Lift the blockade of Gaza

Please sign this Amnesty International petition entitled "Lift the blockade of Gaza". The petition due date is December 1st 2009

new GAO report on IRaq Withdrawal

An excellent new report from the GAO. Check it out here.

Congress Affirms Iraq Withdrawal Date of December 31, 2011

With final action in the Senate today, Congress has approved legislation that formally recognizes the U.S. obligation to withdraw from Iraq and requires the Pentagon to provide quarterly reports on the progress of that withdrawal.

This is the first time since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 that Congress has passed legislation that affirms that the United States is committed to leaving Iraq by a specific date, two national Quaker organizations, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) said today.

"We congratulate Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin and House Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton for including this important milestone in the 2010 military authorization bill," said Raed Jarrar, the Iraq consultant for AFSC. "The U.S.-Iraq bilateral agreement is so central to public discourse in Iraq, but too often forgotten in the U.S." The United States and Iraq signed a bilateral agreement in November 2008 that commits the United States to withdraw all military forces from Iraq by December 31, 2011.

When President Obama signs the bill given final approval by the Senate today it will require the Pentagon to report to Congress every three months on progress to withdraw all U.S. troops, withdraw or transfer to Iraqi authorities all military equipment, close down or transfer to Iraqi authorities military bases, and release or transfer to Iraqi authorities all Iraqi detainees before the December 31, 2011 deadline.

"The first congressional effort to signal support for complete withdrawal was the ban on establishing permanent bases in Iraq," said Jim Fine, the Legislative Secretary on Foreign Policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation. "Now the Pentagon will issue month by month reports on the progress made to close down bases or transfer them to the Iraqi government, which adds new teeth to this historic provision."

When signed into law, Congress will have established unprecedented oversight of the progress made towards complete withdrawal from Iraq.

The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service. Its work is based on the belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice. For more information visit http://www.afsc.org.

The Friends Committee on National Legislation, the oldest registered religious lobby in Washington, is a non-partisan Quaker lobby in the public interest. FCNL works with a nationwide network of tens of thousands of people from every state in the U.S. to advocate for social and economic justice, peace, and good government. For more information: http://www.fcnl.org

World Public Opinion

World Public Opinion released the latest iran poll results. The new poll shows that 81% of Iranians consider Ahmadinejad to be the legitimate President of Iran. At least 55% of the Iranian public confirmed they have voted for Ahmadinejad, and 85% believe the elections were free and fair.

Independent Publisher Book Awards

btw, have I mentioned that our book won an award this year?

You can buy it online on Amazon, pick it up from Barnes$Noble or your local bookstore.

Iraq Street Execution

This video was uploaded by "Iraqi Rabita", and I posted it last year. Youtube has taken it down since but I just found a backup copy that I'm uploading again here.

It shows the US-backed Iraqi armed forces executing an Iraqi man in the street.

If you're a US tax-payer, please consider contacting Senator Leahy's office and ask them to implement the Leahy Law on Iraq. The Leahy Law prohibits U.S. military assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights, and such extrajudicial execution is an obvious violation on human rights and Iraqi/US laws. In addition, please contact your own congress member and your senator and ask them to do the same too.

It is time to cut all funds and support to the Iraqi sectarian armed forces that have been responsible enormous crimes against Iraqis. It is time for us to get out of the way and help Iraqis build their own national armed forces without US intervention.

Iraqi dies under torture

An extremely graphic video showing an Iraqi tortured until his death was posted on a few websites linked to the Sadrist movement. The Iraqi appears to be the same person covered in this times article earlier in the month.

members of the US-funded and trained Iraqi army beat the naked man and threaten to rape him with a bottle. They shock him for dozens of times using what appears to be a taser. They beat him up while he's pleading for his life and assuring them that he's just a member of the media committee of Al-Sadr's office, and that he's never been involved in any violent act.

They continue to beat him up and electrocute him until he passes away. One of the torturers suggest throwing some cold water on him, but others disagree suggesting they either piss on his head or shock him with more electricity. "Piss on the head of the son of the bitch". He doesn't wake up after a few more shocks and even after pissing on him.

The video ends with one of the torturers saying "leave this one, he's over".

I downloaded the video from this website, and I'm uploading it to my blog. It is extremely graphic and shocking, so viewer discretion is advised.

These are the new Iraqi security forces trained, funded, and equipped by the US tax-payers money.

If you're a US tax-payer, please consider contacting Senator Leahy's office and ask them to implement the Leahy Law on Iraq. The Leahy Law prohibits U.S. military assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights. Then contact your own congress member and your senator and ask them for the same.

It is time to cut all funds and support to the Iraqi sectarian armed forces that have been responsible enormous crimes against Iraqis. It is time for us to help Iraqis build their own national armed forces without interfering.

fasten your seat belts

There have been five parties controlling Iraq's executive branch exclusively for the last few year even though they control only a minority of seats in the Iraqi parliament. The five parties are the two Kurdish parties (puk and kdp), two shiites parties (Dawa of Al-Maliki and ISCI), and one Sunni party (the Islamic party). These five parties combined control a little bit more than 100 seats out of the Iraqi parliament's 275 seats, putting them well below the 138 seats required for a quorum.

Al-Maliki has gradually broken his ties with the other 4 parties during the last few months, and that was one of the reasons he managed to survive the provincial elections, unlike the other four who lost miserably.

There are 3 major reasons for the growing split between Maliki and the other 4 parties

1- Demographic cleansing: Al-Maliki is againt partitioning Iraq now. The gang of 4 have been following and promoting a separatist agenda aimed at creating sectarian/ethnic/religious regions that are self governed instead of having a strong central government in Baghdad running the country. The gang of 4 have been supporting the cleansing campaigns directly and indirectly for years. Al-Maliki's recent attempts to reverse ethnic and sectarian cleansing and remove all walls in Baghdad were faced by fierce criticism by the gang of four. Following last week's organized attacks in Baghdad, Hoshya Zibari (a kurdish separatist who happened to be Iraq's minister of foreign affairs) claimed the reason behind the attacks is Al-Maliki's plan to remove the partitioning walls!

2- Central government vs. regional powers: Al-Maliki is now for keeping and even increasing the powers of the central government. Mainly because he's fighting for his own position's authorities, and because he's catering to the Iraqi public opinion that, according to numerous polls, favors a model where the central government runs a united and sovereign nation.

3- Ending foreign intervention(s): Al-Maliki's support for a plan where ALL U.S. troops must leave Iraq has been against the gang of four's interests. They realize that the U.S. is there protecting them and supporting their weak and unpopular regime, and more importantly, the US is fighting their fight against other Iraqis.

The gang of 4 will try their best, in collaboration with other separatists around Iraq, to delay or cancel the upcoming legislative elections because they know that they're going to loose this time, big time. They'll end up being a small minority in both the legislative and executive branches. ISCI, with Al-Hakim Dying and their supporters shrinking, will try their best to reignite the sunni/shiite divisions and to try to pressure the Sadrists (through Iran's influence) to run with them in one coalition. I think such a coalition will most likely include some token Sunnis, kurds, and Christians and I think it will most likely collapse very soon after. The PUK/KDP will most likely quit all their positions in the central government and go back to Kurdistan to start a war with Baghdad and invade Kirkuk, or they might continue their participation if they have any hope they can destroy the central government from within. The Islamic party will continue its lame and underground coordination and collaboration with the other members of the gang.

There is a lot of violence coming ahead, but this does not mean in anyway the US occupation should last for an extra day. All what Iraqi is living now and will be living in the next months and years is because of the US intervention that has destroyed the nation and took the side of some sunnis, shiites and kurds against other sunnis and shiites and kurds. Iraq is far from being a stable and peaceful country, and there no surge that can fix it. There is nothing that the US can do to fix the situation other than leaving Iraq completely and stopping all forms of intervention in Iraq's domestic issues.

Online Discourse in the Arab World

I was one of the speakers at this USIP event, check it out:

Online Discourse in the Arab World: Dispelling the Myths.

