Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Offers Financial Bounty to Extrajudicial Killers by Felicity Arbuthnot

by Felicity Arbuthnot
Writer, Dandelion Salad
London, England
February 23, 2014

“A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world.” — Albert Camus, 1913-1960

On September 7th 2012, the US Department of State (“Diplomacy in Action”) assured on their website:

“The U.S. Mission in Iraq remains dedicated to building a strategic partnership with Iraq and the Iraqi people … Iraq continues to develop as a sovereign, stable … country … a voice of moderation and democracy in the Middle East.

US and UK Continues Arming a Tyrant in Iraq by Felicity Arbuthnot

by Felicity Arbuthnot
Writer, Dandelion Salad
London, England
February 1, 2014

Image by seanhagen via Flickr

“The greatest crime since World War II has been U.S. foreign policy.” — Former US Attorney General, Ramsey Clark, b 1927

On February 10th 2003, German Green MP Joschka Fischer, then Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor, stunned an international security conference, in Munich’s opulent 19th century Bayerischer Hof hotel discussing the proposed invasion of Iraq, by banging on the table, switching to English to guarantee Donald Rumsfeld understood and shouted of the US arguments for war: “ … I am not convinced.”

Iraq: Prime Minister Dictates Vengeance Beyond the Grave + 9th April: Iraq, Massacre of a Country by Felicity Arbuthnot

by Felicity Arbuthnot
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
London, England
7 April 2012

“How does blood flow from a ghost?” (In: “They Didn’t Ask: What’s After Death?” Mahmoud Darwish, 1942-2008)*

“Nothing so terrible has happened to us since the Crusades.” An Iraqi friend

In November 2010, Iraq’s former Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz, under the shadow of execution, wrote to his lawyer requesting to be buried in Jordan and to be returned to his homeland: “after Iraq is liberated.” He feared his body would be desecrated – or exhumed by Iraq’s puppet government.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar Accused of Shielding Iraqi ‘Death Squad Leader’ by Finian Cunningham

by Finian Cunningham
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
East Africa
April 5, 2012

Fugitive Iraqi Vice President Tareq Al Hashemi, who is wanted on terrorism charges in Iraq, has fled to Saudi Arabia amid growing controversy over the role of the Gulf monarchies in the region’s volatile geopolitics.

Hashemi, a leading Sunni politician, is facing charges that he ran death squads at the height of the Shia-Sunni sectarian conflict in Iraq, which saw thousands killed, during the US-led nine-year occupation of that country. Hashemi denies the charges, but the authorities in Baghdad claim they have evidence that he personally directed Sunni death squads.

How Maliki and Iran Outsmarted the U.S. on Troop Withdrawal by Gareth Porter

by Gareth Porter
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
crossposted at IPS
Dec. 16, 2011

WASHINGTON, Dec 16, 2011 (IPS) – Defence Secretary Leon Panetta’s suggestion that the end of the U.S. troop presence in Iraq is part of a U.S. military success story ignores the fact that the George W. Bush administration and the U.S. military had planned to maintain a semi-permanent military presence in Iraq.

What Is Sadr’s Game on Future U.S. Troop Presence? by Gareth Porter

by Gareth Porter
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
crossposted at IPS
14 July, 2011

WASHINGTON, Jul 14, 2011 (IPS) – The big question looming over U.S.-Iraqi negotiations on a U.S. military presence after 2011 is what game Shi’a leader Moqtada al-Sadr is playing on the issue.

U.S. officials regard Sadr as still resisting the U.S. military presence illegally and are demanding that Sadr call off his Promised Day Brigades completely.

The Propaganda Narrative of U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq by Jeremy R. Hammond

by Jeremy R. Hammond
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Foreign Policy Journal
July 4, 2011

photo by Dandelion Salad

The New York Times this week reports under the headline “Taking Lead, Iraqis Hope U.S. Special Operations Commandos Stay” that the security situation in Iraq “may be at risk now that American forces are withdrawing this year” as per the U.S.-Iraqi Status of Force Agreement (SOFA). “Even as few Iraqi politicians are willing to admit publicly that they need American help, Iraqi soldiers say that American troops must stay longer to continue training and advising”, theTimes reports, citing “senior Iraqi military leaders” who “have advised Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki that some troops should stay.” Naturally, “American officials have said they would agree to a such a request.”

The Secret Iraq Files Part 2

https://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/

AlJazeeraEnglish | October 26, 2010

sherlock72

We are getting an insight into the rise of Al-Qaeda in Iraq – who pays for it and does it get its money? We will also reveal details about Iran’s secret war inside Iraq, and America’s massive use of air power – is it as pecise as they claim?

