Hillary Cracks the Whip

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was at it again last week. She was in Turkey attending a NATO gathering dealing with what to do about the succession in Libya, based on the perhaps erroneous assumption that Muammar Gadhafi is on his way out. Clinton and NATO decided, based on their own admittedly partial view of … Continue reading “Hillary Cracks the Whip”

Sunday: 17 Iraqis Killed, 6 Wounded

At least 17 Iraqis were killed and six more were wounded in Sunday’s attacks. Meanwhile, members of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) are accused of killing a Turkish soldier and wounding two other people during an attack in eastern Turkey. Meanwhile, K.A.R. President Massoud Barzani warned Iran against shelling border areas. The attacks target Party For A Free Life In Kurdistan (PJAK) rebels who, like the PKK, hide in northern Iraq and share the same goal of an independent Kurdistan.

Mummies and Models in the New Middle East

They can’t help themselves. Really, they can’t. Like children, the most monstrous of secret police outfits evidently come to believe themselves immortal. They lose all ability to imagine that they might ever go down and so keep records to the very moment of their collapse. Those records, so copious, damning, and unbearably detailed (which doesn’t … Continue reading “Mummies and Models in the New Middle East”

Saturday: 8 Iraqis Killed, 7 Wounded

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki insisted today that Iraq has no need of continued U.S. presence after 2011. Nevertheless, at least eight Iraqis were killed and six more were wounded in light violence. Meanwhile, Iraqi refugees who have returned to unacceptable conditions are again leaving the country.

Wednesday: 1 US Soldier, 12 Iraqis Killed; 33 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 5:50 p.m. EDT, Oct. 27, 2010 Tariq Aziz remained the focus of news as his death sentence, considered unfair by many, could further stall the process of government formation, the number two story in Iraq today. The two topics overshadowed a return of Tony Blair to the Chilcot inquiry and a possible delay in the national census. At least 12 Iraqis were killed in new violence. Another 33 were wounded. Also, a sniper wounded a U.S. soldier in Amara, and the Dept. of Defense announced the non-combat death of a U.S. soldier three days ago in Baghdad.

Wednesday: 2 Iraqis Killed, 4 Wounded

At least two Iraqis were killed and one more was wounded in new attacks. Although violence was light, other news stories took the headlines as American officials publicly spoke against one particular political alliance that could help end the power vacuum in Baghdad.