Bob On Bob

"HE WILL FOLLOW HIM! Bob Herbert says we should follow Bill Gates. He doesn’t say where Gates is going" (Bob Somerby, The Daily Howler):
In this utterly silly passage, Herbert’s lips are locked on the Gates lady’s keister. But what would the Gateses actually do to lower that gruesome dropout rate? Herbert says we should “follow their lead.” But where are the Gateses going?
Go ahead! Read this column! See if you can find a single word which addresses that basic question. Bob Herbert wants us to follow Bill Gates. He forgets to say where Gates is headed.
People! You may live in an idiocracy if: Major columnists keep standing in line to kiss the ass of the world’s richest person. A few years ago, David Broder kissed that particular keister so wetly that he made the world’s most ridiculous statement: No doubt misunderstanding something some Gates aide had said, he announced that kids are dropping out of high school because they aren’t forced to read enough Plato! (See THE DAILY HOWLER, 2/27/06.) In today’s column, Herbert avoids saying something that foolish in a famous old way; he simply avoids discussion of substance at all! He just keeps praising the Gateses’ intentions. After that, his column is done.
You may live in an idiocracy if: You open your nation’s best-known newspaper and see fawning fatuity of this order on its op-ed page—repeatedly.

It appears Bob Herbert is determined to sing, "Walk away, walk away, I will follow . . ." U2 song, "I Will Follow." I'm not a huge U2 fan but I always liked that song and I may be misreading it but I believe it's about the Lord. And I think Bob Herbert has confused the Lord with Lord Bill Gates and Lady Melinda.

Bob Herbert can be the worst little suck-up in the world.

He will probably never recover from 2008.

At points, he sounded stark raving mad back then as he ripped apart Hillary and saw everything in the world as a plot against Barack.

People like that need to be put on leave. That's what needs to happen. He works for the New York Times which traffics in crazy so I guess we should just consider it fortunate that they didn't front page him.

Tomorrow night, first hour of prime time, CBS, The New Adventures of Old Christine. Second hour of prime time, on the half-hour, ABC, Cougar Town. The two shows you can't miss. And don't miss Ruth's "Eilene Zimmerman Is No Feminist."

Post title? Should come with a lp, gate-foldout. Thinking of the Bob Dylan album. (Blonde on Blonde.)


"Iraq snapshot" (The Common Ills):
Tuesday, September 29, 2009. Chaos and violence continue, a British inquiry hears about abuse of Iraqis by British troops, the IMF gets closer to Iraq, Ehren Watada gears up for Friday's planned discharge and more.

Today in England, the inquiry into the death of Iraqi Baha Mousa (while in British custody) heard from two witnesses. Baha died September 16, 2003, after being beaten so badly that he had at least 93 injuries. His father gave testimony to the inquiry last Wednesday and stated he believed his son had been killed because he (the father, Daoud Salim Mousa al-Maliki) saw British soldiers breaking into a safe and stealing money, "I believe that my son may have been treated worse than other people because I had made a complaint to Lieutenant Mike that money was being stolen from the hotel safe." D007, an Iraqi also taken into British custody September 14, 2003 testified for the bulk of the day. He explained his ordeal which started when he was driving a Ministry of Education car, with permission from the Ministry, and was car-jacked.

Gerald Elias: Yes. As you were getting to the Ministry, you tell the Inquiry in your statement that something happened. Just tell us briefly what happened please.

D007: As I contacted Mr C006 and I told him that I had dropped the director of the municipality and some of the Ministry of Oil's staff. He asked me to go with the car to the parking lot of the Ministry, which was close to the Ministry, and when I was close to the Ministry I faced that accident.

Gerald Elias: What did you see when you were close to the Ministry?

D007: I saw a car alongside my car that I had been driving and they attacked me at gunpoint. Instead of going to the Ministry, I then went very fast towards the street ahead of me. I got to a crossing in Basra and after that crossing I saw a big truck so I had to wait. I had to stop.

Gerald Elias: What happened then?

D007: In the meantime, they were alongside myself. They got off their car. One of them came to me with a Kalashnikov and put it at my head -- pointed it at my head -- and he ordered me to remain where I was, not to drive on. Two people got into the back seat of my car. The person who had me at gunpoint, next to me, he got into my car in the passenger seat.

Gerald Elias: Just pause there if you will. So there were now three people in the car, two in the back and one in the passenger seat. Is that what you are saying?

D007: Correct.

Gerald Elias: Did you see how many of them had guns?

D007: Yes, they had guns.

Gerald Elias: Each of them had a gun?

D007: Yes, yes, each had a gun.

Gerald Elias: Were they carrying the guns or were the guns slung around their necks or what?

D007: They were hand-carried and the ammunition was on their chests.

Gerald Elias: Hand-carried; the ammunition was on their chests. Do you mean the ammunition was on their chests because it was looped around their necks or what?


[. . .]

Gerald Elias: So, as you told us, you decided to drive faster and not to obey the orders of the armed men in the car. Is that it?

D007: Correct.

Gerald Elias: You took the opportunity to drive the car into a collision because you told the Inquiry that you thought that was the best way for you to escape; is that right?

D007: Correct.

[. . .]

Gerald Elias: So when you crashed the car it stopped, did it?

D007: That is correct and I ran away from the car.

[. . .]

Gerald Elias: I think it's right, isn't it, that shortly after British soldiers arrived on the scene where the crash had occurred?

D007: Yes, they got there.

Gerald Elias: British soldiers went to examine the car that you had been driving, didn't they?

[. . .]

Gerald Elias: It wasn't only the guns that they left in the car, was it? I am just going to tell you what else the soldiers found when they searched the car. These items were found either on the back seats or in the footwell behind the driver's seat, we are told. They found the three rifles; they found eight magazines containing, I think, 240 rounds each; they found one radio antenna, as well as some paperwork, documents, which I will come to in a minute. Had all those things been in the car before these men had come into the car or do you say they brought those things as well?

D007: What I know is that the papers were car papers --

Gerald Elias: Leave aside the papers for the moment. What about the eight magazines of ammunition? Do you say the men had left those as well?

D007: Yes. Yes.

[. . .]

Gerald Elias: Did the attitude of the soldiers change at any time at the police station?

D007: As we got to the police station, one of the soldiers -- the British Council -- the British troops -- he was make a contact. The policeman asked me what had happened and I explained to him. The officer understood English to some extent, so he went on explaining to one of the British soldiers and instantly the treatment changed, the treatment of the British soldiers changed and violence by the British troops started.

Gerald Elias: You say violence started. What was done to you?

D007: They immediately pulled me from behind my collar, took me to British Army vehicle. They got me there and the cars moved. I didn't know where we were going. On the road --

Gerald Elias: Just listen to my questions, if you will. When you left the police station, you say you were dragged by your collar to a vehicle. Was that to a Land Rover?

D007: Yes, it was a Land Rover, and which was close to the centre we were going, which would do, and that was close.

Gerald Elias: Are you sure it was a Land Rover, not a different army vehicle?

D007: I am sure because usually this car would be patrolling the province of Basra.

Gerald Elias: When you were taken to the Land Rover, were you restrained in any way?

D007: At the incident as it happened, I was tied up.

Gerald Elias: In what way were you tied up?

D007: With a plastic band and my hands were tied forward.

[. . .]

Gerald Elias: I want to ask you about that journey in the Land Rover: were you ill-treated in any way on that journey to the detention centre?

D007: I was getting some kicks from the soldiers who were in the back of the vehicle.

Gerald Elias: How many soldiers were in the Land Rover travelling with you?

D007: Two or three.

Gerald Elias: Where were you kicked? To which part of your body?

D007: My right thigh and my left thigh.

[. . .]

Gerald Elias: All right. Now I want to ask you about arriving at the detention centre where you were then kept until the Tuesday. This was the Sunday. You didn't know where you were going, did you, with the soldiers?

D007: I didn't know. I didn't know.

Gerald Elias: When you arrived at the detention centre --

D007: then I knew where I was.

Gerald Elias: You recognized the place, did you?

D007: In the beginning that place was well known in Basra.

Gerald Elias: What did you know it as?

D007: I knew it belonged to the Iraqi Intelligence Service.

Gerald Elias: Were you taken from the Land Rover when you arrived there?

D007: Until we got to the place where I had been put, they didn't get me right into the room immediately.

Gerald Elias: But they took you to a building, did they?

D007: Correct.

[. . .]

D007: When I got into the right-hand-side room, I saw people hooded. Part of those persons were on the right-hand side wall and the others were on the opposite side.

Gerald Elias: Were all the men that you saw hooded?

D007: Yes, all were hooded.

Gerald Elias: Can you remember how many men in total there were in that room hooded?

D007: Between five to six persons.

Gerald Elias: Five or six people. Apart from their heads being hooded, were they restrained in any other way that you see?

D007: I saw them restricted, tied up.

Gerald Elias: What in particular tied up?

D007: With a plastic band.

Gerald Elias: You are indicating your hands together. The wrists were tied with a band, were they?

D007: Yes, yes. [. . .] They were exhausted. Their condition was pitiful. In the beginning anybody would come in and see them, he would instantly recognise that they had been tortured.

Gerald Elias: I want a little bit more help, please, about that. Were any of them making any noise?

D007: It was moaning as a result of torture.

Gerald Elias: It was moaning.

D007: Yes.

He is hooded. His hood was removed only for meals and water (and a British soldier removed it once to give him a cigarette).

D007: They continued to beat me.

Gerald Elias: In what way did they beat you?

D007: On the right-hand side of my body at the kidney and then the right-hand side of my thigh -- on my right thigh. Then, with shoes on my head, they asked me to stand with my hands forward like this. [. . .] The blows were very hard and strong.

Gerald Elias: Do you know, for example, whether you were punched or kicked or hit with some object or don't you know?

D007: Kicks and with a device or a tool.

Gerald Elias: How soon after you were hooded did this beating start?

D007: After a short time.

And on his second night (Monday -- still not at Camp Bucca) he recalled, "Before my hood was lifted off my head, I was still receiving so many kicks -- so many beatings. One of the British soldiers strangled me -- that took around an hour or 20 minutes -- and then they left me. [. . .] His hands were -- thumbs, fingers, in my mouth, and the rest of his hands or palms around my neck with pressure. The second time he lifted my hood up to the middle of my face, to abvoe my eyes, and he also strangled me the same way." During the nearly 48 hours in custody (all before Camp Bucca), British soldiers refused to allow him to sleep, allowed him only one bathroom break, offered food only once. To keep him awake, he was beaten, "No sleep" was shouted in his ear and water was poured over his hood. It was at this detention center that Baha was killed. The witnesses were there at the same time. While he was still in detention (before being moved to Camp Bucca), the car was claimed by the Ministry of Education (the car he had wrecked) and they verified that D007 had permission. Yet D007 was not released. Another witness offering testimony today was brought in at the same time and an owner of the hotel Baha worked at (Baha was at his job when he was hauled off). He is known as D006 and he verified seeing D007 beaten and discussed the beatings he and his adult son received.

