Clipmarks | arifsali's 'iraq war' clips

Jolie-Pitt Foundation donates $1M to Iraqi kids

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:41:07 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's love for children is by no means limited to their own: The couple has donated $1 million to help kids affected by the war in Iraq, the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict announced Wednesday.

The organization will distribute the donation, made through the couple's Jolie-Pitt Foundation, to four organizations working on behalf of children who have lost parents, homes and schools in Iraq. Children in the U.S. who have lost parents in the conflict will also benefit.

"These educational support programs for children of conflict are the best way to help them heal," said Jolie in a written statement from Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, which she co-chairs.

"We hope to encourage others to give to these great organizations," Pitt added in the statement.

Tags: iraq, children

Where Are Those Iranian Weapons in Iraq?

Thu, 22 May 2008 20:39:12 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: www.ipsnews.net

The U.S. military command in Iraq continues to talk about an alleged pipeline of Iranian weapons to Iraqi Shiites opposing the U.S. occupation, implying that they have become dependent on Iran for indirect-fire weapons and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs).

But U.S. officials have failed thus far to provide evidence that would support that claim, and a long-delayed U.S. military report on Iranian arms is unlikely to offer any data on what proportion of the weapons in the hands of Shiite fighters are from Iran and what proportion comes from purchases on the open market.

When Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner was asked that question at a briefing May 8, he did not answer it directly. Instead Bergner reverted to a standard U.S. military line that these groups "could not do what they're doing without the support of foreign support [sic]." Then he defined "foreign support" to include training and funding as well as weapons, implicitly conceding that he did not have much of a case based on weapons alone.

Tags: iraq, iran, united states, politics, weapons, war

Names of the Dead

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:40:52 GMT

clipped by: arifsali
clipper's remarks: Small news piece but significant.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

The Department of Defense has identified 3,968 American service members who have died since the start of the Iraq war. It confirmed the death of the following American on Thursday:

PANIAGUA-MORALES, Jose A., 22, Cpl., Army; Bell Gardens, Calif.; Second Infantry Divi- sion.

Tags: war, dead, united states

Bush invokes faith to defend war policy

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:16:36 GMT

clipped by: arifsali
clipper's remarks: Here you go.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

President George W. Bush delivered a rousing defense of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on Tuesday, mixing faith and foreign policy as he told a group of Christian broadcasters that his policies in the region were predicated on the beliefs that freedom is a God-given right and "every human being bears the image of their master."

With the fifth anniversary of his invasion of Iraq coming next week, and a decision on troop cuts in Iraq on his plate, Bush used a 30-minute speech before an enthusiastic audience - the National Religious Broadcasters association - to make the case that liberty is on the march, so long as the United States does not lose its nerve.

"The decision to remove Saddam Hussein was the right decision early in my presidency," he said, to rousing applause and a standing ovation. "It is the right decision at this point in my presidency, and it will forever be the right decision."

Tags: religion, politics, bush

Young Iraqis are losing their faith in religion

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:54:29 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: www.iht.com

After almost five years of war, many young Iraqis, exhausted by constant firsthand exposure to the violence of religious extremism, say they have grown disillusioned with religious leaders and skeptical of the faith that they preach.

In two months of interviews with 40 young people in five Iraqi cities, a pattern of disenchantment emerged, in which young Iraqis, both poor and middle class, blamed clerics for the violence and the restrictions that have narrowed their lives.

"I hate Islam and all the clerics because they limit our freedom every day and their instruction became heavy over us," said Sara Sami, a high school student in Basra. "Most of the girls in my high school hate that Islamic people control the authority because they don't deserve to be rulers."

Atheer, a 19-year-old from a poor, heavily Shiite neighborhood in southern Baghdad, said: "The religion men are liars.

Young people don't believe them. Guys my age are not interested in religion anymore."

