Month: August 2011

Spate of Attacks Leaves Six Killed and 60 Wounded Across Iraq

Although violence has been seemingly light lately, attacks occurred in numerous cities today. Even generally peaceful Iraqi Kurdistan saw one bombing. The worst attack occurred in Anbar province, but Baghdad saw several bombings late in the day too, and a slight rise in body dumping continues. Overall, at least six Iraqis were killed and 61 more were wounded.

More Lost by the Second

It’s a bit odd to me that with my sense of geographical direction I’m ever regarded as a leader to guide groups in foreign travel. I’m recalling a steaming hot night in Lahore, Pakistan, when Josh Brollier and I, having enjoyed a lengthy dinner with Lahore University students, needed to head back to the guest … Continue reading “More Lost by the Second”

‘New’ Iraq a Nightmare for Women, Minority Groups

UNITED NATIONS — A United Nations report on Iraq says the human rights situation there remains fragile and huge development challenges loom as the country transitions out of a nearly decade-long conflict. Torture and poor judicial practices are widespread, says the report [.pdf], released Monday by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and … Continue reading “‘New’ Iraq a Nightmare for Women, Minority Groups”

Israel Lobby Dominates Congress, Media Covers it Up

You might think that 20 percent of the American Congress going on all-expenses-paid, weeklong junkets to a foreign country — paid for by a lobby for that country — would be newsworthy, especially when the top congressional leaders of both parties are leading the trips. You would be wrong. Eighty-one congressional representatives from all over … Continue reading “Israel Lobby Dominates Congress, Media Covers it Up”

Big Brother Has Arrived

Leading neoconservative Richard Perle has said that one of the many reasons he admires the Israelis is the moral clarity that they exhibit on the issue of terrorism. What exactly that means is not itself clear, but it would appear to be a carte blanche for any and all Israeli punitive responses to groups that … Continue reading “Big Brother Has Arrived”

Palestinian Prisoners Languish in Administrative Detention

RAMALLAH — “I’m sick with worry about my daughter. I’m afraid of what they are doing to her. She has done nothing to deserve this. If they have anything against her, why don’t they bring her to trial?” Yehiya Al Shalabi asked IPS rhetorically. Hana Al Shalabi, 27, Yehiya’s daughter, has been languishing in Israeli … Continue reading “Palestinian Prisoners Languish in Administrative Detention”

‘Iranian Weapons Smuggling’ Still Vexing Iraqi Propagandists

An official from the Interior Ministry eagerly regurgitated accusations that Iranian weapons are being smuggled through diplomatic channels into Iraq. Meanwhile, a U.S. soldier was sentenced to life in prison for murdering two of his colleagues in Iraq. Also, at least six Iraqis were killed and 24 more were wounded in the latest violence.

A spokesman for the Interior Ministry accused Iraqi officials of supporting Iranian arms smuggling through the border province of Missan. Although there is little evidence proving a Tehran connection, the United States has long sought to prove Iranian interference in Iraqi affairs. Without directly pointing fingers at Iran today, Adnan al-Asadi, who is the former deputy minister of the interior, appears to be doing a little dirty work for the U.S. on this issue. Curiously, he has also been one of the most prominent voices demanding an extension for U.S. troops in Iraq.

Asadi had served as a deputy minister for years, but many critics thought he ran the ministry at a time when it harbored Shi’ite death squads. He quit the Iraq parliament last June and said the resignation was not related to his failed bid to return as deputy interior minister, a post Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had nominated him for. More recently, Asadi called freedom of information a "threat to security," He also warned journalists not to report Iraqi deaths without ministry permission, adding to the belief that the ministry has long conducted a deliberate undercount of casualties.

Back in the United States, Sgt. Joseph Bozicevich, was sentenced to life without parole in the deaths of two colleagues in Baghdad almost three years ago. He also faces demotion and a dishonorable discharge. The court had ruled that Bozicevich planned the murders of Staff Sgt. Darris Dawson and Sgt. Wesley Durbin after the pair had criticized his performance.

In Baghdad, a woman’s dumped body was found in Husseiniya. A roadside bomb targeting security forces in the Suleikh wounded nine people. Gunmen wounded two security personnel working for the Churches Protection Force. Also, 43 suspects were arrested.

An explosives expert was killed as he tried to defuse a bomb in Tuz Khormato.

Gunmen killed a taxi driver and stole his vehicle in Tajiya. Earlier in nearby Hilla police rescued another cabbie from a kidnapping.

In Samarra, gunmen attacked a mosque, killing two people, including a local council member, and wounding a civilian.

A civilian shot to death in Iskandariya.

A car bomb wounded six in Taji.

A grenade tossed at a checkpoint in Falluja left five wounded.

In Jalawla, a bomb wounded one civilian.

A roadside bomb blasted a U.S. patrol near Baquba.

A bomb targeting a police chief in Kirkuk exploded but left no casualties.

Fourteen suspects were arrested across Diyala province.

Explosives were found in Mandali.

American forces handed over responsibility for training Iraqi troops at the Imam Ali Air Base.

US Terror Lists Should Be Downsized

The Christian Science Monitor and the Huffington Post have exposed lobbying efforts by the Marxist-Islamist group Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) to hire for big bucks former high U.S. government officials to give speeches to, either explicitly or implicitly, endorse their efforts to get taken off the U.S. government’s list of foreign terrorist organizations. Yet U.S. intelligence … Continue reading “US Terror Lists Should Be Downsized”

Does AIPAC Have Only Two Major Donors?

A large congressional delegation is heading for Israel. During three weeks of recess, 55 Republicans and 26 Democrats will enjoy “educational” trips funded by the American Israel Education Foundation, a tax-exempt nonprofit located in the same Washington, D.C., building as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Absent AIPAC’s influence on pro-Israel campaign contributors, members … Continue reading “Does AIPAC Have Only Two Major Donors?”

Barbarians With BlackBerrys

Following months of disorder throughout the Middle East, riots spread throughout Britain and “flash mobs” of looting criminals terrorize parts of the US – has the world gone crazy? While commentators are busy conjuring some political or economic “cause” behind the British riots – one which, not surprisingly, validates some preexisting ideological agenda, whether it … Continue reading “Barbarians With BlackBerrys”