D006: As we entered the detenion centre, they had our hands tied up and made us stand toward the wall or by the wall. Then they brought a hood or hoods. Then they made us stand on one leg [. . .] Well, they were beating me all day on my head saying "No sleep, no sleep" -- always, also, hitting me on my side [. . .] they were hitting me with the torch on my head and then there was some beating with the boots.

Gerald Elias: And the beating with the boots, where were the boots

D006: My kidney area.

He and his adult son were beaten. A doctor arrived when he collapsed (CPR was given). He had a prior heart condition and had heart surgery before being taken into British custody. He had not been given his medicine. The doctor instructed that he be given medicine, attempted to have him taken to a hospital (British soldiers refused) and instead demanded he be kept unhooded and allowed to lie down. called his treatment "a crime against humainty. Even Israel wouldn't do such a thing. [Ariel] Sharon is more honourable than the army that did that, the British Army that did that. Sharon is more honourable than what the army did. It was a crime against humanity, a crime. What had we done? Can I be insulted at this age?"

The inquiry continues tomorrow morning. Yesterday the inquiry heard from D001. BBC News reports that he testified to hearing Baha begging while being beaten: "I knew it was Baha because I had known him for a long time and could recognise his voice. It seemed as if he wasn't that far away from me and the toher detainees. I heard him crying out something like, 'I am very tired, I can tolerate no more, please give me five minutes. Have mercy on me, I'm dying. I'm about to die, help me.' Then after a while I did not hear Baha scream out any more."

The needs of the disabled aren't being heard in Iraq. Salam Faraj (AFP) reports on the struggle of those wounded by the war to receive care and that "the legacy of disablement, rather than death, is now swinging into focus, as many families struggle to care for relatives who survived murderous attacks but were left with bebilitating, and often life-long injures." AFP calculates the number of wounded Iraqis "to be above 133,000" and notes that's based on reports and many are wounds are never reported.

That's an at-risk community that's emerging (for the press). Other at-risk communities include Iraqi Christians. Sunday Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reported Dr. Mehasin Basheer has been released after being kidnapped from her Bartala home. AFP revealed the "Chrisitan doctor [was] abducted by an armed gang overnight from her home" in northern Iraq and quote a police officer stating, "The gang kidnapped the doctor, Mahasin Bashir, in her home late at night, as her children watched." Hammoudi says a ransom was paid. Doctors and Christians have been repeatedly targeted in Iraq and, at this point, it's not known if Dr. Basheer was targeted for either of those reasons or something else. Thursday's snapshot included, "INA reports that Dr. Sameer Gorgees Youssif was released by his kidnappers following his August 18th abduction. The explain the fifty-five year-old man is at least the fourth doctor kidnapped in Kirkuk in the last two years. His family paid $100,000 for his release. His injuries include sever pressure uclers along the right side of his body, 'open wounds around his mouth and wrists' (from being bound and gagged) and bruises all over his body." Like Dr. Basheer, Dr. Youssif is both a medical doctor and a Christian. Jareer Mohammed (Azzaman) notes the kidnapping of Dr. Basheer and that "Basheer serves in a small hospital in the Christian village of Bartella, just a few kilometers to the east of Mosul. More attacks targeting the string of Christian villages to the east and north of Mosul have occurred recently. Christian liquor shops are attacked and owners either kidnapped or killed. The villages have preserved their Christian identity for centuries but the inhabitants now seriously fear for their future." John Pontifex (Aid to the Church in Need) writes:

CHRISTIANS in Iraq are beginning to flee the only place where they thought they were safe -- their ancient homelands in the Nineveh plains. Reports have come in from clergy in the north of the country that in the past few months, a slow but steady emigration has got under-way from the villages and towns close to Mosul city, which trace their heritage back to the earliest Christian centuries. It comes after warnings of another blow to the Church expected in the immediate run-up to the January 2010 general elections. With government ministers publicly expecting a surge in violence as people prepare to go to the polls, Church leaders fear that a new security crisis could spark another mass exodus of Christians, which in some areas may mean the departure of the last remaining faithful. In an interview with the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, leading Iraqi priest Fr Bashar Warda made clear that Christians in the Nineveh region are now beginning to feel threatened by the kind of security problems which have blighted the lives of people in so many other parts of the country.
Speaking from northern Iraq today (Monday, 28th September), Fr Warda told the charity for persecuted and other suffering Christians: "I am sad to say that the emigration of Christian families that we have seen in places like Mosul and Baghdad has now begun to affect the Nineveh area. "We are not seeing -- at least not yet -- a large emigration from places like Alqosh and other [Nineveh] villages but it is definitely happening." Fr Warda said he could not give precise estimates of the number leaving the region but he said that a number of exclusively Christian villages have each been losing 30 or 40 faithful every month, sometimes more. The news has added significance because the many almost completely Christian villages in the region had become a refuge for faithful under threat in other parts of the region.

Mosul's become a targeted region for all. UPI and Official Wire report that al-Qaida in Mesopotamia has "issued death threats to truck drivers attempting to deliver goods in the northern city of Mosul" according to Ninawa Province leader Ali Malih al-Zawbaie. Nada Bakri (Washington Post) observed this morning that Mosul is "a region where many insurgents are believed to have regrouped after they were driven from Baghdad and other provinces."

Afif Sarhan (IslamOnline.net) reports on another persecuted group in Iraq, Iraqi Blacks who can trace back their history in the region to the seventh century. Ibraheem Abdel-Rassoul tells Sarhan, "After centuries since the first Black community, coming from Africa, arrived in Iraq, discrimination has been part of their daily lives, differening only in the place, or the way used to exclude them from daily social routines. In many schools children suffer discrimination and in the beginning of a new millennium, mixed marriages are still seen with bad eyes by many members of the local socity." A number, such as Jalal Diyab, are seeking official recognition for their minority status. Diyab explains, "Discrimination against Black people is a crime in the majority of countries worldwide but in Iraq there isn't a law that punishes such attitudes. A law should be drafted to prohibit racism in Iraq and a quota created like the existing quota for Christians, Assyrians and other minorities in the country. It won't end all problems but will help to build a new society without discrimination."

Another targeted and at-risk population is Iraq's external refugees. In a surprising development, the Copenhagen Post reports that Nouri al-Maliki, thug of the occupation, is insisting that Iraqi refugees should not be forced to leave Denmark and return home. al-Maliki also denied any agreement with the Danish government on the issue but the agreement was signed in May, as the Post notes, and the Immigration Minister states that the bilateral agreement remains in force.

Turning to some of today's reported violence.

Bombings?

Mohammed al Dulaimy (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad sticky bombing claimed the life of 1 man, a Mosul sticky bombing claimed the life of Basheer al Jahishi ("member of Al Hadbaa the ruling bloc in" Nineveh Province), a Mosul roadside bombing left three police officers wounded and a Baladrouz sticky bombing wounded an Imam and a civilian.

Corpses?
Reuters notes the corpse of a man ("hanged, with the rope still around his neck") was discovered in Mosul.

Meanwhile Thursday, there was a prison break in Tikrit with sixteen prisoners escaping and, by yesterday, 6 of the 16 were said to have been captured. Saturday CNN reported 2 more escapees were captured this morning during "house-to-house searches" for a total of 8 prisoners now captured. Fang Yang (Xinhua) reports three more have been captured (9 total) and that, with the latest three, all five who were on death row have been captured. Yang notes Col Mohammed Salih Jbara ("head of anti-terrorism department of Salahudin province) has been "sacked" as a result of the prison escape.

In economic news, Gina Chon (Wall St. Journal) reports Iraq is claiming "sever budget crunch" as the reason why they lag in buying equipment -- military equipment. How very telling that they're never asked why they continue to be unable to deliver basic services such as potable water. For some strange damn reason, no one thinks it's out of bounds for "American commanders" to ask "the U.S. government to give Iraq what is known as 'dependable undertaking' status as part of Washington's Foreign Military Sales program." That would be overstepping their bounds if anyone paid attention. Equally true is that only an idiot would grant such a status to a 'government' which is currently claiming they do not have to pay their debt to Kuwait because that was under another 'regime' that's now 'gone.' Saddam Hussein was run out of power in March of 2003. That's six years ago. So in six years will another 'government' in Iraq attempt to welch on their debts as well? That's crazy and US "commanders" have no business attempting to facilitate the sales of weapons -- not even to prop up the cash-cow that is the weapons industry in an otherwise flat economy. (US economy is what I'm referring to.) They're not trained in economics and they're are supposed to answer to the civilian government. It's not their job and in a real democracy that would explained a long damn time ago. Hassan Hafidh (Dow Jones) reports that Mudher Kasim, Iraq's Central Bank Advisor, declared today that the International Monetary Fund has extended "$1.8 billion to help it emerge from the global downturn." Those hearing the ominous strains of the cello strings aren't cracking up, they just know what follows the $1.8 billion. As repeatedly noted, the Status Of Forces Agreement that replaced the United Nations mandate ended Iraq's "ward of the state" position. That curtailed the current regime from doing many things with their economy. And it also protected them. The protection is gone and the sharks are circling.

Three Americans who were in Iraq are being held by the Iranian government. CBS News' The Early Show (link has text and video) reports vigils are planned throughout the US tomorrow for Sarah Shourd, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer who have been held by the Iranian government for two months now. The three were in Iraq, allegedly hiking in the northern region when they allegedly crossed into Iranian terrain. They were detained near the border and then, a little over a week later, moved to Tehran. Maggie Rodriguez interviewed Alex Fattal (brother of Josh), Laura Fattal (mother of Josh) and Nor Shourd (mother of Sarah). Sarah's mother explained, "We worry about their day-to-day, you know, like if they're well and if they're healthy, if they're comfortable, how they're taking it mentally. We just worry about it all the time." Josh's mother explained, "It is very difficult. It is a day-by-day difficult situation. We all know Shane, Sarah and Josh are composed individuals, they're calm indviduals, and we get reassurance from that. But of course we want to hear from them. We want to hear their voices." CNN reported earlier today that the Iranian government agreed to let the Swiss government send represenatives to speak to the three Americans. Stephanie Nebehay and Andrew Dobbie (Reuters) report that Siwss diplmats did visit with the three today.

