Cedric's Big Mix: 2013-11-03

Saturday, November 09, 2013

He did what in high school?

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O WENT GOLFING WITH MEN AGAIN TODAY. JUST BARRY AND THE BOYS.

HIS ESCAPE CAME AS A WOMAN CLAIMING TO BE A FORMER PEER OF BARRY O'S FROM HIGH SCHOOL MADE CLAIMS THAT BARRY O WAS FREE BASING COCAINE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND GETTING THE MONEY BY SELLING HIS BODY TO OLDER MEN.

ASKED BY THESE REPORTERS IF HE WAS EVER 'GAY FOR PAY,' BARRY O SHRIEKED, SNAPPED "NO COMMENT!" AND RAN TO A GOLF CART.

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Monday is Veteran's Day in the United States. Senator Patty Murray is the former Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee -- she continues to serve on the Committee and she's now the Chair of the Senate Budget Committee. Her late father, David L. Johns, was a Purple Heart recipient (World War II). Her office issued the following today:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Murray Press Office

Friday, November 08, 2013 (202) 224-2834

Senator Murray’s Veterans Day Statement

WATCH (Preview)

: A Veterans Day Message from Senator Patty Murray

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement as the nation prepares to observe Veterans Day:

“On Veterans Day, we honor and celebrate the courage and commitment of our nation’s heroes, both past and present. When these brave men and women signed up to serve our country, we agreed to take care of them. They kept their end of the bargain and we must keep ours.

“Our veterans have leadership ability, discipline, and technical skills to not only find work but to excel in a 21^st Century workforce. But despite these facts, veterans across the country continue to struggle as they try to find work.

“For too long we have invested billions of dollars in training our young men and women with skills to protect our nation, only to ignore them once they leave the military. For too long, at the end of their career, we patted our veterans on the back for their service and then pushed them out into the job market alone. Thankfully, we have been able to take real, concrete steps toward putting our veterans back to work with new laws like my “VOW to Hire Heroes Act” and other legislative efforts.

“We have also worked to build partnerships with private sector businesses in order to tap into the tremendous amount of goodwill that companies have toward our returning heroes. In fact, just this week, our own Microsoft and Starbucks launched major, nation-wide initiatives to put our men and women in uniform back to work.

“This is the legacy of opportunity we have to live up to for our nation’s veterans. This is the responsibility we all have on our shoulders. It doesn’t end on the battlefield. It doesn’t end after the parades Monday. In fact, it never ends.

“Our veterans don’t ask for a lot and too often they are coming home and facing unnecessary stresses and struggles. On this Veterans Day we need to redouble our efforts – government, businesses, and citizens - to guarantee our veterans get a fair shot and to guarantee them that they are not measured by fear or stigma, but what they can do, what they have done, and what they will do.”

###

---

Meghan Roh

Press Secretary | New Media Director

Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray

Mobile: (202) 365-1235

Office: (202) 224-2834

@PattyMurray | @SenateBudget | @MegRoh

Senator Patty Murray's office

Senator Murray's YouTube Channel

Senator Murray's Press Office Twitter Account

RSS Feed for Senator Murray's office

Monday, Olive Garden will be serving a free meal to veterans click here for menus. (They will also be also be giving a 10% discount throughout November for veterans and veterans families.) Hooters notes their way of honoring veterans:

Hooters is showing its gratitude for veterans and active duty military personnel this Veterans Day. On Monday, Nov. 11, Hooters invites all veterans and current servicemen and women to enjoy a free meal, up to $10.99 in value with any drink purchase, by presenting a military ID or proof of service at any Hooters location across the country.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to show appreciation for our military personnel who have selflessly sacrificed for the freedom of all Americans,” said Andrew Pudduck, vice president of marketing, Hooters of America. “Supporting the military community is very important to the Hooters family; we hope our veterans and active duty military will join us on Veterans Day to relax and enjoy a meal on us as a small but earnest way to say ‘thank you’ for your service.”
In addition, Hooters is sending extra love to the troops with its annual Operation Calendar Drop campaign. The 2014 Hooters Calendar is now on sale and guests are encouraged to purchase an extra calendar and write a personal message of appreciation for the troops. Hooters will collect the personalized calendars and deliver them to U.S. military stationed overseas.

Hoss's Steak & Sea House will honor Veterans Day on Monday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a free meal: Parmesan Crusted Tilapia & Rice Pilaf, Grilled or Fried Chicken Tenders Stuffing & Mashed Potatoes, Meatloaf Stuffing & Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Parmesan & Pasta, Fried Shrimp & Fries or All You Can Eat Soup, Salad & Dessert Bar. Any meal includes soup, salad & dessert bar and beverage.

Golden Corral has a video with Gary Sinise (above) explaining that this Monday, from four p.m. until nine p.m., is Military Appreciation Monday and those who have served in the military receive a free dinner during those five hours. Veterans who feel like a burger on Monday might want to visit Shoney's which notes:

Nothing says “Thank You” like a great burger and Shoney’s is set to prove it, as the iconic all-American restaurant brand will thank our nation’s veterans and troops with a FREE All-American Burger™ on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, 2013.
“For generations, Shoney’s always has been a ‘Welcome Home’ sign to America’s military,” said Davoudpour. “On their national day of celebration and honor, Shoney’s looks forward to welcoming our veterans and troops with a free burger as we thank those who protect our very freedom. We salute you.”
According to Davoudpour, service members will be treated to Shoney’s Signature favorite All-American Burger, a freshly prepared, hand-pattied, grain-fed, 100% ground beef, cooked to order burger, served on a toasted corn-dusted bun with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles and mayonnaise.
“It’s named after the greatest country on earth,” said Davoudpour, “and has been a guest favorite for years.”
Since acquiring the great American eatery in 2007, Davoudpour has been on a spirited mission to make Shoney’s better than ever, and return the icon to its Glory Days, when it became part of American popular culture as one of the first family casual dining concepts in the United States. Shoney’s served as a popular post-WWII family destination when it began serving guests 66 years ago. Davoudpour personally sees that an American flag flies proudly in front of his Shoney’s restaurants.
“Veterans Day is a day of thanks and for us, being able to serve the many who serve for our freedom is a privilege,” added Davoudpour. “We are thankful every day for our veterans and troops, and on their day we look forward to serving them a free burger.”
Shoney’s offer of a free All-American Burger to veterans and active duty military service members is available on Monday, November 11, 2013 at participating restaurants while supplies last. There is a limit of one per day per military service member and the offer is not valid in conjunction with any other offers. Shoney’s military guests will need to provide proof of military service. Offer is valid for Dine-in only and beverage, tax and gratuity are not included.

