Saturday, November 25, 2017

The war continues in 'free' Iraq

THE DAYTONA BEACH NEWS-JOURNAL notes, "In operations related to Iraq, a total of 4,532 members of the U.S. military have died. Another 32,310 U.S. service personnel have been wounded in action."

That may be the only newspaper in the US that bothers to note the Iraq War every week.

Meanwhile, the battle with ISIS is over in Iraq.

Right?

Because prime minister Hayder al-Abadi said so, right?

Woops.


IRAQI NEWS states, "The Joint Operations Command announced that only fifty percent of the regions between Salahuddin and Anbar provinces were liberated. At least 15 Islamic State members were killed in airstrike by the U.S.-led Coalition jets in the western desert, the War Media Cell said in a statement."

Poor Hayder, such a failure in every way.

Including his attacks on the press.

When will Samir Obeid be released?

CPJ calls on Iraqi authorities to release journalist Samir Obeid




October 22nd, the Iraqi military descended upon Samir's home and dragged him off.  His crime?  Hayder al-Abadi didn't like Samir's reporting.


Ghaith Abdul-Ahad reported for THE GUARDIAN on how the Iraqi forces have attacked the Iraqi civilians in Mosul.  Amnesty International's UK director writes to the editorial board of THE GUARDIAN:

Ghaith Abdul-Ahad’s extremely disturbing report on Iraqi government soldiers torturing and cold-bloodedly killing captives after this year’s battle for Mosul should be urgently acted on (After the liberation of Mosul, an orgy of killing, 22 November). The authorities in Baghdad should establish an independent, impartial inquiry into all aspects of the conduct of its troops and allied forces – including United States and United Kingdom ones – during this cataclysmically bloody assault.
Deliberately killing fighters who have surrendered or who have been captured is absolutely prohibited under international law. Needless to say, killing civilians in these circumstances is also utterly unlawful – a war crime.
Kate Allen
Director, Amnesty International UK

                             
GORILLA RADIO, Jody Watley and Marcia updated:






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  • Fact of the Day: Deductions for state and local taxes are eliminated, meaning the federal government will tax what has already been paid to state and local government.
  • American citizens in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands still need electricity and clean water. We cannot lose our sense of urgency. Congress must take further action to alleviate this crisis.
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