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Tuesday, January 3, 2011. Chaos and violence continue, the political
crisis continues, Jalal Talabani is called a "terrorist" by State of Law,
Moqtada al-Sadr reportedly will not attend a national conference, the Iranian
government expresses displeasure over the MEK, and more.
"Recently the media has been filled with announcements that the war
in Iraq has finally ended. But in a war fought not only by enlisted foot
soldiers, but also largely by corporations, mercenaries, and drones, what
constitutes an end?" asks Iraq War Veterans Against the War's Joyce
Wagner: Although it is an important and
significant milestone, the withdrawal of troops from Iraq does not necessarily
signify an end to occupation. The US footprint is still heavy in the form of
corporate contractors who employ indentured servants (under the euphemism "third
country nationals") and mercenaries without oversight, accountability, or
transparency.
The Iraqi resistance movement is preparing for
what it calls, "the second face of the occupation." According to a statement
released by Uday al-Zaidi, this includes structures
imposed by the US such as the sectarian government and its divisive
constitution. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, families have
been destroyed, displaced, and forced into refugee status all over the world.
We support self-determination for the people of Iraq, and continue to work
toward our goal of making reparation with the people who have been so deeply
affected by this war and its aftermath.
[. . .]
Meanwhile, over 4,000 American service members have been
killed, and many more are living with physical disabilities and invisible
wounds, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Military Sexual Trauma, and
Major Depressive Disorder. Troops are living with undiagnosed
traumatic brain
injuries, many of which go undetected
for months or even years. Instead of being treated when they return, many
service members receive orders to deploy to Afghanistan, even though a part of
them remains at war in Iraq. If this nation wants to honor its veterans, we
need them to honor our right to heal.
And, of course, some who might be thought to be returning will remain to
guard the embassy and train on weapons and, in addition, many have instead been
repostured (Pentagon's term) into surrounding countries with the plan that they
can dart back into Iraq should the White House determine that this is needed.
Ted Koppel established that fact with a report last month on Rock Center with Brian
Williams (NBC):
Ted Koppel: This is the man who might actually have to deal with
that nightmare, Lt Gen Robert Caslan. General, how are you going to get 1320
people out of there? I mean if you've 24 hours notice that something like this
was going to happen, you're telling me the Iraqi government would evacuate
immediately? Would get them all out of there?
Lt Gen Robert Caslan: I would argue that we do have,
in theater, whether it's in Kuwait or elsewhere in theater, that we fall under
the central command, Centcom, and I feel confident that Centcom has the
necessary assets to take whatever measures they need to to counter that
attack.
In Iraq currently, Rebecca Santana (AP) reports that some
Sunnis are exiting mixed neighborhoods out of fear. Why? The political crisis
has frightened them. It started with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordering
questionable arrests of Sunnis -- over 500 of them. He insisted they were
"terrorists" and "Ba'athists." More recently, after a trip to DC and photo ops
with Barack Obama, Nouri began going after Iraqi politicians. Vice President
Tareq al-Hashemi went to the KRG on business and, the day after he arrived,
Nouri al-Maliki has an arrest warrant sworn out on him. Nouri accuses him of
being a terrorist. He currently remains in the KRG, a house guest of President
Jalal Talabani. Along with targeting the vice president, Nouri is demanding that
Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq be stripped of his duties. Nouri heads the
political slate State of Law which came in second in the 2010 elections.
Iraqiya, headed by Ayad Allawi, came in first. al-Hashemi and al-Mutlaq are both
members of Iraqiya. The editorial board of the Louisville Courier Journal (via the Leaf Chronicle) covers the
political crisis: For starters, the
timing supports fears that Mr. al-Maliki is moving to purge the government of
meaningful Sunni participation. In addition to seeking Mr. al-Hashemi's arrest,
Mr. al-Maliki asked the parliament for a no-confidence vote against another
prominent Sunni leader, Saleh al-Mutlaq, a deputy prime minister. Mr. al-Maliki
also threatened to exclude Iraqiya, the main Sunni party, from participation in
the unity government.Meanwhile,
hundreds of former members of the Baath Party, through which Saddam Hussein
ruled Iraq as leader of the Sunni minority, have been arrested in recent weeks,
and Sunni officials' compounds in Baghdad have been surrounded by Mr.
al-Maliki's security forces.All in
all, the situation reeks of Shiite vengeance against Sunnis and strongly
suggests that Mr. al-Maliki intends to become a new Iraqi dictator.