In peace news, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin editorializes on the announced discharge of 1st Lt Ehren Watada: "From a legal standpoint, there is no doubt that Watada won. The Army failed in its attempts to court-martial the first U.S. officer to refuse to fight the Iraq war. After a three-year legal battle, the Kalani High School graduate will leave the Army in early October, discharged under 'other than honorable conditions,' as the Army recognizes the insurmountable double jeopardy threat raised by his earlier mistrial." Ehren is the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq. He is scheduled to be discharged this Friday (Ehren's pictured above with his father Bob Watada and his step-mother Rosa Sakanishi). Ehren knew the Iraq War was illegal and that put him in an ethical bind as an officer because he would be issuing orders to those serving under him. As 2005 drew to a close, he considered the various options and then made his decision not to deploy. He phoned his mother Carolyn Ho as the new year began to inform her of his decision. When he informed his superior officers of his decision, they gave the impression that they wanted to work something out -- in reality, they just wanted to attempt to keep the matter hush-hush, delay any decisions and hope that when the deployment came in June (2006), Ehren would depart with his unit. After proposing several alternatives -- including resignation as well as deploying to Afghanistan instead, Ehren went public in June 2006. His service contract ended in December 2006 but the US military kept him on to court-martial him. When that was obviously not going well, Judge John Head (aka Judge Toilet) gifted the prosecution with a mistrial over defense objection. Toilet thought that's how the law worked. The Constitution -- and US District Judge Benjamin Settle -- begged to differ. Kim Murphy (Los Angeles Times) quotes Kenneth Kagan, one of Ehren Watada's two civilian attorneys (Jim Lobsenz is the other), "I think the Army came to the conclusion that it was not going to be able to prevail in a prosecution. And I think when the new solicitor general came in, her office had a fresh look at it, and it was not bound by any of the decision that had been made previously, they saw fit to put a stop to the appellate process."

On the checks from the new GI Bill that veterans continue to wait for, we'll again note this mailed to the public account yesterday from the VA:
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has authorized checks for up to $3,000 to be given to students who have applied for educational benefits and who have not yet received their government payment. The checks will be distributed to eligible students at VA regional benefits offices across the country starting October 2, 2009. More information on emergency checks. Information on VA regional benefits offices.


Independent journalist David Bacon (at Political Affairs) reports (photos and text) on the thousand plus people protesting in San Francisco to win health care benefits for hotel workers. David Bacon's latest book is Illegal People -- How Globalization Creates Migration and Criminalizes Immigrants (Beacon Press) which just won the CLR James Award. Bacon can be heard on KPFA's The Morning Show (over the airwaves in the Bay Area, streaming online) each Wednesday morning (begins airing at 7:00 am PST).

iraq
mcclatchy newspaperslaith hammoudi
the washington postnada bakri
xinhuafang yangupi
the wall street journalgina chon
david baconkpfathe morning show
ehren watadathe honolulu star-bulletinthe los angeles timeskim murphy

TV

Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "New 'Action' from 'We Forgot Iraq'"


I really enjoyed Isaiah's comic. I also enjoyed Bob Somerby's latest.

But I'm having an easy blogging night, sorry.

First. Friday, I said "Jamaica." On The New Adventures of Old Christine, it was the Bahamas that Barb is from and that Christine visited. My bad.

Quoting C.I. from "Roundtable" yesterday, "Currently, at CBS' TV.com, The New Adventures of Old Christine can be streamed and that includes the hilarious season debut that Betty's talking about. A friend at CBS angry about Ava and my "TV: The Fall Season" two weeks ago told me that Friday. Didn't mean to interrupt but I promised we'd work that in somewhere this week." I checked -- okay, we watched at the office today. We were laughing so hard. But I checked and the link does take you to a page to stream the first episode.

Second, "TV: Cougar Town Roars." That's Ava and C.I.'s commentary and reporting on Cougar Town. From the article, " If you missed it, it's available (for a few weeks after this posts) at Hulu. And it's a good thing it's on Hulu, in fact Hulu's the only reason its coming back this Wednesday." So there's a link for you to stream.

It really is a great show and I liked it before but I really appreciate it having read Ava and C.I.'s article that details all the crap that show has to go through in order to stay on the air.

As they ask, "Wasn't it enough that the show was funny? Wasn't it enough that it delivered an audience? Why is it that a woman's forced to meet all the markers of success and then be faced with additional hoops to jumped through?"

And why is that some of the worst attacks on the show come from women? We need to ponder that.

In addition to that article, Ava and C.I. also wrote "TV: Racist and unfunny, today's SNL" and that's the piece I mentioned Friday when I said I'd expected Bob Somerby to take on a show when he wrote Friday. The show was Saturday Night Live -- its Thursday edition. Yet again, they brought on that tired Darrell Hammond and yet again wanted to do 'jokes' about Hillary being unloved and unwanted and forgotten and 'jokes' about Bill wanting to get with Megan Fox. It was disgusting. And I've yet to see the John Edwards Swinging Party skit.

Have you?

But they keep going back to a decade old subject and doing 'jokes' on it.

And nothing on Barry, never on Barry.

But they do have time to smear David Paterson as a sex addict. And as Ava and C.I. ask, "Why is that?"

Apparently it has to do with his skin color. (Seth Meyers has a long history of writing racist skits that he insists are 'cool.' Seth, you're not down with my people. Stop deluding yourself.)

So go read those and grasp that it really is just Ava and C.I. who will stand up to this nonsense. Only them.

"Iraq snapshot" (The Common Ills):
Monday, September 28, 2009. Chaos and violence continue, Nouri gets even cozier with his 'friends,' former Ba'athists in Syria get some press attention, Ehren Watada gets some good and long overdue news, and more.

Violence in Iraq today gets attention. Timothy Williams (New York Times) says 18 dead and fifty-eight injured -- actually the numbers higher -- and that "both Shiite and Sunni areas of the country" were attacked.

Bombings?

Sahar Issa (McClatchy Newspapers) reports two Baghdad roadside bombings which resulted in the deaths of 3 Iraqi soldiers and twenty-nine people wounded, a Saqlawiyah house bombing (home belonged to "an intelligence employee"), a Mosul roadside bombing which claimed the lives of 2 police officers (two more wounded) and an Anbar Province suicide bombing in which a man took his own life and the lives of 6 police officers (eight more wounded). Imad al-Khuzaii, Mohammed Abbas, Missy Ryan, Dominic Evans and David Stamp (Reuters) note the suicide bombing involved "water tanker truck packed with explosives". Xinhua adds, "The bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into the entrance of the police station in the city of Rawa, some 250 km northwest of Baghdad". Reuters notes a Tal Afar bombing in which 2 people died (one person was injured), a Riyadh mortar attack left three people injured and, dropping back to Sunday, a Kirkuk bombing which injured a police officer. Imad al-Khuzaii, Mohammed Abbas, Missy Ryan and Dominic Evans (Reuters) report a minibus sticky bombing has led to 3 deaths and two people injured in Saniya.

Shootings?

Sahar Issa (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 1 elderly man (retired police officer) was shot dead in Mosul. Reuters reports 1 man shot dead in Baghdad (according to Iraqi police) and that Iraqi forces shot dead 2 'suspects'.

Corpses?
Iran's Press TV reports the corpses of 4 "Kurdish militiamen" were discovered "between Mosul and Tal Afar with gunshot wounds in the head."

Thursday, there was a prison break in Tikrit with sixteen prisoners escaping and, by yesterday, 6 of the 16 were said to have been captured. Saturday CNN reported 2 more escapees were captured this morning during "house-to-house searches" for a total of 8 prisoners now captured. Xinhua reported Saturday that a US military drone crashed in Mosul. Jamal al-Badrani, Mohammed Abbas and Robin Pomeroy (Reuters) added "that the drone struck the local offices of the Iraqi Islamic Party, Iraq's biggest Sunni Arab political group, the military said." Timothy Williams (New York Times) explained, "The American military said it was not clear why the small remotely operated plane fell from the sky in the Ghizlani neighborhood in west Mosul, one of the most violent areas of a multiethnic city contested by various religious and ethnic groups." September 14th, US Air Force announced: "An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft crashed in central Iraq at approximately 12:45 p.m. Baghdad time on Sept.14. The crash was not due to hostile fire. The crash site has been secured and there were no reports of civilian injuries or damage to civilian property. The aircraft is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, remotely-piloted aircraft. The MQ-1's primary mission is conducting armed reconnaissance. A board will be convened to investigate the incident." Mike noted that in real time. So this is at least the second drone crash this month.

As violence continues, Nouri al-Maliki, thug of the occupation, continues to hold hands with those who traffic in violence. Friday's snapshot included Anne Tang (Xinhua) report where she quoted Nouri al-Maliki, thug of the occupation, stated of allegedly violent prisoners in Iraqi prisons, "Those people, who had been involved in killing Iraqis must be punished. [. . .] We hear voices calling for release of criminals under claim that they have been defending rights of minorities and (religious) sects, forgetting that those criminals had been behind catastrophes." Nouri's words were laughable then and only more so after the weekend's news. So happily in in bed with the League of Righteous that no only will he sleep in the wet spot, he'll also release them from Iraqi prisons. For those late to the party, the League of Righteous has claimed credit for the deaths of 5 US service members and for the deaths of 4 British citizens (three confirmed dead, four assumed) and they continue to, presumably, hold a fifth. Let's go to the June 9th snapshot:This morning the New York Times' Alissa J. Rubin and Michael Gordon offered "U.S. Frees Suspect in Killing of 5 G.I.'s." Martin Chulov (Guardian) covered the same story, Kim Gamel (AP) reported on it, BBC offered "Kidnap hope after Shia's handover" and Deborah Haynes contributed "Hope for British hostages in Iraq after release of Shia militant" (Times of London). The basics of the story are this. 5 British citizens have been hostages since May 29, 2007. The US military had in their custody Laith al-Khazali. He is a member of Asa'ib al-Haq. He is also accused of murdering five US troops. The US military released him and allegedly did so because his organization was not going to release any of the five British hostages until he was released. This is a big story and the US military is attempting to state this is just diplomacy, has nothing to do with the British hostages and, besides, they just released him to Iraq. Sami al-askari told the New York Times, "This is a very sensitive topic because you know the position that the Iraqi government, the U.S. and British governments, and all the governments do not accept the idea of exchanging hostages for prisoners. So we put it in another format, and we told them that if they want to participate in the political process they cannot do so while they are holding hostages. And we mentioned to the American side that they cannot join the political process and release their hostages while their leaders are behind bars or imprisoned." In other words, a prisoner was traded for hostages and they attempted to not only make the trade but to lie to people about it. At the US State Dept, the tired and bored reporters were unable to even broach the subject. Poor declawed tabbies. Pentagon reporters did press the issue and got the standard line from the department's spokesperson, Bryan Whitman, that the US handed the prisoner to Iraq, the US didn't hand him over to any organization -- terrorist or otherwise. What Iraq did, Whitman wanted the press to know, was what Iraq did. A complete lie that really insults the intelligence of the American people. CNN reminds the five US soldiers killed "were: Capt. Brian S. Freeman, 31, of Temecula, California; 1st Lt. Jacob N. Fritz, 25, of Verdon, Nebraska; Spc. Johnathan B. Chism, 22, of Gonzales, Louisiana; Pfc. Shawn P. Falter, 25, of Cortland, New York; and Pfc. Johnathon M. Millican, 20, of Trafford, Alabama." Those are the five from January 2007 that al-Khazali and his brother Qais al-Khazali are supposed to be responsible for the deaths of. Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Robert H. Reid (AP) states that Jonathan B. Chism's father Danny Chism is outraged over the release and has declared, "They freed them? The American military did? Somebody needs to answer for it."Those are the names of the 5 US service members that the League of Righteous claim credit for killing. Let's name the five British citizens kidnapped in Baghdad May 29, 2007: Alec Maclachlan, Jason Crewswell, Alan McMenemy, Peter Moore and Jason Swindelhurst. All but Alan McMenemy and Peter Moore have been turned over dead. The British government assumes that Alan McMenemy is dead while his loved ones continue to hope otherwise. Peter Moore is considered to be alive at this point by the British government. Today BBC News reports that an inquest has been informed Alec Maclachlan died of "a gunshot wound to the head.""Those people, who had been involved in killing Iraqis must be punished. [. . .] We hear voices calling for release of criminals under claim that they have been defending rights of minorities and (religious) sects, forgetting that those criminals had been behind catastrophes," asserted Nouri. But killing US service members and British citizens is apparently okay? And did we mention that the theory in the British press is that the five British citizens were kidnapped because Peter Moore's work was revealing corruption in Nouri's ministries?Sunday Muhanad Mohammed, Suadad al-Salhy, Mohammed Abbas, Missy Ryan and Sonya Hepinstall (Reuters) reported that more members of the League of Righteous were released from jail this weekend: "Many of a total of around 100 prisoners released in recent days were part of the Shi'ite militant group Asaib al-Haq, or Leagues of Righteousness, said Jassim al-Saedi, a senior member of the group. He said negotiations were ongoing to secure the release of up to 500 more Asaib al-Haq detainees. " He's quoted saying 200 members of the group will be released when they're done but only 97 have been released so far. The group differs over the numbers. AFP quoted League of the Righteous spokesperson Salam al-Maliki who states, "I can confirm the release of a number of our group last night . . . 23 were freed yesterday. Eighty-seven of our group were released last week, and 120 are supposed to be freed this week." He brags about all the "negotiations we are holding with the Iraqi government." Xinhua adds, "Salm Al-Maliki, former Transport Minister, representing al-Sadr's bloc in former Shiite Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari's government, said the release is 'part of an accord between the group and the current Iraqi government, led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.' He did not elaborate the accord."

