Iraq Rising 2019

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Sat, 2019-11-02 06:10

epaulo13

Iraq Rising 2019

What is happening in Iraq right now is nothing short of magic.

It fills the heart like kubbat hamudh on a rainy day, and waters thirty skies like a Baghdadi love story rewriting itself every time two lovers kiss underneath the olive tree, and spoils the senses like Jiddu on your birthday, and breaks down walls with the firepower of Basrawi percussion, and elevates the soul like an angry Mawal breaking up the lifelessness of empty winter nights, and it is beautiful like a mother in Mosul planting flowers in her front yard.

It is everything.

In the face of live artillery, mindless savagery, arrests, crackdowns, beatings, threats and murder in broad daylight, Iraqis — young, disenfranchised, marginalized women and men — have reclaimed sidewalks, streets, neighborhoods, cities, provinces, and maybe the entire country, carving out new community spaces where they did not exist before.

They have taken over schools and city squares, occupied bridges and roads, baked bread on the streets to feed hungry protesters, treated burning eyes with homemade concoctions, pushed out snipers from high rises, inspired walkouts and strikes, and reignited the fire beneath the feet of millions that took to the streets, powered by the beats of unstoppable hearts.

More than 250 people have given their lives in a period of 28 days, and thousands more injured, all consumed by the multi headed monster that is the government of Iraq - a spiteful, hate spewing, greedy, incompetent puppet regime with a voracious appetite, always on the lookout to take a bite out of hope, life and the stars that color our eyes.

Young people, armed with nothing more than smartphones powered by courage, a choppy Internet connection strengthened by love, tuk tuks turned into ambulances, and makeshift signs scribbled with wary hands, have triggered a revolutionary movement that has crossed all “red lines,” burned down the death colored headquarters of foreign backed militia, stomped on the sanctity of a cowardly clergy and challenged the notion that Iraq is Dead......

Sat, 2019-11-02 06:13

epaulo13

Sun, 2019-11-03 18:54

iyraste1313

What is happening in Iraq right now is nothing short of magic....Thank you for this!

Sun, 2019-11-03 19:01

laine lowe laine lowe's picture

This has not been getting nearly any coverage in our media. The casualties in Venezuela and Hong Kong do not compare at all. Good to see a people who have suffered so much trying to take back their government and future.

Wed, 2019-11-06 08:53

NDPP

China - Not Iran - Is the Real Reason US Troops Will Never Leave Iraq

https://on.rt.com/a4om

"Recent developments suggest that the US and its allies have become increasingly wary of Chinese expanding influence inside Iraq, even while Washington continuously points out the threat supposedly posed by Iraan instead.

Iraq has become China's third leading source of oil (or second source of oil, depending on who you ask). China has emerged as Iraq's number one trading partner. In fact, China has become the Middle East region's largest trading partner, and you can bet this hasn't scraped by Western nations without notice..."

Wed, 2019-11-06 21:15

Paladin1

" and it is beautiful like a mother in Mosul planting flowers in her front yard."

I seen Mosul not too long ago. There's no front yards to plant flowers in, the place looks like Stalingrad is described. Pretty words though.

Iraq has some amazing citizens and it's great for them that they're throwing off the US's influence. But a lot of their government are still US puppets or are stuck in that whole bribery for anything mindset. They need a huge culture shift.

One huge problem will be ISIS. When ISIS collapsed lots of ISIS essentially "went back to their day jobs". The government effectively forgave the mediocre ones or "ISIS light". ISIS is still very active in the region, they're just waiting for the US to pull out. Civilians are still being murdered and going missing all the time.

Wed, 2019-11-06 22:04

Pondering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vogkw-iWS7Y

National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien joins Meet the Press for an exclusive interview to talk about the raid targeting Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and President Trump's decision to pull troops out of Northern Syria.

Start watching at 4:30. He is asked repeatedly who owns the oil fields that were just liberated. He just keeps repeating that the US took control of the oil fields from ISIS.

Wed, 2019-11-06 22:16

jatt_1947

So another Sunni uprising?
Wonder who is sponsoring it and whether reinforcements arrive from Syria.

Tue, 2019-11-26 13:06

epaulo13

Anti-Government Protests Have Led to “Reclaiming of Iraqi Identity”

To talk more about the protests in Iraq we are joined by the Iraqi poet, novelist, translator, and scholar Sinan Antoon. He was born and raised in Baghdad and his most recent novel is titled, “The Book of Collateral Damage.”

quote:

SINAN ANTOON: This started out in October, on the first day of October. And unlike previous waves of protests, on October 1st, they were very spontaneous and mostly from the working class, impoverished neighborhoods in Baghdad. And the unprecedented lethal response of the regime by killing many of these peaceful protesters fueled the anger of so many other Iraqis who then came out in bigger waves, especially on the 25th of October.

