Democracy Lesson Learned in Iraq
By Susie Madrak Thursday Dec 18, 2008 12:00pmSo were these officials actively undermining Iraq's government - or are they political rivals taken out with one big swoop?
If the latter, then Bush certainly has turned Iraq into his kind of "democracy":
BAGHDAD, Dec. 18 -- At least 34 Iraqi security officials inside Iraq's Interior Ministry have been arrested, possibly in connection with corruption and working to rebuild an illegal party formed by supporters of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party, according to several ministry officials.
Those arrested, both Sunnis and Shiites, include high-ranking generals at the Interior Ministry, which oversees the country's police and other security services. Most of those arrested -- at least 17 -- were members of the traffic police, including the general who leads the department, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
The arrests were made by a special counterterrorism task force that reports to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the officials said.
It was unclear precisely why the officials were arrested. Some said it was because they were involved in corruption involving the issuing of fake documents and car license plates. Others described a more diabolical plot to resurrect al-Awda, or the Return, a party composed of Hussein's loyalists that has been banned by the government. "It's a political group to resist against the government," said an Interior Ministry officer.
Also unknown was whether the officials were trying to plot the overthrow of Maliki, who has been trying to cement his power in recent months, raising tensions with various political parties. At least six additional officials were being sought for arrest, the officials said.
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You know somethings rotten in Baghdad.
Notice how Maliki (Iraqi PM) has his own gestapo force now, which cracks down on dissidents.
by personally executing a half-dozen accused 'terrorists.'
With a hand-gun.
Point-blank.
They don't call 'em strongmen for nothing.
I, I guess that's progress.
Perhaps this would be a good time for the US to pack its bags and come home.
You have learned well, my young apprentice.
These people didn't disappear when the Baath party was outlawed, they were still the leaders of their community. An election is on, so the Shiites round them up.
You're saying it's more propaganda? Surprise, surprise. Hooray for the new democracy.
I've drawn a blank here but who was the guy who fed all the bs to judy miller. Why do I think he is involved in this in some way. If I recall he was against the Baathist being reinvolved in anything.
Who I am thinking of is Ahmad Chalabi. Of course I always wonder what that guy is up to. I never believe it's anything good.
"The arrests were made by a special counterterrorism task force that reports to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki"
is that the same "special counterterrorism task force" that is being advised by US special forces?
fuck that
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_...
Iraqi Counter-Terrorist Force (ICTF) = secret police = death squads
Its Negroponte's El Salvador model.
A special counterterrorism task force that reports to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki = goons
Well heck, he probably learned how to ferret out those opponents by learning the illegal wiretapping tricks of the Bush administration.
Now THAT'S democracy in action. Mission accomplished!
Remind me .. one more time .. why -- in a "democracy" -- are certain political parties illegal?
The Iraqi journalist, Al-Zaidi, apologized today for throwing his shoes at Bush.
I'd probably apologize too if it meant the beatings and the torture would stop.
According to Voice of America he could face up to 15 years in prison.
Lessons hopefully learned. Iraq people brought down the Statue of Saddam and hit it with the heel of their shoes. He is said to have killed 500,000 people many who were found living out of the country later. George W. Bush killed 1 million Iraqis who were sleep in their beds. Over 5 million Iraq left Iraq in fear of the US attacks. Hundreds of thousands of Iraq innocent men/woman/children torture/raped/murdered by the US. A Journalist tosses two shoes as a symbol of hate. Those are the stories that History will show the World and nothing the GOP can say will change it.
Just the facts that there will be any "invocation" at all by anyone, and that Congress opens with a prayer, and that "In God We Trust" is on our coins and paper currency are outrageous attacks on the United States of America.
We have a secular government; we have separation of church and state--or at least we are legally required to if we want to call ourselves the United States of America.
Middle Eastern superstitions such as Judaism and its two sects called Christianity and Islam, along with all other childish (and dangerous)delusional belief systems in imaginary "gods" have absolutely NO place in U.S. government and public policy.
Face the truth, fellow citizens: ALL religious belief is a sign of serious mental and emotional disorder; religious people are mentally ill. Parasites such as Rick Warren, the Pope and all the other "religious leaders" feed off the emotional needs of the sick, needy,and wacked-out believers in an imaginary sky pixie.
The public should demand that Obama and all other public officials keep primitive superstition OUT of ALL government activites and events.
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