Applebee's notes:

VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY ENJOY A FREE APPLEBEE'S SIGNATUE ENTREE ON VETERANS DAY, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH

Available during business hours on November 11, 2013, in all U.S. Applebee's restaurants. Dine in from limited menu only: Fiesta Lime Chicken, Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger, 7 oz. House Sirloin, Three-Cheese Chicken & Sun-Dried Tomato Penne, Chicken Tenders Platter, Double Crunch Shrimp or Oriental Chicken Salad..
Beverages and gratuity not included. Veterans and active duty military simply show proof of military service.
Proof of service includes: U.S. Uniformed Services ID Card, U.S. Uniformed Services Retired ID Card, current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), veterans organization card (i.e. American Legion, VFW), photograph of yourself in uniform, wearing uniform, DD214 and citation or commendation.

Veterans of Foreign Wars notes they have a page noting places honoring veterans for Veterans Day. The American Legion's list is here. In tonight's Iraq snapshot, we'll note these and the other establishments we've noted this week. For events noting Veterans Day (some of which will take place Saturday or Sunday and not just on Monday), refer to this VA Dept webpage. or this Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America webpage. The VFW issued the following today:

The VFW calls on Americans to remember our veterans and honor them for their service and sacrifice

November 08, 2013

Each Nov. 11, Americans celebrate our veterans by honoring them for their brave service to our nation.
These courageous men and women who have donned the uniform did not do it for the praise or the accolades. They did it because they answered the call to duty, and they selflessly and heroically served our nation. There is no doubt that they are truly America’s finest.
The America that we all know is a product of their service and dedication. For generations, they have kept our nation free and defended democracy from tyranny and oppression. They’ve protected freedom-loving people all around the world.
And we must also remember the thousands who are deployed all over the world today, defending our freedoms at this very moment. We pray for their safe return, and the VFW stands ready to support their families while they are away.
The VFW understands freedom is not free, and it is our veterans and their loved ones who pay the price. As we honor them on Veterans Day, and each day after, we should reflect on the sacrifices they’ve made to ensure America’s victories, as well as the many liberties we enjoy as a result of their stalwart sense of duty.
Since America’s founding, it has been those who have worn the uniform–those who have tenaciously defended American values–who we will be forever grateful to: America's proud Airmen, Coastguardsmen, Marines, Sailors and Soldiers.
The VFW salutes you and thanks you for your service.

Friday, November 08, 2013

It's not that easy

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

YESTERDAY, CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O APOLOGIZED FOR LYING ABOUT OBAMACARE AND CLAIMING THAT PEOPLE COULD KEEP THEIR HEALTH CARE PLANS IF THEY WANTED TO.

SORRY?

IN THE WORDS OF DIANA ROSS:

YOU OFFERED ME YOUR SYMPATHY
BUT I'M AS LONELY AS CAN BE
SORRY DOESN'T ALWAYS MAKE IT RIGHT

SORRY'S JUST ANOTHER MEANINGLESS WORD FROM THE MAN OF SO MANY PRETTY BUT MEANINGLESS WORDS.

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

In 1973, Maureen McGovern made it to the top of the Top 40 with the number one hit "The Morning After" ("There's got to be a morning after . . ."). Thirty years later, the US government and its press agents posing as 'reporters' sang their own version "The Turned Corner," ("There's about to be a turned corner . . .") For those who've forgotten or missed it in real time, as the illegal war kicked off, reality kicked back. And the White House and press hacks like John Burns and Thomas Friedman constantly insisted a turned corner lay in the immediate future and the entire failed war was about to turn around. However, that never happened.

Were any lessons learned from that?

Apparently not.

The Washington Post's Liz Sly noted the turned corner claim is still around.

The Shagaq News article is about the judgment calls of an American, Michael Knights of the Washington Institue, and it starts:

"Iraq's tunnel is long, but at the end there is a light, with this sentence Michael Knights, an expert at the Washington Institute for the Near East began his talk as he believes that after 20 years, Iraq will come out of this crisis, will be a leader , tolerant and open state".

That's the article's punctuation. They leave a quote -- without noting that they have (clearly Michael Knight did not declare "with this sentence Michael Knights, an expert at . . .") -- and put an end quote at the end of their sentence.

The point of that is that "20 years" may or may not be Knights' remark. He is quoted in the article speaking of "someday."

Regardless, his hope for a turned corner seems more than a bit unrealistic based upon his own argument.

He is quoted stating, "During our presence in Iraq , we say that the problem were not Saddam Hussein, as it was the Iraqi strong central regime. For this, we focused on decentralization , and for this we have set and develop in the Constitution. However, after we have withdrawn Maliki returned to Saddam Hussein's central strong (...) and surrounded himself with a group of angry Shiite that wasn't for revenge. These groups controlled the nominations of the armed forces, courts and the central bank. "

So the problem is Nouri. You can pretend and mess around all you want but the reality is the problems in Iraq are the making of Nouri al-Maliki (which means they're the making of the White House since the 2006 administration demanded that Nouri be named prime minister and the 2010 administration negotiated The Erbil Agreement to give Nouri a second term the voters and the Iraqi Constitution didn't give Nouri).

Is Knights really so reluctant to tell the truth or is it the outlet? I have no idea but 'someday' or '20 years' isn't good enough for the Iraqi people -- it's not good enough for any people. They shouldn't have to suffer under Nouri's nonsense.

Knights's 'findings' are illogical and not fact based. This is evident by the half-quote that the article includes from him, "if not anything else, the decentralized Constitution that we have set, which I think solved Iraq's problems, as I told you " Setting aside who 'set' the Iraqi Constitution, the Constitution is meaningless at this point.

Nouri's refused to implement Article 140 of the Constitution. He was required to implement it by the end of 2007. He refused to do so. He agreed, in The Erbil Agreement of 2010, to implement it. He has refused to do so.

The Constitution outlines who becomes prime minister. The Erbil Agreement circumvented the Constitution.

The Constitution's not being followed with regards to replacing the incapacitated president. Last December, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani suffered a stroke. The incident took place late on December 17th (see the December 18th snapshot) and resulted in Jalal being admitted to Baghdad's Medical Center Hospital. Thursday, December 20th, he was moved to Germany. He remains in Germany currently. Every few weeks someone comes along to announce, "He's getting better!" It's past time that Iraqis were told when Jalal was coming back and if he's not coming back shortly, it really is time to replace him. He's been out of the country -- and not doing his job -- for nearly a year now. We're 11 days from a year. A constitutional government does not allow this to happen.

There has been no president of Iraq for a year.

That's not a sign of a functioning government. It's not a sign of compassion. Compassion is you give the Talabani family six weeks or so. After that, you start calling them on the lie. Jalal's hidden away because he can't function and he can't perform his duties. He's been allowed to draw his salary though.

Then there's the issue of the Cabinet.

The President names a prime minister-designate.

