Blog Betty (Thomas Friedman is a Great Man was an online novel)

Monday, August 14, 2017

Oh grow the hell up

Honest to God, what were the idiots thinking?

I'm referring to everyone in Charlottesville.

Not just the KKK.

What idiot shows up to protest a KKK protest?

You're ensuring they'll get media coverage.

And what little snowflake has not known the KKK regularly marches in towns and cities across America?

As a Black woman, I didn't have the luxury of ignorance.

Question for you so-called Social Justice Warriors: Where the hell were you when Tarantino's DJANGO was playing -- his attempt to turn the KKK into Disney dwarfs?

The KKK exisits.

It has the right to.

It had the right to march -- that's settled law.

And they had a permit.

I understand the counter-protesters didn't have a permit.

I am firmly pro-choice.

Once, in Atlanta, I participated in a protest against a Right To Life rally.

Once was enough.

Nothing comes from that.

I didn't persuade anyone.

All I did was waste an afternoon and help ensure the media covered the protest.

Better not to give your power to these types.

We have a saying: Don't let them steal your joy.

Whatever their intent was, the counter-protesters lost because the KKK stole their joy.

And now look: Everyone's talking about them -- including me!

They love the publicity.

As for President Donald Trump, he issued a statement of condemnation.

I was fine with his statement.

The KKK -- and others -- were called out and he didn't give them additional publicity by naming them.

I saw some idiot on TV screaming about this and she was very unhappy. He betrayed her, she insisted (she was White, by the way). Thing is I remember that woman on TV back in November saying he wasn't her president.

Which is it?

I'm tired of the nonsense.

Two American soldiers were killed in Iraq on Sunday.

How about we get serious and end this damn war?

"Iraq snapshot" (THE COMMON ILLS):

Monday, August 14, 2017. How do you note the death of 2 US service members in Iraq? If you're a reporter for THE NEW YORK TIMES or most members of the US Congress, you do it with silence.

Yesterday, it was announced two US service members had died in Iraq and five more were injured.

Say a little prayer till they all get home

I knew when we woke up

You would be leaving

You knew when you left me

It might be too long

That kiss on your shoulder

It's me looking over

Close to your heart

So you're never alone

Say a little prayer till they all get home

-- "Till They All Get Home," written by Melanie (Safka) and first appears on Melanie's CRAZY LOVE

Jake Tapper‏Verified account @jaketapper 22 hours ago

CENTCOM: Two U.S. service members were killed and five injured conducting combat operations in northern Iraq, Aug. 13, 2017.

161 replies1,427 retweets1,739 likes

Jake Tapper wasn't the only one in the media noting the dead and the injured.

Fox News‏Verified account @FoxNews 19 hours ago

US military says 2 American soldiers killed in Iraq fxn.ws/2w3fPhg

71 replies526 retweets386 likes

2 U.S. soldiers killed during operations in Iraq cbsn.ws/2w2bo75

26 replies89 retweets71 likes

Interestingly, although Tweeting six hours after Jake Tapper about pompously "sitting in Iraq," THE NEW YORK TIMES' new Judith Miller (Rukmini Callimachi) didn't say a word about the deaths or the injured.

She's paid to cover Iraq but she can't Tweet about it?

‏Verified account @BetoORourke

My thoughts are with the families of the service members killed in Iraq today.

3 replies45 retweets163 likes

US House Rep Beto O'Rourke could -- and did.

Good for Beto, as Alicia sings, "Nobody ever shut it down like you."

What of the cowardly posers?

Babsie Lee, I mean your fake ass. Didn't Tweet about the deaths did you? Nor you, "Auntie" Maxie.
What a bunch of fake asses. They used the Iraq War, railed against it and then fell silent when it won the party the White House.

The queen of all fake asses, my US House Rep, Nancy Pelosi had not a word for Twitter either. But, Nancy, we'll note you more later this week.

Also strangely silent? My own US senator, Dianne Feinstein, couldn't Tweet one word about the loss.

