Coverage of Iraq that we’ve seen here over the past six months has been all about the surge. But in Baghdad over the weekend there was a different kind of surge. Tens of thousands of protesters marched through the streets to oppose a renewal of the Status of Forces Agreement, which would extend the US presence in Iraq for three more years until the end of 2011. For members of parliament the stakes are high. Provincial and national elections will be held next year and the US presence is highly unpopular throughout the country, excluding perhaps the Kurdish north.
The demonstration also clearly shows that Muqtada al-Sadr remains an enormously powerful figure in Iraq capable of mobilizing thousands of Iraqi people in opposition to the US occupation. A statement from al-Sadr read at the rally called on parliament to vote down the pact: “I reject and condemn the continuation of the presence of the occupation force, and its bases on our beloved land,” the letter said. Sadr called the pact “shameful for Iraq.”
No one writing in English today understands Iraqi politics better than Patrick Cockburn, the author of two recent books on Iraq: The Occupation and Muqtada: Muqtada al-Sadr, the Shia Revival, and the Struggle for Iraq. He joins us today to discuss the recent protests, the rise of al-Sadr, and if Americans are still misreading Iraq.
Questions for Patrick.
In the recent Iraq/Bush administration agreement. U.S. contractors and U.S. military would not be held accountable for alleged crimes committed against the Iraqi people if they were in the line of duty. Do you think the people of Iraq are aware of this?
Since the endless Presidential campaign began two years ago the MSM’s coverage has dwindled down to “two minutes per week per network” or even less. The coverage of the war in Iraq has not been much better in the so called progressive blogosphere. Do you think Americans have a grip of what is really taking place in Iraq or Afghanistan?
The 5 million Iraqi refugees barely receive any media coverage in the states. What can you tell us about the conditions that they find themselves in that are obviously a direct result of the illegal invasion of their country.
What can you tell us about the largest embassy in the world being built by the U.S. in Iraq?
By Leen on October 21st, 2008 at 9:49 am
Another question for Patrick,
What do you think about the Iraq Vets Against the War who protested and were arrested just outside of the Presidential debate last week. This protest and arrest were ignored by the MSM and basically ignored by the so called progressive blogosphere. Amy Goodman of Democracy Now did take the time to pay attention to these Vets and their concerns. What do you think about the MSM and much of the progressive blogosphere ignoring this protest and arrest.
Both media worlds were obsessed with “Joe the Plumber” for four days after that debate
By Leen on October 21st, 2008 at 10:04 am
From the LA Times:
Although the current text provides a calendar for U.S. military withdrawal, it also grants American soldiers immunity from Iraqi law in a majority of situations. Many Iraqi lawmakers are unhappy with the protections that U.S. forces would have from the Iraqi court system.
By GRITtv on October 21st, 2008 at 11:17 am
I have had numerous conversations with young men returning from Iraq who talk about U.S. soldiers using Iraqi people walking down the street for target practice. They have shared some horrendous stories
another perspective
But the arrangement gives Iraqi courts the right to prosecute US
soldiers and civilians if they commit “grave and premeditated felonies
outside their facilities and when not on missions.”
The decision is seen as a hard-won concession for Iraqi Prime Minister
Nuri al-Maliki who has taken a tough stand on protecting his country’s
sovereignty in the pact.
http://groups.google.com/group…..05b113c538
Blackwater faces war crimes inquiry after killings in Iraq
http://www.independent.co.uk/n…..96686.html
By Leen on October 21st, 2008 at 11:33 am
Iraq seeks changes to U.S. troops pact
Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:12pm EDT
Iraq cabinet seeks changes to U.S. troops pact
10:33am EDT
Iraqi Shi’ite says Maliki wary of U.S. pact
10:19am EDT
Iraqi forces raid home of pro-U.S. group leader
10:33am EDT
Kazakhstan withdraws soldiers from Iraq
10:33am EDT
Vatican demands more protection for Iraq Christians
10:33am EDT
FACTBOX: Security developments in Iraq
12:12pm EDT
Featured Broker sponsored link
Money Center
#1 FX Broker – Shares Mag 2007
By Mariam Karouny and Peter Graff
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq demanded changes to a draft security pact with the United States Tuesday after it failed to win the support of its political leaders despite months of painstaking negotiations with Washington.
The announcement effectively reopens negotiations which had led last week to the unveiling of a draft that would require U.S. forces to leave Iraq by the end of 2011. The objections appear to be about details rather than the broad thrust of the pact.
“The cabinet has agreed that necessary amendments to the pact could make it nationally accepted,” government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told Reuters after a cabinet meeting.
http://www.reuters.com/article…..38;sp=true
By Leen on October 21st, 2008 at 3:33 pm