The person has 30 days to become prime minister and the only way they do that is by forming their Cabinet -- which is done by naming nominees that Parliament votes for and confirms. They have 30 days for that.

It's the only thing that has to be done for a prime minister-designate to become prime minister. (This is Article 76 of the Constitution.) Should the prime minister-designate fail to complete this task in 30 days, the president is supposed to name a new prime minister-designate.

Jalal betrayed the Constitution. Firstly, he declared Nouri prime minister-designate at Parliament's November 11, 2010 session but then claimed that wasn't official -- it was -- so he could provide Nouri with a later date -- he reset the clock. Even doing that, Nouri still didn't have a partial Cabinet until January 2011. That's a violation of the Constitution.

So is 'partial cabinet.' Anyone can form a partial cabinet. You just get one nominee to your Cabinet confirmed and you've formed a 'Cabinet' by Nouri's logic. The Constitution calls for a Cabinet -- that means a full Cabinet. (Four Iraqis who were part of the 2005 Constitution have made that clear.)

Yet Nouri wasn't bound to the Constitution. And even now, as his second term winds down, he's not got a full Cabinet. Back in July 2012, Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) observed, "Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has struggled to forge a lasting power-sharing agreement and has yet to fill key Cabinet positions, including the ministers of defense, interior and national security, while his backers have also shown signs of wobbling support." Those posts have remained vacant. Throughout his second term. No Minister of Defense?

Is it any wonder that Iraq has seen an increase in violence?

AFP notes today, "It is the latest in Iraq's worst violence since 2008, with more than 5,500 people dead this year despite tightened security measures and a swathe of operations against militants." But they fail to connect the increase to the security ministries. They also undercount. As Christiane Amanpour noted on Amanpour (CNN) Tuesday, it's "almost 7,000" killed this year. She was raising the statistic because she was addressing Iraq with her guest was Ayad Allawi who was prime minister of Iraq from June 2004 through May 2005 and who should, based on the 2010 election results, have been named prime minister in 2010. Click here for video, here for transcript. Excerpt.

AMANPOUR: Prime Minister, sorry to interrupt you, and we'll talk about the politics, but many people believe, including former U.S. ambassadors, commanders, et cetera, that you can't really do as much as you would like on political progress without having security.

So the question is, do you think Prime Minister Maliki had a successful visit to the U.S.? Did -- do you believe he got what he wanted from President Obama? And what does the U.S. need to do to help at least in the security area right now?

ALLAWI: I don't think the U.S. have a larger stake to improve security overnight in Iraq. I don't know what he discussed -- and Maliki discussed in the U.S. But I definitely know that the ingredients of security are not there.

The ingredients, the three (inaudible) security lies upon is healthy political process; institutions which are professional, that control their responsibility and the economy finding jobs for the people, in a rich country like Iraq, where a third of the nation are under poverty line.

On top of this, we have gross interferences from our neighbor to our east, which is Iran. Iran have been trying to meddle with the Iraq efforts, especially after everything was dismantled upon occupation and Iraq -- Iran became the most important power wreaking havoc on Iraq and supporting militias and support sectarianism in Iraq.

AMANPOUR: Prime Minister, regarding the political situation, President Obama urged Prime Minister Maliki, the current prime minister, to make sure a new election law gets passed.

Apparently it has been passed; there will be elections according to what's been laid out in a road map.

Do you have hope for those elections?

And do you eventually plan to run for election again yourself?

ALLAWI: Of course. I mean, you know, we have fought for 30 years for my country, to get rid of tyranny. We will continue to play a role in politics. And definitely I'll go into elections.

But I don't have that much faith. Last time I won the elections, I was two seats in Parliament, and we were clearly the winners. And according to our constitution, the way I should form the government, or at least should be given the chance to form the government and the chance was according to our constitution for 45 days.

This even challenge we were denied to have. And according to Maliki, was reinstated, what the power of Iran, with the support of Iran with the acceptance of the U.S. And we are where we are now, unfortunately.

People have been betrayed in Iraq as far as the elections are concerned. And they felt that they went -- when they went to the ballots and they elected their -- whatever or whoever they elected, but yet the results were not to their -- to the -- to the standards of the -- of the (inaudible). But rather to Iran to decide what was doing there. And those were not doing there.

AMANPOUR: So what is your view of where the Sunni population is going to be?

I said that they felt frustrated and this is some fertile ground for the resurgence of Al Qaeda.

Is the Sunni population still willing to give politics a chance?

ALLAWI: It's getting much weaker, their resolve towards politics and towards election is getting much weaker now. Unfortunately the turnout in the last provincial elections, which was just under a year ago, was in the best 28 percent in the best areas in the -- in the -- in some of the -- like most are like Salah ad-Din (ph) and Anbar (ph).

And you know, all these provinces now have been demonstrating for the last seven months, eight months, and there are lots of adversities being committed against them.

So really there is a lot of faith lost in the -- in the elections and the results of the elections. And even on the democracy, there is a loss of faith. And that's why Al Qaeda is getting more powerful in the country, it's waging a clear war, sitting whenever they like at whatever -- whatever they like, without the government being able to do anything about this.

AMANPOUR: You sort of -- I know you're not playing down the violence, but obviously you're playing up the need for a political solution; everybody would agree to that. But how do you expect to be able to again try to defeat and push back Al Qaeda? And how dangerous are they right now, especially given the fact that Al Qaeda in Iraq has linked up with Al Qaeda in Syria?

ALLAWI: Well, Christiane, let me tell you frankly, if people are disenfranchised, if people are oppressed, if people are on the side, if people are not cared for, if they live in poverty, they will definitely go to the extreme. And this is unfortunately what's happening in almost half of the country.

The violence is bred by Nouri and Michael Knights may be prepared to wait for 'someday' but how much longer can the Iraqi people survived Nouri al-Maliki?

Last week, Nouri visited DC and that visit was, in part, to get a blessing for a third term.

Many words have been written about the visit but maybe the one what best captured US President Barack Obama's feelings towards thug Nouri is the photo Dar Addustour published last night of Nouri standing next to a bored Barack?

RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"The Ashraf community"
"California Pizza Kitchen and Hooters celebrate Vet..."
"Pascal Roberts is an idiot"
"The sorry"
"The lousy wages in the lousy economy"
"50 actresses at least as talented as brando"
"The good and the bad"
"Taylor Swift wins CMA Pinnacle Award"
"Revolution (Monroe lives)"
"Arrow (The League of Assassins)"
"Tales of Indonesian Folklore"
"Idiot of the Week: Pete Dominick"
"Sebelius still isn't doing her job"
"THIS JUST IN! STILL NOT DOING HER JOB!"

Thursday, November 07, 2013

Sebelius still isn't doing her job

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

NATIONAL JOKE KATHERINE SEBELIUS TOLD CONGRESS YESTERDAY THAT OBAMACARE NEEDS "HUNDREDS OF FIXES."