And what started out as a protest from a certain class and group of people has become now really widespread in that so many different sectors have joined these protests. It is unprecedented in the modern history of Iraq that so many people from so many different backgrounds come together for this set of demands. And it is basically the culmination of 16 years of corruption and inefficiency and failure on the part of the political class to deliver anything. Basic services, as you mentioned.

quote:

JUAN GONZÁLEZ: You mentioned the efforts of the young protesters to go beyond the ethnic and religious divisions that have been exploited by the political class now, whether it is Sunni or Shiite or Kurdish or Israeli. The United States also has emphasized for so long, first the threat of Saddam Hussein, then ISIS, and of course always of Iran, as Iran being the great threat behind the problems besetting the Iraqi people. Could you talk about the impact of this continued U.S. effort to demonize particular groups in the world of the Iraqi population?

SINAN ANTOON: Iran has so much influence inside Iraq and has infiltrated so many of the institutions and backed so many of these militias, but all of that is a product of the U.S. occupation and invasion of Iraq. So while Iran is one of the targets of these protesters, but it is important to remember that a lot of the signs and the placards that the protesters have in Tahrir square and everywhere say no to any foreign intervention. So they say no to Iran, no to Turkey, no to Israel, and no to the United States.

But of course, the United States, because of its geopolitical interests and its ongoing confrontation with Iran and so many countries, focuses only on this one dimension, which is Iran. No one denies that Iran backs many of these parties in Iraq financially and otherwise and has infiltrated, as I’ve said, Iraqi society in so many ways. But of course there are all of these other dimensions. And sadly, mainstream media in this country and even in Europe, is very myopic and only sees in these protests that they are against Iran and they are a threat to Iran and its influences, of the regime of course.

And that’s true. But Iraqis want to reclaim a country and they want sovereignty and they are against all types of interventions. And Iraq, since 2003, feel that the state is very weak in a way. And we have Turkish trips in Iraq, in the north. We have American troops. And so the protesters are really very conscientious of all of this and they really have a deep understanding, at least judging from what they say when they appear on the media, of that the interest of Iraq and the Iraqis come first and sovereignty is very important. Of course, it is not going to be taken back overnight, but they realize that the Iranian regime is not the only threat and not the only sponsor of certain forces inside Iraq.

quote:

SINAN ANTOON: Look, this is the language that a lot of these protests are also going out against. Pence calls it the democratic process. And this is the real hoax, actually, in Iraq, since 2003—Using the term “democratic process.” What has this democratic process brought to Iraqis? $650 billion has disappeared from the coffers. This is a very rich country.

And Pence calls it unrest. And it’s not really unrest. These are peaceful protesters that are being killed. So this language is meaningless. Neither Pence nor Trump has any credibility in Iraq or in the region, nor does the U.S. administration. I mean, it has a very long established history of supporting dictators and dictatorships, and rehabilitating. I mean, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia is just one example. So of course, the U.S. is in a way in collusion with the Iraqi regime.

So none of this really matters to the protesters on the ground. They are resilient and they’re going to wait and try to snatch whatever is possible. But I want to say that irrespective of what happens, I think the new language that these protesters have reclaimed and the new sense of belonging is going to go on and they’re not going to give up on their demands no matter what the regional and the international response is. But there are always calls to save the Iraqi people, but most of these protesters realize that, in a way, they are alone. There is symbolic support internationally, but they know that neither the U.S. government nor any of the regional regimes are on their side.

JUAN GONZÁLEZ: You mentioned a couple of times the changes since 2003, obviously of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The protesters now, the young protesters, were basically children at the time of that invasion. But the question of how the elders of Iraq, the older population judged the difference between the society they had under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, yet it was a modern and relatively well-off population, compared to what the situation that has existed for the past 16 years?

SINAN ANTOON: It wasn’t a well-off population. I think the problem—I know one of the many negative and disastrous effects of U.S. occupation and installing this new regime is to push people to sometimes make these comparisons. I don’t think 2003 is the actual break, even though I use it myself. But we have to remember that in 1991, the first Gulf War after Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait, is really the moment when, to quote Jim Baker, back then he said, “We will return you to the preindustrial age.” So the degradation of Iraqi society in terms of its institutions and its infrastructure started out in 1991.