Tags: iraq, religion

Memory and Machiavelli

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:39:43 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: blog.beliefnet.com

Ms. Jacoby has taken up the virtuous but frustrating cause of improving public education and striving for an informed electorate. Let's hope that Barack Obama represents a trend in that direction. The right wing, as represented by Karl Rove, stands for the opposite trend. In their playbook, manipulating the public through fear and capitalizing on ignorance not only works, but is justified because it works. That is, any question of morality and ethics is beside the point, as Machiavelli long ago informed his prince. Ms. Jacoby asserts that lack of historical memory is one of the most serious symptoms of what she calls American unreason. Instead of remembering that Iraq had no suicide bombers until the U.S. invaded, or that the war was entirely unjustified in the first place, the public can be fed a slogan '-- "the surge is working" -- and the past evaporates.

Tags: iraq

Our crimes in Iraq must not be forgotten

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:18:19 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: www.independent.co.uk

Don't bring up the catastrophe in Iraq, not in polite circles or at dinner parties, or anywhere in public really. Better to burp or fart loudly. That is the message for 2008. What war? We have moved on, you bore, say the frightfully busy great and good, their eyes glazing over.

The people responsible for the war have, of course, moved on

The Catholic Church blesses and receives the deceiver (Mr Blair)

In the US with the primaries going full blast, John McCain is anointed as the noble saviour

Bill and Hillary both actively and tacitly supported the invasion of Iraq and never once defended the UN route. These candidates are "liberals", we are told. Only in America. None of the above are exactly in the habit of mentioning the caged of Guantanamo or the anguish of Iraqis. Obama did fleetingly touch on these ugly American transgressions, but not for long, and not with intense moral purpose. At least the guy tried, and had the guts to vote against the invasion.

Tags: opinion, iraq, politics

Over one million Iraqis killed by war

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:21:15 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: www.opinion.co.uk

Further survey work undertaken by ORB, in association with its research partner IIACSS, confirms our earlier estimate that over 1,000,000 Iraqi citizens have died as a result of the conflict which started in 2003.

Following responses to ORB’s earlier work, which was based on survey work undertaken in primarily urban locations, we have conducted almost 600 additional interviews in rural communities. By and large the results are in line with the ‘urban results’ and we now estimate that the death toll between March 2003 and August 2007 is likely to have been of the order of 1,033,000. If one takes into account the margin of error associated with survey data of this nature then the estimated range is between 946,000 and 1,120,000.

Further information about the research, our calculations, questionnaire wording and data tables is available by clicking on the links below. Also available is an article providing background on IIACSS and its founding director Dr. Munqith Dagher.

Tags: iraq, death, war, united states

Polar Bears arrested for blocking the entrances to the Capitol

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 22:23:10 GMT

clipped by: arifsali
clipper's remarks: I know, they must have done something wrong.

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About 60 peaceful demonstrators, including several dressed as polar bears, were arrested outside the U.S. Capitol on Monday protesting the Iraq war and global warming, authorities said.

"People are being arrested out here because you (Congress) are not doing your job," antiwar activist Ann Wright shouted into a bullhorn.

Demonstrators were arrested on charges of unlawful assembly and blocking entrances to the Capitol, which was ringed by members of the U.S. Capitol Police.

Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, a police spokeswoman, said, "We've had about 60 arrests." She said she had received no reports of violence.

About half a dozen demonstrators dressed in fluffy white outfits held a banner reading, "Polar bears for solutions to war and global warming."

Tags: united states, politics, war

A Discussion with the legendary anti-war activist Daniel Ellsberg

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 18:44:57 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: mwcnews.net

Some events in history seem to repeat themselves as time-modified replicas, if not exact copies. And there are chroniclers of those events – participants at times – who bestow an undisputed clarity in the analysis of many of these conflictive situations. Daniel Ellsberg has been such a person, participant and chronicler, on the Vietnam War; and a continuing participant for four decades in the effort to bring peace.

We could not think of a better candidate than Dr. Ellsberg to provide us with some insight on the present conflict in Iraq; the prospect of a war with Iran; and even some thoughts on US foreign policy – and the possibility of change.

Tags: anti-war, history

'War on Terror Served Iran's Interests Best'

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:41:33 GMT

clipped by: arifsali
clipper's remarks: Interview with Tariq Ali
Eminent writer, historian and filmmaker Tariq Ali was born in Lahore in 1943. While a student at Oxford University, he became involved in the movement against the war in Vietnam. That was the beginning of a long career in the literary arts and in peace activism that has earned him iconic status.

