April 28, 2009
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Obama's Iraq
By JEREMY SCAHILL
http://www.counterpunch.org/scahill04282009.html
Remember when Barack Obama made that big announcement at Camp Lejeune about how all US combat troops were going to be withdrawn from Iraqi cities by June 30? Liberals jumped around with joy, praising Obama for ending the war so that they could focus on their “good war” in Afghanistan.
Of course, the celebrations were and remain unwarranted. Obama’s Iraq plan is virtually identical to the one on Bush’s table on January 19, 2009. Obama has just rebranded the occupation, sold it to liberals and dropped the term “Global War on Terror” while, for all practical purposes, continuing the Bush era policy (that’s why leading Republicans praised Obama’s plan). In the real world, US military commanders have said they are preparing for an Iraq presence for another 15-20 years, the US embassy is the size of Vatican City, there is no official plan for the withdrawal of contractors and new corporate mercenary contracts are being awarded. The SOFA Agreement between the US and Iraq gives the US the right to extend the occupation indefinitely and to continue intervening militarily in Iraq ad infinitum. All it takes is for the puppets in Baghdad to ask nicely…
In the latest episode of the “Occupation Rebranded” mini-series, President Obama is preparing to scrap the June 30 withdrawal timeline.
As The New York Times reports: “The United States and Iraq will begin negotiating possible exceptions to the June 30 deadline for withdrawing American combat troops from Iraqi cities, focusing on the troubled northern city of Mosul, according to military officials. Some parts of Baghdad also will still have combat troops.”
According to the Times, the US is playing with the definition of the word “city” when speaking of withdrawing combat troops from all cities:
There are no plans to close the Camp Victory base complex, consisting of five bases housing more than 20,000 soldiers, many of them combat troops. Although Victory is only a 15 minute drive from the center of Baghdad and sprawls over both sides of the city’s boundary, Iraqi officials say they have agreed to consider it outside the city.
In addition, Forward Operating Base Falcon, which can hold 5,000 combat troops, will also remain after June 30. It is just within Baghdad’s southern city limits. Again, Iraqi officials have classified it as effectively outside Baghdad, so no exception to the agreement needs to be granted, in their view.
Combat troops with the Seventh Field Artillery Regiment will remain in the heart of Baghdad at Camp Prosperity, located near the new American Embassy compound in the Green Zone. In addition to providing a quick reaction force, guarding the embassy and noncombat troops from attack, those soldiers will also continue to support Iraqi troops who are now in nominal charge of maintaining security in the Green Zone.
Camp Victory is of tremendous strategic importance to the US occupation. In addition to the military’s share of Baghdad International Airport, it includes four bases—Victory, Liberty, Striker and Slayer—as well as the US-run prison “Camp Cropper.” That’s where the US keeps its “high value” prisoners. While the US officially handed control of Forward Operating Base Freedom to “Iraqi control,” the US military is keeping the swimming pool.
Meanwhile, future plans are being laid for other US bases. Camp Prosperity is going to house US contractors and other personnel, while at Camp Union III housing is being built for several thousand soldiers, trainers and advisers.
What is abundantly clear is that there are enough cosmetic changes going on in Baghdad intended to make it look like the occupation is ending, while continuing it. Again, from the Times:
The Green Zone was handed over to Iraqi control Jan. 1, when the agreement went into effect. In addition to the United States-Iraqi patrols, most of the security for the Green Zone’s many checkpoints and heavily guarded entry points is still done by the same private contractors who did it prior to Jan. 1.
“What you’re seeing is not a change in the numbers, it’s a doctrine change,” said First Sgt. David Moore, a New Jersey National Guardsman with the Joint Area Support Group, which runs the Green Zone. “You’re still going to have fighters. Every U.S. soldier is trained to fight.”
The Iraq occupation is like The Picture of Dorian Gray. No matter what public face the Obama administration attempts to present, it only grows more heinous with each passing day.
Jeremy Scahill, an independent journalist who reports frequently for the national radio and TV program Democracy Now, has spent extensive time reporting from Iraq and Yugoslavia. He is currently a Puffin Writing Fellow at The Nation Institute. Scahill is the author of Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army.His new website is RebelReports.com
samedi 2 mai 2009
vendredi 1 mai 2009
Kurdish security forces arbitrarily detain, torture people, Amnesty International says
14 April 2009
Rights report cites abuses in Kurdish Iraq
Kurdish security forces arbitrarily detain, torture people, Amnesty International says
Government has made progress in human rights, but problems remain, agency says
Honor killings, other attacks on women need to end, it says
Journalists have been detained, beaten and harassed by security forces, report says
(CNN) -- The Kurdish region of Iraq has seen gains in human rights, but security forces "regularly abuse their authority" and women continue to be targets of violence, Amnesty International said Tuesday.