Today Richard Spencer (Telegraph of London) sums prior events this year, "Earlier this year, there were reports that negotiations linked to attempts to bring the League of Righteousness into the political process might secure the release of some or all of the five men. Three senior figures in the group, including Laith al-Khazali, the brother of its leader, were released by the Americans at the time. Instead, the bodies of three of them were handed over while the fourth security guard, Alan McMenemy, from Glasgow, was also said to be most probably dead by the government."Reached for comment, Brian S. Freeman, Jacob N. Fritz, Johnathan B. Chism, Shawn P. Falter, Johnathon M. Millican, Alec Maclachlan, Jason Crewswell and Jason Swindelhurst said . . . Oh, they can't speak. They're dead. And their governments' alleged 'leaders' have chosen not to speak in defense of them. Instead it's make nice with Nouri and his friends who kill civilians and US service members. That's what happens when the US government decides to install thugs into leadership. And let's not pretend that this move doesn't betray everyone sent over to fight an illegal war in Iraq.

While Nouri rushes to big-tent with members of the League of Righteous, he continues to block efforts at bringing in former Ba'athists. This animosity is at the root of his efforts to create an international incident between his country and Syria where many former Ba'athists have moved to. Andrew Lee Butters (Time magazine) observes that "Maliki's government has shown little interest in even opening a dialogue with Syria or the former Baathists about their eventual return to Iraq." [Time has video of displaced Iraqis residing in Syria here.] Andrew Lee Butters notes that there are basically "two factions: a hard-line group led by a former vice president in Saddam's government, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, and a more moderate but less powerful group led by Muhammad Younis, a former adviser to Saddam's executive council. Younis's group began reaching out to the Iraqi government in 2007, holding a conference to reevaluate the mistakes of the Saddam regime, reject their old Baathist ideology, and adopt more democratic policies. (See pictures of Saddam Hussein.) Following the August bombings in Baghdad, al-Douri's faction has also shown signs of moderating. In an interview with TIME earlier this month, the unofficial spokesman for the group, Nizar Samra'y, said it is more concerned about the growing Iranian influence on Iraq's government than in forcing U.S. troops out of the country." Stephen Starr (Asia Times) quotes scholar and author Fadhil Rubayieh on the assertions by Nouri that the August 19th Baghdad bombings result from former Ba'athists in Syria, "I don't think any Iraqi Ba'athist people were responsible for the bombings -- there's no way they could have pulled off something as big as that. [It was] the biggest [bombing] in Iraq for six years. [. . .] Maliki does not want to see the Ba'athists succeed in regaining any sort of political legitimacy, and as such, blamed them for the bombing." Starr also notes what many avoid: the day before the bombing, Nouri was in Syria and demanding 179 former Ba'athists be handed over. His demand was rebuffed. Immediately after the bombings, Nouri begins insisting former Ba'athists were responsible and floating the laughable notion that the secular Ba'athists were now in partnership with the religious fundamentalists in al Qaeda of Mesopotamia.

Nouri's 'leadership' and other topics were addressed in the most recent episode of Inside Iraq which Al Jazeera began broadcasting Friday night.

Jasim al-Azzawi: To discuss the UN Commission to Human Development report in Iraq, I'm joined from Baghdad by Mahdi Hafedh -- a former Iraqi planning minister and one of the participants in the Paris roundtable discussions -- and from Washington by Stuart Bowen -- the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction -- and from London by Sami Ramadani -- a senior lecturer of sociology from the London Metropolitan University. Gentlemen, welcome to Inside Iraq. Mahdi Hafedh, you participated in this UNESCO roundtable discussion in Paris and the word "progress" was repeatedly mentioned by you as well as by other participants as well as the UNDP report. So what is the definition of "progress" when comes to Iraq?

Mahdi al-Hafedh: You see actually it is quite clear now. It is not easy to say this is a progress or not. The only thing I can say is that the report was not only about the sustainable development in Iraq but it was in general about the document itself. That is why I think that this matter has to be defined in a very clear way. This is what I understand from the progress in the report.

Jasim al-Azzawi: If we tackle the political aspect, Mr. Bowen, and you are a seasoned politician, you know this is an election season in Iraq so everybody is trying to say, "Iraq has left the woods, we are out of the tunnel and progress is all over the place." You are a frequent visitor to Iraq. Your organization is sanctioned by the US Congress. You elevate a quarterly report to Congress. From what you have seen, and you were in Iraq recently, can you say progress is at hand?
Stuart Bowen: Well there is progress but it is fragile. I was in Baghdad just over a month ago when the recent car bombings occurred. It reminded me of what I felt and saw in 2006 and 2007. Certainly one of the largest attacks in years in Iraq. Very devastating on the ministries effected. And-and I think it's-it's emblematic of the continuing challenges that the Iraqi security forces are going to face through this fall, through this very volatile election season.

Jasim al-Azzawi: And yet, Sami Ramadani, with two power centers in Iraq -- one in KRG and one in Baghdad -- and the constant tension between the two regions, let alone between the parties, the most critical thing for the Iraqi national reconciliations and yet it is not even on the horizon.

Sami Ramadani: Doesn't look like it. In fact, it's receding into the distance even further. And the two centers of power you mentioned are the two main centers of power. You could talk about even more centers of power. If you take the state of the country in general you'll find really practically there is no such thing as a proper central government in Iraq which has tremendous influence in the various regions. There is a state of disintegration in the country, I feel, administratively which reflects itself on the economic, political, social levels. There is a degree of chaos which is escalating rather than improving the country in general, Jasim.

Jasim al-Azzawi: And yet, Mahdi Hafedh, this period between now and the January election, when there is a general election, as well as when American forces start pulling en mass perhaps by summer of next year, is the most critical in the history of Iraq after 2003. As a politician and a member of the Iraqi list and a member of Parliament, do you see Iraqi politicians and power leaders and elites coming together to solve the issues?

Mahdi al-Hafedh: I don't think so because of all the problems in the country is depending upon how the other forces be able to cooperate with the others. For the time being, I feel that there is a bigger problem now and that's why I think it is still at the beginning and I feel that this will not be suddenly happen unless there is something to-to create those who are well understand each other.

Jasim al-Azzawi: Stuart Bowen, what is needed to break this deadlock that Madhi Hafedh alludes to?

Stuart Bowen: Well there are four issues that are confronting Iraq. They're not new ones but there very serious and they -- and they threaten the state. And they threaten -- they impede progress. Security, services, corruption and the Kurdish-Arab problem. On-on security, the August attack is-is just the most serious evidence of what has been a gradually increasing spate of attacks. Especially around Mosul and in the Kirkuk area in recent weeks. On services, I met with Deputy Prime Minister [Rafi al] Issawi during my August trip and he said that services, in his view, he's the -- he's the director of services for the Iraqi government, are worse now than they've been since 2003. That's a very serious concern for the Iraqis across the country, especially regarding access to electricity. He said in Baghdad, it's one to two, three hours a day. It's difficult to manage your business --

Jasim al-Azzawi: It makes you wonder whether it's lack of money, it's incompetence or, as you termed it once, this corruption which is eating the very fabric of Iraqi society as --

Stuart Bowen: Yes.

Jasim al-Azzawi: -- the second insurgency.


Stuart Bowen: That is the third issue, corruption. And -- and uh-uh-uh, Mr. Isawwi told me, as well as the members of the Council of Representatives who I met with on the Integrity Committee, those that work in the corruption fighting organizations in Iraq, that corruption is endemic, it effects every ministry and as Minister [Ali Gahlib] Baban the Minister of Planning told me at the end of last year, it's getting worse. And is certainly worse now than it has ever been. Uh, that coupled together with Kurdish-Arab conflicts in Iraq -- I went to Sulamaniyah [Province] during this August trip. I saw really an other Iraq. All the signs in Kurdish, Kurdish flags flying. For an Arab Iraqi to travel to Kurdistan, [they] have to show papers at the Green Line. These are little known facts that are evidence of, I think, a deep fissure that needs reconciliation and-and uh as-as was just said, reconciliation is slow in coming.

Jasim al-Azzawi: Sami Ramadani, listening to the two gentlemen, that must send shudders into your back.

Sami Ramadani: Well I think they're underestimating the problems in fact, Jassim. I think they're even worse. I mean, Stuart Bowen, for example, called them four-four problems. I see them as consequences. They might be problems in themselves now and they are obviously the four or five or six or seven main reasons for what is going on but ultimately all of these problems -- and Stuart alluded to some of them -- are consequences and they are consequences of the sanctions regime, thirteen years of sanctions, and the occupation of Iraq. The United States, having failed to control Iraq, relied on all manner of politicians who are self-seeking. Their political forces do not have genuine popular base in the country. And they rely on clans, on cliques and nepotism as a consequence as well. Corruption becomes a parallel. Corruption runs parallel to the fact that the United States increasingly relied on political figures and political forces which acquiesced with the occupation. And, by the way, Jasim, when we talk about services, we're talking about clean water. Clean water doesn't exist for most of the population now. Open sewers in the streets. I don't know if Stuart managed to visit some of the streets in Baghdad or the provinces. He would see the level of misery is unbelievable. The unemployment. Half of Iraq's doctors --

Jasim al-Azzawi: As a matter of fact, Sami Ramadani, --

Sami Ramadani: -- have left the country.