Clip Source: www.ipsnews.net

IPS: Who, according to you, is the main beneficiary of the United States-led ‘war on terror’?

Tariq Ali (TA): Undoubtedly Iran. But then the Americans could not have occupied Afghanistan and Iraq and without Iran’s support. This is what no one likes talking about. Had the Iranians said, if you take Iraq we will fight you, the occupation probably would not have taken place. But the Iranians, who regarded the Taliban and Saddam Hussain as enemies, kept silent. The Americans thought, because the Iranians supported them before they went in, things would be fine. But the Iranians were opportunists. They had their own agenda and defended their own state interests -- just like the U.S. defends its state interests. These state interests are now clashing and so the U.S. is threatening Iran.

IPS: Do you think that the U.S. will now launch a war against Iran to defend its national interests?

TA: I do not believe that the U.S. can launch a new war on Iran because they haven’t the troops.

Tags: iran, united states, politics, interview, author, writer, historian, filmmaker

Iraqi government is finished

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:51:58 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: mail.google.com

Watch our latest interview with Pepe Escobar, correspondent for The Real News and columnist for the Asia Times Online. Pepe Escobar is also the author of "Globalistan" and the soon to be published "Red Zone Blues" - a book based on his reportage covering Baghdad. During an in-depth 2-part interview with Senior Editor Paul Jay, Escobar discusses the success of the US military surge into Iraq.

Clip Source: youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: iraq, iraq war, united states, politics

The Trouble with Anonymity on the Web

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:47:21 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

Anonymity online is on the rise, allowing people to write, lie and manipulate data without feeling responsible for it. But who's doing all this hiding? Hint: It's not angry, pajama-wearing bloggers.

And now the public can see all if they visit Griffith's Wikiscanner site. Turns out that all the anonymous propaganda and lies on Wikipedia aren't coming from basement dwellers at all -- they're coming from Congress, the CIA, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the American Civil Liberties Union. Somebody at Halliburton deleted key information from an entry on war crimes; Diebold, an electronic-voting machine manufacturer, deleted sections of its entry about a lawsuit filed against it. Someone at Pepsi deleted information about health problems caused by the soft drink. Somebody at The New York Times deleted huge chunks of information from the entry on the Wall Street Journal. And of course, the CIA has been editing the entry on the Iraq war.

Tags: internet, anonymity, web, online, technology

The War Tapes

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 19:59:07 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: thewartapes.com

In March 2004, just as the insurgent movement strengthened, several members of one National Guard unit arrived in Iraq, with cameras. THE WAR TAPES is the result – a uniquely collaborative film from a team that includes Director Deborah Scranton, Producer Robert May (THE FOG OF WAR) and Producer/Editor Steve James (HOOP DREAMS).

Straight from the front lines in Iraq, THE WAR TAPES is the first war movie filmed by soldiers themselves. It is Operation Iraqi Freedom as filmed by Sergeant Steve Pink, Sergeant Zack Bazzi and Specialist Mike Moriarty and other soldiers.

Zack is a Lebanese-American university student who loves politics, traveling, and being a soldier. Steve is a carpenter with a sharp sense of humor and aspirations to write, which he does with insight and candor. Mike is a resolute patriot and father of two, who rejoined the army after 9/11. All of them leave women at home—a mother, a girlfriend, and a wife.

Tags: documentary, war, iraq war, dvd

NGOs unveils scathing report on impact of US-led war in Iraq

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:36:08 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: www.dawn.com

UNITED NATIONS, June 14 (AFP) A coalition of non-governmental groups Wednesday took the UN Security Council to task for its “shocking silence” on alleged violations of international law by US-led forces in Iraq and urged an early end to their mandate. In a report, the Global Policy Forum slammed the conduct of US-led coalition forces and their Iraqi government partners who “have held a large number of Iraqi citizens in 'security detention' without charge or trial, in direct violation of international law.” ”No Iraqi is safe from arbitrary arrest and the number of prisoners has risen greatly since 2003,” said the international non-profit body that monitors policy-making at the United Nations. “The Security Council has maintained a shocking silence on (abuses in) Iraq,” James Paul, one of the lead authors of the report, told a press briefing.(Posted @ 10:20 PST)

Tags: united states, ngo, united nations, iraq, iraq war