The international human rights group drew the conclusions in a report titled "Hope and Fear, Human Rights in Kurdistan Region of Iraq."
Amnesty International report on Kurdistan region (PDF)
The Kurdish region has been an island of relative stability during the Iraq war, and the report said it has "witnessed growing prosperity" and has made progress in human rights. But serious problems remain, Amnesty said.
Asayish forces, as the local security forces are called, arrested and arbitrarily detained people, "including some who were tortured or forcibly disappeared and whose fate and whereabouts remain unknown," the report said.
The report said the torture included electric shocks, sleep deprivation, kicking, suspension by the wrists and ankles, and beatings with fists, cables and batons.
Malcolm Smart, Amnesty's director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme, said the Kurdistan Regional Government "must take concrete steps to rein in these forces and make them fully accountable under the law if recent human rights gains are to prove effective."
Amnesty said that Kurdish authorities have also failed to control the security wings of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the two major Kurdish political movements that make up the regional government.
The report, based on research from a fact-finding mission last year, said the Kurdistan Regional Government has made progress in human rights, citing, for example, the release of political prisoners detained without charges or trial.
It also cites legislation expanding freedom of expression and measures that strengthen women's rights, and said several agencies are working to monitor and prevent violence against women.
But Smart said problems such as "arbitrary detention and torture, attacks on journalists and freedom of expression, and violence against women" haven't ended and "need urgently to be addressed by the government."
As for abuse against women, authorities must "redouble their efforts to overcome discrimination and violence against women," he said, "and end the vicious cycle of so-called honor killings and other attacks on women by men who wish to subordinate them."
According to official records, the report said, at least 102 women and girls were killed between the beginning of July 2007 and the end of June 2008 in the region.
"These include an unknown number of 'honor killings' -- women who were killed by male relatives because their behavior was considered to have infringed traditional codes of 'honor.' Victims of 'honor crimes' include women who have objected to being forcibly married as well as women who were found having telephone contact with a man without approval of their family," the report said.
The report said 262 women and children "died or were severely injured in the same period due to intentional burning, including suicides. Some women were reported to have been burned to disguise a killing."
The report cites one woman who was strangled to death apparently by her brother "because of her suspected relationship with another man." A 17-year-old female "was shot dead after she sought a divorce from her husband." A 13-year-old girl burned herself to death "to escape forcible marriage to an adult man."
"Such cases show how much more still needs to be done by the KRG authorities to give women and girls effective protection against violence from those who wish to control their behavior or force them into marriages against their will," Smart said.
"No effort should be spared to prosecute and imprison those who commit violence against women, and to make clear that those who perpetrate these crimes cannot escape justice."
The report also said that emerging independent press outlets that have criticized the KRG or have focused on the security forces, human rights violations and government corruption have been harassed. Journalists "have been detained, beaten and harassed" by security forces, and several newspapers have been sued by the KRG
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/04/14/kurdistan.rights/index.html
Rights report cites abuses in Kurdish Iraq
Kurdish security forces arbitrarily detain, torture people, Amnesty International says
Government has made progress in human rights, but problems remain, agency says
Honor killings, other attacks on women need to end, it says
Journalists have been detained, beaten and harassed by security forces, report says
(CNN) -- The Kurdish region of Iraq has seen gains in human rights, but security forces "regularly abuse their authority" and women continue to be targets of violence, Amnesty International said Tuesday.
The international human rights group drew the conclusions in a report titled "Hope and Fear, Human Rights in Kurdistan Region of Iraq."
Amnesty International report on Kurdistan region (PDF)
The Kurdish region has been an island of relative stability during the Iraq war, and the report said it has "witnessed growing prosperity" and has made progress in human rights. But serious problems remain, Amnesty said.
Asayish forces, as the local security forces are called, arrested and arbitrarily detained people, "including some who were tortured or forcibly disappeared and whose fate and whereabouts remain unknown," the report said.
The report said the torture included electric shocks, sleep deprivation, kicking, suspension by the wrists and ankles, and beatings with fists, cables and batons.
Malcolm Smart, Amnesty's director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme, said the Kurdistan Regional Government "must take concrete steps to rein in these forces and make them fully accountable under the law if recent human rights gains are to prove effective."
