UrukNet - Daily Information from Occupied Iraq - newsletter 27 Nov 2008

UrukNet - Daily Information from Occupied Iraq - newsletter 27 Nov 2008
Obliterating Iraq
Gabriele Zamparini, The Cat's Blog
Pakistan Daily published a list of Iraqi academics assassinated in Iraq during the US-led occupation. This is a particularly meaningful aspect of the Iraq genocide, the extermination of its intellectual classes. It wasn't enough to invade and occupy what was once the most advanced country in the Middle East and destroy its economy. Iraq had to be obliterated, its history re-written and its future denied. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative Roger Wright said in the October 2004 report: "Iraq used to have one of the finest school systems in the Middle East." Who remembers now that Saddam Hussein's Iraq was awarded the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) prize for eradicating illiteracy in 1982!....


Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49121
From fast death to slow death: Palestinian refugees from Iraq trapped on the Syria-Iraq border
ReliefWeb
Having fled killings, kidnappings, torture, and death threats, about 3,000 Palestinian refugees from Iraq are currently stranded in three camps along the border between Syria and Iraq. Denied asylum and refugee rights, they are extremely vulnerable in poorly situated camps. The Syrian government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) are both open to third country resettlement on humanitarian grounds and on the basis of individual choice. Therefore, the challenge now lies with both traditional and emerging resettlement countries, in collaboration with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, to accept these Palestinian refugees from Iraq for resettlement, allowing the inhospitable camps to be closed...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49124
Muthana Harith al-Dari: "The Resistance will continue till the exit of the occupiers"
Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMSI)
The responsible for Information Department of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMSI) Dr Muthana Harith al-Dari clarified that the resistance in Iraq will continue until the exit of the occupiers from the land of Mesopotamia. Dr. Muthanna Hareth al Dari told in a news conference held in the Yemeni city of Hadeidah after attending the opening of Salih Mosque which the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMSI) founded as a cultural and humanitarian project to resist and prevent the occupation through the written, audio-visual media. In addition to the efforts undertaken by AMSI, Muthanna al Dari informed the participant about the relief campaigns of AMSI to the victims of the sons of Iraq both living in their country or in exile...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49131
Gaza's death throes, and no one's listening
Sonja Karkar
What kind of government in the 21st century can deny another people basic human rights -- that is, the right to food, water, shelter, security and dignity? What kind of government imposes draconian sanctions on another people for democratically electing a government not to its liking? What kind of government seals a heavily populated territory of 1.5 million people so that no person can enter or leave without permission, fishermen cannot fish in their own waters, and world food aid cannot be delivered to the starving population? What kind of government shuts off fuel, water and electricity and then rains down on the people, bombs and artillery fire?....

