Trina's Kitchen: That very pathetic Democratic Party

Josh Varlin (WSWS) reports on the 'compromise' Congress is cooking up on healthcare:

Cornyn also noted that senators Lamar Alexander, a Republican, and Patty Murray, a Democrat, are working on a bipartisan effort to “stabilize” insurance markets. He was referring to efforts by the Democrats to work out a bipartisan deal with the Republicans that would retain the basic framework of Obamacare, which is broadly supported by the corporate elite and the insurance industry, and is being used to increase out-of-pocket costs for workers while slashing costs for businesses and the government, while introducing regressive changes being demanded by the insurance monopolies.
The Alexander-Murray negotiations broke off when Republicans were attempting to muster votes for Graham-Cassidy, but will likely be revived in the aftermath of the failure of the Republican bill.
This is the real orientation of the Democratic Party—not the posturing by Senator Bernie Sanders and some Senate Democrats on behalf of a “Medicare-for-all” bill that stands little chance of even being brought up for debate. As the World Socialist Web Site noted when Sanders announced his bill, “The goal of the exercise is to provide a political smokescreen for backroom Democratic Party dealings with the Trump administration, on health care and especially on tax cuts.”

Can you believe it?

This is -- sadly -- the real orientation of the party.

Medicare for all is the only answer.

And they won't even get behind it.

They'd rather lose votes than do what the people need.

This is C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot" for Wednesday:

Wednesday, September 27, 2017. Chaos and violence continue, after the KRG's successful referendum on Monday threats swirl, Iraq says it's shutting down flights to the KRG, Nouri al-Maliki foams at the mouth like a mad dog, and much more.

‏Verified account @RudawEnglish

This what Maliki and most Iraqi leaders think about the Kurdish referendum. 

0:11

16 replies81 retweets62 likes

Nouri al-Maliki: We must take all measures, cutting off all ties and communication with the Kurdish Region, cutting off all roads, blocking all import and export through Kurdistan, banning any company from investment in Kurdistan, blocking air traffic, blocking all border crossings. Whoever does not listen to good words and legal methods must be treated with force.

Thus spake Thug Nouri.

Former prime minister, forever thug, Nouri al-Maliki.

Nouri who refused to abide by the Constitution of Iraq, the rule of law, codes of humanity, or even the will of the people.

Nouri was put in place by the administration of Bully Boy Bush.

No one disputes that in e-mails today.

Maybe because we scooped everyone on Nouri's paranoia and how the CIA assessment of Nouri's paranoia is what got him the job -- it was thought that he would be the most easy to manipulate since he saw plots everywhere.

And a few years later, WIKILEAKS published the State Dept cables and, sure enough, Nouri's paranoia was a topic.

But when we say here that President Barack Obama also put Nouri in place and that Barack then put Hayder al-Abadi in place, we get drive-bys refusing to believe that.

Quickly, March 7, 2010, Iraq concluded Parliamentary elections. Who won? Ayad Allawi and Iraqiya.

From 2010, Arwa Damon (CNN -- link is video), "Now the Iraqiya list won the highest number of seats following those inconclusive March elections. It is headed by former prime minister Ayad Allawi, it's cross-sectarian and it also received the backing of most of Iraq's Sunni Arabs."

What happened?

Nouri al-Maliki refused to step down (as US Gen Ray Odierno had predicted ahead of the elections). He brought the Iraqi government to a standstill (this is popularly known as the "political stalemate"). Months later, THE GUARDIAN's editorial board noted (in August of 2010), "These elections were hailed prematurely by Mr Obama as a success, but everything that has happened since has surely doused that optimism in a cold shower of reality."

The political stalemate would last eight months. The Erbil Agreement would end them -- by going around the results. The US brokered the agreement. In exchange for the other sides allowing Nouri to have a second term as prime minister, Nouri would agree to various things that the other political blocs wanted.

They were idiots. In his first term, Nouri had already demonstrated he could not be trusted.

November 10, 2010, The Erbil Agreement was signed. The next day, Parliament finally met. The US didn't just broker the agreement (tossing aside election results), Barack made promises to ensure it was implemented. From the November 11, 2010 snapshot:

Today the KRG website announces:

Baghdad, Iraq (KRP.org) - Iraq's political leaders yesterday agreed to hold the parliamentary session as scheduled on Thursday and to name an individual for the post of Speaker of the the parliament (Council of Representatives). The Speaker post will go to the Al-Iraqiya bloc, which is headed by former prime minister Ayad Allawi.
During the meeting, which was attended by the leaders of all the winning blocs at President Masoud Barzani's Baghdad headquarters, agreement was reached on two other points: to create a council for strategic policy and to address issues regarding national reconciliation.
President Barzani, who sponsored the three days' round of meetings, stated that today's agreement was a big achievement for Iraqis. He expressed optimism that the next government will be formed soon and that it will be inclusive and representative of all of Iraq's communities.