Amnesty said that Kurdish authorities have also failed to control the security wings of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the two major Kurdish political movements that make up the regional government.
The report, based on research from a fact-finding mission last year, said the Kurdistan Regional Government has made progress in human rights, citing, for example, the release of political prisoners detained without charges or trial.
It also cites legislation expanding freedom of expression and measures that strengthen women's rights, and said several agencies are working to monitor and prevent violence against women.
But Smart said problems such as "arbitrary detention and torture, attacks on journalists and freedom of expression, and violence against women" haven't ended and "need urgently to be addressed by the government."
As for abuse against women, authorities must "redouble their efforts to overcome discrimination and violence against women," he said, "and end the vicious cycle of so-called honor killings and other attacks on women by men who wish to subordinate them."
According to official records, the report said, at least 102 women and girls were killed between the beginning of July 2007 and the end of June 2008 in the region.
"These include an unknown number of 'honor killings' -- women who were killed by male relatives because their behavior was considered to have infringed traditional codes of 'honor.' Victims of 'honor crimes' include women who have objected to being forcibly married as well as women who were found having telephone contact with a man without approval of their family," the report said.
The report said 262 women and children "died or were severely injured in the same period due to intentional burning, including suicides. Some women were reported to have been burned to disguise a killing."
The report cites one woman who was strangled to death apparently by her brother "because of her suspected relationship with another man." A 17-year-old female "was shot dead after she sought a divorce from her husband." A 13-year-old girl burned herself to death "to escape forcible marriage to an adult man."
"Such cases show how much more still needs to be done by the KRG authorities to give women and girls effective protection against violence from those who wish to control their behavior or force them into marriages against their will," Smart said.
"No effort should be spared to prosecute and imprison those who commit violence against women, and to make clear that those who perpetrate these crimes cannot escape justice."
The report also said that emerging independent press outlets that have criticized the KRG or have focused on the security forces, human rights violations and government corruption have been harassed. Journalists "have been detained, beaten and harassed" by security forces, and several newspapers have been sued by the KRG
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/04/14/kurdistan.rights/index.html
jeudi 30 avril 2009
Shehzade Mosque (Istanbul)
Details of Shehzade Mosque built by the great architect Sinan
(photos taken during my last visit to Istanbul)
Click on photos to enlarge
Muslim Architecture under Ottoman Patronage 1926-1924
see:
http://www.muslimheritage.com/uploads/OttomanArchitecture.pdf
see:
http://www.muslimheritage.com/uploads/OttomanArchitecture.pdf
The Launch of the Iraq Mental Health Survey
Press, UN and Iraqi Officials during Launch of IMHS 2006/07 (UN/Ali Abdul-Jalil)
The First of its Kind: The Launch of the Iraq Mental Health Survey 2006/07
By Randa Jamal
The first of its kind, the Iraq Mental Health Survey (IMHS 2006/07) surveyed 4332 Iraqis over eighteen years of age, across the country’s various governorates and social sectors. Launched on 7 March 2009, the study was conducted throughout by the Iraqi Ministries of Health and Planning in a joint effort with the World Health Organization (WHO).
Logo of IMHS 2006/07: designed by Ms. Ruba Hikmat, WHO
The survey reveals that out of the 16.5% who suffered from a mental health disorder during their lifetime, only 2.2% were recipients of medical care. Alarmingly, anxiety and behavioral disorders are higher among women than men, who have a higher rate of substance abuse. Parliament Representative Member, Ms. Samira Al-Musawi, who chairs The Women, Family and Childhood Committee was not surprised by the higher occurrence of anxiety and behavioral disorders among women. She observed, “Women have lived through very difficult conditions, including having to carry the brunt of caring for the family, making ends meet and raising children—at times completely on their own, especially since there is a high number of widows”.
On a more optimistic note, the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was 3.6% lower than expected of a war-ridden country and lower than for other countries such as UK, the US, and Brazil. The Iraq WHO Representative, Dr. Naima Al Gaseer attributed this lower rate to the widespread resilience possessed by Iraqis in handling trauma and in moving forward with their lives. However, a higher level of mental health symptoms was reported such as increased phobia and anxiety.