Iraqi public key to security deal

my latest piece on Al-Jazeera English:

Iraqi public key to security deal

By Raed Jarrar

The Iraqi public is waiting to see how the US abides by three key elements in Sofa [GETTY] The Iraqi government has once again failed to meet its obligations as the deadline for a referendum on the security agreement between the US and Iraq has come and passed. The original bilateral security agreement, sometimes referred to as the Status of Forces Agreement (Sofa), was signed in November 2008 and conditionally ratified by the Iraqi parliament shortly thereafter. The parliament stipulated that the people of Iraq would have the final say on the status of US forces in the country in a general referendum originally scheduled for July 31, 2009. While the cabinet of Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, had allocated $100 million for the referendum, it had urged postponing it until January 16, 2010. Meanwhile, the parliament was meant to pass a "referendum law" to establish the process and date of the referendum, but even this legislation has not yet materialised. Biding time The two alternatives that have been proposed to remedy the situation are delaying the referendum for a few weeks - an option that most Iraqi parliament members support - or postponing it until January 2010 - a date which coincides with parliamentary elections. If the Iraqi public were to vote 'yes' on the referendum, the timeline for troop withdrawal would proceed as established by the security agreement, which holds that all US troops must leave Iraq by December 31, 2011. However, if the Iraqi public were to vote 'no' on the referendum it would oblige the Iraqi executive branch to immediately inform the US government of their intent to terminate the agreement, triggering the one-year cancellation clause [article 30 of Sofa]. Under this scenario, US troops would be required to completely withdraw from Iraq within one year of the 'no' vote and not wait until the end of 2011. Determining indicators Sovereignty and the debate over war reparations are key issues for Iraqis [GETTY] Iraqi public opinion regarding the security agreement is shaped by a range of issues, including Iraqi perception of the US' spotty record in honouring treaties and the last 19 years of Washington's intervention in Iraq. But the most important three indicators that will likely determine how Iraqis will vote on the referendum will be more poignantly shaped by US actions in upholding three key elements of the Sofa agreement. First is the adherence to the terms of withdrawal of US combat forces from Iraqi cities, towns and villages. The US did comply with the June 30 deadline as agreed, but there have been a number of incidents to date that were viewed by the Iraqi public as breaches of the security agreement. Last week, for example, US troops killed three Iraqis and wounded another four, including two children, in what the US claims was an exchange of fire near Baghdad, the Iraqi capital. The incident gained national interest after an Iraqi army officer tried to arrest the US soldiers involved, but al-Maliki ruled out any such action and said the US troops acted in "self-defence". This and other similar incidents have fuelled Iraqi scepticism and criticism of the agreement. Releasing prisoners The second hurdle involves the release of Iraqi prisoners in US custody. The US military is still holding more than 10,000 Iraqis in prison, many without charges or access to lawyers. The security agreement requires all non-convicted prisoners to be released and all convicted ones to be handed over to Iraqi custody as soon as possible. US state department sources have indicated that the current plan is to release all Iraqi prisoners before the end of this year. If this turns out to be true, it will have a positive impact on Iraqi public opinion regarding the security agreement. The third challenge is ending all the active provisions under Chapter VII of the UN charter. Article 25 of the Sofa says: "Iraq should return to the legal and international standing that it enjoyed" prior to 1990, and that "the United States shall use its best efforts to help Iraq take the steps necessary to achieve this by December 31, 2008". Limited sovereignty Al-Maliki's cabinet has earmarked $100 million but suggested holding the referendum in 2010 Since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 Iraqi sovereignty has been limited by a number of resolutions under Chapter VII. Chapter VII of the UN Charter allows the security council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and non-military action to "restore international peace and security". The fact that there are still 73 active resolutions against Iraq on the books may seem to be a technical issue on the US side, but it is viewed widely as a matter of national pride and sovereignty in Iraq. When al-Maliki visited Washington DC last week, Barack Obama, the US president, promised to "work diligently with Iraq so that in fact Iraq is no longer within Chapter VII". But a recent report released by the office of Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, indicated that the Security Council is unlikely to lift all of the outstanding Chapter VII-related resolutions any time soon. The main obstacle now is that Kuwait wants Iraq to continue paying reparations for its 1990 invasion, and the existing compensation system is structured as a provision under Chapter VII. The US government has not played a role so far in brokering a bilateral agreement between Iraq and Kuwait that would help change the structure of this compensation. If the Iraqi referendum is held while Iraq is still dealing with active provisions under Chapter VII there is a very slim chance the Iraqi public would approve the security agreement. Although the referendum will not take place this week as the agreement requires, there is still a reasonable possibility it will take place within the next six months. Unless US policymakers take the issues shaping Iraqi public opinion seriously, the final deadline for all US troops to be withdrawn will very likely come much sooner than the US has intended. Raed Jarrar is an Iraqi-born architect, blogger, and political analyst. He is the Iraq consultant for the American Friends Service Committee.

good riddance :)

Britain will withdraw its remaining forces from Iraq to Kuwait by the end of the month because the Iraqi parliament failed to pass a deal allowing them to stay to protect oil platforms and provide training, a spokesman said Tuesday.

more racial profiling?

I sent the following email to the Massachusetts Municipal Police Coalition:

I wonder if the 1600 members of the MMPC are also fully supportive of Crowley's call for the President of the US to "butt out".

I suggest you conduct a thorough investigation into this matter instead of acting in such a defensive and reactionary matter.

You can contact the MMPC here.

KPFA interview

This is an interview I had today on KPFA. It's about Biden's visit to Iraq.

me and my mom on NPR

we went to NPR's studio in DC a couple of days ago. Here is the interview.

Biden is the wrong person to push for reconciliation in iraq. His name is linked to sectarian and ethnic partitioning. Obama should have picked someone else.

Okay, it works! The good news is that i can post up 160 characters, which is 20 more than twitting. This will allow more in-depth analysis :-p

Testing my texting. Or should i call it tlogging :)

blog from your phone!

huh

check this out

US withdrawas from Iraqi cities, towns and villages

Me and Sarah Palin' around

I just came back from a long speaking tour in Alaska, Washington and Oregon. The highlight, of course, is hearing the one and only Sarah Palin say "welcome to our state". And yes, her voice is as annoying in person.

More to come soon.

thank you obama!

wow! I am really impressed.

Obama's speech on frieday was pretty significant. He pledged for the first time to bring *all* troops out of iraq. In addition, he promised to comply with the deadline agreed upon on in the bilateral withdrawal agreement (aka sofa).

There is a large segment of the US public that believe obama has already promised to bring all troops home in 16 months, but he never did. He talked about combat troop withdrawal in 16 month, and that was modified to 19 months now. I personally don't see a big difference between 16/19 month combat troops withdrawal, and i dont think it'll have much impact on the ground.

The only 2 military withdrawals/redeployments that will have real effect on the Iraqi public opinion are: 1- the "combat troop" withdrawal from cities, towns and villages by june of this year (in accordance to the bilateral withdrawal agreement) 2- the complete withdrawal of all troops (combat+non-combat) before decemeber 31st 2011.

of course, a "no" vote in the iraqi public referendum this july (or a "no" vote by US senate in case the agreement was submitted for ratification) would make the deadline shorter. It'll move from
december 31st 2001 to 12 months after the "no" takes place.

overall, I think this was the most significant speech by obama re Iraq so far. It is a new direction that I is very positive.

That said, I still think the work to pressure obama for a shorter timetable is still needed.

State Department: Participate in Gaza international investigation

I sent the following letter in the mail today to the office of “War Crimes Issues” in the state department. It’s a relatively small office that includes 12-18 staffers, in addition to Mr. John Clint Williamson the ambassador-at-large. Mr. Williamson reports directly to Secretary Clinton.

Dear Mr. Williamson


The 2007 Advancing Democratic Values Act calls on your office, the office of the War Crimes Issues, to “help collect information on incidents that may be crimes against humanity, genocide, slavery or other violations of international humanitarian law”. The law also directs your office to help ensure that “those responsible for crimes against humanity, genocide, slavery or other violations of intentional humanitarian law are brought to account for such crimes in an appropriately constituted tribunal”.


I’ve been following the calls of a number of international human rights organizations for an “impartial international investigation” into allegations of serious violations of international humanitarian law and other laws of war by Israel and the Palestinian armed groups during the recent conflict in Gaza. Two of these organizations; Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, are explicitly recognized as an authoritative resource on such matters on your own website
(www.state.gov/s/wci/ngo)


The United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, and the United Nation’s Human Rights Council have also called for an international investigation in Gaza.


I urge you to meet your mandated responsibilities by both supporting these calls for an international investigation in Gaza/Israel and sending a representative from your office to serve as an active member of any international investigation team. The State Department's participation will ensure that the investigation’s results are balanced and professional.


