing.
Yang Lina (Xinhua) reports, "The attack occurred around midday when dozens of worshippers were observing the Friday weekly Muslim prayer at the mosque of Abu Bakr al-Sideeq, in the town of Wajihiyah, northeast of the provincial capital city of Baquba, some 65 km northeast of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a provincial police source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity." Steve Nolan (Daily Mail) adds, "The blast went off on the left side of the mosque, which was filled with men and children, as worshippers were kneeling during prayers, said 30-year-old Mohammed Faleh, who was praying inside." Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) notes, "The bomb had been hidden under a podium from which an imam was speaking in the mosque, located in al-Wajihiya in the largely Sunni province of Diyala, said police officials in the nearby provincial capital of Baquba." KUNA reports there were two bombings -- the one Tawfeeq has noted and a suicide bomber who detonated outside as people were rushing out. BBC News notes a suicide bomber as well as does All Iraq News. So does Mustafa al-Tuwaijri (AFP) who quotes Omar Mundhir (whose leg was injured in the attack) stating, "I was sitting near the main entrance of the mosque when a huge explosion happened. I was sitting near the imam and the mosque was full of dozens of people when a big explosion happened, and the place went completely dark."
Prensa Latina observes, "The explosion took place in Wajihiya city, Diyala province, with a population of Sunni majority, and came after a series of attacks which have taken the lives of 460 people so far this month, according to official figures." Qassim Abdul-Zahra (AP) adds, "AP television footage of the aftermath showed the interior of the mosque near the bomb site charred black and shrapnel damage peppering the walls." AP counts 27 dead. EFE notes that, among the many wounded, "27 are in grave condition."
If only someone had seen Diyala as a hotbed, maybe Nouri's forces could have done an actual job. But alas, no one saw a problem in Diyala . . . Oh, wait. From Wednesday's snapshot:
NINA reports, "Speaker Osama Najafi called for holding a public hearing on Thursday in parliament in order to deter violators and terrorists in Diyala province and easing tensions to overcome the crisis and stop the forced displacement of citizens in a number of areas of the province." Alsumaria adds that the Free Patriotic Movement is joining the call as explained by their leader Massoud Zangana who states that the citizens of Diyala are in need of help.
The hearing was held. At the Parliament's website, they note 236 MPs attended, a number of issues were addressed and, with regards to Diyala Province, they commissioned a group to work on the issue with Nouri's office overseeing the security forces in Diyala Province. That didn't work out well for anyone today.
The US Embassy in Baghdad issued the following:
The mosque bombing wasn't Iraq's only violence today. NINA reports a Tikrit bombing left 2 soldiers dead and another injured, a western Baghdad bombing claimed 1 life and left another person injured, a Falluja home invasion left a woman and her two daughters injured, a Falluja motorcycle drive-by left one police officer and one Iraqi citizen injured, a suicide bomber to the south of Mosul blew himself up and left one police officer injured, and a Hilla suicide bomber claimed the life of 1 police officer and left five worshipers en route to the Al Mustafa shrine injured. Alsumaria adds 1 corpse was discovered in Ramadi (gunshot wounds to head and chest). All Iraq News notes that a Mosul suicide bomber left Colonel Ahmed Abbas injured.
Neither the violence nor the holy month has prevented the ongoing protests. Iraqi Spring Media notes protests took place in Baghdad and in Falluja, in Maysan Province, Mosul and in Jalawla. These protests have been ongoing since December 21st.
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CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O HAS FOUND A CLIMATE MATE: CHINA.
REACHED FOR COMMENT BY THESE REPORTERS, BARRY O TOLD THESE REPORTERS, "NO ONE SHOULD BE SURPRISED BY THIS. CHINA IS ME, 35 YEARS AGO. CHINA COULD HAVE BEEN MY BROTHER."
AT THIS MOMENT, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMODEL JAY CARNEY RUSHED INTO THE ROOM, MUMBLED SOMETHING ABOUT BARRY O BEING "VERY TIRED" ANDHUSTLED HIM OUT OF THE ROOM.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Good for US State Dept spokesperson Marie Harf who did something unheard of today.
Happy Friday. Welcome to the daily briefing. I have something to read at the top, and then happy to open it up to your questions. The United States condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist bombing inside a mosque today in Diyala province in Iraq. Attacks against innocent people are reprehensible. That this attack occurred in a place of worship and during the Holy Month of Ramadan is especially despicable and cowardly and exposes the nature of those perpetrating these attacks. Our condolences go out to the victims of these attacks and their families.