And then we had the sanctions for so many years that really also further destroyed—it continued the war by other means, killing one million, driving three million out of the country. But what matters is to look at what 2003 had done. It was Act III in a very long process of dismantling the Iraqi state, irrespective of Saddam Hussein. Destroying social fabric, destroying—not allowing the regime even to rebuild the country. That’s what really matters.

But I should say that the majority of these protesters, they are unencumbered by all of these old questions, and they really don’t care much about comparisons between pre-2003 and post-2003. They want to live a good life in accordance with the resources that the country has. They know that the country is very rich in resources. They are well aware through social media, through their access to information, that this political class is a group of crooks. They know because there are so many scandals and there are numbers and figures. And that’s what they really want, actually. It’s about the future; it’s not about the past. What vision does this political class have for the country? Nothing.

Sun, 2019-12-01 12:53

#10

NDPP

Iraqis Rise Up Against 16 Years of 'Made in the USA' Corruption

https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/11/29/iraqis-rise-up-against-16-years-...

"The bloody handprints of US officials and their Iraqi puppets all over this crisis should stand as a dire warning to Americans of the predictably catastrophic results of an illegal foreign policy based on sanctions, coups, threats and the use of military force to try to impose the will of deluded US leaders on people all over the world..."

Mon, 2019-12-02 13:42

#11

epaulo13

Youth-Led Protests Topple Iraqi PM as Demonstrations Calling for Overhaul of Government Continue

We speak with Iraqi journalist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, correspondent for the Guardian newspaper, and Sinan Antoon, poet, novelist, translator and scholar born and raised in Baghdad.

quote:

AMY GOODMAN: Describe the extent of the mass protests.

GHAITH ABDUL-AHAD: At this moment, it involves a large, a majority of the Iraqis. And I don’t mean only the youth that went to the square early on and they kind of like pushed against the security forces. I mean now you have students, you have middle class, you have a large section of the society. What is most amazing about these demonstrations—it’s the majority—if I may use some sectarian terms, it’s the majority Shia population of Baghdad that spearheaded these demonstrations.

So every opposition to this government of Baghdad in the last decade and a half have been spearheaded, let’s say, by people who rejected this political system, so let’s say the Sunnis, al-Qaeda or whatever. At this moment, this is a popular movement, calling for social democracy. This is why neither the political system nor the militias or the pro-Iranian camps could label those guys as, you know, whatever—ISIS or al-Qaeda, as they used to do before, because this is the backbone of this regime.

Those kids, many of them did fight for this government against ISIS. They were volunteers on the front. But when the threat of ISIS was over, when they came back to their villages and towns and neighborhoods, be it in Baghdad, be it in the south, and they realized that this political system, those militia commanders, the party apparatchiks, so corrupt, been building this massive wealth, and that is what created the spark for this revolution. It’s the injustice of this current political system in Baghdad.

quote:

GHAITH ABDUL-AHAD: Amy, I was in Nasiriyah a few weeks ago, and I’ve seen the situation on the ground. Unlike in Baghdad where it’s a demonstration against a political regime, let’s say in Nasiriyah, in the towns in the south, in Najaf also, it’s more personal. These are small towns. They know who joined the political party, who benefited, who became very wealthy since joining the parliament or joining a militia. So it is more personal.

The violence is also very personal because in the south you have a certain militia dominating a certain security force. The reaction of the security forces was very brutal. Forth-eight people I think were killed both in Nasiriyah and Najaf. In return, the demonstrators can target the houses or the symbols of this corruption. So in a small town in Shatrah where I was a few weeks ago, they go around and they burned the houses of MPs because that’s for them the symbol of corruption.

In Najaf, the demonstrations are taking place first against the Iranian consulate, a huge setback for the Iranian influence in Iraq. Second against the shrine of a very revered, again, Shia cleric, who is part of this establishment, who is dead, so his shrine. So in these places, it is more personal and the reaction is far more violent than in Baghdad.

quote:

SINAN ANTOON: These protests—while the anti-Iranian sentiment, which is completely understandable given the Iranian influence inside Iraq—but these protests are about reclaiming Iraqi sovereignty as well. So while in the mainstream media in the West there is so much focus on Iran, the voices of the protesters have been very clear. They are against Turkish interference, they are against U.S. interference, they are against any interference from neighboring Gulf states. And Iran, of course, because of its power within the political elite. But it’s a total rejection of the system that has prevailed since 2003.

Now, whenever there is a vacuum or whenever there is a formation of a new government, in the back channels and backstage, there is always Iranian and U.S. interference, of course, because both countries are interested in pushing a candidate that is more answerable to their interests. So while of course on the popular level this is a rejection of the entire political system, it should be no surprise that the United States and Iran are trying to push a candidate who would be favored by their own geopolitical interests.

