Free Iraq

"Based on his widely lauded work as US ambassador in Kabul, the new envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, has developed a
checklist for the United States when it undertakes nation-building after a conflict."

Checklist point:
"Effective communication is vital."
Ambassador Khalilzad notes, "The United States has had enormous difficulty communicating its vision to Iraqis over the past two years."

Actually, the United States has communicated its 'vision' perfectly splendidly.
 

"Operation New Market" aimed at clearing resistance fighters from the region in Anbar Province, northwest of Baghdad."

“New Market” is meant to recall a Civil War battle in which cadets from Virginia Military Institute performed bravely - on the side of the Confederacy, a government of slave owners. Thus the name fits the politics of reaction: The U.S. Marines are attempting to put Iraqis in colonial slavery."

" . . . [I]t was an optimistic sign for the Iraqi liberation struggle that [participants at] the Beirut Symposium . . . represented a wide spectrum of political parties, religious societies and independents. Their common denominator was their complete and unequivocal support for the Iraqi Resistance, the firm rejection of the occupiers’ agenda for Iraq and the refusal to accept the “sham elections” of February 2005, the so-called constitution or the puppet regime.

"While this is still an early stage in the formation of a national front, the indications are that on both military and political levels, the Iraqi resistance is progressing. Meanwhile political support for the U.S. occupation is collapsing."
 

On the possibility of amending the interim constitution, the U.S. ambassador, who today asserted his role as a mere humble facilitator, assisting only as requested, dismissed the suggestion.
 

Bush slaps down top general after he calls for troops to be pulled out of Iraq: "Gen George Casey, the US ground commander in Iraq, was given his dressing-down after he briefed that troop levels - now 138,000 - could be reduced by 30,000 in the early months of next year as Iraqi security forces take on a greater role.

"The unusual sign of US discord came as Iraqi politicians and clerics drafting a new constitution continued their own wrangling over autonomy demands by various factions."
 

(Monday)
Discord stalls Iraq constitution as deadline looms: "Kurds are anxious that any wording on federalism is strong enough to guarantee their existing de facto autonomy, while Sunnis are keen to resist claims for a Shi'ite region that could challenge Baghdad's control of southern oil."
 

(Sunday)
"American diplomats offered their own proposed draft in a dramatic attempt to clinch a deal and avert a political crisis that would embarrass President George Bush."

". . . [D]isputes over federalism and the role of Islam pitted the country's ethnic and religious groups in an eleventh-hour showdown. . . . In his weekly radio address, Bush kept up pressure on Iraq's politicians to make a deal: 'The establishment of a democratic constitution is a critical step on the path to Iraqi self-reliance.'"
 

Robert Fisk: 'A Constitution That Means Nothing To Ordinary Iraqis'
"In the Alice-in-Wonderland Iraq of Messrs Bush and Blair - inhabited, too, by the elected government of Iraq and its constitutional drafters and quite a few Western journalists. . . [t]he air-conditioners hiss away - there are generators to provide 24-hour power - and almost all senior officials have palatial homes in the heavily protected "Green Zone" which was once Saddam Hussein’s Republican Palace compound. No power cuts for them, no petrol queues, no kidnaps and murders.

"Europeans understand politics through the Green Zone level. They have no idea that the rest of Iraq - save for Kurdistan - is a place of anarchy and death. One asked me: ’Do you think federalism is really a danger to the Sunni?’ I answered him: ’Do you think the fear of constant death is not a danger to Sunnis, Shia and Kurds?’ His eyes glazed over. It was not what he wanted to talk about. But it is what we talk about."
 

Bush's economic invasion of Iraq: "By all accounts, the draft constitution has failed to provide Iraqis with the means to control their economic future. . . Just as discussions are finally emerging for ending the U.S. military occupation of Iraq, so too must the economic invasion be brought to an end."
 

A THOUSAND AND ONE CHALABIS
Warning: Article written by that dreadful Malcom Lagauche. Do not read. Besides, it's about the complexities of an Iraqi community living in my very own state (or, at least, the one I PRETEND to live in).
 

Recommended for those wanting information useful for understanding. (Unfortunately, Wayne Madsen's superb investigative articles don't 'date-link'. Readers will have to scroll down.)
August 12, 2005: "Pentagon outsources Iraqi security to mercenaries, international brigands, and coup plotters."
 

Reality check for Bush administration in Iraq: White House wants to lower expectations about model democracy, US military victory in Iraq.

"The United States no longer expects to see a model new democracy, a self-supporting oil industry, or a society in which the majority of people are free from serious security or economic challenges, US officials say."
 