Jasim al-Azzawi: -- some of the people though have visited Iraq recently. I don't know whether it's their exaggeration but the way that they termed it, they said that it's "hell on earth." But Madhi Hafedh, would -- let me go on a limb and let me point a finger at perhaps the very cause of all this and correct me if I'm wrong. Is it the sectarian quota system that is ruling Iraq under the facade of democracy, is the mother of all problems?

Madhi al-Hafedh: Yes, it is. One of the reasons for that is that sectarianism has . . . [played the growth?]. And, in my opinion, this was one of the reason for this. I think that unless there is some measures to be taken, the problem will continue and then, in the meantime --

Jasim al-Azzawi: What measures? Like what?

Madhi al-Hafedh: I believe --

Jasim al-Azzawi: Like what? The Iraqi government including the Prime Minister is impotent in throwing anybody behind bars for stealing billions of dollars, so what is it -- what is it needed? I mean, al-Maliki himself says, "I cannot prosecute anybody."

Madhi al-Hafedh: Yes, this is true. I mean, al-Maliki is one person, although he is the most important person in the government, but there are several powers inside the government. You cannot speak anything now about Kurdistan. You cannot speak anything about the ministries where the other ministers from this or that group are ruling. In my opinion, that this has to be taken into consideration and this cannot be solved until the election takes place in January next year.

Meanwhile Steven Lee Myers (New York Times) reports continued problems luring foreign businesses to 'safe' Iraq: "A deal to lure $60 million in foreign capital -- one of only a handful of foreign investments in Iraq's state-owned industries -- collapsed. The American government recently gave the company $2.5 million to keep its main production line operating and its workers out of penury and, perhaps, insurgency." This as the International Business Times reports, "Oil and gas explorer Petrel Resources says its Subba and Luhais oilfield development in Iraq is at a standstill. Petrel generated no revenue in the six months to June 2009, against 8m in H1 2008. The company reported an interim loss of 0.228m, down from 0.417m." RTE Business quotes Petral's chair John Teeling stating, "Petrel is determined to stay in Iraq to participate in the growth."

Turning to peace news, Saturday Gregg K. Kakesako (Honolulu Star-Bulletin) reported that 1st Lt Ehren Watada will not "seek a second court-martial" and that they've "accepted the resignation of" Ehren and quotes Ehren stating, "The actual outcome is different from the outcome that I envisioned in the first place, but I am grateful of the outcome."In June 2006, Ehren Watada became the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to the illegal war in Iraq. June 22, 2006, his unit deployed at 6:45 am and, as he had stated, he refused to deploy. For perspective, that was also the day the US Senate voted to end the illegal war by July 2007 -- a proposal made by US Senators Russ Feingold and John Kerry. Only 13 US senators voted to pull all troops by July of 2007.Back then, the death toll for US service members in Iraq stood at 2512. It currently stands at 4346 and, no, the Iraq War has not ended.In August 2006, an Article 32 hearing was held. Watada's defense called three witnesses, Francis A. Boyle of the University of Illinois' College of Law, Champagne; Denis Halliday, the former Assistant Secretary General of the UN; and retired Colonel Ann Wright. These three witnesses addressed the issue of the war, it's legality, and the responsibilities of a service member to disobey any order that they believed was unlawful. The testimony was necessary because Watada's refusing to participate in the illegal war due to the fact that he feels it is (a) illegal and (b) immoral. Many weeks and weeks later, the finding was released: the military would proceed with a court-martial.On Monday, February 5, 2007, Watada's court-martial began. It continued on Tuesday when the prosecution argued their case. Wednesday, Watada was to take the stand in his semi-defense. Judge Toilet (John Head) presided and when the prosecution was losing, Toilet decided to flush the lost by declaring a mistrial over defense objection in his attempt to give the prosecution a do-over. Head was insisting then that a court-martial would begin against Watada in a few weeks when no court-martial could begin.January 4, 2007, Head oversaw a pre-trial hearing. Head also oversaw a stipulation that the prosecution prepared and Watada signed. Head waived the stipulation through. Then the court-martial begins and Ehren's clearly winning. The prosecution's own military witnesses are becoming a problem for the prosecution. It's Wednesday and Watada's finally going to take the stand. Head suddenly starts insisting there's a problem with the stipulation. Watada states he has no problem with it. Well the prosecution has a problem with it and may move to a mistrial, Judge Toilet declares. The prosecution prepared the stipulation and they're confused by Head's actions but state they're not calling for a mistrial or lodging an objection. That's on the record. Head then keeps pushing for a mistrial and the prosecution finally gets that Head is attempting to give them a do-over, at which point, they call for a mistrial.The case has already started. Witnesses have been heard from. Double-jeopardy has attached. The defense isn't calling for a mistrial and Head rules a mistrial over defense objection and attempts to immediately schedule a new trial.He's ignoring the US Constitution which forbids double-jeopardy. He thought he could give the prosectution a do-over. That's not how the justice system works in the US, double-jeopardy is banned. In November of 2007, US District Judge Benjamin Settle ruled, "The same Fifth Amendment protections are in place for military service members as are afforded to civilians. There is a strong public interest in maintaing these rights inviolate." The military stated then that they would appeal. October 22, 2008, Judge Settle ruled there could be no retrial on the charges of missing deployment, participating in a news conference or participating in the Veterans for Peace conference. That left two charges up in the air which were questionable because the strongest charge was always going to be "missing deployment."Watada was kept in the military all this time. His service ended in December 2006. Or should have. He was kept in the service to prosecute him. He was kept in the service and kept in limbo. His service contract expired in December of 2006 and instead of discharging him then, the military wasted his time and countless US tax payer dollars to conduct a nearly three-year assault on him. Audrey Mcavoy (Breaking News 24/7) reports that October 2nd is when the US military will discharge Ehren. At which point, Ehren can finally get on with his life. Michael Tsai (Honolulu Advertiser) quotes Kenneth Kagan, one of Ehren's two civilian attorneys, stating, "When the Army realized they could not beat him in court, they threw up their hands and looked for some way to handle the situation quickly and quietly." Iraq Veterans Against the War's T.J. Buonomo reflects on Ehren's news:

I am moved beyond words to hear of the imminent release of Ehren Watada from the Army. Ehren's exemplary moral courage was a great inspiration to me as a young Army officer struggling with how to respond to the Bush administration's abuses of power- from their manipulation of prewar intelligence and deception of Congress to their sanctioning of torture to their efforts to subjugate the Iraqi people under foreign multinational corporations and financial institutions.
I recall signing a petition in support of Ehren while still an Army officer -- a document that later ended up in my personnel file while under investigation for exercising my First Amendment rights. Five months later I was involuntarily discharged from the Army and joined Iraq Veterans Against the War. I have since followed Ehren's case and was elated to read that a federal court had intervened on his behalf, reaffirming his constitutional right not to be held in double jeopardy.

From news of a service member to veterans news, Friday, the VA was in the news cycle for still, STILL, not sending the checks to veterans participating in the education programs under the new GI Bill. These checks would cover tuition, would cover books, would cover living expenses. The news media ran with the month of September but, in fact, as e-mails have reminded, for some universities, the fall semester started in August. At one point early in the day Friday, the VA was attempting to lie that they were waiting for adds and drops. That was a lie. First off, many veterans are having to take out emergency students loans at their universities. These are short term loans and, no, this was not planned. Second of all, drops don't end this week. Many universities allow people to drop throughout October and into November. The VA is not doing its job and has attempted to spin. The VA notes the following in a release sent to the public e-mail:

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has authorized checks for up to $3,000 to be given to students who have applied for educational benefits and who have not yet received their government payment. The checks will be distributed to eligible students at VA regional benefits offices across the country starting October 2, 2009. More information on emergency checks. Information on VA regional benefits offices. Meanwhile Cynthia Henry (Philadelphia Inquirer) quotes Robeen Billings who is among the veterans who have not received their payments, "The GI Bill is a mess. I'm struggling because my first semester is not paid. I'm commuting from Newark to Camden, living off my credit card." Who's going to pay the interest on the debt that Billings and others are having to run up because the VA dropped the ball? Henry reports:Former Marine James Hambley, 25, of Maple Shade, has been caught short by the delay. Between his savings and GI Bill living allowance, he figured he could quit his job and attend CCC full time. Without the benefits coming in, Hambley has applied for a two-month deferment on his car and personal loans. He looked into a government student loan, but that money wouldn't be available until November, he said.College advisers have told him that he shouldn't work more than 20 hours a week while taking 14 credits toward his engineering-science degree, Hambley said, but "that's not going to cut it" until the first check arrives -- in November, the government now tells him. He's out looking for work.

iraqbbc news
muhanad mohammedsuadad al-salhymohammed abbasmissy ryansonya hepinstallreuters
the telegraph of london
al jazeerainside iraqjasim al-azzawi
stephen starrthe asia timesimad al-khuzaiidominic evansdavid stamp
the new york timessteven lee myersthe international business times
ehren watadagregg k. kakesakothe honolulu star-bulletinaudrey mcavoy
mcclatchy newspaperssahar issa
timothy williams
the philadelphia inquirercynthia henry

Bob Somerby, New Adventures of Old Christine

"PATRICK’S FULLER STORY! Barnicle asked Governor Patrick about opposition and race" (Bob Somerby, Daily Howler):
But then, race can bring out the dumb in us all. We Irish can be very dumb in this area—and we white pseudo-liberals can be even worse. We love our pleasingly narrow constructs—and to drive them, we tell pleasing stories. In the past few days, we’ve even been telling stories as dumb—and disrespectful—as the one which follows, concerning Bill Sparkman’s recent death. Allison Kilkenny posted this garbage at—where else?—the Huffington Post:
KILKENNY (9/24/09): As details continue to emerge, investigators claim they are trying to determine whether the death was a killing or a suicide, and if a killing, whether the motive was related to his government job or to anti-government sentiment. Lucindia Scurry-Johnson, assistant director of the Census Bureau’s southern office in Charlotte, N.C. said law enforcement officers have told the agency the matter is “an apparent homicide” but nothing else.
Setting aside the fact that this would be the mother of all bizarre suicides, Johnson seems oddly confident that this was not a political killing considering the word “Fed”—short for “Federal”—is a loaded label that usually indicates anti-government sentiment. “Federal” means “Big Government,” and the word has taken on a derogatory meaning in right-wing circles where fear and paranoia reign supreme. I agree with Johnson that this seems like an apparent homicide, but it’s not “nothing else.” By utilizing the branding “Fed,” the killers were clearly trying to make a political statement, namely “Obama: Stay Out.”
The word definitely packs an ideological punch, but not only is it anti-government, it’s anti-Obama.
The “killers” were clearly trying to do that! That’s so dumb it hurts. It’s also deeply disrespectful of the nightmares of race—and of the life of Sparkman, which is just the latest narrative toy in the hands of people like this. In our view, Rachel Maddow has been working almost this hard in the past two nights, trying to make this unfortunate story fit the pre-approved form we pseudos would vastly prefer.
Why did Bill Sparkman die? At this point, no one seems to know, except his presumed “killers.” (Or killer. If he was killed.) Many possibilities obtain, not just the one for which Kilkenny prays. But then, why did Wilson yell, “You lie?” That’s hard to determine too. But silly hacks like Eagan/Matthews/ Kilkenny/Maddow will happily hand you the novelized tales which make thrills run up liberal legs. In the process, they work to dumb the liberal world down. Most likely, they hurt progressive interests:
Their type frequently do.