But then, why would she? Iraq's been a huge moneymaker for her:

‏ @ideaasgandhii

Senator Dianne Feinstein voted to let Bush invade Iraq her husband is now raking in millions in military contracts for his company Perini.

5 retweets11 likes

Guess voting for the Iraq War paid off pretty good for the Feinstein family.

Back to THE TIMES, also Tweeting about Charlottesville but not Iraq?

THE NEW YORK TIMES' "Baghdad Bureau Chief" Tim Arango. I was nice and stayed out of it over Tim's recent piece that he was slammed for. It's a decision I can revisit at any time. I noticed, for example, those who felt Tim played fast and loose with the facts in that latest piece of writing were unaware of the smackdown he received from a public editor -- even though it fit the narrative. Tying that moment in would make for media criticism and not just complaining -- complaining is what FAIR and others did -- apparently unable to do the work required.

Tim, you can always go back to the soft feature writing if you're not up for the task of reporting.

But, for future deaths of US service members in Iraq? If you're the Baghad Bureau Chief, you get off your candy ass and you Tweet about it.

Your failure to do so is highly disappointing.

I'm sorry, Tim, that doing your job is too hard for you. I'm sorry that you're bored with the Iraq War -- unless you can find an Iran angle.

But, check, you'll see, the war is still going on and people are still dying and no one needs your reTweeting about a US event -- and that's before you start reTweeting the whack job who was hurried out of THE NEW YORK TIMES because he was surfing online for underage male porn stars.

Can someone explain why today's NEW YORK TIMES carries this AP story?

The paper is paying Tim and Rukmini to cover Iraq but they have to run an AP report on the deaths of 2 US troops because Tim and Rukmini are too busy -- in Iraq -- Tweeting about Charlottesville to do their damn job?

I'm sure I'm not the only media observer who remembers THE NEW YORK TIMES selling the Iraq War -- beginning with a front page October 2001 report falsely linking Iraq to the 9/11 attacks. Having sold the damn war, they're obligated to cover it -- including the deaths in Iraq.

They have blood on their hands and running an AP story that they bury on page six of the main section doesn't wash that blood away.

Marilia Brocchetto and Diane Rugiero (CNN) observe:

Close to 5,000 US troops are currently aiding in the fight against ISIS.

A month after Iraq's Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi declared victory over ISIS in Mosul, the coalition continues to aid the Iraqi armed forces fight against ISIS in other towns throughout the country.

Colin Dwyer (NPR) notes, "As NPR's Lauren Frayer reports, nine Americans involved in the operation have been killed this year, and nearly 50 service members have been wounded since the campaign was launched roughly three years ago." Chad Garland (STARS AND STRIPES) also reports those figures -- 9 killed this year, 50 wounded in the last three years. Ray Downs (UPI) notes, "Including Sunday's deaths, the United States' Operation Inherent Resolve against Islamic State has resulted in 43 U.S. soldier fatalities since the mission began in 2014, according to DoD data. As of June 2, 484 civilians have been killed by U.S.-led coalition strikes during that time." RT reminds, "In July, a top US commander in Iraq stated that the US troops and coalition forces may stay in Iraq even after Islamic State terrorists are totally defeated. He added that the troop levels are not going to be changed in the near future."

RUDAW adds:

According to a statement from the coalition on the incident, the deaths and injuries were “not due to enemy contact.”

ISIS, however, issued a claim of responsibility, saying in a statement published online that they had fired Grad rockets at US forces in the village of Bewer, east of Tal Afar.

Kareem Fahim (WASHINGTON POST) reports on the denial of ISIS' claim:

Col. Ryan Dillon, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq and Syria, called the Islamic State claim “false” and said the casualties on Sunday were “not because of enemy fire.”

An Iraqi military statement issued Monday said the soldiers had been performing a routine inspection of a cannon when a shell inside exploded and that the deaths were not combat-related.

