Iraqi lawmakers have managed to temporarily resolve one of the least pressing problems facing their country, that of the nation's flag.
Yesterday they approved a new flag, thus appeasing the country's northern Kurds, who had refused to fly the national banner because of its connection to Saddam Hussein.
Unfortunately this is but a temporary solution, the flag will last for one year, until a more permanent design is selected. The temporary flag will no longer bear the three green stars representing the "unity, freedom, socialism" motto of Hussein's Baath Party. The former leader's handwritten "Allahu akbar" (God is great) will be replaced with an old-style Arabic font.
The question is, will there be united Iraq over which to fly a flag in ones year's time?
It is also likely that the change of flag will merely stir up trouble, drawing attention to Iraq's internal divisions, and not least wasting time on a matter of little practical importance whilst other more pressing matters need to be addressed with urgency.
Nero fiddling whilst Rome burns, is an analogy that readily springs to mind.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Flag Dispute
As if the Iraqi people do not have enough problems, it seems that there is now a dispute brewing over the country's flag.
Leaders of Iraq's Kurdish minority want the flag changed, and are threatening not to fly the Saddam Hussein-era banner during a pan-Arab meeting in the Kurdish-run north next month.
The parliament in Baghdad is trying to find a solution in time for the conference.
Haidar al-Abadi, a legislator with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dawa party, said:
"It's a potentially explosive issue and we need to tread carefully".
The Kurds maintain that the colours of the national flag are not representative of all Iraqis and are demanding that the color yellow, which dominates their own flag, to be added.
Mahmoud Othman, a prominent Kurdish lawmaker, said:
"It is not possible to raise the flag in its present form, even for the meeting of the Arab parliamentarians.
The Kurds have been persecuted and killed under that banner. It must be changed."
Iraq has far more important issues to address at this time, than that of the flag.
Leaders of Iraq's Kurdish minority want the flag changed, and are threatening not to fly the Saddam Hussein-era banner during a pan-Arab meeting in the Kurdish-run north next month.
The parliament in Baghdad is trying to find a solution in time for the conference.
Haidar al-Abadi, a legislator with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dawa party, said:
"It's a potentially explosive issue and we need to tread carefully".
The Kurds maintain that the colours of the national flag are not representative of all Iraqis and are demanding that the color yellow, which dominates their own flag, to be added.
Mahmoud Othman, a prominent Kurdish lawmaker, said:
"It is not possible to raise the flag in its present form, even for the meeting of the Arab parliamentarians.
The Kurds have been persecuted and killed under that banner. It must be changed."
Iraq has far more important issues to address at this time, than that of the flag.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Past Crimes and Misdemeanours
The US House of Representatives has passed a defence bill that exempts Iraq from lawsuits dating back to the regime of Saddam Hussein.
Bush and Iraq had objected to an earlier version, that included Iraq in a provision enhancing the ability of US citizens to sue state sponsors of terrorism for damages in US courts.
The new bill waives that provision for Iraq.
The Bush administration had received complaints from Baghdad that said that the original bill would have reopened lawsuits filed against Iraq under Saddam.
The new Iraqi government complained that such lawsuits could tie up $25BN.
Quite how a terrorist supporting country could be prosecuted, and brought to book in a US court is unclear to me.
Bush and Iraq had objected to an earlier version, that included Iraq in a provision enhancing the ability of US citizens to sue state sponsors of terrorism for damages in US courts.
The new bill waives that provision for Iraq.
The Bush administration had received complaints from Baghdad that said that the original bill would have reopened lawsuits filed against Iraq under Saddam.
The new Iraqi government complained that such lawsuits could tie up $25BN.
Quite how a terrorist supporting country could be prosecuted, and brought to book in a US court is unclear to me.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
UN Contradicts US
Despite US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice claiming that the new law to allow Baathists back in from the political cold was sign of reconciliation, the UN countered her claim.
Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations' Baghdad envoy, said that Iraq lacks any true spirit of reconciliation despite parliament's decision to let former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party return to government jobs.
He said that there was still no trust between the Shi'ite-dominated cabinet and Sunni muslims, and warned that Iraq was running out of time.
"We do not feel a real spirit of reconciliation developing even if the government has accepted the law on reintegration of former Baathists.
The little intercommunity game continues but Iraq has no more time."
Time is running out for Iraq and for Bush.
Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations' Baghdad envoy, said that Iraq lacks any true spirit of reconciliation despite parliament's decision to let former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party return to government jobs.
He said that there was still no trust between the Shi'ite-dominated cabinet and Sunni muslims, and warned that Iraq was running out of time.
"We do not feel a real spirit of reconciliation developing even if the government has accepted the law on reintegration of former Baathists.
The little intercommunity game continues but Iraq has no more time."