People like Kilkenny and Maddow do dumb the world down. I saw something somewhere today, online, where Rachel Maddow was quoted and I laughed so hard. She has no idea about anything. She really is a fool. As soon as I can remember where I saw it, I'm pushing it at Third as "Dumbest Statement of the Week." It is so jaw-droppingly stupid and so insightful into how stupid she truly is.

That said, I'm kind of ticked at Bob Somerby. Not over today's installment which is well worth reading. But Ava and C.I. will probably yet again be the only ones tackling a topic on Sunday. They have consistently been the only ones to call it out. And I saw it on TV last night and thought, "Oh, maybe Bob Somerby will call it out!"

He was apparently watching Chris Matthews and missed it.

But to this day, it is the subject that Ava and C.I. carved out. It is the one they nailed down and have covered for two years now. And it fits directly into what Bob's been covering all week. Last night, if you were watching, you saw the gutter they'd crawl into to trash Bill Clinton and you saw them refuse to trash Barack.

There's no gutter they won't go into on Bill Clinton. And it's a dam shame that only Ava and C.I. call it out. I'll talk about next week (and link to Ava and C.I.'s piece).

Tonight? Did you see The New Adventures of Old Christine? Wednesday was the season debut. We watched it three times. My daughter just loves Barb (Wanda Sykes -- and has cut one of her doll's hair to look like Barb -- it doesn't look a thing like Wanda's hair). "She's funny!" She has to tell me that repeatedly when we watch the show. And if I don't laugh at something Barb's said (sometimes Barb isn't being funny, sometimes she's serious), she'll slap me on the leg and say, "Mommy, she's funny!" To remind me to laugh.

The boys like it to but Wanda Sykes will never know how much she makes my daughter's week and how thrilled she is to see "the funny girl like me" on TV. (And I'm thrilled that she's all into jokes now. My daughter is gorgeous and will be a heart breaker. She's got my mother's looks. Obviously, she doesn't have mine. And I'm just thrilled she's doing something besides posing or what I used to call her "pretty lessons" as she'd stare at the mirror.) (For hours.) But Wanda Sykes will never know how much she has meant to one little Black girl who didn't get to grow up with a new Cosby show on at nights or with The Jeffersons or Good Times or Tootie on Facts of Life or Diff'rent Strokes or What's Happening or Gimmie' A Break. This has not been a good TV decade for women and it has especially not been a good decade for Black women.

If you doubt it, think about how each decade has had some major characters in sitcoms played by Black women . . . except this one. Until Barb got added to The New Adventures of Old Christine. And that's just about the most perfect show on TV.

I love Julia as Old Christine. She's the funniest woman on TV.

Recap for those who missed it. Season premiere had New Christine walking out of her wedding to Richard. Old Christine was still pissed at Papa Jack (her old boyfriend and New Christine's father) because they'd kissed before the wedding and then she finds out he's engaged. Matthew was sleeping with New Christine's sister who broke it off (it was a fling for her) and Barb met a guy she liked and spilled everything, about how she and Old Christine got married so Barb could stay in the country. The guy was INS.

So Barb's 'detained.' Christine goes to visit her and Barb is explaining how awful it is to be in jail and Christine agrees it is awful and she had an awful day too, did Barb know that Papa Jack was engaged?

Barb was priceless as she told Christine she felt bad that her fifteen minute relationship ended badly. I love that Christine always wants to make it about her no matter what is going on. So there's a guy named Bongo in Jamaica. Christine needs to see him, Barb tells her, and he can get her some fake papers to buy her some time (he used to work for the State Department, Barb explains but now he sells fake papers and pot).

Christine and Matthew hop a flight to Jamaica.

What's the one thing in life Christine always has to have?

Did you guess wine?

They're on the plane and she's asking the flight attendent for wine. Begging her for wine. The flight attendent explains they don't serve anything while the cabin doors are still open. As soon as they're in the air, Christine's on the buzzer for the flight attendant. She gets some headphones to watch a Jeremy Piven movie and then tries to order some wine but she doens't have enough money. (It's six dollars a glass.) She tells the flight attendant that she's rude. She explains she's having a bad day and what if it was the flight attendant's wife they were trying to deport. She then says she doesn't think she's going out on a limb with that due to the "Achey Breaky" hair do and the boxers the woman's wearing which leave panty lines. The flight attendant storms off as Christine wonders why people are so rude?

I'm laughing just remembering it.

So they get to Jamaica (leaving out a lot on the flght) and Christine's left her passport on the plane and they won't let her get it. So she's being detained. Matthew shows up and she thinks he's fixed everything. He's gone to the beach, gotten his hair braided and gotten stoned.

Christine decides to use her breasts to try to get out of it.

The guy who busted Barb likes her (probably loves her) and comes by to flirt with her. Barb was funny. (She kept yelling that he had VD.) At the end of the --

Wait.

Richard and New Christine had some moments.

He waited outside her home for her. She showed up the next morning. He gave her a speech and she told him that was nice but she was over him and it was all in the past. "The past? It was 12 hours ago!" Richard exclaims. She says that when she's over with something, it's over. She says (apparently referring to Old Christine) that she never talks about her old boyfriends because when it's over, it's over and she feels nothing. Not even, she explains, when she watches a Colin Farrel movie. Richard is surprised she dated him. But it's over.

At the end, Christine and Matthew walk into her home and Barb and Richard are there on the couch. Christine's thrilled and tells Matthew they did it, she and Matthew saved Barb! She starts telling them that she had to do things she's ashamed of and Matthew corrects her and she says, yeah, she's a little proud of them. Then it turns out Barb got out thanks to Richard who's agreed to marry her so she can stay in the country.

It was a brilliant opening and probably one of the best shows of the series which is really saying a lot.

And whenever I mention this show, someone writes in and will say, "Isn't that show advanced for your kids?" I've said it before, 1) violence bothers me, sex doesn't (and it's one-liners, it's not like they're doing steamy sex scenes like on The Young & The Restless) and 2) the show was already my favorite and once my kids found out Wanda was on, they were watching. Outside of pimps and hookers on the crime shows, this hasn't been a decade where it was easy to find African-Americans on TV.


"Iraq snapshot" (The Common Ills):
Friday, September 25, 2009. Chaos and violence continue, Talabani buries a prized request in his UN speech to emphasize a momentary one (already addressed as it turns out), the VA has a really, really bad week and ends the week on a bad note, Nouri's forming his own coalition and right now it's . . . well Nouri, and more.

Yesterday (6:18 pm EST), Jalal Talabani, Iraqi President, addressed the United Nations General Assemnbley. He tapped the microphone four times before he began reading his prepared speech for the next 17 minutes and four seconds

The most important challenges we face in the near future is the legislative elections due to be held in January 2010 for which the political parties have already started preparations. The success of these elections will put the current political regime based on democracy, pluralism and the peaceful transfer of power on the right path. The success of the elections will transfer the political process from the establishment stage to one of permanence and stability and will promote stability and security in Ira. The elections will strengthen our capabilities in building national institutions qualified to fulfill the requistes of a strong state based on law, living peacefully with its own people and neighbors and to be a key factor in the security and stability in the region. This will reflect postively on Iraq's Arab, regional and international relations and its active return to the international community.
The real danger currently facing Iraq is outside interference in its internal affairs which has committed the worst crimes against innocent Iraqis from various segments of society, men, women, children and the elderly. In an attempt to destabilize security and stability achieved in Iraq during 2008 and 2009, Iraq has witnessed recently a series of bombings and terrorist attacks, the last of which was the Bloody Wednesday explosions that targeted the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance which targeted the country's sovereign institutions on 19 August 2009. This led to many innocent victims, including many employees of the government, diplomats and administrators. These criminal acts and large number of victims have reached the level of genocide and crimes against humainty subject to punishment under international law. We believe these acts at this level of organization, complexity and magnitude cannot be planned, funded and implemented without support of external forces and parties and primary investigations indicate the involvement of external parties in the process.
Therefore, the government of the Republic of Iraq puts this important matter on the table of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and requests its submission to the Security Council for the purpose of forming an independent international investigation outside the jurisdiction of Iraq and bring those found guilty to a special international criminal court.
The Iraqi government finds itself obliged to resor to the United Nations to protect its people and stop the bleeding of innocent Iraqis and we are looking to the assistance of the international community and its support ot the Iraqi positions in the formation of an independent international commission to investigate the crimes of terrorism against the Iraqi people we request the United Nations Secretary General to name a senior offficial to evaluate the extent of foreign intervention that threatens the security and integrity of Iraq and to consider terrorist crimes as genocide. We also look for better cooperation and coordination with the neighboring countries and other concerned states to control Iraq's boraders, exchange information, coordinate efforts and prevent the groups that support terrorism and work against Iraq under any cover.

It was a far cry from his speech to the United Nations September 25, 2008 when he was speaking of the importance of ensuring that women were able to participate in "all spheres of influence". This year, almost 12 months to the day, he stood before the United Nations and wanted to open with what can be seen as an attack on Syria. Bloody Wednesday, Black Wednesday, August 19th, whatever you call it, no one knows who was responsible. Nouri al-Maliki had been in Damascus and met with Bashar al-Assad, president of Syria, to demand that Syria turn over 179 Iraqis residing in Syria to Iraqi authorities. This demand wasn't new. When Nouri was hiding out for 18 years in Syria, there were many calls from Saddam for Syria to turn Nouri and others over to Iraqi authorities. Syria refused then to turn over anyone without proof and Syria stands by that policy today. The demand for the 179 to be turned over came before the August 19th attacks.

Like George W. Bush, Nouri used an attack to push through things he already wanted. Nouri and others thought Turkey would be the one to lean on because Turkey does conduct raids in (and assaults on) northern Iraq. Their 'right' to do so was just renewed and the hope of Nouri and his allies was that the desire to renew would mean Turkey would automatically side with Iraq against Syria. That's why Iraqi officials made idiotic statements in the last few weeks on Arabic TV claiming that Turkey agreed with Iraq and said the 'proof' offered by Iraq that Iraqis in Syria were responsible for the August 19th bombings was irrefutable. Turkish officials didn't say that, nor did they feel that. Their role was to get the two sides to come together. That's how they saw it. It's doubtful that Turkey's desire for continued raids could have been leveraged by Nouri to begin with but the fact that Iraq suffers from a drought and needs Turkey for water further undercut any hopes that Iraq could strong-arm Turkey.

