Sic Semper Tyrannis 2008

Iraq's parties condemn Senate Resolution

"The groups, which represented both Shiites and Sunnis, said the plan would hamper Iraq's future stability, and they suggested parliament draft a law permanently banning the splitting of Iraq along sectarian or ethnic lines.

"This proposal was based on the incorrect reading and unrealistic estimations of Iraq's past, present and future," according to the statement read by Izzat al-Shahbandar, a representative of the Iraqi National List, a secular political party."  Yahoo News

-----------------------------------------------------------------

There may be groups in Iraq that have not yet condemned last week's senate resolution encouraging the acceptance of the loosest sort of confederation for the country, but they can't be very numorous.

That may be a surprise for many who are witnesses to the inability of the  various "sectarian or ethnic" groups to work out accommodations among them which would elevate the interests of the whole above then interests of particular groups. 

It should not be a surprise.  People often hold conflicting views.  Most people are good at it.  In the United States, people are perpetually displeased with the job performance of the United States Congress, thinking the members to be venal, ineffective blowhards.  At the same time, the great majority of people in the country consistently vote to support their own Congressman.  This is a prevalent phenomenon throughout the country.  In this way, some of the most incredible losers imaginable are re-elected over and over again.

Iraqis and Arabs in general are not different.  On the one hand they are conditioned by heritage, education and their own media to believe in unity in all things.  "Party" (hizb) is a relatively new Western  word imported into Arab thinking.  The word itself still carries the burden of a slightly negative connotation.  "Faction" (ta'ifa) is a much older expression for much the same thing and that word is altogether negative in Arab thinking.   

Warring against this psychology is the anthropological reality in which the peoples are endlessly divided into factions, tribes, sects, localities etc. in an endless struggle for real or imagined survival in a region short of everything but oil.  Even that is unevenly divided.

It is still the case that most of what I hear from Americans about Iraq and the Arab World is just nonsense and the worst kind of wishful thinking and "mirror imaging."  Soldiers, politicians, policy wonks, journalists, they are  all the same.  Most americans seem afflicted with an inability to see past the cleverness and good manners that so often are a mask behind which Middle Easterners deal with us.

We have learned little in five years.  pl

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070930/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

Open Thread #3 (maybe)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/28/AR2007092801554.html

This is an interesting article on sheikhly attitudes but I can't think of anything I would want to say about it that I have not said already.

I have something else to do.

So, go ahead and ventilate over whatever you have been brooding on.  pl

Iraq and the US Senate

""The government and its Premier [Nuri al-Maliki] reject this vote," said government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh. "It is the Iraqis who decide these sorts of issues, no one else," Dabbagh said on state-run Al-Iraqiyya television. "The Iraqi Parliament too should express its total rejection of this plan." The plan, touted by backers as the sole hope of forging a federal state out of sectarian strife, was approved by the US Senate Wednesday in a 75-23 vote. The nonbinding resolution would provide for decentralizing Iraq in a federal system to stop the country from falling deeper into civil war. It proposes to separate Iraq into Kurdish, Shiite and Sunni entities, with a federal government in Baghdad in charge of border security and oil revenues. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Friday condemned the resolution, saying it would complicate matters further in the war-torn country. The Bosnia-style plan "would add new complications to the already difficult Iraqi situation," GCC chief Abdel-Rahman al-Attiyah said in a statement. "Instead of calling for division, the causes that led to the current situation should be addressed. These include the [US-led] occupation, the sectarian and ethnic quota system, absence of law and security and the paralysed administration.""  The Daily Star - Beirut

---------------------------------------------------------------------

(IRONY ALERT! NOT EVERY WORD THAT FOLLOWS SHOULD BE READ LITERALLY)

The US Senate has voted to "soft-partition" Iraq?  Well as a famous TV "talk man" said a few weeks ago - "Who runs that place, us or them?"  I guess we think that we do..

The Bush/Cheney Collective ("resistance is futile") is notably made up of ideologues who proclaim their devotion to revolutionary social change in the Islamic (and other) World(s).  Their adherents are various.  There are first and foremost their brethren and sisteren in the "crusade" for secular righteousness.  Then there are the Mayberry Machiavellians who were imported from Texas. Those have thinned out lately.  Then there are the simpletons who still can't tell you what the difference is between a Sunni and a Shia and who don't think it matters.  There are many, many of those and they are not reading this. There was a back-bencher congressman from the Southwest on TV this week who simply refused to accept the idea that the war in Iraq was about anything but a kind of Manichean division of humanity into the forces of good and the forces of evil, the children of light and the children of darkness.  He would not discuss the war situation in any other terms.  I suppose that he thinks that the Lord Jesus enters into it somewhere as well, and maybe the pope ,although I doubt if he thinks that Benedict plays on the "good guys'" team.