And that possibility, Nouri as the new dictator, may be why the Speaker of
Parliment spoke out this week. Al
Mada reports Osama al-Nujaifi has called for the Iraqi
military to promote national unity and not suppress the people, noting that
human rights abuses by the military are threatening the country. He also called
on the military to stay out of political disputes. Dar Addustour adds that he declared
public freedoms to be among the most important accomplishments in the
transformation of Iraq to a democracy. He decried the use of violence against
Iraqis and the arbitrary arrests. AFP quotes al-Nujaifi stating, "We
find that human rights in Iraq have suffered massive violations. Human rights
have not been achieved amid the deteriorating of the political process in Iraq.
It is clear the development of the nation is based on how much human rights are
respected. Losing these rights is destroying democracy." Adam Schrek (AP) observes, "The
televised comments by Osama al-Nujaifi, one of the country's top Sunni
officials, are yet another salvo in a growing political crisis sparked when
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government issued an arrest warrant for the
country's top Sunni politician last month." Asli Aydintasbas (Newsweek) interviews Iraqi Vice
President Tareq al-Hashemi and quotes him stating:
The U.S. left my country with
challenges beyond our capacity to solve. Maliki cannot be part of a solution. We
[Sunnis] cannot reach a reconciliation with Maliki anymore. Anyone else could
replace him within the Shiite national alliance. But it has to be someone who
believes in rule of law, the future of [Iraqi] institutions
Another member of Iraqiay that Nouri has been targeting is Finance Minister
Rafe al-Essawi whom Jack Healy and Michael R. Gordon
(New York Times) profiled
Saturday and noted that Nouri had tried to get the Cabinet to toss him out but
the Cabinet had refused. al-Esawi told the New York Times, "Maliki now
wants just to get rid of his partners, to build a dictatorship. He wants to
consolidate power more and more. Someone else should be prime minister." The day
after the comments ran, there was an attempt on al-Essawi's life. Press TV reported he was the target of a roadside
bombing Sunday which left "three of Essawi's bodyguards, two officers and one
soldier" wounded. Dan Morse (Washington Post) reports Essawi is
calling for an investigation and Morse writes, "Essawi is widely regarded in
Iraq as a moderate official. But it's no longer just Iraqiya that Nouri's State
of Law is going after. Aswat al-Iraq reports: Al-Iraqiya spokeswoman Maysoon al-Damalouji expressed
her astonishment and denunciation of the "irresponsible" statement made by the
State of Law MP Hussein al-Asadi against President Jalal Talabani.
In a
statement issued by her office, received by Aswat al-Iraq, she added that
"Al-Iraqiya Bloc considers these statements a new unilateral rule and attacking
the partnership in decision making".
She added that "the attack against
al-Iraqiya Bloc will cover all other political blocs, which warns in severe
deterioration in the political situation and demolishing the Iraqi
state".
Damalouji pointed out that Asadi accused President Talabani with
"terrorism" for hosting his deputy Tariq al-Hashimi till a just trial is
made.
Asked about Talabani being called a terrorist by State of Law, US State
Dept spokesperson Victoria Nuland declared in today's press briefing, "Well, we
don't think name calling is the right solution here." Way to stake out a brave
position there.
