Author: ericlee

John Kerry Statement on Iraq

Tonight, President Bush will speak to the nation about the situation in Iraq. It’s about time. I hope tonight he will address his words not just to us, and certainly not to Karl Rove or Donald Rumsfeld, but to a young American soldier in Iraq right now — the soldier carrying an M-16 in a dangerous place where he or she can’t tell friend from foe, the marine out on patrol at night who doesn’t know what’s coming around the next bend. America’s brave young men and women deserve to hear the truth.

The perils of translation

Ann Clwyd MP, the Prime Ministers Special Envoy to Iraq on Human Rights and an LFIQ President has successfully challenged an inaccurate BBC report (see below).

Interview with Kanan Makiya

Middle East Quarterly has a fascinating interview with Kanan Makiya, one of Iraq’s most prominent democracy and human rights advocates. His 1989 book, Republic of Fear: The Politics of Modern Iraq offered a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime.

Human Rights in Iraq (3) New Government calls for end to Raids on Mosques

Mixed reactionsin Iraq to the report that defense minister, Sadoun al-Dulaimi, a Sunni Arab, has ordered the Iraqi army to stop raiding mosques, arresting clerics and “terrifying worshipers.” Some point out raids have led to the capture of large hauls of weapons and ammunition, including bomb-making equipment and antitank rockets. “The holy places must not be violated by the security forces, nor religious leaders arrested, and that will not happen anymore” said al-Dulaimi. In a related move Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, told reporters that Ayatollah Sistani “insisted on the need for brotherhood between Shiites and Sunnis, and the need to … Continue reading Human Rights in Iraq (3) New Government calls for end to Raids on Mosques