Deconstructing the Official Narrative on the U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq by Jeremy R. Hammond

by Jeremy R. Hammond
Featured Writer
DandelionSalad
Foreign Policy Journal
20 August, 2010

Iraq is back in the news, at least for a moment. The occasion is “A truly historic end to seven years of war”, in the words of Lt. Col Mark Beiger, quoted in the Washington Post, referring to the final withdrawal of “combat” troops from the country. It’s a cause for celebration: “‘Operation Iraqi Freedom ends on your watch!” exclaimed Col. John Norris, the head of the brigade. ‘Hooah!’ the soldiers roared, using an Army battle cry.”

One may recall President George W. Bush announcing the end of major combat operations on May 1, 2003, speaking on board an aircraft carrier under a sign declaring “Mission Accomplished”. More than seven years later, the announced “end” of “Operation Iraqi Freedom” may be similarly illusory.

Upcoming Iraq Election Seen as Key to Promote Investments in Oil Sector by Jeremy R. Hammond

by Jeremy R. Hammond
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Foreign Policy Journal
21 October 2009

With a general election in Iraq scheduled for January 2010, the U.S. is encouraging the Iraqi legislature to pass the requisite election law, while international oil corporations continue to compete for contracts to exploit Iraq’s natural energy resources.

After a meeting at the White House on Tuesday with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Obama said, “We are very interested, both of us, in making sure that Iraq has an election law that is completed on time so that elections can take place on time in January.”

Court Rules In Favor Of Transparency In Guantánamo Cases + Why’d Obama switch on detainee photos?

Dandelion Salad

American Civil Liberties Union
6/1/2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 212 549-2666; media@aclu.org

NEW YORK – In an important ruling affecting the public’s access to records regarding the cases of Guantánamo detainees, a federal court today denied a government motion to seal unclassified information related to those cases. Judge Thomas F. Hogan of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, citing a “First Amendment and common law right to access” judicial records, ruled that the government cannot suppress unclassified documents and must seek court approval to seal specific information.

The following can be attributed to Jonathan Hafetz, attorney with the ACLU National Security Project:

“Today’s decision is a victory for transparency. For far too long, the government has succeeded in keeping information about Guantánamo secret, and used secrecy to cover-up illegal detention and abuse. The decision marks an important step towards restoring America’s open court tradition that is essential to both accountability and the rule of law.”

***

Leading Rights Groups Call On Obama To Release Prisoner Abuse Photos

Coup Plot Foiled By Juan Cole

Dandelion Salad

By Juan Cole
December 18, 2008 “Information Clearinghouse”

18 Dead, Dozens Wounded in Baghdad Bombings;

Coup Plot Foiled;

US Fires on Fallujah Shoe-Throwers

The news from Iraq on Wednesday shows that the Iraqi government’s hold on power is fragile, and that it faces shadowy coup plotters from within and a continued guerrilla insurgency from without. Parliament is so divided that it had to go home after vehement wrangling in which the shoe-throwing journalist, Muntazar al-Zaidi, figured prominently. Al-Zaidi continued to be lionized by many Iraqis, including in Fallujah, where a student rally in his defense drew the fire of the US military. The British prime minister, Gordon Brown, showed up unexpectedly in Baghdad, to announce that British troops would be out of the country by June. Turkey bombed positions of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq for a second straight day.

The NYT reports that an elite counter-terrorism unit that reports directly to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has arrested 38 officials in the Interior Ministry (similar to US Homeland Security). They are accused of belonging to the neo-Baath “al-`Awdah” party and of plotting a coup against the Iraqi government.

George W. Bu-Shoes, The US President “Victim” of Iraq’s “Weapons of Mass Destruction” by Michel Chossudovsky + “Shoe-In” Rally

Dandelion Salad

by Michel Chossudovsky
Global Research, December 17, 2008

FIRST SHOE:  ”This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog!”

SECOND SHOE: ”This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq!” ( Muntadar al-Zaidi)

pic

Bush Ducks Shoes Thrown in Iraqi Leader’s Office + Iraqis: Release shoe hurling reporter

Dandelion Salad

Of course, comparing Bush to a dog is an insult to all dogs.  ~ DS

Shoes Hurled at Bush in Iraq Press Conference

Total Defeat for U.S. in Iraq By Patrick Cockburn

Dandelion Salad

By Patrick Cockburn
ICH
December 11, 2008 “Counterpunch”

It’s All Spelled Out in Unpublicized Agreement

On November 27 the Iraqi parliament voted by a large majority in favor of  a security agreement with the US under which the 150,000 American  troops in Iraq will withdraw from cities, towns and villages by  June 30,  2009 and from all of Iraq by  December 31, 2011. The Iraqi government will take over military responsibility for the Green Zone in Baghdad, the heart  of American power in Iraq, in a few weeks time. Private security companies  will lose their legal immunity. US military operations and the arrest of Iraqis  will only be carried out with Iraqi consent. There will be no US military  bases left behind when the last US troops leave in three years time and  the US military is banned in the interim from carrying out attacks on other  countries from Iraq.