tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post116119063529135476..comments2024-03-27T12:21:01.836+03:00Comments on Ahmed Alabdullah: Iraqi Bloggers Discuss Lancet Study, Iraq The Modelahmedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104880505765835826noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-76071928541752342962007-11-09T20:33:00.000+03:002007-11-09T20:33:00.000+03:00THE SADDEST SONGToday I wrote the saddest song,In ...THE SADDEST SONG<BR/><BR/>Today I wrote the saddest song,<BR/>In my mementos tag and tab it;<BR/>But neither will nor voice is strong<BR/>And I would cease the habit.<BR/><BR/>It told about the sins of men<BR/>In vacuous lives, a lengthy prison<BR/>Term as though serving, after when<BR/>Nor freedom brings revision.<BR/><BR/>For they were such as did commit<BR/>Extremest of fraternal folly<BR/>Upon their peers and brethren--it<BR/>Was hardly ever holy.<BR/><BR/>These they defamed, and furthermore<BR/>With all did press their sinful calling<BR/>Engaging in an unjust war,<BR/>All sides reduced to crawling.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps some few retained their souls<BR/>Unscatherd--but e´en the best as baddest<BR/>Escaped not detrimental holes,<BR/>Wherefore the song was saddest.<BR/><BR/>It told of many joys reduced,<BR/>Distorted, pummeled into tatters,<BR/>As euphemistic words enthused<BR/>Wholly confused the matters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1163280687835510432006-11-12T00:31:00.000+03:002006-11-12T00:31:00.000+03:00All of this really puzzles me. Konfused Kid has co...All of this really puzzles me. Konfused Kid has collected a range of Iraqi viewpoints, and contrasted them with another Iraqi viewpoint. That seems a reasonable and interesting thing to do. <BR/><BR/>And then many non-Iraqis have, in a variety of ways, suggested that some of the opinions are incorrect, don't tally with each other, or have changed over time.<BR/><BR/>What is that about guys? Surely in our own countries, most of which are safe, and in most of which we have been able to publicly air, modify and refine our political opinions throughout our lives, we are not always consistent? Surely we disagree with our compatriots? Surely we take different viewpoints on the validity of published statistics? Surely we advocate for our rights to do all these things?<BR/><BR/>But Iraq has been liberated. The Iraqi people had to be careful what political opinions they expressed in Saddam's day. In their sudden and bounteous freedom, they are supposed to reach through the weirdness of their lives and think as consistent clones? I can see how that wouldn't freak us out. Yeah, now I have thought this through, I can see what all you guys were getting at after all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1162962743434174642006-11-08T08:12:00.000+03:002006-11-08T08:12:00.000+03:00"why? why discuss that 'fact'? why not discuss 'fa..."why? why discuss that 'fact'? why not discuss 'fact' that until the US invaded, totally disbanded the army and the entire infrastructure iraq was a drastically more stable society than it is today, people could go on living normal lives."<BR/><BR/>It was more stable before 2003, but Saddam's mafiosi have been mass murdering innocent Iraqis since 1980. The fedayeen Saddam and hardcore Baathists did not want a democratic Iraq - they and their Wahabi allies have done everything possible to make sure that the new Iraq would be a failure, and they've done a very good job of it.<BR/><BR/>"or better yet, skip all the 'facts' except maybe the one that says this is a horrible tragic loss."<BR/><BR/>That this is indeed a horrible tragic loss is a fact. So was the loss of a hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis due to sanctions. So was the loss of tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis due to Gulf War I - I don't remember so many people being so concerned about Iraqis back then. <BR/><BR/>"maybe the point here is that everyone wants the message of their 'fact' out there of politicizing this loss. this message of 'why can't iraqis get along? comeon. get real."<BR/><BR/>Iraqis got along just fine until the Sunni Arab mafiosi of Saddam's regime started mass murdering Iraqis in 1980. What's been happening since 2003 is just a continuation - an escalation - of mass murders of Iraqi Shia, Kurds, and Sunni Arabs who want to be part of a democratic Iraq.<BR/><BR/>"quit blaming iraqis. it won't do any good."<BR/><BR/>Blaming anybody won't do any good, but let's be honest - it was the Sunni Arab mafiosi and their Wahabi allies who escalated the attacks on Iraqi Shia, and the Shii militias started retaliating after two years of suicide bombings murderous attacks on the Iraqi govt. Blaming them might not do any good, but they do deserve blame.Iraqi Mojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1162863191507622642006-11-07T04:33:00.000+03:002006-11-07T04:33:00.000+03:00I understood ITM was a psy-op from the very beginn...I understood ITM was a psy-op from the very beginning (read its name, people). My comments there were deleted, so I started roving about town to various internet cafes & universities sending fake effusive praise comments. Soon got tired of that joke (initials GB, HC, ID,JE, etc etc). Re BodyCount, it seems the bodycount blog feels they have lost face. [!swallow your pride guys!]