Now, I know how much a lot of you feel vindicated by Greenspan's pronouncement on the causes of the present mess, but I have to tell you that he does not impress me as a savant on the subject of the peoples of the Middle East, or on the neocons either.  So far as I know they never thought well of his ideas about anything but interest rates and he was never one of their counselors.

Those Arabs (Sunni, Shia and Christian) are pesky people.  They have the "gall" to think for themselves.  The US Senate has now pronounced itself on the subject of how Iraq should be organized.  They don't accept that?  Who the hell are they to resist when it is futile? The "greatest deliberative body in the world" has delivered itself of "the word."  What more is there to say?

Those pesky Arabs are also infested with "oldthink."  This is an expression from the early phases of the Cheney/Bush Collective's revolution.   The poor fools (Arabs) don't think that federalism is a good idea.  (They think they have tried it many times)  They like UNITY (tawhiid).  They think that diversity is weakness.  They think that federalism will inevitably lead either to a final complete dissolution of the state of Iraq or a weakened state so enfeebled as to be a shadow of its former self.  Those poor foolish Arabs are the product of a modern cultural and educational development which caused them to believe that a unified Iraq is good, but a federal Iraq is or will be a disaster.  They have always felt that way in the modern state of Iraq.

Now, the Kurds may secretly want something else but they will be very careful how they express that secret desire.

The Senate resolution on this matter?  It is DOA, and we lack the power to inflict anything like that on the Iraqis or anyone else in the Middle East.  Note the GCC reaction.

Down at the bottom of this article, some general or other opines (used to be a good Army word) that AQ may decide to cuts its losses in Iraq.  That might be true, but, contrary to the opinion of the congressman from the Southwest, it will not solve the situation that the Iraqis find themselves in.  A "post AQ intervention" Iraq will still be a "beached whale" beset with savage and unrelenting internal struggle and numerous wars over power and wealth in what was a moderately well integrated state before 2003. Unfortunately, our departure won't fix that either.  pl

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=85679

Amendment No. 3017 - A step toward war with Iran

"“What do we do with terrorist organizations if they are involved against us?” Mr. Webb asked in a speech on Tuesday. “We attack them.”

Even with the two paragraphs deleted, Mr. Webb voted against the resolution. So did a number of other Democrats who are among the harshest critics of the Bush administration’s handling of the war. The measure passed by a vote of 76 to 22.

Among those voting against it was Senator Joseoh F. Biden, Jr., Democrat of Delaware, and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, who said he feared that the administration could use the measure to justify military action against Iran. NY Times

---------------------------------------------------------------

Iraq is becoming a "side show."  Iran is the thing.  It was a good idea to take the two offending paragraphs out of the draft resolution but the designation of the IRGC, a major agency of the Iranian governent as a terrorist and therefore criminal organization is clearly a step on the road to war. 

Governments which willfuly maintain and harbor within them criminal groups must inevitably be seen as criminal themselves.

As Senator Webb asked in floor debate, "What do we do with terrorist organizations?"

Reid and Clinton voted for this?  Bush/Cheney and the Flatheads can now justify any action against Iran, and they can do it without further resort to Congress.

How is this effectively different from the resolutions passed in 2002 which gave Bush the authorities which he is still using?"  pl

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/washington/27cong.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Subject: Medical Alert - Blackwater Fever

The Brits have a way with words, a "touch of the poet?"  The ribbons below represent Harry Flashman's decorations.  He would have fit right in with Blackwater.  He said that his only skills were "fencing, fornication and foreign languages."  He was being modest.  He was also a great horseman.  pl

-------------------------------------------------

"Blackwater Fever - The Symptoms

A common disease among international contractors working in Iraq,
Afghanistan and various
other 3rd world hellholes. Frequently attacks young men with only 1 war or
enlistment under their belt, State Dept agents, Former LEOs, anyone
associated with an Ambassadors detail and occasional poseurs. BKWF
has many symptoms; if you have the following you may be infected:

1. Large amount of primping, i.e. mousse in your hair despite the
fact you live in a war zone.

2. Your forearms break out in tattoos, often tribal or USMC related

3. All your shirts are skintight "Under Armor" T-shirts

4. Have used, currently using or consider using steroids

5. Refer to yourself as a "Shooter" or "Operator for Blackwater"

6. Look down upon all other PSD teams that are NOT on the
Ambassadors Detail, to include other Blackwater employees.

7. Grow a beard to blend in with the locals, even though you are a
6ft tall blonde with a "Death before Dishonor tattoo.

8. Think the UN pool is a good place to pickup chicks

9. Are arrogant and condescending to people with more experience,
training and who make more money than you.

10. Forget that doing a mission that has been performed in the past
by Tier 1 assets does not make you a Tier 1 asset.

What Ahmadinajad said at Columbia

I listened to it all.