Best
Raed Jarrar

You also can contact the office of War Crimes Issues at their general number:

(202) 647-5072

or you can send them a letter in the mail at the following address:


U.S. Department of State
Office of War Crimes Issues 7419A
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Countdown to withdrawal

President Obama pledged to end the Iraq war in 16 months. Let's hold him to it.

click here to sign the pledge and join the campaign.

gesture-coated bombs

Niki and I went to the national mall during Obama's inauguration, and I have to say that I was very impressed that some great African-American figures where invited to speak and sing that day. Joseph Lowery actually read parts of the Black National Anthem in his benediction "God of our weary years, God of our silent tears", and Aretha Franklin's voice was great.

While it was indeed a historic moment to hear these words sung and spoken in the national mall, it was still symbolic. It's a nice gesture that must be followed by real actions towards African-Americans.

While I'm against executive orders in general, and I think it would have been better if Obama's order was sent to the congress to be approved, the decision to close Guantanamo was an important milestone. It's a nice gesture that must be followed by real action to free and compensate all innocent detainees who were wrongfully held for years. It's not really about closing Guantanamo's buildings and moving the prisoners to another location. It's more about ending the policies that created Guantanamo and other U.S. prisons abroad. There are still thousands of Iraqis and Afghans held in U.S. prisons for years with no due process or access to lawyers.

While Obama's order to close the secret CIA prisons around the globe is positive, it is still just a gesture that must be followed by real orders to stop all the CIA's illegal overt operations around the world.

While Obama's call on Israel to open Gaza's borders for commerce and humanitarian aid was a nice gesture, it must be followed by real steps to reevaluate the U.S. blind and unconditional support to the Israeli occupation(s).

While I deeply appreciated all these nice gestures, they all were dwarfed by yesterday's attack on Afghanistsn that killed 25 people, and today's attack on Pakistan that killed 20 people. These new criminal attacks on Pakistan and Afghanistan not only killed dozens of civilians in their homes, but also exposed and shattered Obama's hollow promises. Obama's choice to continue the same old U.S. policy in disregarding other nation-states' sovereignty cannot be excused, and the bombs that assassinated Pakistanis and Afghans during the last couple of days cannot be sugarcoated by some nice gestures.

If Obama really wants to "seek a new way forward" with the Muslim world based on "mutual interest and mutual respect", I think a good start would have been to stop assassinating Muslims in their homes.

Silence is Betrayal

I spent MLK's birthday in Atlanta again, in what seems to have become my annual pilgrimage to participate in the real, non-commercialized, MLK birthday celebration in Dr. King's national historic site.

Every year, organizers at the MLK center put some parts of his speech "A Time to Break Silence" that he gave in Riverside church exactly one year before his assassination, and every year I can't stop myself from getting emotional. It's such a great speech that is still relevant in our times.

I'll share two parts of the speech with you. Both parts make the much needed connection between the U.S. domestic and foreign policies, and they challenge the mainstream hypocrisy and double standards

“As I have walked among the desperate, rejected angry men, I have told them that Molotov cocktails and rifles would not solve their problems. But they ask -- and rightly so -- what about Vietnam? Wasn’t our own nation using massive doses of violence to solve its problems? Their questions hit home, and I knew that I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly against the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today -- my own government".

and

"There is something strangely inconsistent about a nation and a press that would praise you when you say, "Be nonviolent toward Jim Clark," but will curse and damn you when you say, "Be nonviolent toward little brown Vietnamese children." There is something wrong with that press."

At that time, Time magazine called the speech “demagogic slander that sounded like a script for Radio Hanoi,” and the Washington Post declared that King had “diminished his usefulness to his cause, his country, his people”.

I'm sure that if MLK were still alive, he would have praised the heroic Palestinian resistance during the last few weeks. The washington post would have been bashing him again now for diminishing his usefulness to his cause, his country, and his people, and Time Magazine would have called his speech against the Israeli occupation and massacres a demagogic slander that sounds like a script for terrorist propaganda.

Dr. King started the speech 42 years by the words "a time comes when silence is betrayal". When it comes to the U.S. relationship to israel, that time has arrived now. Silence is not an option anymore.

The world is finally speaking out. Major international organizations, like amnesty international, are calling on the UN Security Council to impose an immediate, comprehensive arms embargo on Israel, and to investigate its war crimes. The Vatican called gaza a "big concentration camp", and the Pope sent donations to Palestinians in Gaza last week. The United Nation's Human Rights Council is asking Israel to end its occupation of the 1967 territories. The UN general assembly is holding an Emergency Special Session to consider the "illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory", and so on.

Even on Obama's website, change.gov, the issue has finally came up. Hundreds of Thousands of visitors have voted on what they thought the major issues on Obama's agenda ought to be. I spent a few minutes today checking out the results of people's recommendations, and I was very happy to find this among the top ten recommendations on foreign policy:

Re-evaluate aid to Israel

Reevaluate whether the level of and the basis for the aid we provide Israel is appropriate given our tough economic circumstance.

Obama has chosen to stay silent while the atrocities and war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza were taking place. He refused to comment on the situation because he was not the president yet.

Well, tomorrow, he will be.

In his speech, MLK quoted Dante in saying "The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises maintain their neutrality". Silence is not an option in this current moral crises. Obama can't vote "present" on controversial issues anymore.

It is time for the U.S. government to take a moral stand and stop its unlimited and blind support to Israel.

Vive la résistance!

UN Human Rights Council condemns israel

UN human right council held a special session this week to discuss the Israeli crimes in Gaza, and they came up with the following:

1- the council "DECIDES TO DISPATCH FACT-FINDING MISSION TO INVESTIGATE VIOLATIONS AGAINST PALESTINIANS IN OCCUPIED TERRITORY"

The Council [...] decided to dispatch an urgent independent international fact-finding mission to investigate all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by the occupying power against the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Council also requested the United Nations Secretary-General to investigate the latest targeting of UNRWA facilities in Gaza, including schools, that resulted in the killing of tens of Palestinian civilians, including women and children.


2- the council "adopts resolution on grave human rights violations in Gaza Strip"

In the resolution, which was adopted by a vote of 33 to 1 with 13 abstentions, the Council called for the immediate cessation of Israeli military attacks throughout the Palestinian Occupied Territory; demanded the occupying power, Israel, to immediately withdraw its military forces from the occupied Gaza Strip; called upon the occupying power to end its occupation to all Palestinian lands occupied since 1967, and to respect its commitment within the peace process towards the establishment of the independent sovereign Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital; demanded that the occupying power stop the targeting of civilians and medical facilities and staff as well as the systematic destruction of cultural heritage; demanded further that the occupying power lift the siege, open all borders;

Israel wanted a US veto

from Press TV

"There were promises that the Americans would use their veto, which unfortunately were not kept, apparently under pressure from Arab countries," Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit claimed on Israel's public television.

UN Security Council overwhelmingly calls for immediate Gaza ceasefire

from the United Nation's website:

The United Nations Security Council tonight overwhelmingly called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza leading to a full Israeli withdrawal, the unimpeded provision throughout Gaza of food, fuel and medical treatment, and intensified international arrangements to prevent arms and ammunition smuggling.

If you live in the U.S., please consider contacting your representatives in DC and ask them to ensure this UN security council resolution is implemented. The best way is to talking your representatives' offices by calling (202)225-3121 (or 1-800-828-0498) for House switchboard operator, and the second best is to email them.

If you live in other countries, please consider calling your governmental officials as well.

Hamas speaks

check out this op-ed by Hamas in the LA times.

Please consider contacting the LA times to thank them for allowing us to hear different sides of the story.

the concentration camp of our times

from Niki's blog:

You can always count on Ron Paul to say it like it is, as he did in this statement a few days ago, where he described Palestinians as being confined in a big "concentration camp" in Gaza. A representative of the Pope also spoke out in calling Gaza "a big concentration camp". I'm sure both the Pope and Ron Paul will shortly be bombarded with accusations of antisemitism.

you can read the rest of the post here.

Please, Donate to Gaza

I sent some money from my bank directly to Gaza, and it seems like it worked!

Please, please, consider sending some donations to Gaza (via the United Nations) to this bank account:

Arab Bank PLC

UNRWA

USD Current account: 100191-4-510

Routing Numbe (swift code): ARABPS22600

El-Rimal Branch

Omar El-Mukhtar St, Gaza, Palestine

Another option is to send a tax-deductible donation to Friends of UNRWA, and they'll send the money to Gaza on your behalf.

