[UrukNet] - [Daily Information from Occupied Iraq] - [newsletter 06 May 2006]

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Foxes in the hen-house. Iraqi puppet government submits candidacy for the UNHRC and other tales. Dirk Adriaensens, BRussells Tribunal Did you know that the government of Iraq submitted its candidacy for the newly formed UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)? Until a few days ago, its written pledge was not online. Now it is. Look at the document attached. In that document you can read some incredible things. Iraq presents itself as being deeply committed to human rights. Elections take place in New York on Tuesday, 9! May. If elected, Iraq would be subject to the new "universal review," mandatory on all members of the UNHRC. Note the pledge (point #24 of the voluntary commitments) to consider ratifying all Optional Protocols of key human rights instruments... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23117 Spot the rogue Prem Shankar Jha ...The US has thus plunged the world back into the 'state of nature’ from which it had emerged in 1648, and as Thomas Hobbes pointed out, this was also a state of war, at least until another powerful hegemon emerges which can restore order. All the international treaties signed over the past hundred years and more have implicitly assumed the existence of the Westphalian order and acceptance of its basic principles. In destroying the former and repudiating the latter, Bush has dest! royed the premises, and thereby invalidated not the just the NPT but all the major international treaties. The repudiation of the Kyoto Protocol, the use of cluster bombs, depleted uranium shells, white phosphorous bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan and the contemplated use of nuclear bunker busters in Iran shows how rapidly other international agreements are unravelling before our eyes. The US is the motive force and sometimes the sole perpetrator of all these renegade acts. It is, therefore, truly ironical that this, of all countries, should be seeking to indict Iran for breaking 'The Law’... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23132 The Last Gasp of the Dollar; Iran bourse opens next week Mike Whitney Overnight the story of Iran’s proposed oil bourse has slipped into the mainstream press exposing the real reason behind Washington’s hostility towards Tehran. Up to this point, analysts have brushed aside the importance of the upcoming oil-exchange as a "Leftist-Internet" conspiracy theory unworthy of further consideration. Now, the Associated Press has clarified the issue showing that an Iran oil bourse "could lead central bankers around the w! orld to convert some of their dollar reserves into euros, possibly causing a decline in the dollar’s value". ("Iran wants Oil Market in Euros", Globe and Mail). Currently, the world is drowning in dollars, even a small movement could trigger a massive recession in the United States. There’s nothing remotely "conspiratorial" about this. It is simply a matter of supply and demand. If the oil bourse creates less demand for the dollar, the value of the dollar will sink accordingly; pushing energy, housing, food and other prices higher... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23118 Racism and Religious Desecration as US Policy Islamophobia, a Retrospective TRISH SCHUH ...In 2004, the Pentagon previewed its own "coming attractions." Marines staged a desert "gladiators' Ben Hur" drill in full historic costume- togas, trojan helmuts, and shields while swinging spiked truncheons to "psych up for a planned invasion" against Fallujah. "Friends, Romans, countryman, fend off their spears. When in Fallujah, do as the Romans do" the New York Post quipped. White phosphorus 'burning at the s! take' was strictly offscreen. As Lt. Col. Gary Brandl said in the film Fallujah: "The enemy has got a face. He's called Satan. He's in Fallujah. And we're going to destroy him." Internet audiences could catch candids of Iraqi dead "just for fun". At undermars.com, troops posted photos of bloody faces ground to a pulp. Others showed a birthday candle stuffed into a smashed skull, and various decapitated heads. Evoking Bush's cowboy spirit, one caption read: "i'm an indian outlaw... look my first scalp"... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23135 Rumsfeld's bad day in Atlanta Axis of Logic We appreciate Ray McGovern's taking advantage of a rare opportunity t0 grill Donald Rumsfeld. McGovern focused his assault on Rumsfeld's lies about WMD in Iraq. We also appreciate those activists who stood up in Rumsfeld's appearance in Atlanta to confront this war criminal. The Bush regime must be held accountable for its lies about WMD, we believe it is important to remind ourselves that the existance of WMD in Iraq still would not have been a justification for the un! provoked war by the US/British/Israeli alliance. If a nation can be justifiably attacked because it is in possession of weapons of mass destruction, the September 11, 2001 attack on the U.S. was entirely justifiable. Not only does the U.S. threaten to use it's WMD against other sovereign nations - it does so with impunity Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23131 Bring the troops home. Testimony of Dr. Dahlia Wasfi at Iraq Forum held by Congress members in D.C. 02/05/2006 Dahlia Wasfi, BRussells Tribunal I speak to you today on behalf of relatives on my mother’s side—Ashkenazi Jews who fled their homeland of Austria during Hitler’s Anschluss. It is for them that we say "Never again." I speak to you today on behalf of relatives on my father’s side, who are not living, but dying, under the occupation of this administration’s deadly foray in Iraq. From the lack! of security to the lack of basic supplies, to the lack of electricity to the lack of potable water to the lack of jobs to the lack of reconstruction to the lack of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, they are much worse off now than before we invaded. "Never again" should apply to them, too. On my first day in Basrah, December 25th, 2005, my family’s house lost electricity. On the second day, we lost water. On the third day, we lost telephone service... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23116 A Straw in the Winds of War Chris Floyd This week, Tony Blair reshuffled his Cabinet after the Labour Party took yet another hammering in local elections. This may seem like uninteresting political arcana to everyone outside the UK (and to most people inside it as well), but there was one move in the reshuffle that could have enormous ramifications for the rest of the world. For among the many sackings and switchings, Blair removed the most powerful Cabinet voice against joining the US in military action against ! Iran: Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. Straw has been making a nuisance of himself for the Bush Gang in Washington with his repeated insistence that military action against Iran is "unthinkable," even "nuts," as he described it recently... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23128 Iraqi Resistance Report for events of Saturday, 6 May 2006 Translated and/or compiled by Muhammad Abu Nasr, member, editorial board, the Free Arab Voice ...Caught under curfew for second straight day, and prevented from leaving their homes, residents of Samarra’ face disaster with no food, water, or fuel. In a dispatch posted at 5:25pm Makkah time Saturday afternoon, Mafkarat al-Islam reported that the US-imposed curfew remained in force in the city of Samarra’, about 120km north of Baghdad on Saturday for the se! cond straight day as US and puppet troops stormed into houses arresting local residents. The Samarra’ correspondent for Mafkarat al-Islam reported that the city was living through a humanitarian disaster as a result of the "until further notice" bockade and curfew which was first slapped on the city at 6am Friday morning local time and has continued until the time of writing... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23124 The invaders enjoying our soil, sun and water, while Iraqis are dying Baghdad Dweller U.S. soldiers prepare to swim at a pool run by the Australian military at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, April 9, 2006. Top U.S. and coalition commanders and their staffs now enjoy an array of modern conveniences and amenities across the command center... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23130 Global Illiteracy & the "Global War on Terror" Madhukar Shukla, Alternative Perspective The findings of the National Geographic-Roper Survey 2006, conducted by the National Geographic Society, were released on May 1. The survey explored the Geographic Literacy among young Americans (age 18-24). Key Findings: # 63% percent of Americans aged 18 to 24 failed to correctly locate Iraq on a map of the Middle East. # 70% could not find Iran or Israel. # 90% couldn't find Afghanistan on a map of Asia. # 54% were unaware! that Sudan is a country in Africa. # 48% of young Americans believe the majority population in India is Muslim... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23129 DAILY WAR NEWS FOR SATURDAY, May 6, 2006 Today in Iraq British military helicopter apparently hit by "shoulder-fired missile" crashes in Basra. A U.S. soldier was killed in a roadside bomb attack in Baghdad. The American soldier died Friday when the hidden explosive hit his vehicle in a military convoy, the U.S. command said. Four Polish soldiers were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near their military convoy in the city of Diwaniya 180 km (112 miles) south of Baghdad. Suicide bomber wearing Iraqi army unif! orm blows himself up on an Iraqi military base in Tikrit, killing at least three Iraqi officers. The dead included a lieutenant colonel, a major and a lieutenant, and wounded a lieutenant colonel... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23120 The Drug of War Hellblazer ... A heroin addict must constantly increase the dose because the mind has grown tolerant to a lower dosage. A cocaine addict must snort more and more to obtain the same rush of endorphins that was felt the first time. This constant increase to obtain a desired effect is met with graduation to a more intense medium or fatality. However, a higher dosage or different medium does not always exist to take the addict to the next level, and even if he were to continue to utilize his current choices, the supply is not always infinite. When the supply diminishes, one is left numb to all sensation, and hence follows an increasingly desperate situation. For the soldier; war is his drug. His mind grows an addiction to its ravenous stimuli from abnormally stressful situations. His time within this medium is finite, and when it comes to an end, he will find it hard to deal with his unwanted addiction. This is the tragedy of all those who have fallen to the drug of war, myself included... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23127 GI Special 4E6 - Iraq Vets Need To Get Out Ther - May 6, 2006 Thomas F. Barton ...Democrats suck!!! I have come to this painful conclusion after I have spent a little over 2 years in the party. I switched from the republican party after I got back from the war. Dont get me wrong the republicans suck even more but one cant deny that the democrats lack the balls to do anything. The issue is the war…period. We must feed the machine and the machine chews up resources at an astounding rate. Even more so because all o! f the Bush cronies are supplying the war effort and they are running amok, unchecked taking advantage of all the misery that comes with warfare. Everything that is wrong with our country can be tied to the war. Economy sucks…its the war. Division among the people …its the war. Fuel prices …its the war. Astounding debt…its the war. The nieghbor down the street with the flag at half mast and 2 children left…its the war. All of this and the democrats seem to parrot the current administrations view and agenda on the war. Will someone tell me the difference because I can not see it. For all the lies Bush has been caught in and all of the downright crooked shit the man and his cronies do the Dems simply just sit there... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23126 VIDEO: Rumsfeld is a Liar: the Secretary of Defence confronted by former CIA Agent Ray McGovern. Complete Transcript Globalresearch.ca ...MCGOVERN: --"There is bulletproof evidence of links between al Qaeda and the government of President Saddam Hussein." Was that a lie, Mr. Rumsfeld? Or was that manufactured somewhere else? Because all of my CIA colleagues disputed that, and so did the 9/11 commission. And so I would like to ask you to be up front with the American people. Why did you lie to get us in! to a war that was not necessary, and that has caused these kinds of casualties? Why? RUMSFELD: Well, first of all, I haven`t lied. I did not lie then... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23125 Feith to Teach Next Generation of Neolib Marauders Kurt Nimmo As if to underscore the fact there is little difference between neocons and neolibs, consider the fact Douglas Feith, warmonger and water carrier for the racist Jabotinskyites in Israel, will "teach a course on the Bush administration’s strategy for the war on terror" at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, according to the Guardian. In other words, Feith will instruct the next generation of globalists how best to invade countries, kill t! housands of people, and plunge the remainder into misery and hardship. "I think it’ll be enjoyable and useful to teach Georgetown students about the administration’s national security policies and policy making,'’ Feith told the British newspaper. "I may be able to shed some light on little-understood topics that have generated enormous heat in the public debate.'’ Feith, who oversaw efforts to provide "strategic intelligence" at the Office of Special Plans, will teach students how to lie and get away with it. He may also teach students how to steal American secrets and pass them on to the Israelis... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23123 Wargaming Iran Xymphora I’m convinced that Iran isn’t under any real threat from the Americans, and all the discussion is just a combination of making it seem that the Bush Administration still has relevance (unsuccessful), and talking up the price of oil (very successful). Nevertheless, it is interesting to think through what would happen if the Americans or Israelis dropped some bombs on what they claim are Iranian nuclear installations. First, there would be no 'regime change’. The religious leadership is d! iffuse, and even if a few Mullahs were killed, the rest would remain, with an even more negative attitude towards the United States. More importantly, the Iranian people, who chafe under current religious meddling in politics, would be firmly behind their government and religious leadership. Secondly, the ability of the Iranians to fight back would in no way be impeded... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23122 Baghdad Morgue Daily Visit for Iraqis IslamOnline.net The aging and gloomy Baghdad morgue has become the last stop for many Iraqis, who desperately search for their loved ones brutally killed in the tit-for-tat sectarian attacks that recently plagued the occupied country. "I came to search for my neighbor who was kidnapped three days ago," an Iraqi man standing at the morgue's iron gate waiting to be allowed inside the complex, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) Saturday, May 6. "He was found yesterday with three bu! llets in the body. He was also tortured. There were signs of electric shocks on his body." Another friend of the victim said his friend had been murdered in a sectarian attack. "His name was Ali Hassan Al-Duri. He was 36 years of age and had two children," he noted. "He was killed because he was a Sunni and he lived in Sadr City," he added, referring to the Shiite suburb in the south of Baghdad... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23121 Baghdad morgue receives more than 1,000 bodies in April Xinhua A Sunni Arab leader said on Saturday the central morgue of Baghdad received more than 1,000 unidentified bodies in April alone, most of them were Sunnis."More than 1,000 unidentified bodies have been admitted to Baghdad central morgue, most of them Sunnis, many were shot in the head with signs of torture," Adnan al-Dulaimi, who heads the largest Sunni Arab bloc in parliament, told reporters. "Crimes of killings and abductions have escalated these day! s, and every day we hear that militants wearing police commando uniforms and driving vehicles storm a Sunni neighborhood," Dulaimi told a news conference... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23119 Deadly clashes after British chopper crashes in Iraq AFP At least five Iraqis were killed and dozens wounded when British troops sent to recover their dead from a crashed helicopter clashed with an angry mob in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Two children were among the Iraqi dead, police Lieutenant Haider Abdel Mahdi said, while an AFP correspondent at the crash site saw at least two British servicemen burned inside the still-flaming helicopter. Britain's defense minister confirmed that "a number" of British f! orces had died in the crash, but refused to speculate on whether the chopper had been shot down... Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=23111 www.uruknet.info: a site gathering daily information concerning occupied Iraq: news, analysis, documents and texts of iraqi resistance available in Italian and English.   You receive this newsletter because you subscribed it. If you think it was an abuse, or simply if you don't want to receive it any more, click here to unsubscribe from the newsletter.