SO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY IS IN HER OFFICE TODAY, SLEEVES ROLLED UP, OVERSEEING THE FIXES AND . . .

OH, WAIT.

SHE'S HIT THE ROAD.

TRYING TO SELL OBAMACARE ONE LIE AT A TIME.

LET'S HOPE THE ROAD HITS HER BACK.

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

The RAND Corporation has been around in the United States for a very long time. It's hailed as a think tank which is like calling The Brookings Institute a social club. While Brookings flirts with military worship, RAND has that in its DNA -- creation of RAND was by the US Air Force with the sole purpose of exploring better weapons. In 1948, RAND supposedly separates from the government but its work really doesn't change and certainly the usual suppliers feed it (Ford Foundation, etc). They (after 'independence') popularize the notion of 'winnable' nuclear war. Where there is propaganda posing as science and thought, you will often find RAND. The late Chalmers Johnson offered a history of RAND at TomDispatch.com in 2008 which included:

For example, RAND's research conclusions on the Third World, limited war, and counterinsurgency during the Vietnam War were notably wrong-headed. It argued that the United States should support "military modernization" in underdeveloped countries, that military takeovers and military rule were good things, that we could work with military officers in other countries, where democracy was best honored in the breach. The result was that virtually every government in East Asia during the 1960s and 1970s was a U.S.-backed military dictatorship, including South Vietnam, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
It is also important to note that RAND's analytical errors were not just those of commission -- excessive mathematical reductionism -- but also of omission. As Abella notes, "In spite of the collective brilliance of RAND there would be one area of science that would forever elude it, one whose absence would time and again expose the organization to peril: the knowledge of the human psyche."
Following the axioms of mathematical economics, RAND researchers tended to lump all human motives under what the Canadian political scientist C. B. Macpherson called "possessive individualism" and not to analyze them further. Therefore, they often misunderstood mass political movements, failing to appreciate the strength of organizations like the Vietcong and its resistance to the RAND-conceived Vietnam War strategy of "escalated" bombing of military and civilian targets.

Now RAND's published an argument (posing as science) entitled Ending the US War In Iraq. The full title is Ending the US War in Iraq: The Final Transition, Operational Maneuver, and Disestablishment of United States Forces-Iraq and the authors are Rick Brennan Jr, Charles P. Ries, Larry Hanauer, Ben Connable, Terrence K. Kelly, Michael J. McNerney, Stephanie Young, Jason Campbell and K. Scott McMahon. It runs nearly 600 pages (the report itself is 344 pages of text). Former US Ambassador to Iraq James Jeffrey writes the foreword.

Jeffrey gets to tell the first lies. No, not about WMD. Jeffrey skips the whole start of the war and pretends that its start was as natural as summer turning into fall. No, his lie is that this 'historical record' is "an independent and objective analysis." Since when does the US government hand over documentation to groups to let them form independent and objective analysis?

Jeffreys writes:

In collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, the United States Forces - Iraq (USF - I) provided RAND access to plans, operations, orders, internal staff deliberations, strategic and operational assessments, and a host of other contemporaneous information on how U.S. forces completed, transferred, transformed, or terminated all activities being conducted in Iraq. In addition, a RAND research team spent two weeks in Iraq in 2011, interviewing the leaders and staffs of both Embassy Baghdad and USF - I.

No, that's not the description of independence. That's the description of the US government hiring someone to craft an argument they want.

After the first lie of 'independent' analysis, the lies just come tumbling out of Jeffrey. Such as here:

With U.S. assistance, Iraq has been given an opportunity for a sovereign and stable future, possessing the tools necessary to maintain internal security and the foundation necessary for external defense. The United States and Iraq should continue to work together to develop a government that is answerable to its people and their elected representatives, with a growing economy that is capable of continued growth and development.
This partnership is the same the United States seeks to share with all nations governed by principles of freedom, that respect the rights of their citizens, and that ensure the benefits of this freedom for all. This is the future the United States desires with Iraq. It is a future of mutual respect and mutual benefit. This opportunity has come at great cost and sacrifice, both by the people of Iraq and all who have served there. It should not be squandered.

Those are pretty lies, but they're still lies.

You like roses and kisses and pretty men to tell you
All those pretty lies, pretty lies
When you gonna realize they're only pretty lies
Only pretty lies, just pretty lies
-- "The Last Time I Saw Richard," written by Joni Mitchell, first appears on her Blue

James Jeffrey became US Ambassador to Iraq solely because Barack Obama's hand picked golden boy wasn't golden. Turned out that was a coating of urine on Chris Hill. Every petty move, every 'analysis' was deeply, deeply wrong and Hill was and remains deeply stupid.

Little Chris went to Iraq and didn't have the brains or sense even to not insult Iraqis in front of Iraqi staff. He ran them into the ground and did so in front of Iraqis. He was known for his bi-polar spiral, his office naps and his petty attacks on Gen Ray Odierno who Chris Hill was deeply jealous of -- a jealousy that led him to whine to the White House that the press liked Odierno better and the White House responded to Chris' tantrum by telling Odierno to stop speaking to the press.

For those who've forgotten, Odierno was the top US commander in Iraq. That is who Chris Hill was jealous of and attempting to sideline.

Odierno also had common sense -- another skill set absent in Chris Hill.

As March 2010 parliamentary elections approached, the US press did what it always does, acted as lackeys to the White House. And so you got all these ridiculous stories about how Nouri would 'win' and get a second term, win by a huge majority. The US press (and much of the Western press) offered fluff, the Arab press outlets were reporting on Nouri's bribery efforts. (At its most basic, the man who never took the time to bring the Iraqi people drinkable water was especially fond of bringing them large amounts of ice in trailers in the lead up to the election.)

Nouri had been appointed as Prime Minister in the spring of 2006 not because he had any support from the Iraqi people -- most didn't even know his name at that point -- but because he was the choice of the Bush administration. (The White House had nixed Ibrahim al-Jafaari -- Parliament's choice -- which was part of the reason the elections took place in December 2005 but no one was named prime minister-designate until April 2006.) He was a failure.

He did nothing to improve electricity, water or any public services. He took part in cutting and gutting the ration-card system and what rations your card could allow you to receive free for yourself and your family. This wasn't popular. Of course it wasn't. Why would people used to getting basic food staples for free be happy when then staples were greatly reduced.? Of course they wouldn't. And this was taking place during not only war but also during increased poverty. It was not a smart move.