Tue, 2019-12-31 09:45

#12

NDPP

Protesters Break Into US Embassy Compound in Baghdad as Crowds Rally Against American Airstrikes in Iraq (Photos & Vids)

https://on.rt.com/a871

"US envoy reportedly evacuated as Baghdad protesters attempt to storm embassy amid fury over air strikes..."

Remember Hanoi? Last chance to get those escape helicopters onto the embassy roof and for the Americans to fuck off from yet another country they never should have been in the first place.

Tue, 2019-12-31 18:16

#13

kropotkin1951

There is no oil in the Green Zone. Unlike Hanoi the last NATO troops will not be in the capital they will be in the oil fields fighting to the last person to protect US national interest.

Tue, 2019-12-31 20:53

#14

cco

Drift, but that was Saigon. US troops never occupied Hanoi.

Tue, 2019-12-31 21:12

(Reply to #14) #15

kropotkin1951

cco wrote:
Drift, but that was Saigon. US troops never occupied Hanoi.

Doh. Of course your right, now Ho Chi Minh City.

Wed, 2020-01-01 19:06

#16

iyraste1313

Esper said he had authorized the deployment of an infantry battalion from the Immediate Response Force (IRF) of the 82nd Airborne Division.

“This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today,” Esper said in a statement.

Apart from the rapid deployment, the three sources told Fox that approximately 4,000 paratroopers could be deployed to the region in the coming days.

Thu, 2020-01-02 09:36

(Reply to #16) #17

NDPP

[quote=cco]Drift, but that was Saigon. US troops never occupied Hanoi.

[quote=NDPP]

Thanks. Meant Saigon of course.

Thu, 2020-01-02 11:02

#18

NDPP

Al Jazeera: Is Iraq Becoming A Battleground Between Washington & Tehran (and vid)

https://t.co/CaThHHPEtz

"Dramatic scenes at the US embassy in Iraq..."

After US Strike on Iraqi Forces Its Troops Will (Again) Have To Leave

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2019/12/after-us-strike-on-iraqi-forces-it...

"...One wonders if that was the real intent of these strikes."

Fri, 2020-01-10 17:39

#19

NDPP

In Iraq the US is Again An Occupying Force as it Rejects To Leave As Demanded

https://t.co/lutKJeb8j2

"Iraq's Prime Minister Adel Abdul Madhi is following Iraq's parliament decision to remove all foreign forces from Iraq. But his request for talks on the US withdrawal process was answered with a big F*** You. Shorter Pompeo: 'Out troops will stay and you better do what we say. A foreign force that is asked to leave a country and does not do so is an occupation force. It must and will be opposed..."

"Hezbollah understands that the American public doesn't react well to large numbers of their soldiers coming back in coffins - as he says, 'The Trump administration effectively lost the region and the presidential election." (and vid)

https://twitter.com/halaljew/status/1213960967538786305

'US Troops Will Arrive Vertically and Return Horizontally' (and vid)

https://twitter.com/Ali_Karani/status/1214570624603045888

American Coalition's Canadian Troops Out Now.

Fri, 2020-01-10 19:26

(Reply to #19) #20

Sean in Ottawa

NDPP wrote:

In Iraq the US is Again An Occupying Force as it Rejects To Leave As Demanded

https://t.co/lutKJeb8j2

"Iraq's Prime Minister Adel Abdul Madhi is following Iraq's parliament decision to remove all foreign forces from Iraq. But his request for talks on the US withdrawal process was answered with a big F*** You. Shorter Pompeo: 'Out troops will stay and you better do what we say. A foreign force that is asked to leave a country and does not do so is an occupation force. It must and will be opposed..."

"Hezbollah understands that the American public doesn't react well to large numbers of their soldiers coming back in coffins - as he says, 'The Trump administration effectively lost the region and the presidential election." (and vid)

https://twitter.com/halaljew/status/1213960967538786305

'US Troops Will Arrive Vertically and Return Horizontally' (and vid)

https://twitter.com/Ali_Karani/status/1214570624603045888

American Coalition's Canadian Troops Out Now.

Lesson to any who would invite in foreign troops from any country. They are not guests there on your goodwill if they have weapons.

Sat, 2020-01-11 09:15

#21

iyraste1313

Iraq’s caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi has called on the United States to dispatch a delegation to Baghdad tasked with formulating a mechanism for the withdrawal of US troops from the country in the wake of the assassination of Iran’s Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU).