His remarks were "bracketed" for me by those of Bollinger (the Columbia president) who sought to distance himself from any possible accusation of hospitality and Nora O'Donnell (MSNBC anchor) who sought to distance herself from any possible accusation of neutrality.

Ahmadinajad said:

- Scholars should seek the truth.

- That he does not dispute the facts of the Holocaust, but that he thinks that scholarship should continue on the details and on the effect on his part of the world.  He particularly stressed the innocence of the Palestinian people in the matter of the Holocaust.  Since scholarship continues on the matter of this subject (the Holocaust) under the sponsorship of the US Holocaust Museum, this was an interesting point.

- He said that the nature of Palestine/Israel should be determined by referendum among "Jewish Palestinians, Muslim Palestinians and Christian Palestinians."  This is a variation on the long standing Arab desire for either a bi-national state or a state that is not specifically a Jewish state.  He did not specify whether his referendum would include Palestinians of the diaspora.  That, of course, would make a difference in the outcome.

- He said that the Iranian nuclear enrichment program was forced on them by foreign defaults on agreements for nuclear electric assistance.  He said that the Iranian sites are all under IAEA inspection and will remain that way.  He also said that the concentration level of their enrichment did not meet the requirement for weapons production.

- He abjured the idea of nuclear weapons and said they do not want any.  Presumably the IAEA inspection regime applies.

- When challenged on Iranian government support of international terrorist groups, he said that Iran herself is the victim of extensive terrorist attack sponsored by foreign governments.  He clearly had in mind the MEK.  He said that all parties should stop this kind of activity.  There may have been an implied offer in that.  The Persians are subtle people.  Perhaps they are too subtle for his audience

- He accepted the idea of wide negotiations with the US to resolve all differences..

- In response to a challenge by Bollinger, he invited Columbia to send delegations of faculty and students to any or all of Iran's 400 universities.

- He insisted that Iranian women are free.

- He made a lame joke out of Iranian capital punishments for homosexual behavior.  The esoteric gist was, "we don't care what you think about it."

- He made some goofy reference to "the real story on 9/11."  This was at the end and I guess he just couldn't "hold it together" any longer.

It was quite a performance.  If this were a presidential debate, I would judge him the winner based on rhetorical skill and coolness under fire.  The student audience got quieter and quieter as he spoke.  There was no booing at the end.

On the whole I think this event was meaningless.  I think that the die is cast and that this will have no effect on the international game.  pl

All mercenaries in Iraq should be subject to UCMJ..

According to US Code, Chapter 10, Section 805, persons in the following categories are subject to US military law.

-------------------------------------------------------------

"(10) In time of war, persons serving with or accompanying an
      armed force in the field.
(11) Subject to any treaty or agreement to which the United
      States is or may be a party or to any accepted rule of
      international law, persons serving with, employed by, or
      accompanying the armed forces outside the United States and
      outside the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin
      Islands.
(12) Subject to any treaty or agreement to which the United
      States is or may be a party or to any accepted rule of
      international law, persons within an area leased by or otherwise
      reserved or acquired for the use of the United States which is
      under the control of the Secretary concerned and which is outside
      the United States and outside the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
      Guam, and the Virgin Islands."

-----------------------------------------------------------

It will be argued that the "private armies" of US and other mercenary soldiers now in Iraq are not "accompanying" the US armed forces.  IMO, that definition is at the discretion of the US government.  Any "agreement" having been made by Bremer's CPA is subject to revision by the US government.

These mercenary soldiers may be indispensible, but they must be brought under control.  pl

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/10/subtitles/a/parts/ii/chapters/47/subchapters/i/sections/section_802.html

Blackwater and the Iraqis

""The necessary measures will be taken that will preserve the honor of the Iraqi people," he said in New York, where al-Maliki arrived Friday for the U.N. General Assembly session. "We have ongoing high-level meetings with the U.S. side about this issue."

Al-Maliki is expected to raise the issue with Bush during a meeting Monday in New York.

It is doubtful that foreign security contractors could be prosecuted under Iraqi law. A directive issued by U.S. occupation authorities in 2004 granted contractors, U.S. troops and many other foreign officials immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law.

Security contractors are also not subject to U.S. military law under which U.S. troopers face prosecution for killing or abusing Iraqis.

Iraqi officials have said in the wake of the Nisoor Square shooting that they will press for amendments to the 2004 directive.