It did make many (the World Bank, for example) outside of Iraq happy. To the Iraqi people, it was just more evidence of how the country lacked a leader and instead had a US-installed puppet who danced for others. The fate of the Iraqi children today damns Nouri as a failure. Ali Mamouri (Al-Monitor) explores the status of the children and notes:

In addition to this, there are an increasing number of homeless children in Iraq. According to statistics, one out of every eight Iraqi children is displaced. They are usually exploited and sent to beg in the streets or to work under harsh conditions and sometimes even used as prostitutes. They are often exposed to physical or sexual abuse, and cases have been reported where they have been exploited to carry out terrorist acts. When children involved in terrorist acts are arrested, Iraqi law does not take into consideration their special situation. They are punished with sentences similar to those passed on adults, which often entail many years of imprisonment.
On another note, high rates of child labor in Iraq have been registered and some studies have shown that there are nearly 100,000 children in the Iraqi workforce. Moreover, 83% of Iraqi children have worked for their families on a permanent basis, without receiving any wage. Children usually work under dire and harmful conditions such as in garbage collection, brick and steel factories and farming. However, Article 29.b.3 of the Iraqi Constitution specifies that “economic exploitation of children shall be completely prohibited. The state shall take the necessary measures to protect them.” Yet, state institutions are not efficiently combating this phenomenon for many reasons, including the preoccupation by the government with issues of maintaining security and fighting terrorism. The emergence of widespread child labor in Iraq is furthermore an issue of utmost difficulty to deal with. In many cases, children are the breadwinners for their younger siblings and have no one else to rely on.

Nouri was then -- and is now -- known for his dramatic statements (threats?) that never pan out. In his first term, when Iraqis were still willing to give him a chance, they realized how little his words meant. His first big stand took place when he was out of Iraq. The 2006 summer violence was on the rise. The US military began putting up more Bremer Walls (barricade walls) throughout Iraq. Nouri insisted that the walls would immediately be removed. He got back to Baghdad . . . and the walls remained.

In 2008, he oversaw an attack that the Bush White House wanted -- in Basra and in Sadr City in Baghdad -- an attack on Shi'ites. In Basra, record numbers of Iraqis self-checked out of the Iraqi military. Prior to that, he'd already overseen a 'sectarian war' (the ethnic cleansing of 2006 and 2007). While the US press gas bagged over that two year period, they focused on b.s. like the 'surge.' This was an injection of US forces into Iraq, a 'surge' in the number of them.

The US press wanted to pretend that they were focused on that. The whores didn't even get that right. The 'surge' was part of the benchmarks -- a set of goals that Nouri's government would meet in order to continue to receive US tax dollars, US military and so much more. The 'surge' was supposed to take the Iraqi emphasis off dealing with violence and give them the ability to focus on the needed political.

The 'surge' was a failure. Yes, the US military did their job. But the benchmarks were never met -- not in 2007, not in 2008. The surge was a failure.

RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"Iraq's film industry"
"Olive Garden honors veterans this Veterans Day"
"Diane Keaton"
"Jane Fonda"
"Faye Dunaway"
"debra winger"
"Shelley Winters"
"Cher"
"Charlize Theron"
"Tuesday Weld"
"Jessica Lange"
"Marilyn Monroe"
"Carney's not life size"
"THIS JUST IN! HAMSTER LIKE JAY-JAY WHINES!"

Wednesday, November 06, 2013

Carney's not life size

BULLY BOY PRESS &    CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

POOR BABY JAY-JAY CARNEY. THE WHITE HOUSE PLUS-SIZE SPOKESMODEL IS A REAL LITTLE BITCH WHO TRIES TO COME ON BOYISH AS HE'S CLOSING IN ON 50. THAT MEANS WEARING SUIT JACKETS THAT SWALLOW HIM UP SO THAT HE'LL LOOK LIKE LIKE A LITTLE-WITTLE BOY (RUMOR HAS IT THAT, IN THE CROTCH, HE LOOKS LIKE A 2-YEAR-OLD).

BUT BITCHY LITTLE TANTRUMS KEEP POPPING UP LIKE THIS WEEK'S ATTACK ON ABC'S JONATHAN KARL WHO RESPONDED TO JAY-JAY'S BITCHY WITH, "YOUR MOCKING IS ENTERTAINING BUT THE PRESIDENT SAID YOU CAN APPLY WITHIN 25 MINUTES, THAT'S NOT TRUE."

REACHED FOR COMMENT THIS MORNING, JAY-JAY TOLD THESE REPORTERS, "YEAH-YEAH, WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS DOES A PENIS PUMP REALLY INCREASE LENGTH? CLAIRE KEEPS JOKING THAT I'M HUNG LIKE A HAMSTER AND THREATENING TO GO BACK TO HER FIRST HUSBAND."

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

"We are here today to examine the issues facing our military and veterans cemeteries. Our goal in this hearing is to learn more about the operations of the National Cemetery Administration as well as seek the administration's input on several focus issues that I will highlight momentarily," US House Rep Jon Runyan declared last Wednesday. He was speaking at the House Veterans Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. He is Subcommittee Chair. Last Wednesday, we covered the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing -- see that day's "Iraq snapshot," Thursday's "Iraq snapshot,"   Kat's "A very bad Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing," Wally's "Disappointing Chair Bernie Sanders (Wally)" and Ava's "The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee is not cutting it" -- and I noted I would try to get this hearing in a snapshot by Friday. I failed. My apologies, it was a busy week with Nouri al-Maliki visiting the US. We're covering it now.

The Subcommittee has been made aware of a terrible incident in Indianna in May of 2013, a veteran shot and

Appearing before the Subcommittee were two panels. The first was made of up DoD's Patrick Hallinan and VA's Glenn Powers. The second panel was made up of the Ohio Historical Society's Todd Kleismit, the VFW's Ray Kelley, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors' Ami Neiberger-Miller and AMVETS' Diane M. Zumatto. We're going to include Rankin Member Dina Titus's prepared statement in full:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding a hearing on this very important topic. I also want to thank the witnesses for their attendance this morning.
It is my belief that the option of a burial in a VA national cemetery, in the state you call home, is a solemn obligation our government should fulfill. The National Cemetery Administration has grown dramatically since its creation in 1862 when 14 cemeteries were established to serve as a permanent resting place for those killed during the Civil War.
On July 17 of that year, Congress enacted legislation that authorized the President to purchase "cemetery grounds" to be used as national cemeteries "for soldiers who shall have died in the service of the country."
In 1873, ALL honorably discharged Veterans became eligible for burial.
Since then, NCA has expanded its geographic diversity to better serve Veterans across the country and recent legislation has even further expanded NCA’s reach to rural and urban areas.
There are 131 National Cemeteries in the United States. New York has seven active national cemeteries. Three other states have six active national cemeteries, and Puerto Rico has two.
However, while access has grown significantly, there is still a very large population of Veterans that do not have the option of being buried in one of our nation’s prestigious National Cemeteries in the state they call home.
The state with the largest Veterans population without a National Cemetery happens to be Nevada, home to a fast growing population of over 301,000 veterans. I represent Las Vegas, home to 170,000 veterans. We also represent the largest area in the country without a National Cemetery.
In total, 11 states with a combined Veteran population of 1.8 million are not served by a National Cemetery.
The nation’s largest group of wartime veterans phrased this challenge well in stating that, “NCA must be flexible enough in their policies to recognize locations where under current policy, no new national cemetery will be developed, but other factors like geographic barriers or states that have invested in state cemeteries but have not been granted a national cemetery MUST be considered.”
I am in complete agreement with the VFW and thank them for their testimony. While I applaud VA’s efforts to reach underserved populations, I am also concerned that NCA is not working within the local veterans’ community to determine where the placement of rural initiatives should be.
Has the VA asked the Nevada and Idaho veteran community if they agree that the rural initiatives should be in Elko and Twin Falls? I am hopeful that NCA is willing to do the right thing by engaging our local veterans with regards to the placement of these shrines in western states that have long been overlooked by our nation and the National Cemetery Administration.
I also hope that the VA is not looking to use these rural initiatives as a way to appease these states that are not served by a national cemetery and then suggest that they are served by a National Cemetery. Let’s be clear, rural initiatives are not National Cemeteries. These rural initiatives will be operated by contractors unlike National Cemeteries, and are being placed in rural areas, even by western standards, and will serve very few veterans.
It is also very concerning that NCA only surveys the families of veterans who have chosen to utilize a national cemetery, while ignoring those who chose a different option as a final resting place. If NCA is looking to offer options that serve all veterans and their families, this self-selecting survey fails to provide honest feedback.
I am hopeful to hear an update from NCA on any plans they may have to better address our western veteran’s lack of an option to be buried in a National Cemetery. Let us remember all of these veterans and servicemembers served our nation. As such, with over 130 national cemeteries, it is time to open a national cemetery to the 1.8 million veterans that do not have this option.

Two Steves joined the hearing. US House Reps Steve Daines and Steve Stivers do not serve on the Subcomittee but were allowed to sit in.

US House Rep Steve Stivers: My first question is for Mr. Powers. You may know that I'm the sponsor of the Honor Those Who Served Act which is HR 2018 involving headstones. At a Subcommittee hearing on April -- in April of this year, Mr. Muro [VA's Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Steve Muro] testified that the VA is currently viewing its regulation that allows only the next of kin or a person authorized by them in writing to apply for a VA headstone. Congressman Daines and I are very interested in this subject due to civic minded folks in both Ohio and Montana that have actively sought to procure headstones for deceased veterans in our areas. And I'm just curious what the NCA has done in recent months to review and remedy the regulation because what's happening is it's preventing folks from receiving headstones if you can't identify a next-of-kin, whether they are homeless veterans whether they are folks who have been deceased for generations and you can't identify next-of-kin. And I'm just curious what you are doing to review the overly restrictive application process and try to fix this so that our veterans can have honorably marked graves?

Glenn Powers: Thank you, Congressman. We are actively engaged in a comprehensive review and subject -- on the subject that you talked about -- which is a rewrite of the existing regulations. We, uh, -- A-a-a regulation was created in 2009. The regulation looked at -- and there was a concern that very well intended people were asking for headstones markers and we were removing the families the equation. Then we found out some headstones and markers were ordered without the family's being aware of that. However, uh-uh-uh as you pointed out, uh, we-we-we're determined that -- along from the information that we're gathering from your constituents -- from the Veterans Service Organizations -- particularly your constituents -- and-and you have a number of them in Ohio and I believe we're-we're going to hear from them --

US House Rep Steve Stivers: You will

Glenn Powers: -- about some of the great activities that they have done in Ohio to recognize veterans. Uhm . . .

US House Rep Steve Stivers: And I would urge you to look at HR 2018, you know it essentially lays out a process that allows the families first to make the decisions and if you can't identify next-of-kin, it allows Veterans Service Organizations, military historians, other, uh, civically engaged folks that can find documentation to present to the VA to get a headstone. I understand that it's inappropriate to circumvent the families but I think that if you'd take a look at what we proposed in HR 2018 and Congressman Daines is the co-sponsor and we'd love to have you review -- whether that's the final review -- but we'd love to have you look at it for consideration.

Glenn Powers: And-and we have. And-and-and -- Uhm, I-I think -- and I would-I would-I would tell you right now that Mr. Murrow had the senior leaders quite recently engaged for a number of hours looking at, uh, uh,the proposal and-and-and the regulation. The bottom line is we need to do this right

US House Rep Steve Stivers: Yes.

Glenn Powers: The correct way. And-and-and-and it involves a significant rewrite of a number of regulations over time, we believe. We also believe it involves recrafting our forms that people request this benefit to make them more explainable about what we're asking. In the case of historical aaspect, the kind of documentation we would require and because of the-the aspects --

US House Rep Steve Stivers: I think that's great and we want to give you some time to do it but I'm going to continue to pursue HR 2018. I don't want to have to put it into the law but if it doesn't get fixed any other way, we will fix it.

For those who may be confused, it is currently a regulation. If Congress has to get involved, it will become a law. Like any Department in the federal government, the VA wants to keep the ability to write regulations. So they should get off their lazy butts and fix the problem.

Let's note the proposed bill:

HR 2018 IH

113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2018 To amend title 38, United States Code, to identify the persons who are eligible to request headstones or markers furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and or other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 16, 2013

Mr. STIVERS (for himself, Mr. TIBERI, and Mrs. BEATTY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to identify the persons who are eligible to request headstones or markers furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and or other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Honor Those Who Served Act of 2013’.

SEC. 2. PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO REQUEST HEADSTONES OR MARKERS FURNISHED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

(a) In General- Section 2306 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:

‘(h) A person may request a headstone or marker to commemorate a decedent under this section if the person is--

‘(1) the decedent’s next of kin;
‘(2) a person authorized in writing by the decedent’s next of kin to make such request;
‘(3) a personal representative authorized in writing by the decedent to make such request;
‘(4) in the case of a decedent for whom no person described in paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) may be identified, a State veterans service agency, a military researcher, a local historian, or a genealogist or other person familiar with the research sources and methods necessary to prove the identity of the decedent; or
‘(5) in the case of a decedent who is a veteran who served on active duty in the Armed Forces at least 62 years before the date on which the headstone or marker is requested, any person.
‘(i) In the case of a request for a headstone or marker under this section for a decedent for whom insufficient information exists regarding the religious beliefs of the individual to select an appropriate emblem of belief for the headstone or marker of the decedent, the person requesting the headstone or marker may request a headstone or marker without an emblem of belief.’.

(b) Effective Date- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a request for a headstone or marker submitted after the date of the enactment of this Act.

GovTrack offers:

Status

This bill was assigned to a congressional committee on May 16, 2013, which will consider it before possibly sending it on to the House or Senate as a whole.

Progress

Introduced	May 16, 2013
Referred to Committee	May 16, 2013
Reported by Committee	...
Passed House	...
Passed Senate	...
Signed by the President	...

Prognosis

14% chance of getting past committee.
2% chance of being enacted.

Only 11% of bills made it past committee and only about 3% were enacted in 2011–2013. [show factors | methodology]

Cosponsors: 6 cosponsors (4R, 2D) (show)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

↪ Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs

The committee chair determines whether a bill will move past the committee stage.

So let's recap. Under the current VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, a new regulation was created in 2009 which is harming the honoring of veterans who have passed away. In April of this year, the VA's Muro told Congress that the VA was in the midst of a comprehensive review. All these months later, Glenn Powers of the VA shows up and tells Congress that . . . the VA is in the midst of a comprehensive review.

Forget that this isn't a difficult issue to solve. Remember that Shinseki's VA is responsible for the screw up to begin with. That should mean you take ownership of it and you get off your ass and you fix it. Fix it doesn't take months. You come up with a regulation within a wee, you put it through legal, you get feedback within the department and you've got a regulation within 30 days.

There is no leadership at the VA.

Equally true, they have no response to the proposed bill. The bill was introduced in May.

There's no excuse for this nonsense.

But it's typical. It's what we complained about last Wednesday, how the VA is not following the rules, not providing timely feedback on laws, etc, etc.

There's no excuse for this and that's especially true when Shiseki implemented this regulation. If this effected one veteran, it would matter. The Subcomittee used the figure of 200,000 for the number of homeless veterans currently. That's a low number. That's a number for veterans who have no where but homeless shelters. There are many more homeless veterans who move couch to couch among friends. Were any of them to die under the current policy, they would also be at risk of no marker on their grave.

US House Rep Steve Daines: I am here today because of these very troubling stories that have come my way and come to my attention from the veterans in my home state of Montana. At the Yellowstone Community Veterans Cemetery in Laurel, Montana, just outside of Billings, just this year alone, there are 8 veterans who've been buried who have no markers. In each of these eight cases, all of the proper papers was presented but they were denied. The VA explained that with the exception of state or national cemeteries, all requests for a headstone must be signed by a veteran or the veterans' next-of-kin. Now we have groups, veterans groups, back home like Missing in America, The Patriot Guard Riders. They stand ready to honor these veterans and have done so in the past but because of this revised policy, I think Mr. Powers mentioned from 2009, they can no longer provide a headstone to honor the sacrifices of our veterans. I'm the son of a US Marine and I was taught very early on the importance of commitment and sacrifice -- but also the importance of honoring these veterans who served their country honorably and the lack of justice we see here upon their passing.

So there are 8 in one cemetery, just one, who would have markers right now if Eric Shinseki had stopped wasting time and taxpayer money and actually done something for veterans?

There were many other important issues raised in the hearing. To note only one, US House Rep Belo O'Roarke focused on the shoddy cemetery his district got, "Nobody wants to kneel on gravel when they're visiting a grave site at Fort Bliss. You got to Arlington which is just absolutely beautiful and lush by comparison. I don't know that we need to have Arlington in El Paso but we should have something that, uh, commemorates the level of sacrifice, the level of respect that's owed to those who gave so much to our country and to their families who also sacrificed as well."

RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"Ivan Eland: Idiot or Liar -- your pick"
"USA Today continues to fail in their attack on Cin..."
"Racism isn't humor, Stephanie Miller"
"Stephanie Miller owes an apology to the Black community"
"It starts with Detroit"
"revenge (the good)"
"I like Oliver Stone but . . ."
"An idiot named Joseph Arellano"
"This time Stephanie Miller came out as a racist"
"A better day is needed"
"Shut up worthless Medea Benjamin"
"No safety with ObamaCare"
"THIS JUST IN! 2/3RDS SEE THE LIGHT!"
"He's worn out his welcome"

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

He's worn out his welcome

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O'S HOPES OF A POPULARITY COMEBACK IN THE FACE OF THE JONAS BROTHERS BREAK UP HIT ANOTHER LOW TODAY AS THE NEWS CAME OUT THAT HIS APPROVAL RATING NOW STANDS AT 39% IN GALLUP'S POLLING -- AN ALL TIME LOW FOR THE YEAR.

39% MATCHES THE LOW REUTERS FOUND AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER. 39% MATCHES THE LOW MARIST FOUND IN SEPTEMBER AS WELL.

OVER TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICANS DISAPPROVE OF THE DHALIBAMA'S JOB PERFORMANCE.

REACHED FOR COMMENT, A SOBBING BARRY O TOLD THESE REPORTERS, "MY CULT WILL DEFEND ME. LAUGHABLE 'PROGRESSIVE' PHILIP BUMP IS ALREADY BLAMING THE REPUBLICANS FOR MY LOW POLLING. OTHERS WILL JOIN IN! THE WHOLE NATION! AND I'LL BE BACK AT 70% IN NO TIME. I SWEAR I WILL. I BELIEVE . . . WHY DO PEOPLE HATE ME? WHY!"

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

The Iraq Times reports Nouri launched an unprecdented attack on Moqtada today declaring that he's trying to destroy the country, that he knows ("very well knows") who is carrying out the killings and sectarian warfare in Iraq. All Iraq News adds that Nouri accused Moqtada of joining foreign countries in plotting against Iraq. Alsumaria notes that Sadr MP Hossein Sharifi responded that Nouri enjoys hurling accusations at rivals to deflect from Nouri's own failures in leadership.

Nouri al-Maliki: They also remember the honorable Iraqis who firmly and strongly confronted the terrorists particularly al - Qaeda and they also remember the control of Moqtada’s militia that fostered murder, kidnapping and theft in Basra, Karbala, Baghdad and other provinces .

Wasn't that cute of Nouri to bring up militias and to target Moqtada with militia smears. Neither should happen. As Tim Arango (New York Times) reported last September, Nouri has armed Shi'ite militias to kill Sunnis in Iraq:

In supporting Asaib al-Haq, Mr. Maliki has apparently made the risky calculation that by backing some Shiite militias, even in secret, he can maintain control over the country’s restive Shiite population and, ultimately, retain power after the next national elections, which are scheduled for next year. Militiamen and residents of Shiite areas say members of Asaib al-Haq are given government badges and weapons and allowed freedom of movement by the security forces.

That group he's backing? A rival of Moqtada al-Sadr's.

National Iraqi News Agency reports that Nickolay Mladenov (special envoy in Iraq for UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon) held a press conference today in Kirkuk hailing the "agreement reached between political blocs to pass" an election law. You may remember Speaker of Parliament Osama al-Nujaifi has insisted that parliamentary elections will take place April 30th.