It needs to be noted that Nouri al-Maliki has sued and threatened to sue
others for less and yet he has not condemned the statement by a member of his
bloc, he's let it linger out there, the charge that Jalal Talabani is a
terrorist. Next time Nouri kicks his feet and screams in public, remember
that. Or remember that it was Saturday when he was claiming people needed to be
civil.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has been calling for a national
conference among the political blocs. (And presumably speaking for the two
dominant Kurdish parties when he did so.) Iraqiya states that they would attend
if Moqtada al-Sadr and Ammar al-Hakim did. Over the weekend, MP Jawad Jubouri (a member of the Sadr bloc)
stated that Moqtada would not attend the conference. Yesterday Hossam Acommok (Al Mada) reported that the National
Alliance has two conditions for attending: (1) the conference must take place in
Baghdad and (2) the issue of charges and criminal investigations will not be on
the agenda. Aswat al-Iraq added that Iraqiya
says it will end its boycott of Parliament and the cabinet (according to Kurdish
MP Ashwaq al-Jaf) if Tareq al-Hashemi's case is transferred to Kirkuk. Alsumaria TV reports on the issue of transferring
al-Hashemi's case to Kirkuk, "Higher Judicial Council of Iraq denied, on
Tuesday, having approved to transfer Iraqi Vice-President Tarek Al Hashemi's
case to Kirkuk. Hashemi's case will remain in Baghdad, Higher Judicial Council
announced noting that it will be examined by a judicial body of nine judges."
As the crisis continues, Victoria Nuland declared today, " Well, Ambassador
[James] Jeffrey has been in and out of Iraq throughout this period. As you know,
he's been talking to all of the major Iraqi leaders. The Vice President [Joe
Biden] as well made some key phone calls in the days before and after Christmas,
trying to encourage Iraqis to come together and have a conversation about the
issues that divide them, and we remain closely monitoring that situation. But
there do seem to be a great number more important voices inside Iraq making the
same points, that they need to find a forum, sit down together, and work it
through."
Today Parliament was supposed to convene. Reuters reports Iraqiya maintained their
boycott (al-Nujaifi was present as has been the tradition when Iraqiya boycotts
or walks out -- that was the established pattern in November 2010). In
additition, Reuters notes all eight Iraqiya cabinet ministers boycotted
yesterday's Cabinet meeting. An Iraqi correspondent for McClatchy Newspapers
reports (at Inside Iraq) on a visit to an MP's office and
concludes, "Even after eight years of what so called FREEDOM and even after
three elections, Iraqis are still loyal to sect and race more than being loyal
to Iraq and it seems that we will need more time to change the sick mentality of
race and sect and move to the mentality of the country."
Jim Loney (Reuters) takes a look at various
factors that may be political risks for Iraq, "The political crisis and the
Exxon pact could push disputes between Baghdad and the Kurds to new heights,
increasing anxiety in Iraq's disputed territories, already a potential faultline
for conflict without U.S. troops to act as a buffer." Today Suadad al-Salhy (Reuters) runs down possible
outcomes of the crisis including: Maliki could also face opposition within his own bloc,
where some factions appeared to be using the crisis to push for a new prime
minister or to negotiate for posts or other benefits.Maliki's move against Hashemi and his demand that
parliament dump Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq, another Sunni leader,
sparked Iraq's worst political crisis in a year.The Shia leader has presented Iraqiya with a challenge
to sideline Hashemi, one of its senior leaders, or lose its sway in government.
Iraqiya may ultimately have to decide whether it stays together or splinters,
and cracks have already appeared.
Reuters notes a Baghdad roadside bombing
left three people injured, a second roadside bombing injured three police
officers and one bystander, the Muqdadiya home of a Sahwa was attacked "killing
him and wounding his wife," a Mosul roadside bombing claimed the life of 1
police officer and left another injured, a Kirkuk sticky bombing injured one
peshmerga, an attack on Mosul checkpoint left two police officers and one
bystander injured and another Mosul roadside bombing claimed the life of 1 Iraqi
soldier.
Meanwhile AFP reports the Iraq Body Count
says approximately 162,000 Iraqis were killed in the war. You can read IBC's
report in full here. A Lancet study
found over a million dead several years ago and Iraq Body Count has come under
criticism for undercounting the dead. It is also true that, unlike Reuters, AP, et al, they actually keep track of
reported deaths and don't just blindly repeat the 'official' figures from the
Iraqi government (figures that have been wrong month after month -- the
government undercounts the dead). Worst reaction to the results thus far? Eric Engleman (Bloomberg News) uses it to insist
that "more than 114,000 civilians have died" -- they just can't handle big
numbers, they will always undercount the dead.