According to a statement released by the Iraqi premier’s office on Friday, Abdul-Mahdi “requested that delegates be sent to Iraq to set the mechanisms to implement the parliament’s decision for the secure withdrawal of (foreign) forces from Iraq” in a phone call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo late on Thursday......

...So will Canada play the lead role in maintaining NATO´s presence, thereby inevitably leading to world war?

With Canadians sitting on the sidelines!

Sat, 2020-01-11 14:48

(Reply to #21) #22

Sean in Ottawa

iyraste1313 wrote:

Iraq’s caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi has called on the United States to dispatch a delegation to Baghdad tasked with formulating a mechanism for the withdrawal of US troops from the country in the wake of the assassination of Iran’s Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU).

According to a statement released by the Iraqi premier’s office on Friday, Abdul-Mahdi “requested that delegates be sent to Iraq to set the mechanisms to implement the parliament’s decision for the secure withdrawal of (foreign) forces from Iraq” in a phone call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo late on Thursday......

...So will Canada play the lead role in maintaining NATO´s presence, thereby inevitably leading to world war?

With Canadians sitting on the sidelines!

"inevitably leading to world war"

????

How about possibly?

We should moderate our calls for action to sound more in touch or we will not be listened to. We can criticize harshly the US without discrediting ourselves by calling them the great satan as well.

This is a time when we have to try to maximize any public influence - however small it might be. We must use rhetoric and analysis that stands up. No Canada is not likely to be a cause of world war three. Canada's decision will not inevitably lead to war.

Still someone needs to say reasonably that Canada ought to respect the Iraq government decision and should never be an occupying force as we would be by staying. Canada when it comes in as an invited party must leave when the invitation is retracted: This is something we owe -- at least.

These are dangerous times.

There are few voices standing up for what is right. We have the responsibility to do so in the most effective manner. Our analysis must be credible, our rhetoric must be convincing, we can practice this here and use it with others.

We also can take more sober views that are less black and white in more complicated and multi-sided debates. There are real things on the ground ignored by the high level arguments when people take only one of two sides instead of recognizing that there is often a third that is not represented by a government flinging propaganda with state resources.

Sat, 2020-01-11 18:37

#23

NDPP

Daesh Terror Group Praises 'Allied' US

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/01/10/615860/Iraq-Daesh-US-assassina...

"The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has hailed the assassination of Iran's top military commander, Lt Gen Qassem Soleimani, by its 'allied' US forces in Iraq, describing the criminal act as a 'divine intervention' made by direct order of American President Donald Trump. In an editorial in the terror-group's weekly propaganda publication al Naba, on Thursday, Daesh praised the assassination of Gen Soleimani and al-Muhandis, saying they 'died' at the hands of its 'allies' - a clear reference to the US. The Daesh terror machine could start once more in the absence of Gen Soleimani, who had a decisive role in eliminating the terror group from the region..."

Sat, 2020-01-11 19:35

#24

iyraste1313

I stand by my argument! Iran successfully launched 35 missiles on a key US/NATO base in Iraq...and appraently has the technology to totally disarm any missile defence system, be it USA or Israel.

This is clearly why Trump stood down despite the fact that scores of Americans died in the attack.

Now Iraq and Iran are both demanding all NATO and USA forces out of the Middle East. It is a demand and they have the power to back it up. They will not be satisfied with Trump lies.

If NATO stays in their stead, there will be consequences. And I may not have as much surety on this but I think Canada is most vulnerable to US pressure not to back down.

It is heartbreaking to watch the tens of thousands in the streets demanding a 60 parts per billion in CO2 accumulations, with what a carbon tax?! While the threat of nuclear global war is staring us in the face!

Why do I say nuclear? Because this is the only advantage the USA has over Iranian armaments, which have demonstrated themselves superior to the USA/Israel. This statement comes straight from Israel Intelligence Debka.

Finlly another reason Canada is most vulnerable to USA Pressure to stay in Iraq, is that unlike European resistance antiwar movements...Canada has virtually none, especially thanks to zero political opposition and a very successful Orwellian media!

Sat, 2020-01-11 23:46

(Reply to #24) #25

Ken Burch

NDPP wrote:

Protesters Break Into US Embassy Compound in Baghdad as Crowds Rally Against American Airstrikes in Iraq (Photos & Vids)

https://on.rt.com/a871

"US envoy reportedly evacuated as Baghdad protesters attempt to storm embassy amid fury over air strikes..."

Remember Hanoi? Last chance to get those escape helicopters onto the embassy roof and for the Americans to fuck off from yet another country they never should have been in the first place.

The helicopters left from Saigon, not Hanoi. That said, valid points.