At THE NEW YORK TIMES, their correspondents are silent. I guess that's better than PRESS TV where the comments left include:

Fleecing Rabbi11 hours ago

Great news. The cost of occupation must increase.

Reply

-0

Bill Jayred15 hours ago

US troops are devilish assassins and terrorists

Reply

-0

Greenfrog16 hours ago

Hooray ..... Hopefully many more to follow..... Well done that man...

Reply

-0

Fire General John Nicholson16 hours ago

Why isn't the U.S saying that the Taliban captured Ghormach district in Badghis province?

Reply

-0

Maz17 hours ago

ha ha! Excellent news... well, not really - it's good news... "Excellent" would be many more of these dirty Yanks being killed!!! ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!1

Reply

-0

TAXCOLLECTOR2017> Maz11 hours ago

You do know why they call them YANKS of course.

Reply

-0

Arnel Alcomendras18 hours ago

Excellent! USA thugs are on their way to hell!

Reply

-0

ahmed...18 hours ago

FACE THE HELL NOW FOR EVER;;;;;;;;NOW THEY WILL UNDERSTAND THEY WERE ON WRONG SIDE WITH THE SATAN DEVILS;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Reply

-0

Falesteeni18 hours ago

They will not get out of North Iraq or Iraq, North Iraq is FLOATING on oil, US must be driven out by force and against their will..

Reply

-0

Jimi18 hours ago

Good riddance...more to come

Among the violence being reported today in Iraq, ALSUMARIA notes a Kirkuk attack left 1 police officer dead, and the Ministry of the Interior notes two of their explosive experts died attempting to disable a bomb.

ALSUMARIA also notes that Saleh al-Mutlaq, known for the large, wide yellow streak down his back, has held a ceremony to announce that he is the leader of the Iraqi National Dialogue Front party.

Saleh's suddenly grasped that all the other major players are campaigning and he better hurry up and toss his name out there too.

He's got a lot of miles to go.

Currently getting the most attention?

Shi'ite cleric and movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr whose latest trip has been to the UAE.

‏Verified account @Reuters

Iraqi Shi'ite leader visits UAE, strengthening ties with Sunni states reut.rs/2wV7Gs8

9 replies45 retweets45 likes

‏ @yemenpress2

Iraqi Shia cleric Sadr visits #UAE after Saudi Arabia#

13 retweets2 likes

announced that he ,

New content at THIRD:

Friday, August 11, 2017

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE really sucks

There political parodies frequently do not work.

They depend so much on guest stars.

They don't do any funny skits.

I miss IN LIVING COLOR and MAD TV.

It's been forever since SNL was worth watching, sorry.

If you're not committed to nonsense about Trump, they really have nothing to offer.

Certainly nothing we can relate to.

I miss characters like Miss Swan and Blaine and Antoine.

Or the elderly couple that was always trying to kill each other.

"Iraq snapshot" (THE COMMON ILLS):

Friday, August 11, 2017.

Elections were supposed to take place in Iraq this year.

First in Mach but they were pushed back.

Then in September but again pushed back.

Former prime minister and forever thug Nouri al-Maliki has used the time trying to look impressive. That was behind his recent underwhelming trip to Russia.

Shi'ite cleric and movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr has also used the time -- he's visited Saudi Arabia and restarted his protests against corruption.

On the former, Fanar Haddad (WASHINGTON POST) offers:

Though previously known as a “firebrand cleric” with a Shiite populist and militant line in Iraq, Sadr today presents himself as a moderate, nationalistic champion of change. His visit to Saudi Arabia was likely designed with two audiences in mind.
A message to Iraq’s Shiite population
Sadr’s visit was a message to his competitors in Iraq’s increasingly fragmented Shiite political scene. The Riyadh visit and the fact that Sadr was hosted at the highest levels of the Saudi establishment will underline his international relevance and burnish his prestige and credentials as an Iraqi statesman. This kind of political plumage is especially useful as Sadr and his rivals jockey for position ahead of next year’s Iraqi elections.
A message to Iran
Sadr’s visit demonstrated to Iran — and to Iran’s allies and proxies in Iraq/Sadr’s political rivals — that he not only has options, but he can even push back against Iran and has the power to potentially hurt Iranian interests in Iraq. If nothing else, this enables Sadr to present himself as the face of Arab (non-Iranian) Iraqi Shiism.