<BR/>I'm not an expert, but in a chaotic situation its clear that death certificates issued by individual doctors will far exceed death counts at hospitals and in newspapers, if its dangerous to cross town or draw attention to yourself. I heard the Lancet author say that 98% (check this?) of the deaths reported were subsequently vallidated by death certificates. ie they asked about deaths, then after that, they asked to see death certificates.giordano brunohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03966248788473430768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1162602853157615692006-11-04T04:14:00.000+03:002006-11-04T04:14:00.000+03:00Here is another site that discusses casualties in ...Here is another site that discusses casualties in Iraq. Their count is a max in the 50,000 range, and the methodology is different then the Lancet report.<BR/><BR/>"Casualty figures are derived from a comprehensive survey of online media reports and eyewitness accounts. Where these sources report differing figures, the range (a minimum and a maximum) are given. All results are independently reviewed and error-checked by at least two members of the Iraq Body Count project team in addition to the original compiler before publication".<BR/><BR/>It might be worth a visit for those who are interested in cross checking facts http://www.iraqbodycount.org/contacts.php.bordergalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02820863419786045281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1162589182251855802006-11-04T00:26:00.000+03:002006-11-04T00:26:00.000+03:00I didnt read the article in question ,but I suppo...I didnt read the article in question ,but I support ITM anyway.Keep up the good work Omar.We love you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1162429834013981072006-11-02T04:10:00.000+03:002006-11-02T04:10:00.000+03:00ITM should have read the study and discussed the f...<I>ITM should have read the study and discussed the fact that most Iraqis are being killed by other Iraqis and non-Iraqi Muslims. </I><BR/><BR/>why? why discuss that 'fact'? why not discuss 'fact' that until the US invaded, totally disbanded the army and the entire infrastructure iraq was a drastically more stable society than it is today, people could go on living normal lives. <BR/><BR/>or better yet, skip all the 'facts' except maybe the one that says this is a horrible tragic loss.<BR/><BR/>maybe the point here is that everyone wants the message of their 'fact' out there of politicizing this loss. this message of 'why can't iraqis get along? comeon. get real. start / the american trained deathsquads, who could get along w/the amount of suffering they have endured, certainly not any civilized country. wat society could get along w/foriegner fighting terrorists in your back yard? quit blaming iraqis. it won't do any good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1162401795365959352006-11-01T20:23:00.000+03:002006-11-01T20:23:00.000+03:00I was also surprised by ITM's opinion on the Lance...I was also surprised by ITM's opinion on the Lancet study. I wonder if they read it. According to the report, two thirds of violent deaths have been caused by suicide bombers, car bombs, road side bombs, etc., presumably carried out by the 'resistance' - ITM should have read the study and discussed the fact that most Iraqis are being killed by other Iraqis and non-Iraqi Muslims. US troops have also killed many Iraqis, but I am quite surprised by the number of Iraqis who've been killed by Arabs, by Muslims. Why so much hatred? I hope the US leaves soon, and I hope then Iraqis will be able to reconcile.Iraqi Mojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1162321983288739392006-10-31T22:13:00.000+03:002006-10-31T22:13:00.000+03:00When will Iraqis finally step up and govern themse...When will Iraqis finally step up and govern themselves and enforce the peace in their country so that we can bring our troops home?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161760355143035712006-10-25T10:12:00.000+03:002006-10-25T10:12:00.000+03:00Divide and conquer.That is all it is about.Hate an...Divide and conquer.<BR/>That is all it is about.<BR/>Hate and ignorance pass as the qualities needed to "fit in" in the cult being cynically bred in the U.S. today. They are no threat to those in power because they are too stupified to understand their world and how they are being used.<BR/>The Texans in power are in a place which exists as a result of violence, rebellion and genocide.<BR/>They have inherited a system which has enslaved people while seeming innocent : based on deceit and ruthlessness. Not to mention ingrained bigotry.