BR why we westerners whose livelihood and “way of life” is also in risk with the insane politics in Middle East are not allowed to criticize and discuss? Also we pay higher oil prices, our societies are forced by outside influence (=USA) to raise “security” by new laws and control, our tax money is demanded to be given to Iraq and Afghanistan etc.

Is Iraq now better than it was during Saddam’s time? Iraqis say that it has turned from bad to worse. Before the war most Iraqis could safely walk or drive to work and school, no the situation is not so. No security no work. The people during Saddam’s time who were against the government were naturally in danger, but so are they in Britain and USA. Maybe there is difference in style, but the gap is fast narrowing.

Ask BR yourself what good the war in Iraq has brought to Britt’s, Americans and Iraqis? Are you now safer? Certainly not. Is the way of spreading democracy to use military force? Tell me one single country, with no democratic past, where democracy has been successfully installed by military force. If there had been a general uprising in Iraq in style what happened in Indonesia and Philippines (who by the way had “American“ dictators), the country would have a change. But now the situation is a total chaos. Americans have created by the insane minority rules and constant interventions a political climate which can’t produce any holding solutions.

Are you BR really so naïve, that you think USA attacked Iraq only because it wanted to “liberate” the Iraqis? Why is then USA the so interested in manipulating Iraqis economical future? If it would be the question of liberating suffering people then Congo and North Korea would have been certainly in front of list – far before Iraq and Iran.

In what sense is a fair trial for Saddam and the right to criticize Anglo-American soldiers are linked? Isn’t it the basis of our culture that everybody should have a fair trial?

BR you and others like you are very keen to “judge” our, who are against illegal invasions, motivations to discuss. Well tell us, what your motivation is to defend the policy in Iraq? Do you own shares of defence industry or oil companies; do you work in the military or government? You BR and others should remember that the majority of Britt’s and Americans (and naturally most Iraqis) are against the war in Iraq. You BR belong to an extremely small minority in the world with your opinions about Iraq – the minority called white crusaders.
 

---Oh Gawd!!!!! Are we still on the subject of, dare I say it, white crusaders!!!!?

---Simohurta your relentless fixation on the colour white, combined with your prejudice, is only an indication that you harbour a deep-seated grudge. Let it go for all our sakes and move on.

---Back on subject, we have to give the constitution time for development. In reality, 2 years is nothing, and for a country as complex as Iraq, it requires much more TLC yet. Be patient
 

I have just noticed this hilarious statement by Simohurta

---The people during Saddam’s time who were against the government were naturally in danger, but so are they in Britain and USA. Maybe there is difference in style, but the gap is fast narrowing---

Maybe you are thinking of the 'Martian UK and USA' (on planet Mars that is)? certainly not of planet earth!
 

Politicians conceded defeat just minutes before the midnight deadline, admitting they could not agree on the wording of the draft charter.

"To avoid having to dissolve parliament as a result, the National Assembly voted to change the interim constitution and allow a week longer to come up with the new document, which must now be submitted to parliament by midnight on August 22."

"Come on, this is a success," Planning Minister Barham Salih, a senior Kurdish politician, said as he tried to look positively on the failure to meet the self-imposed deadline.

"We are not killing each other," he said.

"When it came to the crunch on the major issues of contention in the constitution -- federalism, the role of Islam and the distribution of natural resources -- all parties, the Kurds, Shi'ites and Sunnis, held firm, but particularly the Sunnis.

"Sunni members on the constitution drafting committee said they particularly opposed a proposal by the Shi'ites for an autonomous region in the south, mirroring Kurdish autonomy in the north. It is unclear how such entrenched differences of opinion can be resolved in the next week. "
 

In the meantime, "there is despair about the snail-pace progress in repairing infrastructure, the growing humanitarian crisis, the depressed economic system, and foremost in their minds, the lack of basic security."
Example:
"Of the three million residents of Sadr City, a poor area of Baghdad, 72% have hepatitis A or E, because of polluted water. In Sadr City we saw trenches dug along the main streets for sewer system repair."
(See article photo)
 

(Excellent article)
Three-way pull in Iraq: "The new Iraqi constitution risks beginning an era of the virtual carving up of Iraq. The Kurds and the Shi'ites are operating on the basis of a zero-sum game, whereby any one group's gains would approximately equal another group's losses."
 

---The new Iraqi constitution risks beginning an era of the virtual carving up of Iraq?