Sun, 2020-01-12 05:17

#26

NDPP

Brainfart. Thought I already corrected that. Yes, of course it was Saigon. Unfortunately, although there is tremendous pressure from below in Iraq demanding the US and foreign forces leave, the government is still larded with collaborationists and although the rhetoric is strong there is every indication it may be merely going through the motions but has no intention or capability of pushing out these foreign militaries. We shall see...

Sun, 2020-01-12 05:35

#27

NDPP

Gangster Regime in Washington Threatens Iraq With More Economic War If Baghdad Insists on Expelling Imperial Forces

https://twitter.com/timand2037/status/1216241423491588096

"WSJ Scoop: US officials warned Iraq that it risks losing access to its account at the New York Fed where international oil sales revenue is kept if it moves to expel US troops..."

Sun, 2020-01-12 10:17

#28

iyraste1313

"inevitably leading to world war"

????

How about possibly?

...So...The US has now declared, no way will we leave Iraq?

So why do I harp on this ïnevitability¨, because of the total complacency on the part of Canadians, while their Government is up to no good for sure!

The inevitability has to do as well with the gradual total control over every institution of media and government by the combined forces of the industrial military bankster complex...what power can possibly stop their demands for total war for total profit for total privilege for their corporate .001 percenters...who will stop this? Tulsi Gabbard?

The people in the streets protesting what? 60 parts per BILLION CO2 reductions?

No it seems total control, total ¨moving forward¨...

Our only hope, appearing stronger every day...is total collapse of the global financial system...and with the banksters in panic dropping 400 billion last quarter to keep the system afloat?

Mon, 2020-01-13 17:26

#29

NDPP

Russian Defense Official Confirms S-300 and S-400 Negotiations With Iraq

https://twitter.com/TheArabSource/status/1216809314737934338

"The Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Defense Committee, Alexander Sherin said that Iraq is negotiating the purchase of the S-300 and S-400 air defense system. Should Iraq purchase either the S-300 or S-400 systems, they could face sanctions from the US, which is what happened to Turkey after they acquired the S-400..."

Unlike the US anti-missile defense systems, which so spectacularly failed to stop incoming Iranian missiles, these ones work bigtime.

Tue, 2020-01-14 01:35

#30

NDPP

The Long Planned Assassinations in Iraq Will Increase Its Political Chaos

https://t.co/QmQf49xVX2

"The idea to kill Suleimani, a regular General in an army with which the US is not at war, came like many other bad ideas from John Bolton..."

Wed, 2020-01-15 11:16

#31

iyraste1313

SYRIAN AIR DEFENSE ACTIVATED IN RESPONSE TO ISRAELI STRIKE ON T4 AIRPORT

Late on January 14 (around 22:00 Damascus time), the Isareli Air Force carried out a strike on the T4 airport in the Syrian province of Homs.

According to pro-Syrian sources, the Syrian Air Defense responded to the strike by downing “a number of of missiles.” Nonetheless, the Syrian side confirmed that at least 4 missiles hit the T4 airport area, but said that the strike caused a material damage only. Pro-Israeli sources claim that multiple ‘Iranian personnel’ were killed in the strike.

The T4 airport is the operational base for Iranian-backed anti-ISIS operations in the central part of Syria as well as hosts a part of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles deployed in the country........

...interest as well that the Iraq missile defence was successful, while the USA system proved to be totally ineffectual......no doubt leading to alternative strategies

Sun, 2020-01-19 11:47

#32

iyraste1313

from Middle East Eye...

According to Sadrist Movement official Amir al-Kanani, the proposed “million-man march” and related activities are to push Iraqi ruling authorities and parliamentarians for quick action to expel the Americans.

The march to be held in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities may be in days, possibly this week.

Hezbollah al-Naujabaa Brigades leader Akram al-Kaabi said he supports the march al-Sadr called for, adding:

“We call on our people, who reject humiliation and subjugation, to take part (in the march), raising the moto ‘No to US presence,’ and standing united under the Iraqi flag.”

MEE reported that “(c)ommanders and senior officials within most of the most prominent pro-Iran armed factions, including Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Kataeb Hezbollah, Kataib Jund al-Imam, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada and Kataib al-Imam Ali, arrived in Beirut on Thursday in response to Nasrallah’s call for them to ‘set aside differences’ ” — uniting against the hostile US presence.

“The aim of the meeting with Sadr was to prepare the ground for the creation of a united resistance front to dislodge the American forces and all foreign forces from Iraq and coordinate to unify the positions,” according to an unnamed official involved in what’s going on.

The Trump regime’s assassination of Soleimani and Muhandis turned millions of Iranians, Iraqis, and others in the region into raging US haters — wanting Pentagon and other foreign troops expelled from Iraq and elsewhere in the region.......