<BR/>Turkey has no wish for a separate Kurd country next door. They are a lot closer than the U.S.A. The Kurds need an Iraq to be part of or violence is likely. Washington knows this.<BR/>It is much easier to set up a situation in which people kill each other than go to the trouble ( and blame ) of doing it all yourself. I honestly suspect Dick Cheney of being a person who would push this.<BR/>Iraqis need each other desperately. The enemy at the gate ( huh, inside the walls ) is too cunning and vicious to allow anything but a united people to get rid of him. That is why all the talk of hate and distrust. It is an attack on peoples' pride to beat them with. Those small and vicious enough to only try and save themselves can bring the country to destruction.opithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01621946866211400380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161635768662868542006-10-23T23:36:00.000+03:002006-10-23T23:36:00.000+03:00Maybe Lincoln was right.Don't get them all excited...<I>Maybe Lincoln was right.</I><BR/><BR/>Don't get them all excited, I'm sure that name has a different meaning for some of the posters on this thread...<BR/><BR/>(paycheck?)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161634989661449952006-10-23T23:23:00.000+03:002006-10-23T23:23:00.000+03:00Neocon lapdog Allowi had 5 of his pms vote with th...<I>Neocon lapdog Allowi had 5 of his pms vote with them. </I><BR/><BR/>Wasn't it - 8 parliament members of Allawi's (CIA funded) party "accidently" did not boycott the vote - exactly the number needed to push it through?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161633400198674562006-10-23T22:56:00.000+03:002006-10-23T22:56:00.000+03:00I just read how SCIRI and the DAWA parties pushed...I just read how SCIRI and the DAWA parties pushed through the partitioning vote without any support from the Al Sadr shia or any of the Sunni parties. Neocon lapdog Allowi had 5 of his pms vote with them. They couldn’t have done it without the Bushies help. Al Qaida, Iran, Israel and the neocons all pushing for the same thing.<BR/><BR/>Who blew up the Al Askari mosque or golden dome sacred to both Shia AND Sunnis? Why did we send Negraponte and Steele, who cut their teeth training the death squads in Central America ,to work with the SCIRI dominated government while they were forming their death squads? Why are our guys fighting the Sadrists in Baghdad now? Is it a coincidence that they are the major Shia group that does NOT want to partition Iraq? Is divide and conquer some new concept that is too advanced for AlQaida or the neocons to conceive of? And that’s not what they’re doing?<BR/><BR/>How can anyone support this division? Have you heard of a poll that asks the Iraqis if they want to break up their country and they said yes? What percentage of the population do you think wants to fight this civil war? Where will the thee quarter of a million Christians go? How about the Turkmen? What about the millions of secular westernized Iraqis from all backgrounds? Which of the Islamic state partitions do they belong in? And the mixed marriage families? Where do they go?<BR/><BR/>If dividing the country makes sense there, maybe it would make sense here too. I mean, we’ve got groups that have had trouble getting along with each other for ages too. Maybe that would solve all OUR problems. Let’s see, the Latinos could form a mega-state in the southwest that would be heavily influenced by Mexico. We could split off a giant bible belt country in the south. We could make north central Nordicland. We’d have to figure out where we’d put all the Black people. They’re kind of spread out now. Maybe give them Georgia, Virginia, D.C. and part of the rust belt. I guess we could give the Jews a split state- most of NY and Fla. But wait, then we’d have to cleanse the Cubans and Puerto Ricans and send them to Latino land. They might not be happy with that. I guess we could make one giant Native American reservation? Do we need a state for Catholics, or Atheists or Scientologists? or one for -Crap, this is getting too complicated. <BR/><BR/> Maybe Lincoln was right. We shouldn’t split up the country. It would only cause hell here and benefit our enemies. Splitting up Iraq will certainly not benefit Iraqis. Don’t pretend it will.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161623092649585152006-10-23T20:04:00.000+03:002006-10-23T20:04:00.000+03:00oh my! i'm shocked! story @ la times w/this intri...oh my! i'm shocked! story @ la times w/this intriguing line<BR/><BR/>"<A HREF="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fg-baghdad23oct23,0,361375.story?coll=la-home-headlines" REL="nofollow">Are U.S. troops equipping Iraq's sectarian avengers? </A>"<BR/><BR/>apparently i am not the only one to consider such nefariousness from our ever so moral administration. now what on earth could be the reason for this? perhaps the iraqi people will become so exhausted from the horrors of war dividing the country will seem like a godsend. sorry for the triple posts kid, i'll shut up for awhile.anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903135221870742458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161620523202304162006-10-23T19:22:00.000+03:002006-10-23T19:22:00.000+03:00curious, i didn't even read the wsj piece, i scrol...curious, i didn't even read the wsj piece, i scrolled to the bottom and considered the source. i'm not bothering to read any bleeting coming from the other side on this issue, it's totally meaningless.