That is how she opened today's press briefing. This was not in response to a question, that is how she opened. Good for Harf, good for the US State Dept. The Congress is giving them billions for Iraq, they need to be noting the country in some manner regularly.
While the State Dept was front and center on the bombing, Nouri's forces were otherwise occupied.
Iraqi Spring MC reports that Nouri's SWAT forces spent the morning forcing Baquba stores to close. Maybe if they had been focused on doing actual work and not terrorizing shop owners, Iraqi Spring MC wouldn't have been reporting the Abu Bakr Mosque in Diyala's Wajihiya district was bombed? This morning, Reuters counted 20 dead and NINA counted at least 60 injured. It's not as though Nouri's SWAT forces contributed nothing however, Iraqi Spring MC notes that they are preventing concerned Iraqis from making blood donations to help the victims of the bombing.
Yang Lina (Xinhua) reports, "The attack occurred around midday when dozens of worshippers were observing the Friday weekly Muslim prayer at the mosque of Abu Bakr al-Sideeq, in the town of Wajihiyah, northeast of the provincial capital city of Baquba, some 65 km northeast of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a provincial police source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity." Steve Nolan (Daily Mail) adds, "The blast went off on the left side of the mosque, which was filled with men and children, as worshippers were kneeling during prayers, said 30-year-old Mohammed Faleh, who was praying inside." Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) notes, "The bomb had been hidden under a podium from which an imam was speaking in the mosque, located in al-Wajihiya in the largely Sunni province of Diyala, said police officials in the nearby provincial capital of Baquba." KUNA reports there were two bombings -- the one Tawfeeq has noted and a suicide bomber who detonated outside as people were rushing out. BBC News notes a suicide bomber as well as does All Iraq News. So does Mustafa al-Tuwaijri (AFP) who quotes Omar Mundhir (whose leg was injured in the attack) stating, "I was sitting near the main entrance of the mosque when a huge explosion happened. I was sitting near the imam and the mosque was full of dozens of people when a big explosion happened, and the place went completely dark."
Prensa Latina observes, "The explosion took place in Wajihiya city, Diyala province, with a population of Sunni majority, and came after a series of attacks which have taken the lives of 460 people so far this month, according to official figures." Qassim Abdul-Zahra (AP) adds, "AP television footage of the aftermath showed the interior of the mosque near the bomb site charred black and shrapnel damage peppering the walls." AP counts 27 dead. EFE notes that, among the many wounded, "27 are in grave condition."
If only someone had seen Diyala as a hotbed, maybe Nouri's forces could have done an actual job. But alas, no one saw a problem in Diyala . . . Oh, wait. From Wednesday's snapshot:
NINA reports, "Speaker Osama Najafi called for holding a public hearing on Thursday in parliament in order to deter violators and terrorists in Diyala province and easing tensions to overcome the crisis and stop the forced displacement of citizens in a number of areas of the province." Alsumaria adds that the Free Patriotic Movement is joining the call as explained by their leader Massoud Zangana who states that the citizens of Diyala are in need of help.
The hearing was held. At the Parliament's website, they note 236 MPs attended, a number of issues were addressed and, with regards to Diyala Province, they commissioned a group to work on the issue with Nouri's office overseeing the security forces in Diyala Province. That didn't work out well for anyone today.
The US Embassy in Baghdad issued the following:
The United States Condemns Diyala Mosque Bombing
July 19, 2013
The United States condemns in the strongest terms
the terrorist bombing inside a mosque today in Diyala province. Attacks
against innocent people are reprehensible. That
this attack occurred in a place of worship and during the holy month of
Ramadan is especially despicable and cowardly and exposes the nature of
those perpetrating these attacks. Our condolences go out to the victims
of these attacks and their families.
The mosque bombing wasn't Iraq's only violence today. NINA reports a Tikrit bombing left 2 soldiers dead and another injured, a western Baghdad bombing claimed 1 life and left another person injured, a Falluja home invasion left a woman and her two daughters injured, a Falluja motorcycle drive-by left one police officer and one Iraqi citizen injured, a suicide bomber to the south of Mosul blew himself up and left one police officer injured, and a Hilla suicide bomber claimed the life of 1 police officer and left five worshipers en route to the Al Mustafa shrine injured. Alsumaria adds 1 corpse was discovered in Ramadi (gunshot wounds to head and chest). All Iraq News notes that a Mosul suicide bomber left Colonel Ahmed Abbas injured.
Neither the violence nor the holy month has prevented the ongoing protests. Iraqi Spring Media notes protests took place in Baghdad and in Falluja, in Maysan Province, Mosul and in Jalawla. These protests have been ongoing since December 21st.
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"THIS JUST IN! MISSING THE POINT!"
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