Note the other foreign troops!

Fri, 2020-01-24 16:06

#33

kropotkin1951

The million man march exceeded expectations. It is clear that the people of Iraq want the US and its NATO allies and contracted mercenaries to leave their country. We are an occupying force in the region and nothing highlights it better than the peaceful marches in the streets and the US response of threatening crippling sanctions on the people of Iraq. No one should forget that sanctions on Iraq killed over a million people less than a generation ago.

People from all over Iraq have descended upon its capital Baghdad, heeding the call from influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr for a “million man march” calling for an end to the nearly 17 year-long U.S. occupation of the country. Images from the event show seas of peaceful crowds walking together through the city center. Sayed Sadiq al-Hashemi, the director of the Iraqi Center for Studies, estimated that more than 2.5 million took part in the demonstrations. While there are many divisions in Iraqi society, marchers hope to send a united message against American imperialism.

...

n response, the Iraqi parliament passed a unanimous resolution on January 5 (with many abstentions), calling for the expulsion of all U.S. troops. There are currently an estimated 5,000 American soldiers in Iraq, plus large numbers of mercenary contractors.

The Trump administration, however, has flatly refused to leave. In fact, it is greatly increasing the number of military personnel in the country as it prepares for a possible attack on Iran. “At this time, any delegation sent to Iraq would be dedicated to discussing how to best recommit to our strategic partnership — not to discuss troop withdrawal, but our right, appropriate force posture in the Middle East,” said State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus. Donald Trump was even more imperious, threatening the entire country with “very big sanctions” as a punishment for telling America to leave.

Iraqis know the consequences of sanctions. American engineered sanctions killed over one million Iraqis during the 1990s, including half a million children, as the country literally starved to death under the economic blockade. The sanctions were labeled “genocidal” by successive U.N. diplomats who were charged with overseeing them. At the time, Secretary of State Madeline Albright brushed off the deaths, stating that they were a price worth paying. As a result of the millions of deaths caused by the sanctions and the 2003 invasion and occupation, the country has an unusually young population: the median age of an Iraqi is just 20 (in the U.S. it is 38). Therefore, most Iraqis have never seen their country free of American troops.

https://www.mintpressnews.com/iraq-million-man-march-tell-us-troops-leav...

Fri, 2020-01-24 16:57

#34

NDPP

Associated Press (AP) Sees 'Hundreds' Where Pictures Show Millions

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2020/01/associated-press-sees-hundreds-whe...

"At 10:01 UTC today the Associated Press tweeted that 'hundreds' gather in central Baghdad to demand that American troops leave the country. Thirty eight minutes earlier, CNN had already reported that 'hundreds of thousands' are protesting against the US troop presence in Iraq. When AP sent the misleading tweet, the commander of the Iraqi Federal Police Forces Jaffar al Betat had already announced that the number of demonstrators exceeded one million. Reports said that the column of protesters was already 8 kilometers long even while many were still arriving..."

I'm wondering how much longer the Canadian component of the US occupation coalition will remain, or has it already weaseled an exemption from Baghdad on the grounds that it is 'nice Canada', 'helping the Kurds', not bad USA and hence will live to collaborate on American behalf in Iraq another day?

Fri, 2020-01-24 17:07

(Reply to #34) #35

Sean in Ottawa

NDPP wrote:

Associated Press (AP) Sees 'Hundreds' Where Pictures Show Millions

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2020/01/associated-press-sees-hundreds-whe...

"At 10:01 UTC today the Associated Press tweeted that 'hundreds' gather in central Baghdad to demand that American troops leave the country. Thirty eight minutes earlier, CNN had already reported that 'hundreds of thousands' are protesting against the US troop presence in Iraq. When AP sent the misleading tweet, the commander of the Iraqi Federal Police Forces Jaffar al Betat had already announced that the number of demonstrators exceeded one million. Reports said that the column of protesters was already 8 kilometers long even while many were still arriving..."

I'm wondering how much longer the Canadian component of the US occupation coalition will remain, or has it already weaseled an exemption from Baghdad on the grounds that it is 'nice Canada', 'helping the Kurds', not bad USA and hence will live to collaborate on American behalf in Iraq another day?

I was just told that the non-English language press in the region is also giving conflicting numbers. Odd given that these outlets really do not have a reason to get it wrong it is appears as if many did including AP.

Fri, 2020-01-24 17:13

#36

NDPP

AP has ample reason to 'get it wrong'. A conscious and deliberate intention to mislead. It's what they do. Nothing new. Been on lots of protests and demos where msm grossly and consistently underestimated numbers.