<BR/><BR/><I>During Paul Bremer rule many other millions missed and no one know where and how?</I><BR/><BR/>last night 60 minutes (popular tv) carried a story about the missing billions that'disappeared' during the cpa days. bremmer hired this iraqi plumber living in poland to be in charge of appropriations. the tv host ask him if he had any previous experience in accounting, no he didn't. (that in itself is rather odd don't you think?) bremmersent him to some brush up course in DC for 2 weeks, they sent him back to cpa and gave him billions to play with. he 'lost it'. why do i think this sounds a little fishy? another odd anomaly about the report.. it seemed to focus on the dishonesty of this plumber and another guy in jordan, and never turned the spotlight on bremmer. who the h** gives some plumber all that money. it's literally enough to buy your own army.<BR/><BR/>hey, maybe i'm on to something?? ya think? i wonder of anyone else has thought of this? come to think of it, that missing 2-3 trillion from DOD never showed up either....anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903135221870742458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161619419375987612006-10-23T19:03:00.000+03:002006-10-23T19:03:00.000+03:00And one should also ask oneself: is the process of...<I>And one should also ask oneself: is the process of fracturing being instigated by outside forces, and what advantage would a fractured Iraq have for them?</I><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://arablinks.blogspot.com/2006/10/america-dictating-iraqi-partition.html" REL="nofollow">America dictating the Iraqi partition scheme" </A><BR/><BR/><I>"Open Bidding for Import of new Rulers for the Democratic Iraq". Actually the bidding hasn't started yet, but this is the threat the journalist says Condoleeza Rice brought with her on her recent visit to the Green Zone. ....<BR/><BR/>The editorialist says this isn't just a case of feeling our way, of the free play of domestic politics. On the contrary this is "literally the application of the American wishes", for a division into sect- and race-based regions. It was already their policy in the Bremer era. And the extraordinary efforts that went into passage of the bill [in the famous disputed vote of October 11] appears to have been the result of specific instructions from Rice during her visit of Oct 7. The idea is to first partition Iraq, and then to partition the rest of the region, to produce what they are calling the "New" or the "Greater" Middle East.</I><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.weeklystandard.com/Utilities/printer_preview.asp?idArticle=12844&R=EE5E2D525" REL="nofollow">Censoring Iraq ? Don't blame the media </A><BR/><BR/><I>This information blockade is occurring at the same time that the Pentagon is outsourcing millions of dollars to public relations firms to shape the news....<BR/><BR/>"We don't turn down embeds at all. When we get a request, it may be very specific or broader. We go to the unit involved. They manage their own embeds. We don't force them to take anyone; we're not going to force anyone to interact with media. We may offer advice and talk to them about their reasoning. In the end, we respect the wishes of the unit." Walt and I both had requests, and in each case the commanders had put their wishes in writing. In both cases, Johnson denied the embeds. </I>anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903135221870742458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161607312748902392006-10-23T15:41:00.000+03:002006-10-23T15:41:00.000+03:00Apologies anne, you are quite correct. I was sligh...Apologies anne, you are quite correct. I was slightly confused by the fact that you'd linked to that hackery. It makes much more sense now that I see you didn't.<BR/><BR/>I blame the fact that I get the red mist whenever I spot the WSJ deliberately exclude information which they should supply to their readers, but particulary when it is over a matter as serious as this.Garryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08188217045700587288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161595631801325032006-10-23T12:27:00.000+03:002006-10-23T12:27:00.000+03:00[rick] “Does anyone in Iraq blame Iran for the con...[rick] “Does anyone in Iraq blame Iran for the continuing, violently spirallying out of control violence?”