Brooding Cityscape 2 - Jeremy Mann

Brooding Cityscape 1 By Jeremy Mann

Operation American Spring

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Pre-World Cup Unrest in Brazil

Thousands flee Fallujah assault

gulftoday.ae | Thousands flee Fallujah assault:
"Separate attacks in Iraq killed five members of an anti-militant militia on Friday as an Al Qaeda splinter group claimed responsibility for a spate of Baghdad bombings that killed at least 19 people the day before. 
In one of Friday’s attacks, gunmen opened fire from a speeding car, targeting a security checkpoint manned by anti-Al-Qaeda fighters (Sahwa) near the town of B
Three fighters were killed and four were wounded in that attack, police officials said. Hours later, a roadside bomb targeted a patrol of militiamen just north of Baghdad, killing two fighters and wounding four. Medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. 

New Indian Leader Has A Controversial Past

Calle By Claude Monet

Diz

The Three-War Doctrine

The Three-War Doctrine - FPIF:

"We are, it would seem, at an epochal moment in U.S. history. The Reagan and Bush Jr. administrations attempted to deepsix the Vietnam syndrome and resurrect the U.S. military as the principle tool of U.S. foreign policy. But after the failures of Iraq and Afghanistan, the syndrome has returned in an industrial-strength version. Finally, it seems as if the United States is willing to take the cop out of cooperation.

But before we stick flowers into the barrels of the Special Forces’ combat assault rifles and celebrate the transformation of the CIA’s drones into Amazon delivery vehicles, let’s evaluate what will likely be a very substantial backlash to the Obama doctrine. Depending on what happens in the mid-terms and more importantly the next presidential elections in 2016, we might be looking at yet another effort to drive a stake through the heart of the Vietnam-Afghanistan-Iraq syndrome and reassert, once again, American military power."

Train Smoke (1900) - Edvard Munch

Chilcot Iraq inquiry: MPs demand explanation for four year delay

Chilcot inquiry: MPs demand explanation for four year delay of report on Iraq war - Telegraph:

"Sir John Chilcot's report is now four years overdue, said Bernard Jenkin, chairman of the House of Commons Public Administration Committee.
The Chilcot inquiry completed public hearings in 2011, but publication of its report has been held back by negotiations over the publication of private communications between Tony Blair, prime minister at the time of the 2003 conflict, and then US president George Bush.
Mr Jenkin has now written to the Cabinet Office demanding an explanation.
He said he is prepared to summon ministers and Sir Jeremy Heywood, the Cabinet Secretary, for questioning."

Bloodshed in Sadr City

Blood spills in Sadr City by reuters

Punch and Judy - Cecil Osborne

NORMAN LAMONT: If anyone should be in the dock over Iraq, it's not British soldiers but Tony Blair

NORMAN LAMONT: If anyone should be in the dock over Iraq, it's not British soldiers but Tony Blair | Mail Online: 
"The International Criminal Court (ICC) has warned that it will investigate the actions of figures much higher up the military hierarchy, including commanders and even senior Labour politicians. Among their number are Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary under Blair, his successor John Reid, and the former Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram.  

Can Maliki Cling Onto Power in Iraq?

It is generally expected that the political bloc led by the current Iraqi prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will get the largest amount of votes. But it won’t be a majority. And the fact that no single entity will win a majority means that al-Maliki’s State of Law bloc will need to team up with some other political parties to form a coalition, where they do have a majority. LINK

Keeping his enemies closer

Violent Protest in Turkish Town Where Miners Died

Violent Protest in Turkish Town Where Miners Died:

"Tensions were high as hundreds of relatives and miners jostled outside the coal mine waiting for news, countered by a heavy police presence. Rows of women wailed uncontrollably, men dropped to their knees, sobbing, and others just stared in disbelief as rescue workers removed a steady stream of bodies throughout the night and early morning. Others shouted at Turkish officials as they passed by.

In downtown Soma, protesters mostly in their teens and 20s faced off against riot police Wednesday afternoon in front of the ruling NKP party headquarters. Police had gas masks and water cannons."

Blair-Bush letters delaying Iraq report, says Sir John Chilcot

Blair-Bush letters delaying Iraq report, says Sir John Chilcot | Mail Online

‘The way the Blair government handled the Iraq war is perhaps the most shameful episode in the history of our democracy,’ he said. ‘The fact Tony Blair appears now to be holding up the proper release of information is a disgrace.
‘We need the Chilcot inquiry report now – we need it out before the general election.
‘Voters are entitled to know what was done in their name. Tony Blair should stop blocking the release of this information and Sir John should not allow the timetable in his inquiry to be dictated by the former prime minister.’
David Cameron said last year he hoped the difficulties surrounding publication of the conclusions would be ‘concluded as soon as possible’.

Hagel On Iraq Drone Request

Syria Mediator Lakhdar Brahimi Resigns

Blasts Hit Baghdad in Mid-Election

Baghdad blasts kill at least 10, wound dozens by reuters

Boko Haram Deal With Nigerian Government?

A Visit From Saturn

Deadly car bombings hit Baghdad Shia districts

BBC News - Deadly car bombings hit Baghdad Shia districts:

"They were also the first major attacks in Baghdad since the parliamentary elections on 30 April.

Officials are still tallying votes from the polls, which took place amid a surge in sectarian violence that has so far left 3,000 people dead this year.
There was no voting in a third of the western province of Anbar, where Sunni tribesmen and militants linked to the jihadist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) control the city of Falluja and parts of Ramadi."

US Mistakes Could Let Blackwater Killers Off Hook

The incident was a significant low point for the United States during the Iraq War and inflamed anti-American sentiment abroad. The government has since been pursuing the Blackwater contractors, who had been hired to provide security for Americans in the war zone. 

The case against the company initially appeared straightforward, according to testimony and interviews of the FBI who were immediately sent to the scene to investigate. But over the years, prosecutors have lost traction on the case, according to the Times.
To date, authorities have indicted five security guards on manslaughter and weapons charges, and a sixth entered a plea deal to testify against former colleagues. Charges against one contractor were dropped last year because of lack of evidence. More

Rue Bavolle A Honfleur - Claude Monet

UK troops working with US military at base for Yemen drone operations

UK troops working with US military at base for Yemen drone operations | UK news | theguardian.com:

"The presence of British troops in Camp Lemonnier was confirmed in a written parliamentary answer to Watson by the defence minister Mark Francois. He said: "[The three officers] work within the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and are responsible for planning and supporting US military operations in the region. As embedded military personnel within a US headquarters they come under the command and control of the US armed forces, but remain subject to UK law, policy and military jurisdiction."
Watson, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on drones, has now written to Emmerson asking him to make sure the UK government "engages in informed debate on the imperative legal questions governing use of armed drones that you have identified" and responds to the rapporteur's latest report."

20 Iraqi Soldiers Killed

"The bloodletting has fuelled fears that Iraq is slipping back into the all-out sectarian conflict that left tens of thousands dead in 2006 and 2007.

Authorities have been quick to blame external factors such as the civil war in neighbouring Syria for the rise in unrest." 

LINK

7 killed in suicide tanker bomb attack in Iraq

APA - 7 killed in suicide tanker bomb attack in Iraq:

"The suicide bomber targeted the checkpoint while a convoy of police vehicles was passing, the source said.

Some civilian cars and nearby shops were also damaged by the huge blast, but there was no immediate report about their casualties, the source added."