Time is running out for Iraq and for Bush.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
No Plan No Peace
BBC 4 re ran the BBC 1 documentary "No Plan No Peace" last night, which described the criminal lack of planning that went into the post invasion occupation of Iraq by the US and UK.
In short, there was no plan!
In short, there was no plan!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Baathists Back
Saddam Hussein's old chums in Baathist party have been brought back in from the political wilderness. The Iraqi Parliament has passed a bill to allow some former officials from the party to apply for government positions.
This measure, if approved by the presidential council, will allow thousands of low-level Baath Party members barred from office after the 2003 US invasion to be reinstated. The Bush Administration had urged the Iraqi Government to pass such a measure. This is rather ironic, as it was the Bush administration that barred the Baath party officials from holding office in the first place; thus pushing Iraq further to the brink of collapse.
President Bush, who is currently in the Middle East trying to resolve all issues (the Palestinian question, confronting Iran and democratising Pakistan) before he leaves office, said that the vote was "an important step toward reconciliation".
The world shall watch his "progress" with interest.
This measure, if approved by the presidential council, will allow thousands of low-level Baath Party members barred from office after the 2003 US invasion to be reinstated. The Bush Administration had urged the Iraqi Government to pass such a measure. This is rather ironic, as it was the Bush administration that barred the Baath party officials from holding office in the first place; thus pushing Iraq further to the brink of collapse.
President Bush, who is currently in the Middle East trying to resolve all issues (the Palestinian question, confronting Iran and democratising Pakistan) before he leaves office, said that the vote was "an important step toward reconciliation".
The world shall watch his "progress" with interest.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Revised Death Count
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that over 150,000 civilians have been killed since the United States and Britain invaded Iraq almost five years ago.
The WHO says the figure is an estimate based on interviews with families, they caution that the actual number of civilian deaths could be as high as 223,000.
Violence is now the leading cause of death among adult male Iraqis.
A previous study by Johns Hopkins University stated that 600,000 Iraqi civilians may have been killed in violent incidents between the start of the US/British invasion and July 2006.
The WHO says the figure is an estimate based on interviews with families, they caution that the actual number of civilian deaths could be as high as 223,000.
Violence is now the leading cause of death among adult male Iraqis.
A previous study by Johns Hopkins University stated that 600,000 Iraqi civilians may have been killed in violent incidents between the start of the US/British invasion and July 2006.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
US Diplomats Critical of US Policy
Nearly half of US diplomats, who do not want to serve in Iraq, say a key reason is because they do not support the Bush administration's policies there.
That is according to a survey carried out by the American Foreign Service Association, which represents the rank-and-file diplomatic corps, not political appointees.
The survey asked those who were not willing to go to Iraq why not, and those who were willing to go why.
State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, said that people who signed up as foreign service officers were expected to support the policies of the US government.
"And if people have a problem with that, they know what they can do."
Fair comment!
That is according to a survey carried out by the American Foreign Service Association, which represents the rank-and-file diplomatic corps, not political appointees.
The survey asked those who were not willing to go to Iraq why not, and those who were willing to go why.
State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, said that people who signed up as foreign service officers were expected to support the policies of the US government.
"And if people have a problem with that, they know what they can do."
Fair comment!
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Bribes Investigation
Executives from GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly may be interviewed by Britain's Serious Fraud Office as part of its investigation into allegations that British companies paid bribes to Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.
The inquiry comes in the wake of the 2005 UN report by Paul Volcker, who listed more than 2000 companies worldwide that could have been involved with bribes paid to the former Iraqi regime to secure contracts under the UN program.
The report has found evidence suggesting AstraZeneca had paid $162K in kickbacks to secure $2.9M of contracts. GSK was accused of paying $1M for business worth $11.9M.
The investigation could take years, and is expected to cost £22M.
The inquiry comes in the wake of the 2005 UN report by Paul Volcker, who listed more than 2000 companies worldwide that could have been involved with bribes paid to the former Iraqi regime to secure contracts under the UN program.
The report has found evidence suggesting AstraZeneca had paid $162K in kickbacks to secure $2.9M of contracts. GSK was accused of paying $1M for business worth $11.9M.
The investigation could take years, and is expected to cost £22M.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Saddam's Yacht
Saddam Hussein's yacht, Ocean Breeze, is up for sale.
The yacht is in berth in the port in Nice, and is up for sale for $34M.
Ocean Breeze was built in 1981 by Danish shipbuilder Helsingor Vaerf. The yacht is 82metres long, and was originally named Qadissiyat Saddam. No word on who is the beneficiary of Saddam's universal life insurance policy.
The yacht is in berth in the port in Nice, and is up for sale for $34M.
Ocean Breeze was built in 1981 by Danish shipbuilder Helsingor Vaerf. The yacht is 82metres long, and was originally named Qadissiyat Saddam. No word on who is the beneficiary of Saddam's universal life insurance policy.
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