<BR/><BR/>My gut keeps telling me Iran is involved, but every time I check, the facts are that their material assistance to the violence is little to nothing. Their proxies in Iraq, SCIRI and the Badr Brigade, managed, through Chalabi, to ally themselves with the US and get their hands on more money and guns than they need. When Iran gets involved, you’ll know about it.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>[Italian] “the report used the CIA estimate for the mortality rate before the invasion”<BR/><BR/>With respect, I think the Guardian got it wrong. The Burnham study can be downloaded from the Lancet, and it is clear that they derived their own mortality rate before the invasion from the very same people from which they derived the post war mortality rate.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>[tom villars] “Of the Iraqi bloggers you listed, how many are Sunni? I'm assuming close to 100%, but I don't want to guess.”<BR/><BR/>Aaah, that goddamn Sunni bias. These creeps just wanna fool you. So, what would a Shia say about the situation?<BR/><BR/>Let’s see, a nice ex-pro-occupation Shiite Iraqi special, coming right up for you:<BR/><BR/><BR/>[hammorabbi] “Three years passed for the occupation of Iraq and this country sunk in seas of blood, darkness and death.<BR/><BR/>Even the hope for democracy and freedom declined day after day and replaced by dreams about minimum standard of security. The phantom of death is everywhere and anywhere. No one can grantee his life even in his own bedroom. The interference of the Afghani origin (terrorist-biased) American ambassador Z. K. Zada in the formation of the new government exposed the blemished game of the process and its hidden face.<BR/><BR/>The plight of corruption became epidemic everywhere in Iraq. Even the oil plundered with the help of those in power or burnt by terrorists. Ministers in the previous interim government escaped with millions of dollars to the West. During Paul Bremer rule many other millions missed and no one know where and how?” //end<BR/><BR/>There ya have it, the voice of truth. How things change, huh?Brunohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11455545060335228501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161595489083889212006-10-23T12:24:00.000+03:002006-10-23T12:24:00.000+03:00[katrin] “But to me it remains the human drama: wi...[katrin] “But to me it remains the human drama: without determined force against religious fanatics that bristle with weapons”<BR/><BR/>Which is of course why the US allied itself with the religious fanatics in the Badr Brigade, trained their men, armed them and put them into the police force where they created the devil’s own mess. It’s why the US recruited all the Mukhabarat agents it could lay its hands on, and made them the core of Iraq’s new intelligence agency. I guess that to resist these and other fanatics (such as the Neocons) force really is needed. Sad.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>[Roderick] “I find the Lancet study's figures to be suspect because the numbers are suspiciously high. This numbers issue should not be confused with the more important issue of Iraqi civilian casualties, which must be staggering, even if well short of 655,000.”<BR/><BR/>I find the numbers of the Holocaust to be suspiciously high. The number must be staggering even though it must be well short of 6.5 million.<BR/><BR/>How does that sound on the ears, hm? <BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>[monica] “Those aren't mutually exclusive things - the study can be wrong and the number of Iraqi deaths can be high (just not 655,000).”<BR/><BR/>It’s possible. Which is precisely why Burnham et al have called for an even BIGGER INTERNATIONAL study on Iraqi mortality in order to confirm or deny these results. Funny how all the good little wingnuts can rant and rave about the Burnham study but when it comes to supporting the calls for a larger inquest into Iraqi mortality they are stone deaf and dead silent. Iraqi lives are cheaply dismissed and quickly forgotten in some quarters, it seems.Brunohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11455545060335228501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161595394545218472006-10-23T12:23:00.000+03:002006-10-23T12:23:00.000+03:00[Jeffrey] “I'm hoping we can get Tiger to tee off ...[Jeffrey] “I'm hoping we can get Tiger to tee off from the Lake of Tranquillity.”<BR/><BR/>I’m hoping that one day, when Jeffrey finally cracks open a book on natural history, he will realize that the Sea of Tranquility is a sea and not a lake. You pick on people for their spelling, and I’ll pick on you for your ignorance. How’s that?<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>[lynnette] “And Kid, you got off lightly with the de-linking thing. If you had said some of the things you did to Zeyad your ass would have been grass.”