I Won :)

TSA Officials And JetBlue Pay $240,000 To Settle Discrimination Charges

In a victory for constitutional rights, two Transportation Security Authority (TSA) officials and JetBlue Airways have paid Raed Jarrar $240,000 to settle charges that they illegally discriminated against the U.S. resident based on his ethnicity and the Arabic writing on his t-shirt. TSA and JetBlue officials prevented Jarrar from boarding his August 2006 flight at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport until he agreed to cover his shirt, which read "We Will Not Be Silent" in English and Arabic, and then forced him to sit at the back of the plane. The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on Jarrar’s behalf in August 2007.

"The outcome of this case is a victory for free speech and a blow to the discriminatory practice of racial profiling," said Aden Fine, senior staff attorney with the ACLU First Amendment Working Group and lead attorney on the case. "This settlement should send a clear message to all TSA officials and airlines that they cannot discriminate against passengers based on their race or the ethnic content of their speech."

On August 12, 2006, Jarrar was waiting to board a JetBlue flight from New York to his home in Oakland, California, when he was approached by two TSA officials. One of them told Jarrar that he needed to remove his shirt because other passengers were not comfortable with the Arabic script, telling him that wearing a shirt with Arabic writing on it to an airport was like “wearing a t-shirt at a bank stating, ‘I am a robber.’”

Jarrar asserted his First Amendment right to wear the shirt, but eventually relented to the pressure from the TSA officials and two JetBlue officials who surrounded Jarrar in the gate area and made it clear to him that he would not be able to get on the plane until he covered up his shirt. Terrified about what they would do to him, Jarrar reluctantly covered up his shirt with a new t-shirt purchased for him by JetBlue. The lawsuit later revealed that JetBlue and the TSA officials did not consider Jarrar to be a security threat. Nevertheless, even after he put the new shirt on, Jarrar was allowed to board the plane only after JetBlue changed his seat from the front of the plane to the very back.

"All people in this country have the right to be free of discrimination and to express their own opinions," said Jarrar, who is currently employed with the American Friends Service Committee, an organization committed to peace and social justice. "With this outcome, I am hopeful that TSA and airlines officials will think twice before practicing illegal discrimination and that other travelers will be spared the treatment I endured.”

"As last week's refusal by AirTran Airways to allow a Muslim family that posed no security risk to fly shows, what happened to Mr. Jarrar is not an isolated incident," said Reggie Shuford, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Racial Justice Program. "Transportation officials have the important responsibility of ensuring that all flights are safe, but there is no reason that safety can't be achieved while at the same time upholding the civil rights and liberties of all airline passengers. We hope this lawsuit and its successful result will serve as a powerful reminder that discrimination is against the law."

TSA and JetBlue agreed to settle the case for $240,000 late last month and delivered the settlement to Jarrar on Friday.

In addition to Fine, attorneys in this case are Nusrat Choudhury of the ACLU Racial Justice Program and Palyn Hung of the NYCLU.

Raed Jarrar is available to speak with members of the press. More information about the case, including a video featuring Jarrar, is online at: www.aclu.org/wewillnotbesilent

bombed truck carried oxygen tanks and not grad rockets

While watching some Israeli propaganda yesterday, a video showing an attack on a Palestinian truck caught my attention. The Israeli army claimed the truck had Grad Missiles, but the proportion (and dimensions) of the tubes looked off. This is what Grad Missiles looks like, they're way more slender (and longer) than the tubes in the video.

I did some research today, and it seems like I was right. I just read this on b'tselem:

On 29 December '08 the Israeli army bombed a truck in Gaza City, claiming it carried Grad rockets, designated for attacks on Israel. Drone footage of the bombing was shown by the Israeli army.

B’Tselem received the testimony of Ahmad Sanur, the owner of the truck bombed. Sanur claims the truck was carrying oxygen canisters used for welding, not Grad rockets. B'Tselem field worker took photos of oxygen canisters left on the site of the bombing.

According to Sanur’s testimony, he and members of his family were trying to salvage material from a metal workshop he owns, which was next door to a bombed house, in order to prevent looting. He denies any connection to militants, or military activity, and is willing to talk to any journalist, or investigator.

Photo from Army footage of the loading of the truck and photo of the oxygen canisters left next to the truck taken by B'Tselem fieldworker.

8 people were killed in the bombing, including his son. Two were severely wounded (names may have different spelling):

Muhammad bassel Madi, 17
Wisam Akram ‘Eid, 14
‘Imad Ahmad Sanur, 32
Rami Sa’adi Ghabayan, 24
Mahmoud Nabil Ghabayan, 14
Ashraf a-Dabagh, 26
Muhammad Majed Ka’abar, 20
Ahmad Ibrahim Khila, 15

Two were severely injured:

Bilal Suheil Ghabayan, 19
Baha Suheil Ghabayan, 16

Half of the Palestinian killed and injured in this attack were children, and the rest were unarmed civilians, but the Israeli army called them "terrorists". This shows how Israel arbitrarily calls all its victims "terrorists".

I guess it's a new Israeli crime to add to the pile of crimes. The number of Palestinians who were killed and injured in the last 10 days of this Israeli open war on Gaza is 3000 now. The Israeli targets included 14 mosques (some of them during prayer), electricity lines, gas stations, storage of oil-products, currency exchanges, Al-Shifa general hospital, TV and radio stations, and dozens of homes.

on a final note, please read this excellent statment by b'tselem:

Statements by officials suggest that Israel is defining anything connected to Hamas as a military target. This approach violates the principle of distinction between civilian objects and military targets that is fundamental to international humanitarian law.

Israel Uses cluster bombs on Gaza

Israel is using what seems to be cluster bombs in its attack on Gaza.

(update: Israeli newspapers confirmed today (Sunday) the use of cluster bombs, times-online confirms Israel is using white phosphorus bombs as well, and Press TV reports that Israel is using depleted uranium as well)

scenes from Gaza

Gaza missiles

contrary to what mainstream politicians and media have been saying, missiles fired from Gaza are not just "Hamas" missiles, they're the missiles of all Palestinian armed groups.

Amnesty international mentioned this today in its latest statement:

all Palestinian armed groups in Gaza, including the armed wing of the Palestinian Authority’s President Mahmoud Abbas’ al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, have continued to launch rockets from Gaza into southern Israel.

So, there is no reason to single out the democratically elected government of Hamas and its military wing...

Please donate to help gaza

Stop the Killing in Gaza

The Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Karen AbuZayd, expressed her horror to the extensive destruction visited upon Gaza Strip today and her deep sadness to the terrible loss in human life. UNRWA, the United Nation’s Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, strongly urges the Israeli Government to heed calls for ceasing its bombardment on Gaza. Israel is a signatory to international conventions that protect non-combatants in times of conflict. These conventions are worthless if they are not upheld. ...more

Donate to UNRWA Special Gaza Appeal تبرعوا لنداء الاستغاثة الخاص بغزة

1. Arab Bank PLC

UNRWA

USD Current account: 100191-4-510

Routing Numbe (swift code): ARABPS22600

El-Rimal Branch

Omar El-Mukhtar St, Gaza

2. HSBC Bank

UNRWA

USD Current account: 002/057511-185

routing number (Swift Code): BBMEJOAX

Amman, Jordan

Are Israeli settlers really "civilians"?

I don't think so. Most of them have IDF-Issued guns, and more weapons are available in nearest Israeli Army base "if needed". In addition, they have other personal weapons with permits from the Interior Ministry to own and carry.

This sounds more like a state-backed militia to me.

first Execute, then identify

Hardan Al-Jubori was executed and had his finger amputated by U.S. troops on December 10th.

Both the U.S. army and Al-Jubori's family accounts share the same information regarding the first half of the raid: U.S. forces attacked the family's house and ordered everyone to surrender. Hardan and his brothers immediately surrendered and were arrested by the U.S. troops in their garden.

Now here is where the stories diverge:

The U.S. army claims that Mr. Al- Jubori "then returned inside the house" (which does not make any sense... why and how would he be allowed to go inside the house again? they would have shot him on the spot if he tried to move). The U.S. army account claims that "when he returned outside he attempted to engage the forces with an ak-47" (which, again, does not make any sense. why would he walk outside with the weapon, he could have started shooting from inside the house through the window or from the roof instead of walking out the door with a gun). The U.S. army report claims that the killing of Mr. Al-Jubori was an act of self-defense: "perceiving hostile intent, the forces engaged the armed man, killing him".