Iran's Fars News Agency reports today,
"The Iranian foreign ministry called for the rapid expulsion of the terrorist
Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) from neighboring Iraq, and called on the
European countries which support the terrorist group to shelter its members. [.
. .] Since the beginning of 2011, the Baghdad government has repeatedly assured
Iranian officials and people that it is determd to expel the MKO from Iraq by
the end of 2011." While Iran continues to insist the Camp Ashraf residents must
be evicted, Manisha Mistry (UK's St Albans &
Harpenden Review) reports, "The Bishop of St Albans has added his
name to an appeal to the United Nations and other world bodies to protect 3,400
Iranian dissidents in Iraq."
So what are we talking about? Camp Ashraf houses a group of Iranian
dissidents (approximately 3,500 people). Iranian dissidents were welcomed to
Iraq by Saddam Hussein in 1986 and he gave them Camp Ashraf and six other
parcels that they could utilize. In 2003, the US invaded Iraq.The US government
had the US military lead negotiations with the residents of Camp Ashraf. The US
government wanted the residents to disarm and the US promised protections to the
point that US actions turned the residents of Camp Ashraf into protected person
under the Geneva Conventions. As 2008 drew to a close, the Bush administration
was given assurances from the Iraqi government that they would protect the
residents. Yet Nouri al-Maliki ordered the camp attacked twice. July 28,
2009 Nouri launched an attack (while then-US Secretary of Defense
Robert Gates was on the ground in Iraq). In a report released this summer
entitled " Iraqi government
must respect and protect rights of Camp Ashraf residents," Amnesty
International described this assault, "Barely a month later, on 28-29 July 2009,
Iraqi security forces stormed into the camp; at least nine residents were killed
and many more were injured. Thirty-six residents who were detained were
allegedly tortured and beaten. They were eventually released on 7 October 2009;
by then they were in poor health after going on hunger strike." April
8th of this year Nouri again ordered an assault on Camp Ashraf
(then-US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was again on the ground in Iraq when
the assault took place). Amnesty
International described the assault this way, "Earlier this year, on
8 April, Iraqi troops took up positions within the camp using excessive,
including lethal, force against residents who tried to resist them. Troops used
live ammunition and by the end of the operation some 36 residents, including
eight women, were dead and more than 300 others had been wounded. Following
international and other protests, the Iraqi government announced that it had
appointed a committee to investigate the attack and the killings; however, as on
other occasions when the government has announced investigations into
allegations of serious human rights violations by its forces, the authorities
have yet to disclose the outcome, prompting questions whether any investigation
was, in fact, carried out." Nouri al-Maliki is seen as close to the government
in Tehran. They have made it clear that they want the dissidents out of Iraq and
returned to Iran -- where they would face trial at best, torture most likely.
Nouri had announced he will be closing Camp Ashraf at the end of this year. With the date looming, December 25th the United
Nations reached an agreement with Iraq on Camp Ashraf. US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton noted:
Today, the United Nations and the
Government of Iraq signed an important agreement on the temporary relocation and
eventual resettlement of the more than 3,000 residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq.
We commend the Government of Iraq for its work with United Nations Special
Representative Ambassador Martin Kobler, and welcome this important step toward
a humane resolution to the ongoing situation at Ashraf. The UN effort has our
full support.
The signing of this
Memorandum of Understanding represents significant progress on this issue and
outlines steps necessary to achieve a peaceful and viable solution for the
residents of Ashraf, including their temporary relocation to Camp Liberty, a
former U.S. military base near the Baghdad International Airport. At this new
location, the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) will be able to conduct
refugee status determinations for the residents of Ashraf -- a necessary first
step toward resettlement to third countries.