Fri, 2020-01-24 17:56

(Reply to #36) #37

kropotkin1951

NDPP wrote:

AP has ample reason to 'get it wrong'. A conscious and deliberate intention to mislead. It's what they do. Nothing new. Been on lots of protests and demos where msm grossly and consistently underestimated numbers.

I have never been to a demonstration that the news media or police stated the same numbers as the organizers estimates. The organizers on the street counting the number of continuous blocks of marchers in a protest usually have a better handle on the size of the crowd.

Fri, 2020-01-24 22:12

#38

NDPP

Whither Canada?

https://www.ceasefire.ca/issues-to-watch-as-minority-parliament-resumes-...

"...We reiterate our call for the Government of Canada to report to Parliament early in 2020 on our military mission in Iraq. Why do the Iraqis want all foreign troops out?"

Isn't that obvious given the history of the US coalition of which we are a part? Troops out now!

Sat, 2020-01-25 16:54

(Reply to #38) #39

bekayne

NDPP wrote:

Whither Canada?

Sun, 2020-01-26 18:10

#40

NDPP

Withering well by the looks of it...

Sun, 2020-01-26 18:22

#41

NDPP

Thread: Empire, Partition and Reunification

https://twitter.com/IbnRiad/status/1221491100063555584

"US seeking to carve out Sunni states as its influence in Iraq wanes. The old US dream of further partitioning the ME is revived in light of a forced US exit from Iraq; old plan for a 'Sunni Iraqi state' are now recycled with the aim of creating a safe-zone for US troops."

Wed, 2020-02-05 11:44

#42

iyraste1313

US Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, US Mid-East commander, paid a quiet visit to Baghdad on Tuesday, Feb. 4, after Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi was named by the Iraqi president to form a new Iraqi government. This was the first visit to Baghdad by a high-ranking American commander since the killing of Iran’s Al Qods chief Qassem Soleimani in a US air strike last month.

Allawi is known to be close to the Lebanese Hizballah’s chief Hassan Nasrallah, whom Tehran has entrusted with consolidating its influence in Baghdad in the wake of the assassination. There is therefore a high risk that the incoming Iraqi prime minister will push harder than his short-lived predecessors to evict US forces from the country. The Iraqi parliament had previously made this demand, but it was not binding on the government. Allawi, egged on by Nasrallah, is expected to rephrase the resolution in a way that forces government action, DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources report.

Thu, 2020-07-09 11:57

#43

epaulo13

U.N. Special Rapporteur Calls U.S. Assassnation of Iranian General Illegal Under International Law

A United Nations investigator on Wednesday called the U.S. drone strike on Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in January “unlawful and arbitrary under international law” and a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty. President Trump authorized Soleimani’s assassination at the Baghdad International Airport on January 3, sparking mass protests across Iraq and bringing the U.S. to the brink of war with Iran.

Tue, 2020-08-04 17:52

#44

NDPP

Iraqi PM's Visit to Washington Will Fail If He Is Not 'Obedient': Iraqi Politician (and vid)

http://middleeastobserver.net/iraqi-pms-visit-to-washington-will-fail-if...

"In an interview with Afaq TV, Sa'ad al Muttalibi, a senior member of the Iraqi State of Law Coalition says that Iraq's prime minister Mostafa al Kadhimi will fail on his imminent visit to Washington, as US officials never treat Iraqi officials as equal counterparts and al-Kadhimi won't be an exception. This is especially true as al-Khadimi is tasked by the Iraqi parliament with pulling US military forces out of this Arab country..."

The American empire weakens as resistance grows. Watch out for vicious death throes especially in this region where 'Fort Israel' knows - if American power declines, so will its demi-devil. Let it be so.

Tue, 2021-05-04 17:22

#45

kropotkin1951

Since protesting with placards that say "Yankee Go Home" hasn't worked some of the locals are getting a little more demanding.

On Tuesday, two Katiusha-type rockets struck inside the Ain al Asad airbase, where U.S. military and contractors are stationed. This is the third consecutive attack of the same style in three days against U.S. targets in Iraq.

This airbase is still home to about 2,000 U.S. military personnel who were deployed for advisory and training duties for Iraqi forces.

Today's attack came shortly after Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al Kazemi met in Baghdad with a U.S. delegation to discuss issues related to the withdrawal of U.S. troops from his country.

Present at the meeting were also U.S. State Department Counselor Derek Chollet, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Dana Stroul, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Middle East Joey Hood, and White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk.

https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/US-Military-Base-in-Iraq-under-Rocke...