On the other hand, the family's account and pictures indicate a more convincing story: After the brothers were stripped to their underwear and forced to lie on the ground, they were unable to move without the Americans' permission (Which makes a lot of sense and sounds like dozens of other accounts and videos that I've witnessed in the last 5 years). The family says the U.S. troops then took al-Jaburi back into the house. Nuri Al-Jubori, Hardan's brother, told CNN that "The U.S. soldiers ordered [Hardan] to go back inside the house. He was told to turn the lights on. And the moment he turned on the lights, the soldiers opened fire, and then dragged him deeper inside the house." The relatives showed CNN mobile phone video that showed thick pools of blood on the floor and bloody handprints on the wall in one room of the house.

And the video showed something else: al-Jaburi's corpse with the index finger of his right hand missing. The dead man's family said U.S. soldiers amputated his finger and said the mutilation was an act of intimidation.

The U.S. army declined to explain why Mr. Al-Jubori's finger was cut off, but CNN suggested that may have carried out this criminal act for "further identification" and "inclusion of his finger print and DNA in a US database", as if giving such reasons would justify executing civilians in their homes then cutting their fingers off. What a great new system of justice: kill then identify.

I hope the U.S. army will not open a new Haditha-style fake investigation then find all U.S. troops innocent of any wrong doing. I urge you to contact the U.S. army and ask whether this execution and finger amputation is an official army policy:

CPICPRESSDESK@Iraq.centcom.mil

here is the email i sent:

Dear sir or madam at the Combined Press Information Center:

I am Raed Jarrar, and Iraqi blogger. I'm writing you to ask 3 questions regarding the execution and finger imputation of Mr. Hardan Al-Jubori on December 10th:

1- CNN reports that the reasons behind cutting Mr. Al-Jubori's finger after killing him might be "further identification" and "inclusion of his finger print and DNA in a US database". Are these speculations by CNN true?

2- CNN reports that Mr. Al-Jubori was an "Al-Qaeda suspect". Do you have a policy to execute al-qaeda suspects without a fair trial?

3- can you give a rough estimate of how many people in Iraq fall under this category of "Al-Qaeda suspects"?

thank you

Raed Jarrar
Washington, DC


Here are some stills from the video provided to CNN by al-Jubori family:

Al-Jubori's Family in front of their home

Hardan Al-Jubori's Mother

furniture destroyed by U.S. raid

furniture destroyed by U.S. raid

furniture destroyed by U.S. raid

Blood on the bedroom's wall

pool of blood in the bedroom

Mr. Al-Jubori's hand

Mr. Al-Jubori's naked dead body

petition delivered

More than four thousand people have signed the online petition I created a couple of weeks ago. Today, as I promised, i printed out the petition and handed it over to the office of the Iraqi ambassador in Washington, DC.

a big Thank You to everyone who have signed it.

Leave no child, plant, or tree

at least this dude is honest about it:

Annihilate the Amalekites from the beginning to the end. Kill them and wrest them from their possessions. Show them no mercy. Kill continuously, one after the other. Leave no child, plant, or tree. Kill their beasts, from camels to donkeys

here is a picture of 5 sisters (Tahrir, 17; Ikram, 15; Samar, 12; Dina 8; and Jawaher, 4) who were killed while sleeping in their beds yesterday.

a third intifada?

A Palestinian protester throws stones at Israeli troops during a demonstration against Israel's military operation in Gaza near Jerusalem on Sunday.

US taxpayers money in Action: 1000 palestinians killed and injured in one day

Dozens of U.S.-made airplanes and helicopters attacked more than 40 sites in Gaza today, dropping more than 100 tons of bombs by mid-afternoon.

Human Rights Defenders from Lebanon, the UK, Poland, Canada, Spain, Italy and Australia are present in Gaza and are witnessing and documenting the current Israeli attacks.

read some of their accounts here, and try to put them in touch with your local media. I'll send the press release to radio stations here in DC.

Children can be affected by messages sent through our airwaves

Javed Iqbal is facing up to 15 years in prison because of re-broadcasting a TV channel linked to the Lebanese party Hizbollah. No, he doesn't live in Saudi Arabia or Iran. And no, this is not a story from Afghanistan under the rule of Taliban. This is happening here in the good ol' USA.

Mr. Iqbal co-owns a small TV company where he receives a number of international stations via satellite then rebroadcasts them to his neighborhood through a local cable network. The small company, HDTV Ltd., is operated out of the garage of his modest home in Staten Island, which had satellite dishes in the backyard. Mr. Iqbal was arrested in 2006 for letting customers receive broadcasts from Hezbollah's television station, a few months after the U.S. declared Hezbollah as a "terrorist" group.

Prosecutors have said Hezbollah operated Al Manar in Lebanon as a way to raise money and recruit volunteers for attacks, and therefore Mr. Iqbal has been providing aid to terrorist organizations by "broadcast[ing] their ideas", and that Mr. Iqbal's company has recieved money from subscribers for such services.

Mr. Iqbal will spend up to 15 years in jail because of this, and his business associate, Saleh Elahwal, is facing similar charges and his trial is set to start on January 5 2009. How come the U.S government is putting Mr. Iqbal and Mr. Al-Ahwal in jail because of providing Al-Manar TV, while all of these internet providers can do exactly the same without being persecuted? I'll try to contact judge Richard M. Berman and ask him: "how come it is legal to pay Comcast, Verizon and other corporations for their internet services while watching Al-Manar online?"

sigh.

Now, the only thing that is more horrible (and hilarious) than this state-sponsored fascism, is the following hardcore patriotic "non-governmental" press-release that was emailed to me today:


Staten Island Good Neighborhood Association President John “JE” Englebert says “Children can be affected by messages sent through our airwaves. Although we recognize our 1st amendment of free speech we feel this was done illegally through our cable communications system. We feel that our TV systems are not being fully checked and there might be other cable systems affected. We are calling on Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for a full investigation”. Staten Island Good Neighborhood Association Vice President Mark Fiore says "We will be demanding higher penalties for this kind activity".

I sent them an email asking how would Mr. John “JE” Englebert's children, and other good Staten Island neighbors' kids, understand an arabic-speaking channel. For some reason, I have a feeling that JE wouldn't teach his kids arabic.

Finally, I assure all the good (and bad) neighbors out there that watching Al-Manar channel, even when you can actually understand what they say, is not harmful to your brain cells. I personally have been doing it off and on for years, and I'm still alive. Try if for yourself: you can check Al-Manar's website here and watch their excellent live broadcasting here.

ICRC wrote me back

i received this mass email from the ICRC a couple of days ago:

Sir,

We would like to thank you for your recent correspondence addressed to the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with regard to the
situation of Mr Muntadar Al-Zaidi.

Please note that the ICRC is in contact with the relevant Iraqi mechanism
for the monitoring of Human Rights and will follow the situation. We have
taken due note of the accounts received with regard to Mr Muntadar Al-Zaidi
and would like to thank you for this information. We can assure you that we
will follow up on these concerns.

Yours faithfully,

Laurent Saugy
Protection Coordinator
ICRC Iraq

New Speaker of the House

rumors in baghdad suggest the new speaker of the house will be one of the following:

1- Hachem Al-Hassani: a former speaker of the house, and a current MP and a member of the secular Iraqi National Front headed by Ayad allawi. Mr. Al-Hassani has been a neutral and widely accepted figure in the Iraqi parliament.

2- Ayad al-Samerraie: A current MP and a member of the Islamic party. I doubt he'll end up being chosen because of his connection to the Islamic party. One of the very few conditions put by the now former speaker of the house, Mr. Al-Mashhadani, that he should not be replaced by anyone from the Islamic party. I don't think there will be enough voted in the parliament to choose him as the next speaker.

3- Saleh al-Mutlaq: an MP and the head of the National Dialogue Front, a nationalist secular front. Dr. Al-Mutlaq has been gaining influence in the last few years, and his front has been expanding. I personally think Dr. Al-Mutlaq will do a great job as a speaker of the Iraqi parliament, but I think it is really hard for him to get the position. It's not impossible though.

4- Khalaf Al-Ulayyan: a member of parliament and the head of the National dialogue council (the same party of Mr. Al-Mashhadani). Shiekh Al-Ulayyan withdrew today from the Accord Front (The accord front is left with 26 seats instead of the original 44 seats), and many observers are expecting him to join Dr. Al-Mutlaq.

will keep you updated on that front.