A senior aide to al-Maliki said Friday that three of the Blackwater guards were Iraqis and could be subject to prosecution. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

Shortly after the Sept. 16 shooting, U.S. officials said they "understood" that there was videotape, but refused to give more details. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not supposed to release information to the media.

Following the Nisoor Square shooting, the Interior Ministry banned Blackwater from operating in Iraq but rolled back after the U.S. agreed to a joint investigation. The company resumed guarding a reduced number of U.S. convoys on Friday.

The al-Maliki aide said Friday that the Iraqis were pushing for an apology, compensation for victims or their families and for the guards involved in the shooting to be held "accountable."

Hadi al-Amri, a prominent Shiite lawmaker and al-Maliki ally, also said an admission of wrongdoing, an apology and compensation offered a way out of the dilemma.

"They are always frightened and that's why they shoot at civilians," al-Amri said. "If Blackwater gets to stay in Iraq, it will have to give guarantees about its conduct.""  AP

------------------------------------------------------------

Perhaps I was a little hasty in my comment about how the Iraqi government would be viewed by its people and neighbors.

In the Arab way of doing things, the kinds of redress of grievance that are mentioed would be very helpful in resolving this situation.

The Iraqi Blackwater employees will pay for this one way or another.

These mercenaries are accompanying a US force in the field, and IMO should be subject to the UCMJ.

"They are always frightened and that's why they shoot at civilians"  That is probably true.  My, my.  A little adult leadership and a few floggings (just kidding) would improve morale in that outfit.

No one seems to have notices that in my previous post, the picture shows Blackwater in New Orleans.  pl

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070922/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

Who runs Iraq, us or "them?"

"Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said the Moyock, N.C.-based company has been implicated in six other incidents over the past seven months, including a Feb. 7 shooting outside Iraqi state television in Baghdad in which three building guards were fatally shot.

Khalaf said other incidents include: a Sept. 9 shooting in front of Baghdad's municipal government building that killed five people and wounded 10; a Sept. 12 shooting that wounded five on the capital's Palestine Street; a Feb. 4 shooting near the Foreign Ministry, in which Iraqi journalist Hana al-Ameedi died; a May shooting near the Interior Ministry that claimed the life of a passer-by and a Feb. 14 incident in which Blackwater employees allegedly smashed windshields by throwing bottles of ice water at cars.

"These six cases will support the case against Blackwater, because they show that it has a criminal record," Khalaf told The Associated Press."  Bushra Juhi - API

---------------------------------------------------------

"by throwing bottles of ice water at cars"  In the Army, they would be tried under UCMJ for this alone.  Childish. Malicious nonsense.  This is what happens when an organization with guns, training and no responsible chain of command runs amok.

Someone will say that "someone" did worse in Vietnam.  Well, if that is so, they did not do it around me.

Khalaf is the Ministry of the Interior's spokesman.

The resumption of State Department use of Blackwater protection answers the question as to whether or not there is any reality to the sovereignty of the Iraqi government.  Maliki declared Blackwater's business license to be suspended and ordered the company out of Iraq.  The US Government has defied that decision.  The egregious Rice has now declared that the situation will be reviewed.  What a joke.  Whatever credit the Iraqi government may have had in the Arab World is now finished. 

"Who is going to run this place, (Iraq) us or them?"  This question was foolishly asked this week by a popular American TV talk show host.  His question picked at the scab of underlying American attitudes toward Iraq.

So much for purple fingers.  pl

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070922/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

I changed the picture on this post because the other one had been altered in some way.  pl

Hadley blocked access on Syria photos.

"North Korea may be cooperating with Syria on some sort of nuclear facility in Syria, according to new intelligence the United States has gathered over the past six months, sources said. The evidence, said to come primarily from Israel, includes dramatic satellite imagery that led some U.S. officials to believe that the facility could be used to produce material for nuclear weapons.

The new information, particularly images received in the past 30 days, has been restricted to a few senior officials under the instructions of national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley, leaving many in the intelligence community unaware of it or uncertain of its significance, said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Some cautioned that initial reports of suspicious activity are frequently reevaluated over time and were skeptical that North Korea and Syria, which have cooperated on missile technology, would have a joint venture in the nuclear arena."  Kessler

---------------------------------------------------------------

I missed this when it first appeared.  So, the imagery primarily came from Israel and Hadley blocked access to it from US Intelligence Community analysts and imagery interpreters?  Why would that be?  How about this?  The Israelis wanted it to be that way and it was their information. 

I will let that thought hang in the air for comment.  Remember UHTTFY!  pl

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/12/AR2007091202430.html?sub=AR