Maliki defends Assad, KSA to fund Syrian rebels

'On Sunday, Maliki issued a forceful defense of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, saying his ouster would destabilize the region. On the same day, at a U.S.-backed gathering of “Friends of Syria” in Istanbul, Saudi Arabia endorsed a plan to fund and equip Syrian rebels.'

Iraqi leaders exchange insults

LAT: "Six months after agreeing to form a national unity government, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and his secular rival Iyad Allawi are again exchanging insults and cannot agree on such basic issues as who should run the nation's police and army.

The rift, though unlikely to send Iraq back into sectarian violence, does have Iraqi and Western analysts concerned that the country will continue on a dysfunctional path as American troops move to complete their withdrawal by year's end, nearly nine years after the invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein."

Iran govt praises Maliki for raid on Iranian dissidents

'BAGHDAD (AP) — Iran is praising Iraqi authorities for launching a deadly raid on a camp of Iranian exiles whom Tehran deems to be terrorists.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi told a Tehran press conference Saturday the Iraqi army was right to storm Camp Ashraf.

Ashraf residents belong to the People's Mujahedeen Organization of Iran, which seeks to overthrow Iran's leaders.'


Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Iran-praises-Iraq-for-deadly-raid-on-exile-group-1329989.php#ixzz1J2wRGiQu

Nouri al Maliki serves Iranian interests

'NCRI - A leading political figure in Iraq has vehemently condemned a brutal attack on residents of Camp Ashraf on Friday, saying the killing of the unarmed residents by Nouri al-Maliki’s forces only served the interests and agenda of the Iranian regime.

In a statement, Dr. Zafer al-Ani, the Secretary General of the Iraq National Future and a leading figure in Iraqiya, said, “Sending the army on behalf of the Iranian regime to create fabricated stories to initiate clashes taints the honor of the Iraqi army.”

It is also a “violation of the Iraqi constitution,” he said, “because the Iraqi army is misused to do something outside its responsibilities as mandated by the constitution.” '

Maliki asks Iraqis if they prefer dictatorship

No, Mr. Maliki, but Iraqis do prefer better leadership and better governance than you and your team have provided. Iraq needs somebody who will stand up for Iraq's minorities, not just the Shia, and you have failed in that regard, Mr. Maliki.

"Iraq's prime minister on Saturday described protesters calling for a regime change as out of step with the will of the nascent democracy and brushed off his critics as few and weak.

In a defiant nighttime interview on state TV, Nouri al-Maliki also questioned if those who want him to go would prefer Iraq to return to the days of dictatorship.'

Maliki orders closure of protest organizers' offices

NYT: "Two political parties that led demonstrations in Baghdad over the past two weeks said on Monday that security forces controlled by Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki had ordered them to close their offices.

The actions came amid growing concerns that Mr. Maliki’s American-backed government is using force and other measures to stifle dissent in this fragile democracy, where tens of thousands of demonstrators have seized on the upheaval sweeping the Arab world to rally for government reforms and better services.

Officials for the Iraqi Nation Party and the Iraqi Communist Party said in interviews that dozens of armed security forces had come to their offices here Sunday, two days after another round of demonstrations."

On this the Angry Arab wrote today: "It is hilarious that the New York Times would even bother to cover the one-member party of Mithal Allusi--who is better known as the only Iraqi to support relations with the Zionist entity. In the last puppet elections, Allusi put his idea of relation with Israel to the test. He ran and won...not a single seat in parliament despite what people have observed to be as a very well-funded campaign."

The Angry Arab needs to stop labeling Maliki as a "puppet" of the US when clearly he is not. The Lebanese American professor in California should at least stop calling them "puppet" elections, especially if he's using the results of those elections to corroborate his theory that Mithal al Alusi is not popular in Iraq.

The word "puppet" is another one of those words that some Arab intellectuals like to throw around loosely, like "resistance" and "occupation".

Maliki orders closure of Iraqi Communist Party HQ

According to this article, Maliki has ordered the closure of the Iraqi Communist Party's headquarters in Baghdad. Maliki's team has determined that a large number of demonstrators are communist party members.

Maliki is looking more like Saddam by the day, it seems.

Thanks Heydar Alsaadi for posting on fb.

Heavy security among Iraqi protesters

LAT: 'Declaring Prime Minister Nouri Maliki a liar and waving banners that said, "We need freedom" and "We love Baghdad," about 2,000 people gathered in the capital's Tahrir Square, where music played, pictures of west Baghdad slums were displayed and a mime performed.

But the route to the square was blocked with razor wire and dozens of extra checkpoints. In a sharp increase of an already heavy security presence, thousands of police officers and soldiers in armored vehicles lined the streets.

Hansa Hassan, 40, a teacher who went to the protests last week but did not go Friday because she was afraid of security forces, said she knew many would-be demonstrators who were turned back altogether.'