Meanwhile. I decided to postpone delivering the petition (asking for the immediate release of Al-Zeidi) to the Iraqi embassy here in Washington DC until next week. Please sign it if you have't done so already.

End of Al-Tawafuq (the accord front)

Yesterday, the speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Mr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, resigned under the pressure of the ruling parties. I think this is the official end of the Tawafuq (accord front).

The Tawafuq front started as the main Sunni block, then it had a major split between the Islamic party (a separatist ruling party that never left the executive branch) and the other two components of the front: the people of Iraq's council headed by Mr. Al-Dulaimi, and the National Dialogue council (NDC) headed by Shiekh Khalaf Al-Ulayyan. Mr. Al-Mashhadani is the member of the NDC.

Yesterday, the 4 ruling parties (kdp, puk, islamic party, SIIC) managed to pull what can be described as a Coup d'état, and forced the speaker of the house to resign. Al-Mashhadani resigned with the condition that he should not be replaced by anyone from the Islamic party. This is another clear sign of the death of the accord front. The other sign is the fact that the Islamic party is running alone in the upcoming provincial elections. I've been talking and writing about this split for over a year now, so it's good to see that it took place officially.

A few minutes after Al-Mashhadani's resignation, the deputy speaker of the house (khalid al-atyya), a member of the 4 ruling parties, passed the new SOFA between Iraq and the non-US occupiers, in one of the major violations against Iraqi laws and regulations. The deputy speaker has disregarded at least half a dozen laws and constitutional requirements in this shocking move.

Many observers think the removal of Al-Mashhadani will open the door for the 4 ruling parties to remove al-Maliki from power sooner than expected.

Al-Maliki meets Iraqi Journalists

According to the Iraqi Cabinet's official website, Al-Maliki met today with a number of Iraqi journalists and confirmed to them that he has received a letter from Montather Al-Ziedi where he "expressed his regret" for what he has done. Al-Maliki also claimed that Mr. Al-Zeidi "revealed the name of the person who instigated this act". Then Al-Maliki stated that "this person is a well known murderer who is linked to beheading people".

I can't believe that the Iraqi government is accusing Al-Zeidi of plotting to throw his shoes at Bush! how can anyone plot to attack Bush on a secret unannounced visit where journalists are only allowed to join the press conference by invitation? Montather Al-Ziedi's reaction was clearly spontaneous and unplanned.

Montather's Brother meets him

from Al-Baghdadia's website:

(rough translation)

Uday Al-Zeidi, the older brother of the Al-Baghdadia's correspondent who was detained a week ago, met with Montather today. Montather told his brother that after the incident, he was beaten and kicked by the Iraqi security forces until he fainted.

Uday told Al-Baghdadia channel during an exclusive interview this morning that the Iraqi justice system allowed him to meet his brother for more than an hour and a quarter. He confirmed that Montather told him that he was tortured with electric shock after being stripped naked, and that he was continuously humiliated and tortured throughout the period of detention, and that he had bruises all over his face and body, and that members of the Iraqi security forces disfigured his face through beatings and cigarette burns. Montather also told his brother Uday that confessions were extracted from him by force, and that he would like to bring a lawsuit against everyone who participated in his torture. Montather told Uday that he did what he did for all the Iraqi orphans, widows, children and for all the Iraqi people who where wronged.

Montather said that if he could go back in time he would still do what he did to Bush again. Montather confirmed that he does not belong to any political parties, and that no insult was intended toward the Iraqi PM Al-Maliki.

Al-Zaidi's brother speculated that the reason behind denying his family access to Montather during the past days was because the authorities were trying to hide what has happened to Montather because of torture.

Finally, Uday Al-Ziedi demanded a fair neutral medical evaluation of Montather's health in detention.

(end translation)

I contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to ask them for a make a site visit to evaluate Montather Al-Zeidi's health. Here is the email i've sent:

Dear Mr Hisham Hassan and Ms. Dorothea Krimitsas

I am writing you to inquire about the possibility of you conducting a site visit and meet with Mr. Montather Al-Zeidi, the Iraqi Journalist who tossed his shoes at president Bush last week. Mr. Al-Zeidi has been detained for over a week now, and has been denied access to his lawyers or family members.

Today, Mr. Uday Al-Zeidi (Montather's brother) visited him at jail then reported to a number of Iraqi and Arab media that Mr. Montather Al-Ziedi was "tortured with electric shock after being stripped naked", and that he had "bruises all over his face and body", and members of the Iraqi security forces have "disfigured his face through beatings and cigarette burns". Montather also told his brother Uday that "confessions were extracted from him by force".

Mr. Al-Zeidi's family are requesting a "neutral medical evaluation" of his health, and it'll be great if the ICRC can step in and request a site visit.

best
Raed Jarrar


You can contact Mr Hisham Hassan at iraq.iqs@icrc.org and Ms. Dorothea Krimitsas at dkrimitsas.gva@icrc.org

Iraqi Parliament rejects new SOFA, sends it back to Cabinet

the Iraqi parliament voted today, after the second reading of "The law of Withdrawal of the forces of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland,Australia, Romania, Estonia, El Salvador and NATO from Iraq", and decided to reject this law and send it back to the Cabinet. The Majority of MPs thought this must be made into a binding international agreement rather than presenting it in the current form that makes it look like an iraqi local law.

I've translated the law and posted it on my blog a couple of days ago. I'll make sure to get a hold of the new modified one and posted here as soon as i find it.

"This shoe is for you"

more flying shoes


Then, referring to the authority’s chief executive, who was sitting about 15 feet away, he said: “Where is Elliot Sander?” He stooped, slipped off one of his shoes and shouted, “You made $300,000 last year.”

Immediately, authority police officers swarmed him and pushed him out of the room. He was clutching his shoe, a black, thick-soled oxford, in his hand.

“This shoe is for you,” he shouted as he was hustled out.

Free Muntather Al-Zeidi petition

more than 3,000 people have singed the petition so far. I'll deliver it to the Iraqi embassy next week.

Iraqi judge: Shoe-tossing reporter was beaten

check this out:

The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President George W. Bush during a news conference was beaten afterward and had bruises on his face and around his eyes, a judge said Friday.

new SOFA between Iraq and the rest of the occupation gang

I got a hold of the full text of the other SOFA agreement the Iraqi government is trying to sign with the rest of the occupations forces, and I just finished translating it (thanks niki for the edits!)

You can read the first available english translation of this agreement here.

The arabic origin was posted on Al-Sabaah Al-Jadeed newspaper

This new Status of Forces Agreement is similar to the one that was just signed with the U.S., but this one is with the rest of the occupiers. Namely, the five countries of United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Australia, Romania, Estonia, El Salvador as well as NATO.

The Iraqi cabinet has approved this agreement this week and sent it to the Iraqi parliament for approval. The Iraqi parliament started debating the agreement today, and is expected to vote on it next week.

more shoes

check this out

Anbar University students and professors demonstrated [yesterday] (Tuesday); against the presence of U.S. occupation forces and forcing them out with shoes and stones from the campus.

Israel: Reverse Expulsion of Human Rights Rapporteur

Human Rights watch has issued a surprisingly good statement on Israel today:


Israel should extend an open invitation to all United Nations human rights experts to visit the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and reverse the expulsion of Richard Falk, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian Territories, Human Rights Watch said today. Read More.

I'm very impressed! finally, a word from Human Rights Watch criticizing the Israeli crimes!

عريضة للمطالبة بالإفراج الفوري عن منتظر الزيدي

أرجو من حضراتكم التوقيع على العريضة المطالبة بالافراج الفوري عن منتظر الزيدي. سأقوم بطباعة العريضة وتسليمها للسفارة العراقية في واشنطن العاصمة الأسبوع القادم بعونه تعالى

يمكنكم التوقيع على العريضة بالضغط هنا (الخانة الأولى للاسم والثانية للعنوان البريدي والثالثة الكبيرة لملاحظاتكم). شكرا

المهندس رائد جرار
واشنطن العاصمة
الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية

(تحديث: لقد قمت بتسليم العريضة التي قام بتوقيعها أكثر من أربعة آلاف شخص إلى مكتب السفير العراقي في العاصمة الأمريكية واشنطن، للمزيد من المعلومات والصور إضغط هنا). 1

Reporters Without Borders: " we call for the release of Muntadar al-Zaidi"

reporters Without Borders today called for the release of Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi, of al-Bagdhadia television arrested after hurling his shoes at George W Bush at a Baghdad press conference during a surprise visit by the US president on 14 December 2008.