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49130
A whoring, lying state
Khaled Amayreh
Israel routinely claims to be "civilized, and democratic." However, in truth, Israel is neither civilized nor democratic. In fact, one can safely claim that Israel is actually a criminal, barbarian and utterly uncivilized state that lives and thrives on murder, theft and mendacity. The following observations are an irrefutable proof showing that Israel differs very little from criminal states throughout history, past and present. Take, for example, the ongoing daily rampages by Jewish thugs, otherwise known as settlers, against Palestinians and their property in the southern West Bank town of Hebron...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49132
Iran in about-turn towards security agreement
Najmeh Bozorgmehr
The government of President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad has been unusually silent about the Iraqi government’s approval of the security pact with the US. But that may be because it has been loathe to publicise its dramatic change of attitude towards the agreement. People close to the government in Tehran said that after initially opposing it – and asking its Shia allies in the Baghdad government to resist it – Tehran has been relatively satisfied with the last-minute changes demanded, and won, by Iraq. Analysts see an additional reason for the about-turn: the election of Barack Obama as US president...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49133
Thank You America, For Killing Us
RickB
I assume that was a rejected headline for this AP report, instead they went with- Iraqi parliament OKs US troops for 3 more years- yeah they okayed it, real casual like- sure fellas you stick around for a while longer, it’s cool. But, it gets worse- (...) i>The war has claimed more than 4,200 American lives and killed a far greater, untold number of Iraqis, consumed huge reserves of money and resources and eroded the global stature of the United States, even among its closest allies.... But really 'untold number of Iraqis' well yes it is untold by you because you refuse to use the figures from peer reviewed scientific studies that in all other conflicts are accepted methodology, nor the survey results and extrapolation that tell us the untold truth it’s over a million dead. At this point pulling that kind of shit is basically Holocaust denial motherfucker...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49137
The Broken State
Nir Rosen
The situation in Afghanistan is not as bad as you've heard – its worse. Nir Rosen reports from Kabul and its surrounding provinces as the Taliban attempt to wrest control from Hamid Karzai's government. (...) As I saw on the road to Ghazni, the Taliban have succeeded in essentially cutting off Kabul from the rest of the country. The road southwest to Kandahar was lethal. "The Kabul to Ghazni road is gone," a British intelligence officer told me, "the Ghazni to Gardez road is exceedingly bad, the Wardak road is sh***, the Jalalabad road is sliding. The ambushes have become routine."...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49136
Kristallnacht in Hebron
Khaled Amayreh
Unconcerned about arrest by the police or prosecution by the Israeli justice system, fanatical Jewish settlers in the Palestinian town of Hebron (Al-Khalil) have been attacking Palestinians, damaging and ransacking their property, exactly like Nazi thugs did to Jewish-owned property in Germany 80 years ago.
The settlers, who claim to be acting in the name of true Judaism, espouse a messianic doctrine advocating violence and terror against non- Jews in Israel-Palestine for the purpose of creating a pure Jewish kingdom that would be ruled by Halacha, or Jewish religious law. The settlers, who represent the core of religious Zionism, believe that the ethnic cleansing of non-Jews in the Holy Land will eventually usher the messianic age and accelerate the appearance of the Jewish Messiah, or Redeemer, who would bring about redemption for Jews and rule the entire world from Jerusalem...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49138
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory No. 47/2008 (20 - 26 Nov. 2008)
PCHR - Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law escalated in the OPT during the reporting period (20 – 26 November 2008): Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF wounded 7 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. On 21 November 2008, 5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were wounded when IOF troops opened fire at dozens of civilians who organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to attempts of settlers to re-establish their presence in the evacuated "Homesh" settlement, northwest of Nablus. On 26 November 2008, a Palestinian child was seriously wounded during clashes between dozens of Palestinian civilians and IOF at the entrance of Qalandya refugee camp, south of Ramallah. During the reporting period, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall west of Ramallah....

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49127
Mullahs Regional Hegemons, Code Pink in Iran
Reza Fiyouzat, Revolutionary Flowerpot Society
This one's a good one! Found it on Anti-War, who got it from Middle East Times (Nov. 26, 2008). I love this because now I, and thousands more like me, don't have to spell it out for the western leftists anymore. The ayatollahs in Iran now boast about the fact that they have become a regional hegemon. Congratulations, and I couldn't have said it better! Now ... a note to the uninitiated ... you don't become a power, be it a regional one, by playing nice all the time. But, things like that seem to have lost their ability to cause outrage, or even concern these days, among those that should be most offended by it....

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49125
Iraq parliament passes U.S. security pact
Ahmed Rasheed and Khalid al-Ansary, Reuters
Iraq's parliament on Thursday approved a landmark security pact with the United States that paves the way for U.S. forces to withdraw by the end of 2011, taking the country a big step closer to full sovereignty. The deal, which parliament linked after days of fractious negotiations to a series of promised political reforms and a public referendum next year, brings in sight an end to the U.S. military presence that began with the 2003 invasion...Lawmakers in Iraq's 275 seat parliament passed the deal with a majority of 149 out of 198 present, Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani said...


Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49120
Israeli Crimes Under Observation of I.P.O
Kawther Salam
Ambassador Norma Giocochea Estenoz, the permanent representative of Cuba before the UN in Vienna, and Dr. Hans Koechler, President of the International Progress Organization, delivered the strongest speeches among other participants representing NGOs as well as international organizations and governments of various countries, among them many Arabs, during the special meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Dr. Hans Koechler exposed the Israeli violations of the International treaties and UN resolutions which must be implemented under the observance of the International community...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49129
Gaza: A Human Tragedy under Siege
Hany Ramadan
The Gaza Strip has been living under an Israeli 16-month-old despicable siege, which is now reaching its most harshly shocking pinnacle. In addition to blocking the flow of food, medical supplies, and basic needs, Israel has recently barred the fuel supplies from reaching the impoverished strip. As a result, wide blackouts have reigned over the besieged city of about 1.6 million civilians. The majority of Gazans are now using candles to light up their homes and streets...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49128
Petition for Palestine Directed to the UN Secretary General
Kawther Salam
Today I went to the United Nations in Vienna, to take part in an event with occasion of the "Annual Observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People". The representatives of many countries and international organizations assisted to this event. Some of them gave speeches. The speech of the chairwoman of the session, the representative of Cuba, called my attention because her reference to international treaties and how she characterized the occupation. She stated clearly that the occupation is a crime against humanity. Other persons who called my attention were the representative of the "International Progress Organization", who presented an outline of the treaties and international laws violated by Israel...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49134
The US-Iraq Deal Doesn't Bode Well
Robert Dreyfuss
... The ruling alliance of Shiite religious parties and Kurds, who moved forward with the tacit support of Iran, steamrollered opposition to the accord, which passed with at least 144 votes out of 198 members of parliament in attendance. "A huge number of members left the country, supposedly on hajj [to Mecca] or for other reasons," said a leading Iraqi insider. But, although the vote is a victory for Maliki, it says little about the future stability and security of the Iraqi state. And it says even less about the future of US-Iraq relations...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49126
Gaza Christians without Sunday mass
Yusef Daher, Jerusalem Inter-Church Centre - JIC
On Sunday, November 23rd -The Israeli authorities banned the Papal Nuncio in Israel Archbishop Antonio Franco from entering Gaza and celebrating mass there, despite previous coordination with relevant parties at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and senior Israeli Army command since last Tuesday. Papal Nuncio Archbishop Franco arrived this morning to Erez Crossing at about 8:15 AM, accompanied by Latin Patriarchate priests Fr. Shawqi Baterian and Fr. Humam Khzouz as well with the Nunciature secretary, but was banned to enter to Gaza...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49123
The Attack in Mumbai II
Moon of Alabama
...From asking "Qui bono?" I arrive at the BJP's door. The attack, designed to created fight-outs with police, killed the man who was the biggest danger for the BJP as he was revealing Hindu terrorism and made the BJP campaign against Muslim terrorism seem bigot. The current attack, which will reliably be charged on some Muslim entity, will help the BJP win against the Congress party. But me arriving at that door does not mean that the BJP really is responsible here, I only find it possible to likely...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49135
The struggle is not over: Remembering Mohammed al-Kurd
Pam Rasmussen writing from the United States, Live from Palestine
The saying that a man's home is his castle goes back to the 1500s. Whether it is a mansion or a mud hut, a home to which you can retreat and be safe is a basic human need. But since 2001, Abu Kamel (Mohammed al-Kurd), his wife and five children were forced to fight every day for the right to stay in the East Jerusalem home his family had lived in for decades. And although the Jewish settlers who tried to push them out -- literally -- didn't put a gun to his head and pull the trigger, they might as well have. Two weeks after the al-Kurds were finally evicted from their home on 9 November, Abu Kamel suffered a fatal heart attack. Now, Um Kamel (his wife, Fawzieh) who I grew to admire and respect while I camped on their patio as a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) must wage the fight alone...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49122
Aide: Iraqi government rejects Sunni pact demands
AP
An aide to Iraq's prime minister says the government's Shiite bloc has rejected two conditions set by mostly Sunni lawmakers for their support of a security pact with the United States. The dispute is delaying a vote on the pact, which is now scheduled for Thursday. The deal would allow U.S. troops to stay in Iraq for three more years. Sami al-Askari, an aide to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, says the lawmakers have demanded the repeal of a law designed to weed out senior members of Saddam Hussein's now-outlawed Baath Party from government agencies...


Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49119
THIS IS GAZA ~~ A REPORT BY AMIRA HASS
Desertpeace
If it`s not the power getting cut, leaving entire neighborhoods in darkness, then it`s the water not reaching the top floors or the cooking gas running out. If you have an electric generator, some small part of it is bound to be broken and unfixable, because even before the hermetic three-week siege, Israel prohibited bringing in any spare parts for cars, machines and household electric appliances. And if you somehow manage to find the money for a generator that was smuggled through the tunnels (its price has doubled or tripled since last month), it`s at the expense of buying a heater (not electric, of course), English lessons, clothes for the children and visits to the doctor. This is Gaza in November 2008...

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=49118


www.uruknet.info: a site gathering daily information concerning occupied Iraq: news, analysis, documents and texts of iraqi resistance available in Italian and English.

uruknetgif