Maliki gives ministers 100 days to deliver

or be fired.

"Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki gave government ministers 100 days to deliver results and eliminate corruption or be fired, the government announced after an emergency cabinet meeting Sunday."

Where's the Money Mr. Maliki?

"Most people want to get inside the Green Zone and ask Maliki where the country's money is," said Adel, 33, a taxi driver who did not want to give his last name. "Is it under his bed, or did he send it to Iran to build nuclear weapons to attack Iraq?"

Maliki says protests planned by insurgents & Saddam loyalists

'Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is calling on Iraqis to boycott an anti-government "Day of Rage" protest planned for Friday.

In a televised speech Thursday, he said such demonstrations are organized by insurgents and supporters of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Mr. Maliki said insurgents and Saddam loyalists want to incite violence. '

I have a feeling Iraqi Shia will protest anyway.

Maliki will not seek third term

"Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has said he will not seek a third term in office when his mandate runs out in 2014, state media say.

Mr Maliki returned for a second term after polls last year but endured nine months of wrangling before a unity government could be formed.

He said he would back the insertion of a clause in the constitution bringing in a two-term maximum."

Criminals in Maliki's new government

From a very good article by Hayder al-Khoei:

'Maliki’s new government is being supported by the Sadrist “outlaws” he fought in 2008, and yet Moqtada al-Sadr, still wanted by the Iraqi judiciary for murder, is going to play a key political role in Iraq for the next 4 years. Another senior Sadrist, Hakim al-Zamili, is implicated in the kidnapping, and likely death, of a former Da’wa colleague of Maliki but is now rubbing shoulders with the new Baghdad elite. Hadi al-Ameri, the commander of a militia whose members formed death squads out of Ministry of Interior police commandos, is now the new Transport Minister.

So why do Iraq’s new elite object to the inclusion of ex-Ba’athists in the political process when they themselves have criminals in their ranks who have Iraqi blood on their hands?

The de-Ba’athification commission was set up to bar candidates implicated in crimes committed pre-2003 but there has been no commission set up to deal with the post-2003 criminals, especially the militias and death squad members who have maintained a legacy of kidnapping, extrajudicial executions and armed insurgency. '

The puzzling disqualifications

"The disqualification of Iraq’s defense minister, Abdul-Kader Jassem al-Obeidi, appeared most puzzling of all. He has run the ministry since 2006, by most accounts capably, and is running as a candidate on Mr. Maliki’s coalition. A spokesman for the ministry, Brig. Gen. Ali Salih, declined to comment on Sunday, but said a response was expected Monday.

...The accountability commission, a remnant of the original committee created to purge Iraq’s government ministries of former leaders of the Baath Party after the American invasion in 2003, appeared to be digging in.

Its chairman, Ali Faisal al-Lami, stood by the disqualifications in spite of the furor, and the country’s election commission has, so far, agreed. Mr. Lami previously headed the de-Baathification committee, as it was known, until his arrest in 2008. Once he was released in August, he returned to the new commission.

In a statement on Sunday, Mr. Lami’s commission accused the United Nations of interfering in Iraq. The United Nations, with the United States, has lobbied against the disqualifications."

The "Angry Arabs" are not angry about US interference here, probably.

Maliki backs ban on Baathists

By Liz Sly, LA Times: 'Reporting from Baghdad - Prime Minister Nouri Maliki threw his support Saturday behind a decision to ban about 500 candidates from participating in Iraq's upcoming elections despite an outcry from the mostly Sunni and secular parties that are affected.

The decision by the Accountability and Justice Commission to bar the candidates has revived Sunni-Shiite sectarian tensions, called into question the Iraqi government's commitment to reconciliation and cast doubt over the likely inclusiveness of elections that U.S. officials are hoping will stabilize Iraq.

Maliki said in a statement that the commission's rulings must be respected "without exception" and cautioned against "the politicization" of a process intended to weed out former supporters of the outlawed Baath Party, which ruled Iraq under Saddam Hussein.'

Maliki brought security to Iraq?

I guess if one compares the situation to 2006 and 2007, security has improved a great deal in Iraq. But I hope Iraqi leaders can do even better than what Maliki's government has done in terms of security.

'As one guy hacked away with his scythe at the weeds and unwanted growth, the other was picking up rubbish. "Iraq is a country of good things," he said. "Inshallah it will get even better." I asked who they would vote for in the elections. Without hesitating, they both said, "Al Maliki."

Why Al Maliki? "Because he brought security to the country," said one. "And nobody has said that he is dirty like the others," the other man added. What about the Hakims, Sadr, or Allawi? They said Iraqis will not survive under sectarian leaders such as the Hakims or Sadr. And Allawi? "No. He's in agreement with the Baathists."