“We obviously regret that the journalist used this method of protest against the politics of the American president”, the worldwide press freedom organisation said. “But for humanitarian reasons and to ease tension, we call for the release of Muntadar al-Zaidi who has been held by the Iraqi authorities for two days.”

Montather Al-Zeidi in hospital

The guardian reports that Montather al-Zeidi was "badly beaten in custody".

None of the journalist or human rights or organizations have said a word so far. Please contact the following organizations and urge them to issue a statement concerning the brutal treatment and imprisonment of the Iraqi Journalist Montather Al-Zeidi.

Reporters without boarders, human right watch, human rights first, Amnesty international, and other organizations of you know of.

It's very shameful how some of these organizations are very vocal in criticizing human rights abuses in cases that are convenient for the U.S. government (saddam's crimes, Iranian government abuses, conflict in darfur, intra-palestinian conflicts), but they are silent when it comes to cases inconvenient for the U.S. government's agendas and policies (occupation of Iraq, siege on gaza, domestic and foreign U.S. prisons, rights of native americans and native hawaaians, etc).

On a second note, the number of people who have singed the petition is more than 1,000 now. Please read and sign it in case you haven't yet. I will print it out and deliver it to the Iraqi embassy here in DC next week. 

Montather's hand broken in jail

Albaghdadia, the TV channel where the Iraqi Journalist Montather Al-Zeidi works, reports that an Iraqi MP (Ms. Zainab Al-Kanani) informed them that Montather's hand was broken in jail.

This confirms a lot of reports and rumors about Montather being subject to torture while the Iraqi authorities are interrogating and detaining him in some unspecified location.

Noam Chomsky Signs Petition

Yes, that Noam Chomsky was one among the hundreds of people who have signed the petition today asking for the immediate release of Montather today. (I contacted chomsky's office at MIT to make sure it's for real!)

please make sure to sign the petition and ask your friends and contacts to do so as well. I will print it out and deliver it to the Iraqi embassy here in Washington, DC if Montather was not released this week.

click here to read and sign the petition

Free Montather

Some of my contacts in Baghdad assured me that the Iraqi Journalist who threw the shoes at bush today was heavily beaten (you can actually hear him scream in pain in this released video)

After beating him, the Iraqi authorities arrested Mr. Al-Zeidi. Here is a statement issued by Al-Baghdadia (the TV channel he works with):

http://www.albaghdadia.com/
(rough translation)

Al Baghdadia asks the Iraqi authorities to immediately release our employee Montather Al-Zeidi in line with the Iraqi and US promises of democracy and freedom of expression. Any action taken against Montather Al-Zeidi will remind us of the behavior we experienced during the time of the dictatorship era that when we witnessed violence, arbitrary arrests, mass graves and the confiscation of public freedoms and private.

We also call for press and media institutions and the Arab world to stand in solidarity with Montather Al-Zeidi and call for his release.

(end translation)

I started an online petition to ask for the immediate release of Montather. Please visit and sign it here. I'll print the petition and hand it over to the Iraqi embassy in DC in case he was not released this week.

In addition, I found out today that Journalists Without Boarders did issue a statement last year condemning the kidnapping of the same Montather Al-Zeidi! He was apparently kidnapped for three days before being released. Please contact Journalists Without Boarders and ask them to put a new statement to demand his release this time too.

Duck, Lame Duck

"This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq,"

End of Al-Maliki's Era?

Some rumors from baghdad claim that the 5 party ruling coalition is turning into a 4 party ruling coalition soon. It seems like the 4 allies of Al-Maliki are planning to change him.

The tension started a few months ago between Al-Maliki and the 2 ruling Kurdish parties (PUK, KDP). He seems to be trying to enforce the authority of the central government in Kurdistan, an issue rejected strongly by the 2 separatist Kurdish parties. The Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (saparatis shiites), led by Al-Hakim, took the side of the 2 kurdish parties against Al-Maliki, and it seems like Al-hashemi with his Islamic party (saparatis sunnis) have finally decided to turn against Al-Maliki as well when he announced on the 6th of December that he's for changing the government and creating a new "national salvation government".

The 4 ruling parties (PUK, KDP, Islamic Party, SIIC) met today in the north of Iraq in what seems to be preparations to plan for the new move. Many news outlets confirmed that the explosion in Kirkuk is linked to these recent developments.

"crime against humanity"

Aljazeera reports:

Israel's policies against the Palestinians are tantamount to a "crime against humanity", the United Nations' human rights rapporteur has said.

Richard Falk said in a statement on Tuesday that the UN must "implement the agreed norm of a responsibility to protect a civilian population being collectively punished by policies that amount to a crime against humanity".

The statement came on the same day that the UN Human Rights Council urged Israel to implement 99 measures to improve its rights record.

Meanwhile, "international human rights organizations" like Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First, Amnesty International and others are still silent.

Israeli Settler shooting Palestinians in Hebron

Footage filmed by Jamal Abu-Sa'ifan, a Palestinian resident of Hebron, documenting a settler shooting two members of his family. The event occures following the eviction of the new settlment in Hebron. Settlers attacked the nearby house of the Abu-Se'ifan family, and during ensuing clashes, a settler fired his handgun at Hosni Abu-Se'ifan (40), who was hit in the chest and is in stable condition, and his father, 'Abd al-Hai Abu-Sa'ifan (65) who was moderately wounded in his arm. the two were taken to a Hebron hospital. The video shows other members of the family manage to overcome the shooter, then a security guard from the nearby settlement Kiryat Arba arrives and the scene, and fires his weapon in the air.

بانوراما: الاتفاقية الأمنية وتفسيرات نسختيها العربية والإنكليزية

من برنامج بانوراما على قناة العربية

رائد جرار: نعم. للأسف الاختلافات في المضمون والاختلافات في التفسير هي اختلافات رئيسية جداً. نحن الآن نواجه العديد من اختلافات الرؤية والتفسير قبل البدء بتنفيذ هذه الاتفاقية. لقد سمعنا خلال الدقائق القليلة السابقة كيف قام أحد ضيوفكم باعتبار الاستفتاء الشعبي هو استفتاء غير قانوني أو غير دستوري، وهذا بالحقيقة موضوع جديد، مشكلة جديدة سيتم التعامل معها خلال الأسابيع القليلة القادمة، هناك العديد من الكتل السياسية التي اعتبرت تمرير الاتفاقية بأغلبية بسيطة بدلاً من أغلبية الثلثين المنصوص عليها بالدستور خرقاً دستورياً. والآن العديد من الكتل الأخرى تحاول تجاوز الاستفتاء الدستوري رغم نص القانون الذي صدر عن البرلمان، الذي يطالب بطريقة واضحة جداً بإرسال هذه الاتفاقية حسب القانون وحسب الدستور إلى الاستفتاء الشعبي وطلب رأي الشعب العراقي بهذه القضية.

رائد جرار: نعم. بالحقيقة يعني هناك حاجة لسؤال خبير قانوني عن الموضوع، بس الوضع كما هو الآن، قام البرلمان بتمرير قانون المصادقة على الاتفاقية، هناك أربع فقرات لهذا القانون، الفقرة الثالثة من هذا القانون فيها نقطتان، النقطة الأولى هي إرسال القانون إلى استفتاء شعبي من خلال المؤسسات الدستورية والقانونية المهمة، والفقرة الثانية هي أنه يجب على الحكومة العراقية الالتزام بنتائج هذا الاستفتاء الشعبي. بمعنى أن الاتفاقية ستكون ملزمة لسبعة شهور قادمة إلى حين إرسالها إلى الاستفتاء الشعبي العراقي، وبعد إرسالها للاستفتاء الشعبي سنرى إذا هذه الاتفاقية..

رائد جرار: سيحصل هو تبعاً للفقرة الثلاثين من الاتفاقية، يتم إلغاؤها وتعتبر لاغية بعد سنة من الإلغاء، فالاتفاقية تعطي مدة سنة للجانبين لإنهاء الاتفاقية، إنهاء العمل فيها، فعملياً على الأرض سيتم إنهاء العمل بالاتفاقية، إذا تم رفضها شعبياً في الشهر السابع من سنة 2010.