We are encouraged by the Iraqi government's
willingness to commit to this plan, and expect it to fulfill all its
responsibilities, especially the elements of the MOU that provide for the safety
and security of Ashraf's residents. We welcome the agreement by the Government
of Iraq to allow the United Nations to station monitors at this new location
around the clock and to observe the move from Ashraf to this new location. In
addition, officials from U.S. Embassy Baghdad will visit regularly and
frequently. We also welcome the Iraqi government's willingness to delay the
final closure of Camp Ashraf to give this plan time for
implementation.
To be successful, this
resettlement must also have the full support of the Camp's residents, and we
urge them to work with the UN to implement this relocation. All those who want
to see the people at Camp Ashraf safe and secure should work together to see
that the agreed upon plan is carried out.
"I was pleased to hear that the Government of Iraq and the United
Nations have signed yesterday night a Memorandum of Understanding setting out
the rules applying to the transfer of the residents of Camp Ashraf to a transit
location, in order for UNHCR to proceed to the verification of their status and
to facilitate their repatriation or resettlement. The EU fully supports this
agreement and wishes to commend the good will and constructive spirit shown by
all parties involved.
I would like to praise more particularly the Special representative
of the UN Secretary General Martin Kobler for his persistent efforts to arrive
at this promising result. I thank also the Government of Iraq for having showed
the necessary flexibility, including with the timing. We count on it to ensure
that this process takes place in an orderly way, avoiding violence or coercion.
The safety of the Camp residents is under its responsibility and we count on it
to discourage any provocation against them as from now.
I hope that the residents of Camp Ashraf will be prepared to
respect the terms of this Memorandum and I encourage them and their leadership
to cooperate fully in its implementation.
They should be reassured by the terms of the MOU and the commitment
of UNAMI and the United States to ensure a robust monitoring. Thanks to this,
the entire International Community will be able to follow closely the whole
process and the EU intends to bring its support to this whole
arrangement.
UNHCR will soon be able to proceed to the interviews of Camp Ashraf
residents and the verification of their status. This will greatly facilitate
their repatriation to the home countries of those wishing to do so voluntarily
and the resettlement of others in third countries.
The EU is prepared to help UNHCR in the fulfilment of this task and
will continue to follow very closely the implementation of this
agreement."
Of that agreement, British MP David Amess (Huffington Post UK) states,
"Reaching this point took lots of flexibility by the Iranian opposition leader
and great efforts by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon, EU High Representative Baroness Ashton, and UN High Commissioner
for Refugees Antonio Guterres. These leaders have put their own credibility on
the line, so it can be hoped that they will follow through." Supposedly last
week saw 200 to 500 residents relocated to the former US Camp Liberty base.
What did happen last week was repeat rocket attacks on Camp Ashraf. KUNA reported Friday, "The United States
on Friday said it had begun monitoring and refugee processing of 3,200 Iranian
dissidents residing in Iraq's Camp Ashraf after a rocket attack struck the
camp."
As the president of NOW, I hear from a lot of women (and men). Many of them are
outraged right now, and they're asking the same question: Can this be real -- is
the White House actually caving in to the radical right on birth
control?
At this moment, the answer appears to be Yes.
Earlier this month, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen
Sebelius pulled rank on the FDA, overruling the agency's carefully considered
decision to eliminate the discriminatory age restriction on a safe and effective
form of emergency contraception. Despite the unprecedented nature of this move,
President Obama backed up the secretary, adding: "As the father of two
daughters, I think it is important for us to make sure that we apply some common
sense to various rules when it comes to over-the-counter
medicine."
Women are all too familiar with the paternalistic call for "common
sense" when it comes to female bodies. We're sick and tired of the implication
that women aren't capable of exercising common sense over our reproductive
lives. And let's be honest: Is a government agency really best suited to define
common sense for, say, a 12-year-old who's just been raped by a family
member?
The thought of a tween girl having unprotected sex and then
purchasing and consuming a medication to prevent pregnancy makes many people
uncomfortable. No matter how well-meaning their concern might be, it is
absolutely beside the point. If that young woman doesn't want to become
pregnant, that's her business. Personal opinions about birth control and
societal preconceptions about young women's sexuality have no part in this
private medical decision.
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