Baghdad Morgue Overflowing Daily

with Arkan Hamed BAGHDAD – As sectarian killings continue to rise in Iraq, the central morgue in Baghdad is unable to keep up with the daily influx of bodies. The morgue is receiving a minimum of 60 bodies a day and sometimes more than 100, a morgue employee told IPS on condition of anonymity. "The … Continue reading “Baghdad Morgue Overflowing Daily”

Learning to Count:
The Dead in Iraq

With Jeff Pflueger “I would say 30,000, more or less, have died as a result of the initial incursion and the ongoing violence against Iraqis.” – George W. Bush, Dec. 12, 2005, Philadelphia, Penn. Does it count? How many Iraqis have died as the result of the Anglo-American invasion and occupation of their country remains … Continue reading “Learning to Count:
The Dead in Iraq”

How Massacres Become the Norm

U.S. soldiers killing innocent civilians in Iraq is not news. Just as it was not news that U.S. soldiers slaughtered countless innocent civilians in Vietnam. However, when some rare reportage of this non-news from Iraq does seep through the cracks of the corporate media, albeit briefly, the American public seems shocked. Private and public statements … Continue reading “How Massacres Become the Norm”

An ‘Alliance’ of Violence

A disturbing trend noticeable in Iraq for quite some time now is that each aggressive Israeli military operation in the occupied territories results in a corresponding increase in the number of attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq. One of the first instances of this was the assassination of Hamas leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin in March … Continue reading “An ‘Alliance’ of Violence”

Amid Iraq Carnage, Sunnis Press for Peace

With Arkan Hamed BAGHDAD – As violence continues throughout much of Iraq, many Sunni political and religious leaders continue to urge their followers to resist launching reprisal attacks. Scores of Iraqis, Sunni and Shia alike, are being killed daily. Recent incidents of violence included an assassination attempt on senior Sunni leader Adnan al-Dulaimi, who leads … Continue reading “Amid Iraq Carnage, Sunnis Press for Peace”

Iraq: Outrage Spreads Over New Images

(With Arkan Hamed) BASRA – New footage of British soldiers beating up young Iraqi men in Amarah in 2003 and the release of more photographs of atrocities by U.S. soldiers against Iraqi detainees in Abu Ghraib prison have spread outrage across Iraq. The timing of the new images is potent, in the wake of violence … Continue reading “Iraq: Outrage Spreads Over New Images”

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

If one watches corporate media or listens to Cheney administration propaganda, one is either not getting information about Iraq at all, or hearing that things are looking up as the U.S. approaches another "phase" in the occupation. Just taking a brief look at the "security incidents" reported by Reuters for Feb. 12 gives a little … Continue reading “Out of Sight, Out of Mind”

Al-Jazeera Succeeding Under Pressure

DOHA, Qatar – Its foreign bureaus were bombed by U.S. warplanes, it is banned from reporting from four Middle East countries – and al-Jazeera is only growing in popularity. An interesting, and sometimes tragic path has led to the success of al-Jazeera since its launch in November 1996. Its difficulties have also been its success; … Continue reading “Al-Jazeera Succeeding Under Pressure”

Iraq’s Shias Head for Uncertain Govt

DOHA, Qatar – Six weeks after parliamentary elections, occupied Iraq is still struggling for a viable government, as violence and instability worsen. The results of the Dec. 15 elections have yet to be finalized, but it is clear that the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), a Shia fundamentalist coalition, won at least 128 seats in the … Continue reading “Iraq’s Shias Head for Uncertain Govt”

A Town Becomes a Prison

(with Arkan Hamed) SINIYAH, Iraq – The People of Siniyah town 200 km north of Baghdad are angry over a six-mile long sand wall constructed by the U.S. military to check attacks by rebels. "Our city has become a battlefield," 35 year-old engineer Fuad Al-Mohandis told IPS at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the … Continue reading “A Town Becomes a Prison”