رائد جرار: هناك أخطاء بالترجمة. لقد ذكرتها سابقاً على قناة العربية خلال الأيام القليلة السابقة. بعض الاختلافات هي كلمة أو فعل يستخدم.. فعل ماضي في النسخة العربية وفعل مضارع بالنسخة الإنجليزية. هاي اختلافات جوهرية جداً، احتمال أن تؤدي إلى اختلافات وقتال في المستقبل بين العراقيين أو بين العراقيين والأميركان. دعيني أذكر الضيف الآخر بتجربة تاريخية مشابهة لأنه ذكر التجربة الإيرانية في رفض الاتفاقية ورفض الاستفتاء الشعبي. هناك بالحقيقة تجربة عراقية، هناك وثبة شعبية حصلت، انتفاضة شعبية حصلت في الثلاثينات من القرن السابق حينما حاولت الحكومة العراقية في ذلك الوقت التوقيع على اتفاقية مع الاحتلال البريطاني، فقام الشعب العراقي بانتفاضة شعبية. هناك العديد من المراقبين الآن ممن يرون بالاستفتاء الشعبي حلاً لهذه الأزمة، وإشراكاً للشعب العراقي في رؤية الشعب العراقي لهذه الاتفاقية. إذا رفض الشعب العراقي الاتفاقية ليست هناك حاجة إلى انتفاضة جماهيرية واستخدام العنف..

رائد جرار: هذا ليس صحيحاً. الاستفتاء الشعبي، فكرة الاستفتاء الشعبي هي مقرة بالدستور ويمكن للبرلمان العراقي الاعتماد عليها، هناك نقطتين بالحقيقة، النقطة الأولى: المتطلبات القانونية الحالية تتطلب ثلثي أعضاء البرلمان، وليس ثلثي الحضور، تتطلب 184 برلمانياً للتوقيع، والقانون السابق من أيام الرئيس السابق صدام حسين، القانون 111 لسنة 1979 الذي تم اعتماده، هو بالحقيقة قانون ملغي، يعطي مجلس قيادة الثورة الصلاحيات، ليس هناك مجلس قيادة ثورة الآن. فأعتقد هناك إشكاليات في فهم الدستور لدى الضيف الآخر، وهناك إشكاليات في فهم الاختلاف ما بين متطلب دستوري.. صحيح أن الاستفتاء هو ليس متطلباً دستورياً لتمرير الاتفاقيات القانونية مع دول أخرى، ولكن إذا قام البرلمان العراقي بتمرير قانون وتضمين الاستفتاء كمتطلب قانوني ذلك ليس معارضاً للدستور. بالتأكيد أنا شخصياً لست بمتحدث باسم الدستور العراقي أو محامي، الضيف الآخر ليس كذلك، ولكن المحامين والخبراء الدستوريين العراقيين أعتقد رؤيتهم واضحة جداً بهذه القضية. المطالبة بالاستفتاء الشعبي هو متطلب دستوري وقانوني تماماً. والآن تم إدراجه ضمن القانون فلا أعتقد بأن أحداً يمكن أن يناقش من ناحية قانونية إذا كان هذا المتطلب قانوني أم لا، من ناحية سياسية بالطبع سنتوقع من العديد من السياسيين مناقشة والمطالبة بإلغاء هذا الاستفتاء أو اعتماد طرق أخرى كما تمت العديد من اللعب السياسية خلال السنوات القليلة السابقة.

information regarding the US-Iraqi agreement

this is last night's interview with the Iranian owned Press TV:

iraqi parliament passes a conditional and temporary ratification

this is a rough translation of what the Iraqi parliament has passed today with a very slim majority (144 MPs instead of the constitutionally required two thirds majority 184 MPs). The good news is that this is not over yet. This will make the law valid for the next six months until the Iraqi people vote on it in a national referendum.

Overall, and despite all the illegal and unconstitutional steps involved, I think it is great that we have a law the requires all US troops to withdraw from all Iraqi territories before the end of 2011. Let's wait and see what the majority of Iraqis will decide in the national referendum.

Act Ratifying the agreement between Iraq and the United States on the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and organizing activities through its presence and the interim

Thursday, November 27, 2008


The name of the people
Council Chair
based on what the council of representatives has passes and has been ratified by the council's Presidency, and based of the provisions of paragraph (first) of Article (61) and paragraph (third) of Article (73) of the Constitution:

the following law has been passed: --

the law of Ratifying the agreement between Iraq and the United States on the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and organizing activities through its presence and the interim

Article 1 - the Republic of Iraq ratified an agreement between Iraq and the United States on the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and organizing activities through its temporary presence.

Article 2 - first - the (Convention on the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and organizing activities through its temporary presence) shall be submitted to the Iraqi people in a national referendum no later than on July 30, 2009.
Second- the Independent Electoral Commission shall organize the referendum in accordance to the requirements of the Constitution and the law.

Article 3 - the Iraqi government is committed to the outcome of the referendum .

Article 4 - This Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and is effective as of 1/1/2009.

Reasons
For the purpose of scheduling the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and organizing activities through its presence in preparation for the temporary adoption of Iraq's armed forces to protect its security and defend its territory.

for these purposes the law has been passed

tens of thousands demonstrate in baghdad

Tens of thousands of Sunni and Shiite Iraqis demonstrated against the US-Iraqi agreement today. The demonstration took place after a joint Sunni-Shiite friday prayer.

The Iraqi people want this occupation to be over. They don't trust the U.S. government, and they don't think signing a bi-lateral agreement with it is a good idea.

my congressional testimony

check this out, or at least read this.

Sistani's position regaridng the US-Iraqi agreement

from Sistani's website:

The name of God the Merciful

Office of His Eminence, Grand Ayatollah Sistani a peace which you and God's mercy and blessings:

The agreement asking for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq has been approved in the Council of Ministers, and sent to the House of Representatives to be considered for either ratification or rejection. Many people wonder about the position of His Eminence regarding the agreement. Some claims made by the media suggest that His Eminence have told some governmental officials that His Eminence have agreed on the agreements after the latest amendments

Please clarify


In the name of god

What His Eminence has told the various political leaders during the past days and weeks, is the need to build any agreement aimed at ending foreign presence in Iraq and the country out from under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations on the basis of two things:

First: respecting the interests of the Iraqi people in the present and future, by basically fully restoring Iraq’s sovereignty and achieving security and stability.
Second: obtaining a national consensus for it, that would have the support of the various components of the Iraqi people and the major political groups.

His Eminence has emphasized that any agreement that does not meet these two conditions, and any agreement that would jeopardize Iraq’s political, security, or economic sovereignty, or any agreement that does not guarantee a national consensus, is not acceptable and will cause more suffering, disagreement, and division among Iraqis.

His Eminence also stressed that representatives of the Iraqi people in the House of Representatives bear a major responsibility in this area, and each and every one of them must be at the level of this historic responsibility before God Almighty and to the people. The Representatives of the Iraqi people in the House of Representatives must addresses this important topic in clear and unambiguous way and in accordance to their religion and conscience and without away any other considerations.

May God guide us.

19/11/1429
18/11/2008
The office of Mr. Sistani
Najaf

obama shifting gears

obama has just shifted gears regarding the long-term agreement. Here is what his website reads now:

http://change.gov/agenda/iraq_agenda/

The Status-of-Forces Agreement

Obama and Biden believe it is vital that a Status of Forces Agreement
(SOFA) be reached so our troops have the legal protections and
immunities they need. Any SOFA should be subject to Congressional
review to ensure it has bipartisan support here at home.


and here is how it looked a couple of days ago:


http://change.gov/agenda/iraq/

The Status-of-Forces-Agreement

Obama and Biden believe any Status of Forces Agreement, or any strategic framework agreement, should be negotiated in the context of a broader commitment by the U.S. to begin withdrawing its troops and forswearing permanent bases. Obama and Biden also believe that any security accord must be subject to Congressional approval. It is unacceptable that the Iraqi government will present the agreement to the Iraqi parliament for approval—yet the Bush administration will not do the same with the U.S. Congress. The Bush administration must submit the agreement to Congress or allow the next administration to negotiate an agreement that has bipartisan support here at home and makes absolutely clear that the U.S. will not maintain permanent bases in Iraq.

i wounder what led to this dramatic "change".

Final US-Iraqi agreement: translated

The Iraqi cabinet approved this final version of the US-Iraqi agreement yesterday. I just finished translating it. You can find the full english translation here.