<BR/><BR/>Then again, Zeyad is not exactly a neocon drone-head like the ITM monkeys are. He is able to dilute his ideas with a dose of reality, unlike the “see no evil, hear no evil” ITM bloggers. I doubt Kid would ever have CAUSE to go off at somebody like Zeyad.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>[Allahs Cousin] “One must ask oneself, how any self-respecting Arab can have a link to little-green-footballs to begin with. ITM is pathetic, and a minority.”<BR/><BR/>EXACTLY. It’s like a black linking to a KKK site. Completely illogical, unless you absolutely hate yourself.<BR/><BR/>While I understand and agree with you about your remarks of Iraq being an artificial entity, one should also acknowledge that Mesapotamia HAS had an autonomous culture since forever. And one should also ask oneself: is the process of fracturing being instigated by outside forces, and what advantage would a fractured Iraq have for them? I prefer Iraq whole, and I prefer Iraq strong.Brunohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11455545060335228501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161593138863696632006-10-23T11:45:00.000+03:002006-10-23T11:45:00.000+03:00Perhaps I am wrong but my own suspicion is that th...Perhaps I am wrong but my own suspicion is that the Lancet survey was released shortly before the US elections rather than at some other time because it was intended to have a propaganda effect on those elections.<BR/><BR/>Regarding the outrage of Iraqi bloggers against ITM, the writers of ITM are entitled to express any opinion they choose.<BR/><BR/>Regarding the Lancet casualty estimate, anecdotal evidence is notoriously unreliable becuase of the unreliability of both the anecdotes and the interpretation of them. Considering that Iraq is a country wheer suffering and death are considered political tools by the indigent population, a serious bias to the high side is totally plausible.<BR/><BR/>Regarding any move by ITM to de-link their blog from people who oppose their opinions and insult them, I find it reasonable and predictable.waldschrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14397062516974543459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161581117409551802006-10-23T08:25:00.000+03:002006-10-23T08:25:00.000+03:00Truth About Iraq, "a website established to promot...<I>Truth About Iraq, "a website established to promote a positive view of the U.S. military role in Iraq</I><BR/><BR/>not to be confised w/ <A HREF="http://truth-about-iraqis2.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">truth about iraqis</A> a superb being, our comrad, w/whom i am in complete solidarity.anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903135221870742458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161580712750106442006-10-23T08:18:00.000+03:002006-10-23T08:18:00.000+03:00Does anyone in Iraq blame Iran for the continuing,...<I>Does anyone in Iraq blame Iran for the continuing, violently spirallying out of control violence?</I><BR/><BR/>you might find this <A HREF="http://arablinks.blogspot.com/2006/10/my-view-us-opposition-to-iraqi.html" REL="nofollow">interesting.</A><BR/><BR/><I>US support for SCIRI. There was aggressive US support for the SCIRI candidate in the long-drawn-out dispute over appointment of a Prime Minister during the winter and spring of 2006.The question-mark that hung over this issue is still there: Why would the US support the candidate of the party generally recognized as closest to Iran? And the answer will turn out to be: It is because he supported federalism and opposed the nationalist trend of the Sadrists and others. (Eventually there was a compromise in the person of Nuri al-Maliki, who, as it is now clear to see, was just the person to stand aside and let the federalism campaign take its course under the guidance of SCIRI leader Hakim).</I>anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903135221870742458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161580417409606802006-10-23T08:13:00.000+03:002006-10-23T08:13:00.000+03:00curious anne, way upstream you linked to an artic...curious <I>anne, way upstream you linked to an article "discrediting" the Lancet report in the WSJ.</I><BR/><BR/>i believe it was monica who linked to that silly editorial. @ 10:55 this was my debunking.<BR/><BR/><I> if you scroll to the bottom of the article it says the guy is a political consultant. i heard he also offers excellent deals on heart transplants and vasectomies. perhaps some of the people here who eagerly except scientific opinion from political hacks would like to volunteer to have their dicks operated on by the guy?</I>anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903135221870742458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14721025.post-1161563808112909562006-10-23T03:36:00.000+03:002006-10-23T03:36:00.000+03:00Does anyone in Iraq blame Iran for the continuing,...Does anyone in Iraq blame Iran for the continuing, violently spirallying out of control violence?<BR/><BR/>RickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com