So yesterday Jalal Talabani took the matter to the United Nations. Not to the Arab League. They don't want to take it to the Arab League because a Cairo meeting this month did not go well for Iraq and indicated that other governments saw Iraq's 'evidence' to be as weak as did Syria. Despite attempting to bypass the Arab League, Talabani claimed to the United Nations yesterday that "we seek to establish better relations with the Arab and Islamic countries and we are committed to the decisions of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Conference."

How much can one person beg for? Traditionally, you beg for one thing. Jalal was begging non-stop. After demanding an international inquiry, he then went into how Iraq should be spared of its debts and obligations. Is Iraq a new country? No. And the 20 million-plus Iraqis that lived there before the start of the illegal war (approximately 26 million was the CIA estimate in 2002; they estimate 28 million today which apparently includes external refugees and corpses in the count) are still in Iraq. So what's going on?
Under a United Nations mandate authorizing the foreign occupation of Iraq -- issued after the illegal war started (no UN mandate was issued on the illegal war) -- Iraq was seen as a ward that needed protection -- not only from foreign forces but also from the international community. The treaty masquerading as a Status Of Forces Agreement was wanted by the White House and by Nouri. Nouri wanted it so that Iraq was no longer a 'ward of the state'. As such, Jalal Talabani pressed the UN to lift Iraq's debts, "Therefore, we request a clear resolution issued by the Security Council to terminate all resolutions issued under chapter VII which affected the sovereignty of Iraq and led to financial obligations which are still binding on Iraq because the situation which necessitated the adoption of those resolutions no longer exists. We and the Iraqi people look forward to the day when Iraq is released from chapter VII sanctions."

To some degree, Talabani's second round of begging will most likely be met. However, he will forever be criticized historically for making that his second request and not his first and only request. Nouri's petty-grudge war resulted in the Iraq basically being taken out of receivership on the internaional stage becoming request number two and not the primary one. This request was the one the non-representative government in Baghdad had worked the last three years on and suddenly it became a secondary issue in Talabani's speech. With news from Alsumaria that Foreign Minister Hosheyar Zebari has declared Syria, Turkey and Iraq have agreed "to form a Turkish-Syrian-Iraqi investigtation committee," Talabani's decision to emphasize August 19th over the economic issues looks like an even bigger mistake.

Yesterday, there was a prison break in Tikrit with sixteen prisoners escaping -- one of whom was later caught, five of whom had been sentenced to death. Steven Lee Myers (New York Times) notes the curfew and that "American search dogs and aircraft" are being used to hunt for the escapees. Ned Parker and Saif Hameed (Los Angeles Times) reported this morning that two of the sixteen have now been captured and that 4 "prison guards were under investigation on suspicion of helping the detainees escape. The prison director was dismissed and detained while under investigation, officials said." BBC News reports 5 of the escapees have now been caught and that the "police detain 100 staff for questioning about the breakout." Nada Bakri (Washington Post) adds, "Authorities said Friday that at least 100 prison officials and guards, including 10 officers, have been arrested and three special committees formed to investigate the prison breakout in Tikrit." Bakri also notes that with 5 of thte 15 escapees back in custody, the curfew in Tikrit has been lifted. Iran's Press TV notes that posters of the escapees "have been distributed across Tikrit and other cities in Salaheddin province to ensure that the 10 remaining jail breakers will not remain long at large." Reuters notes Iraqi officilas are now saying 6 of the 15 escapees have been captured.

In other prison news, Anne Tang (Xinhua) reports Nouri al-Maliki, thug of the occupation, stated of allegedly violent prisoners in Iraqi prisons, "Those people, who had been involved in killing Iraqis must be punished. [. . .] We hear voices calling for release of criminals under claim that they have been defending rights of minorities and (religious) sects, forgetting that those criminals had been behind catastrophes." Nouri's words are laughable since he's so tight with the League of Righteous (responsible for an assualt on a US base in which 5 US service members were killed, responsible for the kidnapping of 5 British citizens in Baghdad -- four of whom are known to be dead -- those are the crimes they've claimed credit for). He's so tight with them that he got their leader (and the leader's brother) released from a US prison earlier this year and has met with them repeatedly. Despite the fact that a fight British citizen is either still held hostage or dead. Thug Nouri runs with his own. And his pretense to care for Iraqi lives is laughable when he sits on billions and Iraqis struggle for something as simple as potable water.


In Iraq today 15 Iraqi soldiers were killed in Baashiqa. Xinhua reports that the 15 were in northern Iraq attempting "to blow up a large arms and ammunition depot" but things went horribly wrong. In addition to the 15 dead, another is reported injured. BBC has the bombing taking place while the soldiers were transporting "confiscated bombings to a disposal area". However, Nada Bakri (Washington Post) reports, "The explosion took place in a lot where security forces store and detonate explosives and ammunition confiscated from insurgents." Steven Lee Myers (New York Times) explains, "Officials described the blast as an accident but provided few other details." Gulf News adds, "Witnesses said American soldiers had cordoned off the area. The US military did not immediately respond to queries for additional details."

In other reported violence today . . .

Mohammed al Dulaimy (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad roadside bombing injured two police officers. Reuters notes two other Baghdad roadside bombings from yesterday which injured four people and an attack on a Mosul military checkpoint which claimed the life of 1 Iraqi soldier and left another injured.

Moving to political news. September 11th on Al Jazeera's Inside Iraq (a transcript excerpt is in this snapshot), Kassim Daoud repeatedly insisted to host Jasim Azzawi that there was still the possibility that Nouri al-Maliki might join the Shi'ite alliance.

Jasim Azzawi: al-Maliki has refused to join the new bloc that has been created and you are a member of that bloc, the Iraqi National Alliance primarily because of the presence of Ibrahim al-Jaafari and perhaps because of Moqtada al-Sadr. Can Maliki win without your bloc?

Kassim Daoud: Well that's a very difficult question. I mean it's premature to answer the question like this to comment that the Alliance, actually, is still open to everybody. We announced it as a bloc which has to be the foundation for the national mandate or the national enterprise. We cannot say that Maliki didn't join us so far, the negotiation is still going on.

Jasim Azzawi: Kassim Daoud, it seems to me that his answer is final. He wanted to be the sole candidate to run for the premiership as well as he wanted a limitation on to Ibrahim al-Jaafari and Moqtada al-Sadr blocked. That has become amply clear.

Kassim Daoud: Well the problem before you is clear but for me since I'm an insider, actually, I'm not looking at the situation as it is. The guy having sort of a political mandate, he would like to pursue with his mandate. The Alliance would like to -- their own mandate so I cannot say the negotiation terminated. I think still we have room although the room is probably slim but I think that we cannot give such a sharp answer till we have to wait for probably too more weeks.

Jasim Azzawi: Slim indeed it is.

Slim indeed. Alsumaria reports that Nouri has revealed he's creating his own coalition and "will announce" it in the next week. The coalition will be Dawlat al-Qanun (State of Law) and will be a mixed coalition as Nouri attempts to paint himself more secularist due to the January 2009 elections in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces indicating that fundamentalists were not popular with the people. Caesar Ahmed and Ned Parker (Los Angeles Times) report on the plans by the politicaly party SIIC (Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council) which include recruitment and appearing open (possibly being open, but time will tell on that) and to point out the current government's broken promises: "The cleric critiqued the government's management of electricity and vowed his list would improve basic services. He heaped scorn on the country's current electricity minister, Kareem Wahab, for failing to improve power." Alsumaria also reports that the Kurds are calling for elections to take place in Kirkuk and not be postponed "under the pretext of voters' register incomplete scrutinizing." The upcoming elections are scheduled for January 2010 and the fate of Kirkuk will not be, according to Nouri, addressed then. Despite the Iraqi Constitution long ago calling for a referendum on Kirkuk (disputed territory claimed by both the KRG and the centeral government in Baghdad).

On the topic of the elections, they're often presented as the saving moment for Iraq that will change everything. Last week Marc Lynch (Foreign Policy) offered another take after recounting the US government's distaste for the recent elections in Lebanon, Iran and Afghanistan:

The similarity in American thinking about the role assigned to elections in the Iraqi and Afghan case bears particular attention. In each case, the elections are supposed to do very specific things for American strategy: legitimate the political order, bring excluded challengers into the political process, resolve enduring political conflicts, create a political foundation for the counter-insurgency campaign. In Afghanistan, the opposite appears to have happened. Should this worry those assigning the same hopes to Iraq?
This is not to say that the scheduled Iraqi elections don't matter (even if it were an American decision to hold them, which it most assuredly is not). The looming elections have very clearly profoundly shaped Iraqi politics. The jockeying over electoral coalitions, questions about Maliki's power or vulnerability, and reshaping of both intra-communal and inter-communal politics have dominated the Iraqi political arena for months. The outcomes will matter in important ways-- Shia politics could fragment or reunite, Maliki could emerge as the power broker many hope for or fear, Sunni groups might find a better entree into the ruling coalition, particular groups may rise or fall --- and in contrast to most Arab elections, the outcomes are not pre-ordained.
But things could go in bad directions as easily as in good directions -- or, even more likely, could shuffle the deck without producing any miraculous breakthroughs in national reconciliation. Certainly the 2005 elections produced their fair share of negative results -- worsening the spiral towards civil war, locking in communal representation, and paralyzing the government for months over the inability to agree on a Prime Minister. The January 2009 provincial elections were seen, by contrast, as a great success. But as the Times pointed out the other day, disillusionment with the results of the provincial elections -- which carried similar weight in U.S. thinking -- has grown in Anbar as new leaders fall into old habits.

Scholar F. Gregory Gause (Abu Dhabi's The National Newspaper) also questions whether too much emphasis is put on the elections:

But neither immediate security concerns nor short-term electoral politics will determine the future of Iraq. Ultimately, political stability in Iraq will depend on how Iraqis (and, for the near future, the American government) define the kind of state they want to have. Do they want a strong centralised government? Or do they want to empower regional governments and carefully divide and circumscribe power in Baghdad? Neither quantifications of terrorist violence nor the 2010 parliamentary elections will answer that question.
[. . .]
There is certainly an argument to be made that what Iraq needs now is strong leadership. State-building is rarely done effectively by committee, and Iraq is still in the midst of rebuilding the institutions that were hollowed out by Saddam Hussein and then upended by the American occupation. The core of al Maliki's appeal, and his argument for a new term as prime minister, is that only a strong leader can build the institutions necessary to maintain security, promote economic development and prevent the political fragmentation of Iraq. Of course, a strong leader is no guarantee of such progress. Plenty of kleptocratic states are headed by strongmen; Zimbabwe is no model for state development. But it is hard to see how al Maliki's rivals in the Kurdish leadership or in the sectarian Shia Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI), which in the past has advocated a Shia regional government on the model of the KRG, could rally Iraqis across ethnic and sectarian lines to support the rebuilding of the state.
But after the disastrous experience of Saddam's rule, perhaps Iraqis would prefer a central government that is both weaker, in terms of its authority over the provinces, and more divided, with a separation of powers in Baghdad – so that no single figure can consolidate power, even if that means relatively inefficient governance. The risk of a new dictatorship, in this view, trumps arguments about security and efficiency and the logic of centralised state power. The political groups forming coalitions against al Maliki will make that argument in the upcoming elections. The major Kurdish parties, invested in their own autonomy in the KRG, certainly see things this way. Even Arab parties that in the past have advocated strengthening the centre are reluctant to ally with al Maliki, at least right now.

