Iraq History

As America reconstructs Iraq in the image of Halliburton, we should perhaps review the history of the cradle of civilization that is currently being divided into sectarian states in preparation for becoming a Market State.

Iraq three years later: A glance back -- from the 19th century until today
Laurie King-Irani, Electronic Iraq (22 March 2006)
"Although Iraq is often described as separable into three distinct geographic and ethno-religious zones, the actual sociopolitical situation on the ground has always been more complex and heterogeneous due to extensive intermarriage, joint entrepreneurial projects, and consecutive waves of rural-to-urban migration over the last century. It is neither possible nor useful to correlate Iraq’s ethno-religious diversity with geography, class, or political ideology. Identity categories are not fixed, constant, and inevitable, but responsive to and shaped by administrative contexts of authority, resource allocation, and the codification of rights and duties. Apparently, no one told the Bush Administration about this basic anthropological tenet." An historical and anthropological overview of Iraq's history and current crises by Laurie King-Irani, an Electronic Iraq co-founder and social anthropologist.


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No Free Speech Here

They want free speech, they want the right to protests,they want to meet the PM. And they lie. Tearful Bardot appeals for end to seal hunt

Paul Watson of Sea Shepard lies. He claims he is arrested every time he gets on an ice flow. He forgets to say thats because he is interfering in the seal hunt. He demands free speech and the right to protest on the ice.

He says that Senator Celine Hervieux-Payette who opposes him is a liar. The DFO are liars, and the Inuit are liars.

He lies in a press conference when he tells reporters that this isn't about the Inuit hunt. Then on Mike Duffy Live he brags that his Sea Shepard society have gotten quotas imposed on native seal hunting around the world. And of course he wants it to stop. He lies when he says they use the White Coat seal photos for propaganda PR cause they are not allowed to photograph other seals.

Paul McCartney was on the ice with both new born white coats and more mature baby seals, and for propaganda purposes he was photographed with the white coats.

Mr. Watson called the seal hunt "barbarous," saying he has witnessed seals kicked in the face and skinned alive, something Ottawa insist does not take place.

Sure that was thirty years ago when the hunt began. When Greenpeace and the Sealers were cooperating, trying to only reduce the quota's. When the Green NGO's were being reasonable. Now they want a complete ban. period. No quota's not even on Inuit hunts.

Which is why Paul Watson and Bridgette Bardot denied these folks their right to be heard.

Outside the hotel, a group of high school students from Nunavut, some wearing seal boots, demonstrated. They banged drums and waved placards with the words "seals are part of our economy." They were told they were not allowed in.

Nunavut's Education Minister, Edward Picco, who was in Ottawa for meetings, joined the students.

"Students want to show there is another side to the issue," he said, wearing his harp seal coat. The "Brigitte Bardots of this world" have no idea about sealing, he added

“The only cruelty here is the cruelty being inflicted on aboriginal Canadians.”

Senator Celine Hervieux-Payette accused Bardot of being dishonest in her crusade. Bardot’s website denounces the hunt, using the image of a baby seal with its blood spreading over the snow. But Hervieux-Payette noted that, since 1987, Canada has banned the hunting of seal pups while they still have their white coats

In fact it was three Liberal Senators including Hervieux-Payette who defended the Inuit and the Sealers and, gasp, the Harper government in a counter press conference yesterday. Since Harper and his Ministers refused to meet Watson or Bardot.

The cone of silence on the seal hunt is business as usual for Harper. But the Liberal Senators who said he was too busy conducting business of state to respond to Bardots publicity stunt still get dissed by the right wing and the Blogging Tories.

Watson doesn't lie when he says he is opposed to all hunting of all animals. He is a vegetarian. Better a billion carrots die than a 325,000 seals.

Though it is the history of humans as agriculturalists, not humans the hunter gatherer, that has created modern civilization and its resulting industrialization and capitalism. Opps forgot about that did we Paul?

Finally lets accept the fact that little white coat seals are still cuter than a faded sobbing starlet. And the Green NGO's will contiue to milk this image for all the $$$$ they can get from the gullible public. And that's what this whole campaign against Canada's seal hunt is about.





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Good News From Iraq

Canadian hostages in Iraq freed Three western aid workers -- including two Canadians --kidnapped in Iraq last has year have been freed. Christian Peacemaker Teams confirmed Thursday that Torontonian James Loney and former Montrealer Harmeet Singh Sooden.

Special forces free Iraq hostages

Christian Peacemaker Teams posted a statement on its Web site expressing joy in the hostages' release but also criticizing the U.S.-led operation in Iraq. "We believe that the illegal occupation of Iraq by Multinational Forces is the root cause of the insecurity which led to this kidnapping and so much pain and suffering in Iraq," the statement said. "The occupation must end.

And Ihtisham Hibatullah, of the Muslim Association of Britain, said the group was "greatly relieved" by the news. Speaking about moves to secure their release, he said: "The hostage takers were ruthless and did not heed this call. Now we all feel that this should be the last time in Iraq that anyone should be taken and put through this kind of trauma."

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Anti-War Demonstrations

Last weekend Anti-War demonstrations marked the begining of the 4th year of Bush's War on Iraq.

In Edmonton 100 marchers braved a record breaking snow storm to march. Pictures from that march are here.



Pictures from Toronto march are here

Here are the numbers from around the world.

Tokyo 2,000 1st day

800 2nd day

Sydney, Australia 500

Stockholm 1,000

Montreal 2,000

Chicago 7,000

Turkey 2,000

Seattle 2,000

San Francisco 25,000

Pakistan 2,000

Los Angeles 20,000

Korea 1-2,000

Seoul 3,000

New York, Times Square 1,000

Copenhagen 2,000

Vancouver 1,000

Toronto 2,000

London 15,000

Fort Bragg 1,200

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