Mental health disorder rates in general could be much higher, but as the Health Minister, Dr. Saleh Al Hasnawi, pointed out “In Iraq there is a considerable stigma attached to having a mental illness”. Such stigma may prevent survey respondents from responding honestly. To address stigma, he added, “We must implement large-scale community education programmes to decrease this stigma and encourage people to come forward to seek the treatment they need”. He emphasized that improving mental health will be a top priority within the domain of health, considering the emotional distress many experience. He also stressed the need for further research to better comprehend the coping strategies Iraqis use to deal with stress and conflict, but emphasized that it is most important “to achieve the stability that will allow all to live peacefully and without fear”.
In addition to prioritizing mental health services, the survey provides insight about the prevalence of mental health disorders in various governorates and regions, across educational levels, social classes, urban and rural environments. This was an important accomplishment, because, as the Minister of Health of the Kurdistan region, Dr. Abdul Rahman Othman Younis, said, “It is important to customize mental health care to serve the needs of the different sectors of the population. The survey has been useful in pointing out these differences.”Dr. Al Gaseer, attributed the success of the survey to three factors:
1) insight into the status of mental health in Iraq;
2) the ability to design health programmes for various targeted groups; and
3) the transfer of knowledge and skills to health professionals working on the ground in conducting such national surveys in Iraq.However, a phenomenon that could impede addressing some of the challenges identified by the survey is the number of the social workers and psychiatrists in Iraq.
For example, Dr. Abdul-Monaf Al-Jadiry, Professor and Chairman of Psychiatry at the University of Jordan, confirms that the survey report of 2006 estimates that the number of “mental health personnel in Iraq is 136 psychiatrists, 224 psychiatric nurses, 46 social worker and 31 psychologists”.
Since 2006, the professor speculates there has been an increase of 40% in mental health personnel (a total of 612 health workers). However, Dr. Al Gaseer stressed that 40% is too high: WHO recommends assessing the number of health professionals and personnel delivering health services in the county.
However, for a population over 27 million, the number of health personnel seems insufficient to meet the mental health needs of an entire population. For example, the survey identified that 16.5% face a mental illness—that translates into millions of people who require mental health care. Clearly, challenges lie ahead with much work needed to improve the country’s fragile infrastructure, especially since resources are minimal and the Government of Iraq has made severe cuts in its annual budget plans. Challenges include providing mental health services to children and adolescents now, to prevent the development of mental disorders into adulthood, and addressing the deeply rooted stigma of mental illness that prevails in several societies.
Another challenge concerns the brain drain phenomenon that has had severe negative ramifications for Iraq and the need to persuade Iraqi professionals residing abroad to return to Iraq. Yet, despite all that is unfolding in their country, Iraqis move forward with resilience and determination: this is imperative to the survival of a people who have experienced horrendous events and circumstances.
mercredi 29 avril 2009
Turkmens mark the 14th anniversary of the foundation of ITF
Turkmens all over Iraq celebrated the 14th anniversary of the establishment of the Iraqi Turkmen Front. It was on 24th April 1995 that several Turkmen parties and associations formed the Iraqi Turkmen Front.
Celebrations took place in Kerkuk where Turkmens from other parts of Iraq gathered to mark this special day. Turkmens in other Turkmen cities and towns also held celebrations in Iraqi Turkmen front centres.
These celebrations coincided with the reopening of the Iraqi Turkmen Front headquarters in Kerkuk which were demolished by Kurdish violent protesters in June 2008.
mardi 28 avril 2009
Trapped by Violence: Women in Iraq
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Women and girls in Iraq are suffering from systematic violence and a sustained assault on their human rights. In addition to being victims of the bombings and other attacks that put so many Iraqis in danger every day, they are also being targeted specifically because of their gender.
Practical Information RSVP : infobrussels@theirc.org
The International Rescue Committee and Amnesty International have the pleasure to invite you to an afternoon of discussion and films.
Trapped by Violence: Women in Iraq
Debate and films
May 8, 2009 1:30 pm - 5.30 pm
Amazone 10 - 14 rue du Méridien, Brussels
Debate and films
May 8, 2009 1:30 pm - 5.30 pm
Amazone 10 - 14 rue du Méridien, Brussels
· Jennifer Abrahamson, Regional Media Coordinator, Oxfam
· Medina Haeri, Assistant Advisor on Women and War, International Committee of the Red Cross
· Carsten Jurgensen, Researcher Middle East and North Africa Program, Amnesty International
· Moderated by Shannon Meehan, Director of Advocacy and Policy, International Rescue Committee
Two films will be featured after the panel:
Letters of Hope by Taher Alwan
From Fast Death To Slow Death by Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen
International Seeds Day - April 26
Welcome to INEAS
INEAS is an independent, tax-exempt, educational and cultural organization with the mission to
educate the public and inform the media on issues related to Africa and Asia
with focus on Arab and Islamic worlds and the non-Arab Middle East.
http://www.ineas.org/
International Seeds Day (ISD)
April 26
To learn more about ISD click here: http://www.INEAS.org/events.htm
International Seeds Day (ISD) Library
dimanche 26 avril 2009
Turkish President Says Obama Should Also See Turkish Pains of 1915
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that the US President Obama should have shared the 1915 Turkish agonies as well in his 24 April Armenian message."Hundred thousand of Turkish and Muslims died in 1915. All who lost their lives should be remembered and all sides' pain should be remembered" Turkish President added.