Turning to the US where Gregg Zoroya and Mary Beth Markelein (USA Today) report, "Nearly a month into the fall college semester, the Department of Veterans Affairs has paid benefits for fewer than half the former Iraq and Afghanistan veterans requesting under the new post-9/11 G.I. Bill, according to a VA estimate." And they quote the director of the VA Education Service, Keith Wilson, stating, "We realize we're not meeting everybody's expectations." David Zucchino (Los Angeles Times) notes Amber Oberg's expectations. The army veteran has been attending UC Davis for a month. And the promised funding? Hasn't arrived. Oberg states, "I didn't expect to get out of the military and then have to wait and wait for the education money that was promised me. Now she and her kids are in danger of being homeless as she waits for the promised monthly housing payment of $1,736. Across the country, veterans check the mail looking for the promised funding. Audrey Hudson (Washington Times) reports John Kamin has been waiting and thought he had good news yesterday only to open the envelope and discover he was being notified that he might "be called back into active duty." He tells Hudson, "It felt like salt in the wound. That was really disheartening." Jessica Calefati (US News & World Reports) explains that "some 70,000 eleigible veterans who filed claims for this school year are still waiting for their first checks." After a very bad week for the VA, they knew it was time to spin into action. Kimberly Hefling (AP) reports that the department stated late today "that checks will be issued starting Oct. 2." That link, by the way, also includes an earlier report by Hefling on VA Secretary Eric Shinseki making statements. I am saying this, he is either ignorant of what he is speaking on or he is lying through his teeth. He pushes the problem off on the colleges. The VA program is no different than the US Pell Grant program. There is no delay in the Pell Grants so for him to claim it's the colleges screw up reveals extreme stupidity on the subject matter or a gross eagerness to lie. He also tries to hide behind drop and add periods. What an idiot. Drop and add periods. Anyone who has gone to college and received assistance is damn well aware that the assistance starts at the start of the semester. They're also damn well aware that students have many, many more weeks to drop classes. We'll go with stupidity because it wasn't just college tuition, it was book allowances, living allowances and more. Shinseki embarrasses himself and that's also part of the reason for the late announcement that checks will be out starting October 2nd. They don't want people digging to deep into his spin. When the entire department already looks incompetent, it's not a good idea to go into the weekend with the focus on the director's stupidity. If you're late to the party on the VA's bad week, you can refer to Wednesday's "Iraq snapshot" covering a hearing which Kat covers in "Crooks in the VA" and there was more on Congress addressing veterans issues in Thursday's "Iraq snapshot" and Kat's "House Veterans Affairs Committee."

The homeless problem continues to grow while the VA offers excuses and, no doubt, promises of a toll free number on the way that will be the 'answer' to everything. Thom Patterson (CNN, link has text and video) reports on the homeless veterans and notes the numbers for Iraq War and Afghanistan War veterans could be over 7,000 with the VA estimating "about 10 percent of all homeless veterans are women." Iraq War veteran Angela Peacock shares her story with Patterson which includes raped while serving, PTSD, self-medicating leading to a drug addiction, loss of spouse, eviction from apartment. For more on the issue, we'll drop back to the June 3rd snapshot, when US House Rep Bob Finer chaired the House Committee on Veterans Affairs committee for the hearing entitled "A National Commitment to End Veterans' Homelessness:" The number of women veterans who are homeless is rising. [Vietnam Veterans of America's Marsha] Four observed, "There certainly is a question of course on the actual number of homeless veterans -- it's been flucuating dramatically in the last few years. When it was reported at 250,000 level, two percent were considered females. This was rougly about 5,000. Today, even if we use the very low number VA is supplying us with -- 131,000 -- the number, the percentage, of women in that population has risen up to four to five percent, and in some areas, it's larger. So that even a conservative method of determinng this has left the number as high as [6,550]. And the VA actually is reporting that they are seeing that this is as high as eleven percent for the new homeless women veterans. This is a very vulnerable population, high incidents of past sexual trauma, rape and domestic violence. They have been used, abused and raped. They trust no one. Some of these women have sold themselves for money, been sold for sex as children, they have given away their own children. And they are encased in this total humiliation and guilt the rest of their lives." About half of her testimony was reading and about half just speaking to the committee directly. Click here for her prepared remarks. We'll come back to the issue of homeless women veterans in a moment. [. . .] Marsha Four: I believe, sir, that there are very few programs in the country that are set up and designed specifically for homeless women veterans that are seperate. One of the problems that we're run into in a mixed gender setting is sort of two-fold. One the women veterans do not have the opportunity to actually be in a seperate group therapy environment because there are many issues that they simply will not divulge in mixed gender populations so those issues are never attended to. The other is that we believe, in a program, you need to focus on yourself and this is the time and place to do your issue, your deal. In a mixed gender setting, let's say, interfering factors. Relationships are one of them. Many of the veterans too come from the streets so there's a lot of street behavior going on. Some of the women -- and men -- but some of the women have participated in prostitution and so there's a difficult setting for any of them to actually focus on themselves without having all these other stressors come into play. So we feel that's an important issue.

While some veterans go homeless, efforts are made to deport the spouses of some deceased veterans. Most recently, the September 17th snapshot, we noted Kristin M. Hall (AP) report Hotaru Ferschke, a military widow. Her husband, Sgt. Michael Ferschke, died serving in Iraq August 10, 2008. They had tried to have children for some time and when they learned she was pregnant, he was already in Iraq so they got married by proxy and the US military recognizes the marriage but the US Immigration and Naturalization Service plays dumb. She and their son Michael "Mikey" Ferschke III, are now facing deportation. INS is stating that the proxy marriage could be a fake because it wasn't consumated. Consumated? He remained in Iraq and they're not counting their long relationship prior to the proxy marriage. Her mother-in-law, Robin Ferschke told Hall, "She's like my daughter. I know my child chose the perfect wife and mother of his child."Bob Yarbrough (Volunteer TV.com) observes, "Too bad we can't legislate common sense. If we could, Hotaru Ferschke would be raising her son in Maryville without fear of being kicked out of America." Tim Morgan (National Ledger) adds, "What should become of her and her son - should they not get to stay in the US for her husband's ultimate sacrifice? Right now Hotaru Ferschke, and the baby are living in Tennessee with his parents." Matthew Stewart (Daily Times Staff) reports that Second Battle, a documentary about Hotaru's struggle and those of another military widow, was shown at Maryville College and Stewart notes, "Ferschke and his bride had been together in Japan for more than a year, and she was pregnant when he deployed. They married by signing their names on separate continents and did not have a chance to meet again in person after the wedding" and he quotes immigration attorney Brent Renison stating, "She is being denied because they are saying her marriage is not valid because it was no consummated -- despite the fact that they have a child together."

Winding down, we'll note the opening of Sherwood Ross' "PENTAGON TAKING OVER U.S. FOREIGN POLICY" (Veterans Today):The Pentagon has virtually replaced the State Department in making U.S. foreign policy, The Nation magazine charges. "Quietly, gradually---and inevitably, given the weight of its colossal budget and imperial writ---the Pentagon has all but eclipsed the State Department at the center of US foreign policy-making," reporter Stephen Glain writes in the Sept. 28 issue. In addition to new weapons and war fighters, the Pentagon's budget "now underwrites a cluster of special funds from which it can train and equip foreign armies---often in the service of repressive regimes---as well as engage in aid development projects in pursuit of its own tactical ends." Although these programs technically require State Department approval and are subject to Congressional review, Glain writes, "legislative oversight and interagency coordination is spotty at best." Meanwhile, the Pentagon "is pushing for full discretionary control" over large sums that Glain points out "would render meaningless the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act, which concentrated responsibility for civilian and military aid programs within the State Department."


This is the opening to "'We Made them Millions, and they Complain About Insurance,' Lupe Chavez, a housekeeper at the San Francisco Hilton, tells her story to David Bacon" (ColorsNW):I was born in Santa Tecla, near San Salvador. My father was a big rig driver and my mother was a stay at home mom. We had a big family -- four brothers and two sisters. When I was old enough, I worked in the Armando Araujo coffee and soap factory. We Salvadorenos are hard working people. From the time I was twelve my aunts took me with them whenever they had a demonstration. They were teachers, and taught me that we have to fight for what we need, because that's the only way to achieve anything. Even before the war, it was dangerous to be involved with a union. After the war started, many died protesting.I was nineteen years old when I came to the U.S. to care for an elderly woman. My family was very poor and when the opportunity came I didn't hesitate. The woman eventually returned to El Salvador, but I stayed on with her family. I thought I was going to earn money and help my family, but they didn't pay me for an entire year. They told me I had to repay the transportation fee and all the money they'd spent on me. A friend of my grandmother told me I was being treated as a slave. She said she'd rescue me, so I found my passport where they'd hidden it, grabbed my bag and left. But my rescuer took me to another home, to care of another elderly woman. They hardly paid me anything -- just $100 a month. When I said I wanted to go to school, they told me immigration officers would get me.David Bacon's latest book is Illegal People -- How Globalization Creates Migration and Criminalizes Immigrants (Beacon Press) which just won the CLR James Award. Bacon can be heard on KPFA's The Morning Show (over the airwaves in the Bay Area, streaming online) each Wednesday morning (begins airing at 7:00 am PST).

TV notes. Washington Week begins airing tonight on many PBS stations and joining Gwen around the table are John Harris (Politico) Doyle McManus (Los Angeles Times), Karen Tumulty (Time) and Nancy Youssef (McClatchy Newspapers). Meanwhile Bonnie Erbe will sit down with Linda Chavez, Melissa Harris Lieface, Irene Natividad and Genevieve Wood to discuss the week's events on PBS' To The Contrary. Check local listings, on many stations, it begins airing tonight. And turning to broadcast TV, Sunday CBS' 60 Minutes offers:
McChrystal As the news from Afghanistan moves to the front pages of Americans' newspapers, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, tasked with turning things around there, tells 60 Minutes that the spread of the violence in Afghanistan was more than he expected. David Martin reports. Watch Video
The Liquidator The man in charge of recovering assets from Ponzi scheme king Bernard Madoff says there is about 18 billion still out there that he hopes to recover for victims of the scam. But it won't be easy. Morley Safer reports.
A Living For The Dead Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Elvis are dead and now, so is Michael Jackson. But as Steve Kroft reports, they are very much alive when it comes to earning money for their estates.
The season premiere of 60 Minutes, this Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

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