Martin Chulov (Guardian) reports one hiccup in the process today involved Ayad Allawi who US President Barack Obama phoned asking/pleading that he accept the deal because "his rejection of post would be a vote of no confidence". Ben Lando, Sam Dagher and Margaret Coker (Wall St. Journal) confirm the phone call via two sources and state Allawi will take the post -- newly created -- of chair of the National Council On Higher Policy: "Mr. Obama, in his phone call to Mr. Allawi on Thursday, promised to throw U.S. weight behind the process and guarantee that the council would retain meaningful and legal power, according to the two officials with knowledge of the phone call."

That was November 11, 2010. Then? November 12, 2010, Barack made a statement on Iraq earlier today in Seoul, Korea:

Before I discuss the G20, I want to briefly comment on the agreement in Iraq that's taken place on the framework for a new government. There's still challenges to overcome, but all indications are that the government will be representative, inclusive, and reflect the will of the Iraqi people who cast their ballots in the last election. This agreement marks another milestone in the history of modern Iraq. Once again, Iraqis are showing their determination to unify Iraq and build its future and that those impulses are far stronger than those who want Iraq to descend into sectarian war and terror. For the last several months, the United States has worked closely with our Iraqi partners to promote a broad-based government -- one whose leaders share a commitment to serving all Iraqis as equal citizens. Now, Iraq's leaders must finish the job of forming their government so that they can meet the challenges that a diverse coalition will inevitably face. And going forward, we will support the Iraqi people as they strengthen their democracy, resolve political disputes, resettle those displaced by war, and build ties of commerce and cooperation with the United States, the region and the world.

Barack never again acknowledged the power-sharing agreement (The Erbil Agreement). Nouri used The Erbil Agreement to get a second term, then stalled saying he would need time to implement it, then had his spokesperson declare it illegal, and then he refused to implement it. Barack did and said nothing despite personal promises made.

When Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish politicians attempted to do a no-confidence vote in Parliament in 2012, the US government again intervened (specifically, bribes and pressure were offered and put on the then-president of Iraq, Jalal Talabani who would invent a reason not to follow the Constitution and call for the vote).

That is the shortest version of how Barack overruled the Iraqi people and the 2010 vote to give Nouri a second term.

Robert Ford was a US diplomat in the 80s, the 90s, the 00s and the 10s (he retired in 2014). Over the weekend, he weighed in on the Kurdish referendum held last Monday. In his column for ASHARQ AL-AWSAT, he wrote:

In 2010 Vice President Joe Biden urged Barzani to support Maliki’s second mandate as prime minister. Washington pledged to help ensure respect for the Constitution and a power-sharing deal between Maliki, the Kurds and the Sunni Arabs. This agreement of 19 points included solving article 140 procedures and also was supposed to define how the council of ministers reaches its decisions with the prime minister as required by the Constitution (article 85 still not implemented). Maliki violated major elements of that deal and the violations of human rights and democratic procedures helped ISIS grow. The Americans were silent in 2012 and 2013 and only put serious pressure on Maliki after ISIS began its march in the spring of 2014. And in 2014 again Washington helped create a deal between Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurdish leadership for power-sharing in order to win Kurdish votes for Prime Minister Abadi. And again the deal was broken; article 85 still isn’t implemented. And the council of representatives with its Shia Islamist majority last week tried to fire the governor of Kirkuk even though the constitution does not give them this authority.

Yes, the US-government -- Barack Obama -- picked Nouri for a second term and then picked Hayder al-Abadi after Nouri's violence against the Iraqi people became too much.

Let's offer one example. And note that Barack refused to publicly comment on this.

The April 23, 2013 massacre of a sit-in in Hawija which resulted from Nouri's federal forces storming in. Alsumaria noted Kirkuk's Department of Health (Hawija is in Kirkuk) announced 50 activists have died and 110 were injured in the assault. AFP reported the death toll eventually (as some wounded died) rose to 53 dead. UNICEF noted that the dead included 8 children (twelve more were injured).

53 people dead -- including 8 children. Killed for the 'crime' of a sit-in.

And where was Barack?

He never said a word publicly.

There was never even a condemnation from the State Dept publicly.

They offered a 'both sides' narrative -- the kind that got Donald Trump criticized not that long ago.

One side was peaceful protesters.

The other was armed thugs.

Members of Parliament had asked for days to be let in to speak with the protesters but Nouri wouldn't allow that.

He would send in thugs to kill these people.