What about the oil deals? "Honestly, we have never in our lives seen any of the oil money." They doubted that any government would make a difference in that regard. But the money from oil will help repair the country and give people jobs. "We'll be better than the Gulf countries." Even, everyone's favourite, Dubai? "Inshallah better than Dubai." '

Gates to Maliki: "I feel your pain"

'In Baghdad Thursday, Gates was confronted by another delay: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, consumed with parliamentary outrage over a series of bombings Tuesday that left 127 dead, canceled plans for a meeting, and Gates cooled his heels at the U.S. embassy for several hours waiting to see if Maliki might finally be available.

Being kept waiting is yet one more sign that visiting Americans are increasingly less important to Iraqi officials. But the normally late-rising prime minister graciously rescheduled the meeting for 7:50 Friday morning so Gates could keep to his planned schedule in northern Iraq the rest of the day. Gates, who spent 14 hours last week testifying before Congress on President Obama's new plan for Afghanistan, told Maliki he understood the necessity of dealing with legislative concerns. "I feel your pain," he said.'

Meanwhile, the Angry Arab corresponds with the Iraqi "resistance" as other Arab Americans continue their KABOBfest. The non-Iraqi Arabs in general don't seem to be concerned with the mass murder of Iraqis. I guess I should not be surprised.

Maliki should lead reconciliation effort

It's a tad embarrassing (but not all that surprising) to see top Shia politicians in Iraq unwilling to reconcile with Sunni Arabs in government. The Shia in government may not fully trust Sunni Arab politicians, who were for decades dominant in Iraqi politics and have since the fall of the dictator tried in many ways to get back on top, but Maliki and his Da3wa should at least offer an olive branch to Iraq's Sunni Arabs, even if it has to be in the form of Parliamentary seats. Even if ousted Baathists gain power they do not deserve, the Iraqi Shia and Kurds together will have a clear majority in Parliament. So why all the squabbling? I wish the Shia in power would just reconcile with Hashemi and get this over with, and I think Maliki would do himself a favor by encouraging the Shia in Parliament to make some concessions and get the election law passed. Even vote during Arba3een - why is that such a problem?

While hashing out the details of an engagement to an Iraqi girl a couple of years ago, she told me the engagement cannot take place during Arba3een. She is secular, but her family is not. I was surprised and asked my parents what the fuss was about. They informed me that religious Shia do not get engaged or wed during Arba3een, the 40 days of pilgrimage and other observations that religious Shia do after Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram. It's supposed to be a time of mourning, not happiness. I find these rules to be annoying and rather silly, but I try to respect Shia who observe them, and I can understand why they insist on having the freedom to observe Arba3een in Iraq after it was outlawed by Saddam for so many years. But how far should we allow religion to interfere with government?

The Iraqi Shia must solve their political problems so that Iraqi Sunni Arabs will be fully united with them. Only then they can effectively defeat the extremists who continue to attack Iraqis in the most violent ways. Sunni extremists, the truly irreconcilable, continue to attack fellow Sunnis for cooperating with government. We must support the Sunnis who support Iraqi democracy.

Hashemi has shown leadership by encouraging marriages between Shia and Sunna in Iraq. What has Maliki done? Be a leader, Mr. Maliki. Act like every month is Muharram (no fighting), and don't allow religious holidays to interfere with Iraq's constitution. Stop crying and stop embarrassing your fellow Shia. Parliament should work, even on their religious holidays, to get the election law passed. Iraqis have bigger things to worry about, like soccer.

Maliki slams "negative" Saudi stance

'Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has severely criticised Saudi Arabia for its negative stance towards Iraq since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's Sunni-dominated regime.

"All the signals confirm that the Saudi position is negative regarding Iraqi affairs," Maliki said in answers to journalists' questions posted on his website.

"There are no positive signs on the part of (their) government," he added.

Maliki said Arab and foreign nations had intervened repeatedly to try to improve relations between Riyadh and his Shiite-led government but the efforts had "led to nothing."

Maliki said Iraq still wanted good relations with the Saudi monarchy nonetheless.

Since Saddam's overthrow in the US-led invasion of 2003, Iraq has repeatedly accused Saudi Arabia of granting passage and giving active encouragement to Sunni insurgents.'

You know Iraqis have freedom

when they can demand an apology from the Iraqi Prime Minister!

“I demand from him to apologise for covering up and keeping the truth from people,” Mr al-Zaidi said. “I will talk later about the names that got involved in torturing me, including some senior officials in the Government and army.”

Imagine what would have happened to an Iraqi who demanded an apology from Saddam.

PS: If the allegations of torture are true, then not much has changed since Saddam. That is very sad.

' His cousin, Haidar al-Zaidi, said: “Muntazer will go to Greece for medical treatment because he was injected with unknown chemical drugs and he suffers from a continuous headache.” '