That would be 53 days late, if we're honest. March 8, 2010 was when the last parliamentary elections were held. But if that's what it is, it's what it is. And the United Nations and the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission are insisting that they will need six months to prep for the election.

So if things are all settled, that's what it is.

But that's not yet what it is. Ahmed Rasheed and Kevin Liffey (Reuters) point out, "The law could still in theory be challenged in the Iraqi federal court on constitutional grounds."

There's another issue. People may ignore it, they may not. If you're unhappy about the law, you probably won't ignore it. To be legal, the the presidency council has to approve the law.

In 2009, for example, Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi shot down a parliamentary election law -- it had been passed by Parliament. It only takes one of them, the president or the two vice presidents.

And therein lies the problem, Vice President Kudhair al-Khuzaie approved the law. Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi didn't get a vote (he remains Vice President until the end of his term unless Parliament votes to remove him. Who else didn't vote? Jalal.

Last December, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani suffered a stroke. The incident took place late on December 17th (see the December 18th snapshot) and resulted in Jalal being admitted to Baghdad's Medical Center Hospital. Thursday, December 20th, he was moved to Germany. He remains in Germany. He still remains in Germany.

The Constitution is clear that the vice presidents and president vote.

Well . . . the politcal blocs approve! The heads of the political blocs approve! That's what the UNAMI head was celebrating.

So what?

November 9, 2009, Yousif Bassil, Jomana Karadsheh and Mohammed Jamjoom (CNN) reported on al-Hasehmi's veto:

The election law was finally passed on November 8 -- after months of political wrangling -- and it had to be unanimously approved by the country's three-member presidency council -- made up of Kurdish President Jalal Talabani, Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi and al-Hashimi.
A veto is rare because the passage of a law usually means that it has the blessing of all the political blocs.
The Kurds could also present a setback with threats to boycott the vote unless the seat allocations are assessed in provinces with heavy Kurdish populations.

The tussle over the election law reflects the persistent political jockeying among Iraq's three main ethnic groups for power in the upcoming parliament, which will increase in size from 275 to 323 because of population growth.

It would not be surprising for the Kurds to again threaten a boycott (Barzani did that two Sundays ago). It wouldn't be surprising for some blocs to note the fact that the Constitution is not being followed and if the Shi'ite Vice President is now (informally) the President -- you need to vote on that and, after that, you need to nominate people to be vice president. Constitution's not being followed at all.

But the United Nations loves it! They love it!

What a sad, sad moment for the UN.

Iraq has struggled for months to pass an elections law -- Speaker of Parliament al-Nujaifi was even insisting (until last week) that the old elections law could be used if a new one wasn't passed. That was rejected by KRG President Massoud Barzani. Yesterday the Iraqi press was reporting on the decision not to increase the number of seats in Parliament. As Sheikh (Dar Addustour) notes how the issue of three seats buried the bill on Sunday.

Ahmed Hussein and Muhannad Muhammad (Alsumaria) reports today that it's been decided to increase the Parliament from 325 seats to 328. Alsumaria also reports 310 seats will follow the old laws while 8 will be held for minorities and as many as ten will be compensatory and distributed to Anbar, Basra, Dhi Qar, Babil, Baghdad, Diyala and Muthanna. Seven provinces competing for 10 seats? How could that get ugly? Seven out of 18 provinces -- meaning 11 provinces won't have compensatory seats. How could that get ugly?

Maybe by people who don't feel it's fair or possibly are bothered by the fact that, as Al Mada reports, the United Nations, not the lawmakers, decided the distribution of the compensatory seats. Kitabat also notes that the UN determined the distribution of the compensatory seats.

All Iraq News notes that the 9 minority seats are being divided with "five seats for Christians and one seat for each Shabak, [Ya]zidi and Sabean Mandaeans." How could that get ugly? Safaa Abdel-Hamid (Alsumaria) reports the Yazidis are very unhappy and announced they will take the matter to the federal court. And there's more. The Iraq Times reports Kurdistan Alliance MP Amina Said declared after the vote that the major political blocs are violating the rights of the minorities and she specifically used the Yazidis and the issue of the seat quotas as an example.

All Iraq News also notes:

A Parliamentary source reported to AIN ''The parliamentary seats were distributed as (69) seats for Baghdad, (31) seats for Nineveh, (25) seats for Basra, (19) seats to Dhi-Qar, (17) for Babel, (18) seats to Sulaimaniya, (15) seats to Anbar, (15) seats to Erbil, (14) to Diyala, (12) to Kirkuk, (12) for Salah-il-Din, (12) seats for Najaf, (11) seats for Wasit, (11) for Diwaniya, (11) seats for Dohuk, (11) for Karbala, ten seats for Maysan and seven seats for Muthana province.''

B-b-but! That's based on population!

How so? Iraq's not had a census since the 90s. Mustafa Habib (Niqash) observed last June:

Censuses of Iraq’s population are supposed to be held in Iraq every ten years and 2007 was the due date for the last one. However because of the instability and sectarian violence in the country then, it was impossible to hold one. Iraq’s census was postponed again in 2009, and then again in 2010. And it turns out the country’s last census was actually held in 1987.

Back then the population numbered just over 16 million – or 16,335,000 to be exact, according to the Ministry of Planning. A census-lite was held in 1997 in 15 of Iraq’s 18 provinces; the census was not conducted by the central government and it ignored Iraqi Kurdistan. The results of that census indicated there were over 19 million in Iraq.

So, yeah, the totals could cause some irritation because they're not based on population -- they can't be when there's been no census since 1997.

Let's see . . . Nihad Qais (Alsumaria) reports some provinces are objecting to the new law and insisting that it has overidden the rights of the provinces. Scarier still, Alsumaria reports the Sadr bloc noted there is disagreement over how votes will be counted in various provinces. AFP explains, "Iraq will hold a general election on April 30 after lawmakers agreed on polling regulations Monday, setting a marker that officials hope could end political deadlock fueling a surge in violence."

Since Parliament, as All Iraq News notes, quickly closed shop today and announced that they wouldn't hold another session until November 14th, some could argue that they are aware of potential problems. And all of this is what Alsumaria quotes Nickolay Mladenov hailing as "victorious"?

RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"Linda Ronstadt and Carly Simon"
"Phishing"
"Hejira"
"Administration spins on Iraq ('on background')"
"The Drone War (Chris Fry, Workers World)"
"In the aftermath of the visit . . ."
"I Hate The War"
"The lemon"
"I've become Woody Allen"
"We've become a very petty nation"
"revenge (bad charlotte)"
"Frank James cries for his hero"
"Nyro"
"Revolution"
"The Good Wife (and Ugly Diane)"
"Brian Wright"
"Spying and books"

"A despot visits DC"
"THIS JUST IN! WHEN BULLIES MEET!"

Cedric's Big Mix