Al-Maliki: May ask US Troops to Leave; Al-Sadr Forms Special Groups to Fight Occupation- June 14, 2008 First, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced that negotiations between Iraq and the Bush administration over a status of forces agreement were at an impasse. He said that the US was asking Iraq to give up too much sovereignty. Earlier this week he had met with Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who warned him against giving away Iraq's sovereignty to the US.Then on Friday al-Maliki went further:' "Iraq has another option that it may use," Maliki said during a visit to Amman, Jordan....http://www.juancole.com/2008/06/al-maliki-may-ask-us-troops-to-leave-al.html Suspects' Right to Court Hearing Affirmed; Obama Advisors Clash on Troop Strength- June 13, 2008 If you liked the Supreme Court's reinstatement of Habeas Corpus, vote Obama. McCain did not like it and will be in a position to appoint a justice who will vote with the four dissenters.Bush dismissed the ruling as that of only 5 against 4. (Wasn't that the margin that made him president in 2000)The US Constitution says, "The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it."The Constitution diary...http://www.juancole.com/2008/06/enemy-combatant-law-bogus-obama.html US Airstrike in Pakistan Angers Public; Afghanistan Aid Plagued by Corruption- June 13, 2008 A wave of anger has washed over Pakistan because the US hit Pakistani troops along with the Taliban to whom it was giving hot pursuit.I don't think a lot of the development aid given Afghanistan is reaching its intended objects.Farideh Farhi at our Global Affairs blog on how Iran's Iraq policy is not being made by one person but is rather a joint production of dozens of officials.http://www.juancole.com/2008/06/us-airstrike-in-pakistan-angers-public.html McCain Confuses Baghdad with Seoul Again; 5 Dead, 10 Wounded in Minibus Bombing; Do Ruling Shiites Want US Out- June 13, 2008 John McCain says that it isn't too important when American troops leave Iraq, that the main thing is to ensure there aren't troop deaths. He said that the US has troops in a lot of places, including South Korea.(Via via Veracifier).Contrast the Arizona senator's glib comment with reporting about the real Iraq:' There have been hundreds of unit homecomings across North Carolina in the past six years, as troops returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. Few, if any, though, were as emotional as the...http://www.juancole.com/2008/06/mccain-confuses-baghdad-with-seoul.html Secret UK Dossier "Damning" of Iraqi Army- June 11, 2008 The narrative of the American Right about Iraq is that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is finally in control, that the Iraqi armed forces are performing well, and that in short things are now going swimmingly. This narrative is a variation on the "Good News" story that the Bush administration has used all along to propagandize the American press and public.The supine US press even goes along with al-Maliki's assertion that he reestablished control without firing a shot in the big city (1.7...http://www.juancole.com/2008/06/secret-uk-dossier-damning-of-iraqi-army.html BBC: $24 Bn Lost to War Profiteering; Security Agreement Faltering- June 11, 2008 A BBC investigation concludes that as much as $24 billion has gone missing in Iraq, and much of it may have been embezzled by private companies and corporations brought there by Bush:' For the first time, the extent to which some private contractors have profited from the conflict and rebuilding has been researched by the BBC's Panorama using US and Iraqi government sources. A US gagging order is preventing discussion of the allegations. . .Henry Waxman who chairs the House Committee on...http://www.juancole.com/2008/06/bbc-24-bn-lost-to-war-profiteering.html Kucinich: Impeaching Bush- June 11, 2008 Kucinich on articles of impeachment of Bush:http://www.juancole.com/2008/06/kucinich-impeaching-bush.html Engelhardt: The World According to Tomdispatch- June 11, 2008 The following excerpt is mirrored from Tomdispatch.com in celebration of the publication of Engelhardt's latest edited book, The World According to TomDispatch: America in the New Age of Empire.The book contains my essay, "Bush's Napoleonic Folly," which compares Bush in Iraq to Bonaparte in Egypt, based on my book on that subject.Engelhardt notes: Here's what Howard Zinn says about the newest TomDispatch book (hot off the presses), The World According to TomDispatch: America in the New Age of..http://www.juancole.com/2008/06/engelhardt-world-according-to.html US Seeking 58 Bases; Khamenei Tells al-Maliki not to sign Security Pact- June 10, 2008 Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki met Monday with Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Farsnews writing in Persian, Khamenei told al-Maliki that the most important and fundamental problem for Iraq at present is the presence of Occupation forces. He affirmed, "We are certain that the people of Iraq, through their intrinsic unity and effort, will cross over these difficult conditions and arrive at a place befitting them. The dream of the Americans most certainly will...http://www.juancole.com/2008/06/us-seeking-58-bases-khamenei-tells-al.html Moyers on the Crisis of US Media- June 10, 2008 Bill Moyers addresses the National Conference for Media Reform in Minneapolis, June 7, 2008:via Freepress.netSee also 2012: the End of the Internet:http://www.juancole.com/2008/06/moyers-on-crisis-of-us-media.html |