At least the US military is consistent: troops who killed eight Iraqi policemen have been cleared of wrongdoing (BBC), as have US troops who killed Reuters camerman Mazen Dana (BBC).
Dana's death has had a big impact on the press: a BBC video feature notes that his killing was 'not a one off' (BBC), but part of a pattern of US soldiers killing innocents, including civilians, under the 'rules of engagement.' The civilian deaths have been reported without comment elsewhere, but suggesting that the pattern of civilian deaths (BBC) is actually (a) bad and (b) a pattern is somewhat unique in the non-partisan press.
Saturday, September 27, 2003
The US government's battle to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people could have a new obstacle: US plans to privatize and sell off Iraq's various non-oil assetts. (BBC) Selling off the oil assetts would make all those allegations about the US really being after the oil look... a bit true.
Mr Allawi said: "this point always comes up". But he doesn't believe it himself.Meanwhile, the Bush Administration is now under bipartisan criticism for favoring companies with close financial ties to it for Iraq's rebuilding contracts. (BBC)
"The Iraqi contract process looks like Dodge City before the Marshals showed up," Oregon Democrat Wyden told a news conference.
"It just doesn't pass the smell test to have companies not be part of the competitive bidding process."
Thursday, September 25, 2003
I'm back from a short vacation in the Sierras, only some of which are on fire. Pesky misplaced lighting!
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Highlights from immediately prior to my departure: Bush says "We have no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with the Sept. 11" attacks (Yahoo!). Also from this article: Condi Rice is quoted as saying "We have never claimed that Saddam Hussein had either direction or control of 9-11."
This Modern World has more on this topic.
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In other news, the Condi Rice notes that the long awaited report on Iraq's alleged WMDs may not be released to the public (whitehouse.gov). After talking about how thourough the report is expected to me, and how important, and how it will compile intelligence information about what was really known about Iraq's capabilities, there is this exchange:
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Did he really mean expectation, or was the word he was searching for "hope?"
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A Democratic Congressman from Georgia is blaming the media for troop deaths in Iraq (talkingpoints.com). I'm not sure grasping at straws can even cover that one. The original op ed piece (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) penned by the congressman contains such zingers as "The falsely bleak picture weakens our national resolve, discourages Iraqi cooperation and emboldens our enemy." And then he skips the news about how our troops keep killing civilians, and mentions that our school renovation projects are going to make a big, positive impact on the Iraqis. And says that all the Iraqis HE saw smiled and waved.
Golly. It may be out of line here, but I think the best way to get good press that 'strengthens our national resolve' would be to make good things happen in Iraq. Is that such a stretch?
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Highlights from immediately prior to my departure: Bush says "We have no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with the Sept. 11" attacks (Yahoo!). Also from this article: Condi Rice is quoted as saying "We have never claimed that Saddam Hussein had either direction or control of 9-11."
This Modern World has more on this topic.
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In other news, the Condi Rice notes that the long awaited report on Iraq's alleged WMDs may not be released to the public (whitehouse.gov). After talking about how thourough the report is expected to me, and how important, and how it will compile intelligence information about what was really known about Iraq's capabilities, there is this exchange:
Q When will Kaye's report will be public?It's funnier (and sadder) in context to see the report built up and then shut down like this.
DR. RICE: David Kaye is not going to be done with this for quite some time. And I would not count on reports. I suppose there may be interim reports. I don't know when those will be, and I don't know what the public nature of them will be.
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Did he really mean expectation, or was the word he was searching for "hope?"
"Our clear expectation is that this interim report will not reach firm conclusions about Iraq's possession of WMD."This comes from a Guardian UK article on the advance word circulating in Washington that the long-awaited WMD report will emphasize Iraq's intent to have a WMD program, someday. (Guardian UK) The article is full of quotes from folks who claim to know what's in the report, and claim that it demonstrates that the WMD claims were all false. Interim or no, the report should be a good read, should it be allowed to see the full light of day.
- Blair spokeman
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A Democratic Congressman from Georgia is blaming the media for troop deaths in Iraq (talkingpoints.com). I'm not sure grasping at straws can even cover that one. The original op ed piece (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) penned by the congressman contains such zingers as "The falsely bleak picture weakens our national resolve, discourages Iraqi cooperation and emboldens our enemy." And then he skips the news about how our troops keep killing civilians, and mentions that our school renovation projects are going to make a big, positive impact on the Iraqis. And says that all the Iraqis HE saw smiled and waved.
Golly. It may be out of line here, but I think the best way to get good press that 'strengthens our national resolve' would be to make good things happen in Iraq. Is that such a stretch?