---Evelyn, Dr Kadduri's group at the Beirut Symposium would have done exactly the same. They had such a huge gulf within the group that the majority did not sign the Front declaration. Either they refused or could not be bothered. They would not be leading Iraq any differently, rest assured.
 

New in Town
Repeating one sentence over and over again does your argument no merit, but indicate that you are parroting yourself.
You are hence allowed this one final statement on the Beirut Symposium issue (in addition to the repeated earlier ones).
If you do have other enlightening thoughts, please offer them.
 

Imad?

But you do not accuse Simohurta of 'parroting' when he relentlessly refers to the 'white crusade'?

You have a very selective memory, old chap. Like I said, you are a numpty, and one that is blinded by hate and racism. I pity you mate
 

New in Town said...
---Oh Gawd!!!!! Are we still on the subject of, dare I say it, white crusaders!!!!?

---Simohurta your relentless fixation on the colour white, combined with your prejudice, is only an indication that you harbour a deep-seated grudge. Let it go for all our sakes and move on.

---Back on subject, we have to give the constitution time for development. In reality, 2 years is nothing, and for a country as complex as Iraq, it requires much more TLC yet. Be patient
 

Well New in Town. The fact is that the support for the Iraq war and occupation was and is minimal all over the world. The majority in USA and GB are against the operation. That is the sad fact you must begin to admit.

Also a sad fact is that Iraq is occupied by mainly white Christian nations. I can’t understand what is there so hard to admit that fact. USA and GB are dominantly white Christian nations and so are their armies. The pro-war “conservatives” in USA and GB are mainly white Christians. It is a fair conclusion that Iraq was attacked and is occupied by white Christian nations. Claiming that it is not a fact is rather astonishing.

It is amusing that you NiT keep arguing against this obvious fact. Do you claim that USA is a “brown” Muslim country and GB a “black” Hindu country? Certainly all Iraqis admit that they are occupied by white Christian Nations.

“White Crusaders” is an ironic definition for those right wing extremists, like you, who keep on sifting the reason for the war (from WMD’ and 911 to “liberation” of Iraqis) and pretend that Iraq operation has been a success and good for Iraqis. On the other hand you seem to have no filters when you express your view of Muslims and Islam, so you should not be offended.
 

Iraq cautious after missed deadline
Condoleeza Rice: "We are witnessing democracy at work in Iraq,"

Iraqi journalist and author, Nazar al-Samarrai, states that despite the Iraqi constitution draft being drawn up for Iraqis, its content is unclear. All that is known is that "an American had invented it in line with a US political school of thought."

Asked why US and Iraqi statements appeared too optimistic, he said: "This optimism is unjustified and baseless, since Talabani wanted to create an atmosphere of optimism."
 

SimoHurtta: You may find this article of interest. It is absolutely fundamental to arguments regarding power and the significance of structural racism. Pepe Escobar (Asia Times) has done many other good Bilderberg articles.

The masters of the universe
"The Bilderberg does not invite - or accept - Asians, Middle Easterners, Latin Americans or Africans."
 

I see that Christian Soldier's ugly postings have been, correctly, erased.
Here is something that he may reflect on, if he is able to do that:
The Bush administration's Top 40 Lies about war and terrorism.
 

Madashell recent events in Lebanon, Egypt, Gaza and Iraq show that the Middle East is moving towards democracy. As Bush said "a liberated Iraq could show the power of freedom to transform the region"

Iraq is about to be westernized. Once they sample the delights of MacDonalds, Taco Bell and KFC, once they have sampled the delights of Budweiser, once they have sampled the delights of Levi, and once the women have sampled what it is like to finally get a drop of respect, they will lap it up! White Christians will bring them salavation!
 

Christian Sod
In Iraq, Bush is laying the foundations of an Islamic Republic
 

CS: Holding in respect all the world's major faiths, it seems to me that your 'christianity' is but the meanest perversion. The valiant Iraqi endeavour to shed themselves of the crass infestation you peddle is understandable and admirable. It is just a pity that they are at the mercy of the despicable forces you, in your oh so humorous way, wave in their faces. Christ would not know you.
 

De Menezes: Another Corpse on the Road to Globalist Fascism
 

"Deadline: The Iraqi Constitution" Raed In The Middle
This constitution is nothing more than another mistake of the Bush administration in Iraq. It can’t make things better, but it may make them worse. Iraqis should be left to write their constitution and rule their country by themselves.

The only deadline that should be set by the US-led coalition is the one for their complete withdrawal from Iraq.
 

"The Iraqi constitution adopted in 1990 under Saddam Hussein was among the most secular in the Arab world."