This is a position that resonates with his base — although the extent to which they will accept a Saudi embrace remains to be seen — and further differentiates him from his competitors. Having already announced a political alliance with Ayad Allawi, an anti-Shiite-Islamist figure, this visit will further polish Sadr’s credentials as a nationalist political figure who can rise above the politics of sect and ethnicity.

Ammar al-Hakim has also appears to be campaigning. The Shi'ite leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq has formed a new party called National Wisdom; however, he has insisted that this does not mean he's left ISCI.

Ali Nasseri (NIQASH) reports:

The provincial government in Dhi Qar has been unstable for some time, with members of different parties and blocs defecting at will or forming new alliances. The most recent change saw seven members of the Muwatin, or Citizen bloc, join a brand new party created by the cleric Ammar al-Hakim.
At the end of July al-Hakim, who had led one of the country’s largest Islamic parties, the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, or ISCI, since 2009, announced he was leaving the party to form a new one. Called the National Wisdom party, Al-Hakim has said the new party, which has dropped Islamic from the name, is a project to rejuvenate Shiite Muslim politics in Iraq and to appeal to younger supporters. Al-Hakim had been at odds with older members of the ISCI for years.
As one commentator has noted, al-Hakim’s new party kept all the ISCI’s assets, essentially “stripping [them] of both the symbolism and the assets”.

Politicians in Dhi Qar appear to agree with al-Hakim’s new stand. The new party is about the creation of a new political generation,” said Adel al-Dukhili, the deputy governor of the province, one of those who defected to the National Wisdom party. ” A movement that believes in rapid change and turning challenges into opportunities, by adopting a clear manifesto.”

Will elections come in 2018?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

They've been twice postponed this year with no outrage expressed on the part of the global community.

Maybe Hayder al-Abadi will decide to postpone them yet again, say they'll hold elections in 2019?

Maybe he'll just play kick the can over and over.

He certainly hasn't suffered any outrage -- or consequences -- over the decision.

One election that may take place this year is on the fate of the Kurdistan region.

Will the semi-autonomous region move on to full autonomy?

RUDAW notes a new voice in the debate:

Iraqi Sunni politician and leader of the Ummah Party Mithal al-Alusi says that Iraq has failed its people and that the Kurds are justified in their quest for separation and the establishment of a state of their own.

“This is a cardboard state,” says al-Alusi in an interview with al-Iraqiya state television. “The Kurds have the right to say: I don’t want to be part of such a failed state.”

Al-Alusi, who describes himself as a secular politician from Anbar, cites the interference of regional countries as proof of Iraq’s failure.

“Is Qasem Soleimani entering Iraq on a visa? Does he have residency permit?” he asks. “Iranian intelligence working as advisors is this sovereignty? Saudi money piling up with the Sunnis, is this Iraqi sovereignty and an intact state?”

Soleimani is the commander of Iran’s Quds Force who is said to have been hired by the Iraqi government as an advisor to the defense ministry.

Al-Alusi who has been elected twice to the parliament and is a proponent of good relations with the West, including Israel, believes that Iraq has violated its own constitution which has given the Kurds a reason to seek a path of separation.

“We all voted for and agreed on this constitution that stipulates the unity of Iraq, but where has it got now and what democracy have we Iraqis got?” he says.

The move for self-determination is outlined in the Constitution.

Among the fear if the Kurds attempt it?

Neighbors like Turkey which regularly crush their own Kurdish population fear this will set an example.

The other fear in the room?

That Kurds taking this step might lead other areas of Iraq to do the same.

The following community sites updated: