Iraq's cabinet has approved changes to a draft oil law, and sent it to parliament in an attempt to curb the sectarian violence.
Nuri al-Maliki, Iraq's prime minister, said it was the "most important" law in the country.
"The law was approved unanimously ... it was referred to the parliament which will discuss it tomorrow.
I call on all our partners in the political process and in this national unity government to respect this deal."
However, the Kurds have said that they had neither seen nor approved the final text of the law and might oppose it.
The Kurdistan regional government said it would reject the latest text, if it made "material and substantive changes" to the outline agreed upon during weeks of protracted negotiations.
For the Iraqi people, time is running out.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
The Libby "Pardon"
President Bush should be aware that no President, or friend of the President, is in the long run above the law.
The decision to "commute" Libby's 30th month sentence, with the likelihood of a future pardon, reflects very badly on this President and his attitude to the law.
The decision to "commute" Libby's 30th month sentence, with the likelihood of a future pardon, reflects very badly on this President and his attitude to the law.
Monday, July 02, 2007
UN Inspection Body Closed
Friday saw the closure of the UN Inspection body that searched without success for non existent Saddam Hussein's WMD.
The US and Iraq have called it an "historic day".
The resolution terminating the mandate of the U.N. bodies responsible for overseeing the dismantling of Saddam's programs to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and long-range missiles was approved by a vote of 14-0 with Russia abstaining.
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin objected to the council's failure to comply with previous resolutions demanding that the inspectors certify that Iraq has no banned weapons or missiles before terminating their mandate.
"The adoption of this resolution does not give any clear answers to the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq."
The US and Iraq have called it an "historic day".
The resolution terminating the mandate of the U.N. bodies responsible for overseeing the dismantling of Saddam's programs to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and long-range missiles was approved by a vote of 14-0 with Russia abstaining.
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin objected to the council's failure to comply with previous resolutions demanding that the inspectors certify that Iraq has no banned weapons or missiles before terminating their mandate.
"The adoption of this resolution does not give any clear answers to the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq."
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Saddam - The Series
A four-episode mini-series on Saddam Hussein is in development.
The BBC-HBO collaboration, entitled "Between Two Rivers", will star Yigal Naor as Saddam, together with Shohreh Aghdashloo and Christine Stephen-Daly.
Between Two Rivers is about the dynamics of Saddam's family and his relationships with his close advisers.
Shooting will start this summer in North Africa.
The BBC-HBO collaboration, entitled "Between Two Rivers", will star Yigal Naor as Saddam, together with Shohreh Aghdashloo and Christine Stephen-Daly.
Between Two Rivers is about the dynamics of Saddam's family and his relationships with his close advisers.
Shooting will start this summer in North Africa.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Shocking Ignorance
A new Newsweek poll published this weekend, has exposed a shocking level of ignorance in the minds of the American people as to their knowledge of history and current events.
A staggering 41% of Americans believe that Saddam Hussein had some involvement in 9/11.
When asked:
"Do you think Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq was directly involved in planning, financing, or carrying out the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001?"
41% said yes.
Quite how that level of ignorance can exist in such a wealthy and, allegedly, "well educated" society is truly alarming. It bodes ill for the future.
A staggering 41% of Americans believe that Saddam Hussein had some involvement in 9/11.
When asked:
"Do you think Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq was directly involved in planning, financing, or carrying out the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001?"
41% said yes.
Quite how that level of ignorance can exist in such a wealthy and, allegedly, "well educated" society is truly alarming. It bodes ill for the future.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Chemical Ali Sentenced to Death
Saddam Hussein's cousin known as "Chemical Ali", and two other former regime officials, have been sentenced to death by hanging today for their roles in a 1980's campaign that led to the deaths of 180,000 Kurds.
Ali Hassan al-Majid, Saddam's cousin and the former head of the Baath Party's Northern Bureau Command, stood silently as the judge read the verdict.
The judge, Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa, said that al-Majid was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for ordering army and security services to use chemical weapons in a large-scale offensive that killed or maimed thousands.
As he was led out of the court, al-Majid said:
"Thanks be to God."
The death sentence is subject to an appeal confirmation.
Ali Hassan al-Majid, Saddam's cousin and the former head of the Baath Party's Northern Bureau Command, stood silently as the judge read the verdict.
The judge, Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa, said that al-Majid was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for ordering army and security services to use chemical weapons in a large-scale offensive that killed or maimed thousands.
As he was led out of the court, al-Majid said:
"Thanks be to God."
The death sentence is subject to an appeal confirmation.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Crafty Clinton
Hillary Clinton, presidential hopeful for 2008, has been searching for a way to distance herself form the fact that she voted in favour of the Iraq war back in 2002.
Now, she may have found a way to lance this boil.
She is asking her fellow senators to support her, and Senator Robert Byrd's, plan for a new vote on the Iraq war.
Clinton has written a letter to all the 98 other senators, saying that Congress should request that there be a new war vote when the Senate debates the 2008 military spending bill in the next few weeks.
The letter argues that the 2002 vote for the war, which Clinton backed, is hopelessly out of date.
Quote:
"That authorisation, which references the government of Saddam Hussein and weapons of mass destruction, is no longer relevant.
Our troops have toppled the dictator. The Iraqis have voted in a new government.
The American public and our troops in the field are entitled to a new debate about this war."
Whilst many people may dislike Clinton, and her opportunism, one has to grudgingly respect her shrewd political skills. This letter, and possible vote, may well be an effective means of distancing herself from the vote in 2002.
Whether it helps the Iraqi people, is another matter!
Now, she may have found a way to lance this boil.
She is asking her fellow senators to support her, and Senator Robert Byrd's, plan for a new vote on the Iraq war.
Clinton has written a letter to all the 98 other senators, saying that Congress should request that there be a new war vote when the Senate debates the 2008 military spending bill in the next few weeks.
The letter argues that the 2002 vote for the war, which Clinton backed, is hopelessly out of date.
Quote:
"That authorisation, which references the government of Saddam Hussein and weapons of mass destruction, is no longer relevant.
Our troops have toppled the dictator. The Iraqis have voted in a new government.
The American public and our troops in the field are entitled to a new debate about this war."
Whilst many people may dislike Clinton, and her opportunism, one has to grudgingly respect her shrewd political skills. This letter, and possible vote, may well be an effective means of distancing herself from the vote in 2002.
Whether it helps the Iraqi people, is another matter!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Mission Accomplished
Iraq is now the world's second most unstable country, behind Sudan, according to the 2007 Failed States Index. This despite the fact, or maybe because of the fact, that President George W. Bush ordered the U.S. invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.
The 2007 Failed States Index is produced by Foreign Policy magazine and the Fund for Peace. The index said that Iraq has suffered a third straight year of deterioration in 2006; with diminished results across a range of social, economic, political and military indicators.
Iraq ranked fourth last year.
Afghanistan, six years into a US invasion, was in eighth place.
The reports says:
"Iraq and Afghanistan, the two main fronts in the global war on terror, both suffered over the past year.
Their experiences show that billions of dollars in development and security aid may be futile unless accompanied by a functioning government, trustworthy leaders, and realistic plans to keep the peace and develop the economy."
Mission Accomplished!
The 2007 Failed States Index is produced by Foreign Policy magazine and the Fund for Peace. The index said that Iraq has suffered a third straight year of deterioration in 2006; with diminished results across a range of social, economic, political and military indicators.
Iraq ranked fourth last year.
Afghanistan, six years into a US invasion, was in eighth place.
The reports says:
"Iraq and Afghanistan, the two main fronts in the global war on terror, both suffered over the past year.
Their experiences show that billions of dollars in development and security aid may be futile unless accompanied by a functioning government, trustworthy leaders, and realistic plans to keep the peace and develop the economy."
Mission Accomplished!
It's Official - No WMD
The hunt for Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction is now reaching its final conclusion, having found nothing.
The US and Britain have proposed that members of the United Nations Security Council "terminate immediately the mandates" of UN weapons inspectors.
This means the end of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission.
The US and Britain have proposed that members of the United Nations Security Council "terminate immediately the mandates" of UN weapons inspectors.
This means the end of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Saddam's Golden Gun
Australia is to display Saddam Hussein's golden gun in its war museum.
Today, the Australian War Memorial accepted a golden Tabuk rifle (an Iraqi version of the AK-47) from the Australian military, which itself had received it from U.S. troops in thanks for taking part in the Iraq war.
The rifle was found by American soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during the clearance of buildings around Kirkuk, in northern Iraq.
Today, the Australian War Memorial accepted a golden Tabuk rifle (an Iraqi version of the AK-47) from the Australian military, which itself had received it from U.S. troops in thanks for taking part in the Iraq war.
The rifle was found by American soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during the clearance of buildings around Kirkuk, in northern Iraq.
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