Turkish President Gul further said that there are many parts in Obama's speech which he does not share: "There are many parts in the speech that it is impossible to agree with. The pain of all victims of 1915 events should be remembered. Politicians and statesmen cannot decide on history events."Abdullah Gul said "now we should look at the future. We should allow diplomacy. All the efforts made till now are for the good for the entire region. I am happy with that all the regional states support these efforts."
More than 520.000 Muslim Ottoman civilian citizens were massacred by the armed Armenian ultra-nationalists in 1915 in order to establish an independent Armenian state over Ottoman territories. Armenians with Russians occupied a huge part of Anatolia for a while. Armenians name 1915 Riot and Istanbul Government's Relocation Policy as genocide.
Turkey has never accepted the accusation and blamed the Armenian seperatism for the communal clashes between both sides.
* OBAMA IS AN ARMENIAN LOVER AND SUPPORTER
Dr. Nilgun Gulcan, Turkish political scientist argued "Obama's speech is full of Armenian arguments". "He is champion of the Armenian thesis: He is not a moderator between two sides. He openly supports Armenians. His speech is full of mistakes and Armenian accusations" she added.
Similarly Dr. Sedat laciner, head of the Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization (USAK) claimed Obama's pro-Armenian approach will undermine Turkish-American partnership. He also said "Obama's pro-Armenian stance in Caucasus is not rational and does not help American interests. Armenia is in the Russian camp while Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan are pro-Western countries. US' insistence of pro-Armenian policies in the Caucasus harms pro-Western Caucasus alliance".
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/74221/turkish-president-says-obama-should-also-see-turkish-pains-of-1915.html
Turkish Weekly is an USAK Publication.
USAK is the leading Ankara based Turkish think-tank.
www.usak.org.tr
www.turkishweekly.net
www.usakgundem.com
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that the US President Obama should have shared the 1915 Turkish agonies as well in his 24 April Armenian message."Hundred thousand of Turkish and Muslims died in 1915. All who lost their lives should be remembered and all sides' pain should be remembered" Turkish President added.
Turkish President Gul further said that there are many parts in Obama's speech which he does not share: "There are many parts in the speech that it is impossible to agree with. The pain of all victims of 1915 events should be remembered. Politicians and statesmen cannot decide on history events."Abdullah Gul said "now we should look at the future. We should allow diplomacy. All the efforts made till now are for the good for the entire region. I am happy with that all the regional states support these efforts."
More than 520.000 Muslim Ottoman civilian citizens were massacred by the armed Armenian ultra-nationalists in 1915 in order to establish an independent Armenian state over Ottoman territories. Armenians with Russians occupied a huge part of Anatolia for a while. Armenians name 1915 Riot and Istanbul Government's Relocation Policy as genocide.
Turkey has never accepted the accusation and blamed the Armenian seperatism for the communal clashes between both sides.
* OBAMA IS AN ARMENIAN LOVER AND SUPPORTER
Dr. Nilgun Gulcan, Turkish political scientist argued "Obama's speech is full of Armenian arguments". "He is champion of the Armenian thesis: He is not a moderator between two sides. He openly supports Armenians. His speech is full of mistakes and Armenian accusations" she added.
Similarly Dr. Sedat laciner, head of the Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization (USAK) claimed Obama's pro-Armenian approach will undermine Turkish-American partnership. He also said "Obama's pro-Armenian stance in Caucasus is not rational and does not help American interests. Armenia is in the Russian camp while Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan are pro-Western countries. US' insistence of pro-Armenian policies in the Caucasus harms pro-Western Caucasus alliance".
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/74221/turkish-president-says-obama-should-also-see-turkish-pains-of-1915.html
Turkish Weekly is an USAK Publication.
USAK is the leading Ankara based Turkish think-tank.
www.usak.org.tr
www.turkishweekly.net
www.usakgundem.com
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