Most of the western press ignored what took place -- over 50 people killed by their own government -- a government the US installed and backed and supplied the weapons. BRussells Tribunal carried a translation of one activist who was an eye-witness to what went down:

I am Thamer Hussein Mousa from the village of Mansuriya in the district of Hawija. I am disabled. My left arm was amputated from the shoulder and my left leg amputated from the hip, my right leg is paralyzed due to a sciatic nerve injury, and I have lost sight in my left eye.
I have five daughters and one son. My son’s name is Mohammed Thamer. I am no different to any other Iraqi citizen. I love what is good for my people and would like to see an end to the injustice in my country.
When we heard about the peaceful protests in Al-Hawija, taking place at ‘dignity and honor square’, I began attending with my son to reclaim our usurped rights. We attended the protests every day, but last Friday the area of protest was besieged before my son and I could leave; just like all the other protestors there.
Food and drink were forbidden to be brought into the area….
On the day of the massacre (Tuesday 23 April 2013) we were caught by surprise when Al-Maliki forces started to raid the area. They began by spraying boiling water on the protestors, followed by heavy helicopter shelling. My little son stood beside me. We were both injured due to the shelling.
My son, who stood next to my wheelchair, refused to leave me alone. He told me that he was afraid and that we needed to get out of the area. We tried to leave. My son pushed my wheelchair and all around us, people were falling to the ground.
Shortly after that, two men dressed in military uniforms approached us. One of them spoke to us in Persian; therefore we didn’t understand what he said. His partner then translated. It was nothing but insults and curses. He then asked me “Handicapped, what do you want?” I did not reply. Finally I said to him, “Kill me, but please spare my son”. My son interrupted me and said, “No, kill me but spare my father”. Again I told him “Please, spare my son. His mother is waiting for him and I am just a tired, disabled man. Kill me, but please leave my son”. The man replied “No, I will kill your son first and then you. This will serve you as a lesson.” He then took my son and killed him right in front of my eyes. He fired bullets into his chest and then fired more rounds. I can’t recall anything after that. I lost consciousness and only woke up in the hospital, where I underwent surgery as my intestines were hanging out of my body as a result of the shot.
After all of what has happened to me and my little son – my only son, the son who I was waiting for to grow up so he could help me – after all that, I was surprised to hear Ali Ghaidan (Lieutenant General, Commander of all Iraqi Army Ground Forces) saying on television, “We killed terrorists” and displaying a list of names, among them my name: Thamer Hussein Mousa.
I ask you by the name of God, I appeal to everyone who has a shred of humanity. Is it reasonable to label me a terrorist while I am in this situation, with this arm, and with this paralyzed leg and a blind eye?
I ask you by the name of God, is it reasonable to label me a terrorist? I appeal to all civil society and human rights organizations, the League of Arab States and the Conference of Islamic States to consider my situation; all alone with my five baby daughters, with no one to support us but God. I was waiting for my son to grow up and he was killed in this horrifying way.

I hold Obama responsible for this act because he is the one who gave them these weapons. The weapons and aircrafts they used and fired upon us were American weapons. I also hold the United States of America responsible for this criminal act, above all, Obama.

So, yes, the Iraqi government has been installed by the US.

And Nouri is a thug who is calling for violence because that's what thugs do.

This morning, Bethan McKernan (INDEPENDENT) reports:

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has demanded that the Kurdish authorities in the north of the country "cancel" the outcome of this week's independence referendum.

In a speech to parliament on Wednesday, Mr Abadi reiterated his order that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) must give up control of its international airports by Friday, or face a ban on international flights into the Kurdish region. Kurdish forces must also withdraw from disputed areas currently under KRG control such as Kirkuk, he added.

THE DAILY SABAH adds, "Iraq will suspend all foreign flights to and from airports operated by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) starting Friday, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (IraqCAA) said Wednesday. The statement comes after the KRG refused to surrender authority of airports to the central government in Baghdad."

Isn't the US government supposed to be protecting Kurdish skies under the policy implemented by then-president George H.W. Bush?

Journalist Rebecca Collard Tweets:

Rebecca Collard‏Verified account @rebeccacollard 5 hours ago

Just received warning my flight is cancelled after Iraq promised to close Kurds' airports. #KurdistanReferendum

7 replies49 retweets24 likes

Turning to some of the reported violence, the US Defense Dept announced yesterday:

Strikes in Iraq
In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes consisting of 21 engagements against ISIS targets:
-- Near Qaim, a strike destroyed an ISIS headquarters.
-- Near Beiji, two strikes suppressed two ISIS fighting positions.
-- Near Huwijah, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed four weapons caches, three fighting positions, two vehicles, a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, a command-and-control node, a staging area, a supply depot and an IED factory.
-- Near Qayyarah, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.
-- Near Rawah, two strikes destroyed an ISIS headquarters and a VBIED.

-- Near Sinjar, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.

And ALJAZEERA reports, "ISIL fighters have killed at least seven Iraqi soldiers and wounded 16 others in a series of attacks in the country's Anbar province, security sources said. "

The following community sites -- plus Jody Watley -- updated: