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Thousands demonstrate against continuing U.S. presence in Iraq
Austin News.Net
Friday 21st November, 2008 (Edward Yeranian )
Thousands of noisy demonstrators filled Baghdad's renowned Firdous Square to protest a new military pact between Iraq and the United States which is being debated in parliament.
Radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who called for the protest, is demanding that the Iraqi parliament reject the pact, which is set to take effect in January.
Sadr has been demanding that the Iraqi parliament reject the new pact, which would allow U.S. forces to remain in Iraq until December 2011. The old U.N. mandate expires on December 31.
Protesters chanted anti-U.S. slogans and waved banners decrying the new security pact, such as "no, no, to the security agreement," and "occupation forces must go, now."
One demonstrator, who gave his name as Abdul Amir Aboud, said that he was against the new accord, which some political leaders are trying to ram through parliament.
He says that the demonstration shows that the people reject the new Security pact with the United States, which he thinks has been imposed on them, and which is now being whisked through the Iraqi parliament and the government.
In a symbolic gesture, Moqtada al-Sadr supporters strung up an effigy of U.S. President George Bush from a statue in Firdous Square to express their displeasure with the United States.
Thousands of Iraqis tore down a statue of deposed former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in the same square, shortly after U.S. forces arrived in Baghdad in 2003.
Al Jazeera TV reported that both Shi'ites and Sunnis took part in the demonstration, which followed an unusual joint Friday prayer session. Media reports, however, say that most of the demonstrators were Shi'ite.
Moqtada al-Sadr's top spokesman in Baghdad, Salman al Freiji also told al Jazeera TV that the "U.S. occupiers must leave the country immediately" and that parliament must reject the security pact, which he claims has "unacceptable secret provisions."
Iraqi military forces kept a close watch on demonstrators, placing sharp-shooters on rooftops surrounding Firdous Square.
National Security Advisor Mufawaq al Rubaie, who helped draft the new pact, refused to comment on Friday's demonstrations when asked by VOA.
Iraq's parliament had a stormy debate over the text of the new agreement Thursday, with Iraqi government station al Iraqia showing members of parliament trying to shout each other down and others trying to stir up a frenzy.
With a vote set for the beginning of next week, analyst Paul Salem, who heads the Carnegie Center for Peace in the Middle East, thinks that it's too soon to tell what may happen.
"Well, it's certainly touch and go. I mean, the vote is for Monday and it's not clear that [Prime Minister] Maliki has all the votes necessary," he said. "The coalition of Sadrists and some of the Sunni groups and some of the secularists who are against it are a strong coalition. There is also issues of a quorum, because it's the beginning of the haj season and some deputies have already left and does really put the approval of the status of forces agreement somewhat up in the air. Maliki is doing his best to get the votes necessary. It's probably touch and go down to the wire. I don't think anybody can predict."
Moqtada al-Sadr is also a long-standing ally of Iran, and Salem thinks that it's still not entirely clear what position the Iranians are taking in the debate over the new military pact.
"There have been conflicting statements from different Iranian authorities," he said. "The head of the judicial branch welcomed the agreement, whereas Larijani, the head of parliament, while saying that it's a much better draft than the one that the Americans initially tabled, he publicly said that the parliament should still oppose it. So, it seems that either that there are different Iranian factions pulling in different directions, or they're sitting on the fence on this one."
Despite the loud debate in parliament and attempts by Moqtada al-Sadr's block of 30 deputies to shout down the accord, a majority of Iraq's 275 member legislative body is still believed to support it.
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Comments on this story
Sammy
11-22-08, 04:40 AM |
Thousands demonstrate against continuing U.S. presence in Iraq
The people have spoken, but their leaders will not listen to their demands, because they are manipulated by the illegal invador, who will not leave a gold mine that he has stolen, and wants to make sure that he will be able to stay long enough in this land that he has illegally invated so that he radicate and through selected stooges will have a guaranteed annual income from the oil resources that this country has.
I believe that the people of Iraq have all the legal rights under international laws to have all foreign soldiers to leave their country, and the international community shoul guarantee this right to the Iraqi people.
These people of Iraq can petition the international criminal court to intervene to have these illegal invadors leave their country.
Sammy
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independent!!
11-22-08, 07:46 AM |
US days are OVER.
US could not find the weapons of MAss destruction. These invaders have destroyed the infra structure , fabric & peace in Iraq. Now they should just surrender, drop the arms and GO back to support their newly elected Government. The BUSH & Chenny regim should be rounded up and brought before the WORLD tribunal and tried for the murders, killing of innocent people, stolen Iraq’s
treasure, and torture.
Americans are paying big time for their atrocities and injustices committed and will continue to pay in both worlds. Especially Bush/Chenney Families will rot in hell.
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Anonymous
11-22-08, 10:17 AM |
no no no
UNITED STATES AN IT COALITION FORCES ARE NOT AN HAVE NOT TOUCHED ONE DROP OF IRAQS BLACK NOR YELLOW GOLD. IF YOU NOT NO OF WHAT YOU SAY THEN DO NOT MAKE THIS DIFICULT TO THE MAJORITY OF IRAQIES AND OTHERS WHO HAVE DIED FOR THIS CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP UNITED IRAQI ALLAIANCE.THE OIL I HAULED WAS FROM NEIGHBORING CONTRIES WHOME ALSO SUPPORT THE CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. DO NOT TRY TO MAKE THINGS HARDER ON YOURSELF AN OTHERS.
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yukon
11-22-08, 05:03 AM |
Sammy....wrong as usual
Sammy;115186:
The people have spoken,
Sammy
Thousands out of what, 25 million? Do the math......if you can Sammy!
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globalresistance
11-22-08, 01:50 PM |
Sadly, Bush’s agenda of a global police state and fascist empire continues. The American people must understand that this present American economic collapse will continue until we unite and drive our thieves, war criminals, and attackers of civil liberties out of Washington DC.
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Wacama
11-22-08, 06:03 AM |
No matter what we say and do, we need to move out and let them fight it out between them selves who is the king of the road.Or the best way to do is divide the country into three (3) parts. The kurds,the sunnis and the shiites. All of them will have their own goverment,police,army,air force or navy. They will be all responsible for their own border. I know it ia easier to say than done ,but might work.There will no
stopping of killings and carnage among each
other until another dictator will emerged and run the country will iron fist. Iragis are warlike people and clans will be there as long as there will be Irag. Just look at your history of the world.They will not lay down their swords until they wipe out each others.Oil is a very secondary to Irag, it is power to suppress,control,rule,and judge who live and die.They said it is the very basket of civilization but it is a total authority to rule no matter what will be,dynasty after dynasty and they will make Iragis.Sectarian is now just about control the country in hand with the Alquida and it will not peter down until a one rule take over the country.
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` ~galljdaj+
11-22-08, 07:51 AM |
I remember waca telling us...
... , the great wise white chief in washington decided what is best.
Why the change in heart waca?
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Wacama
11-22-08, 12:05 PM |
Sometimes,an old InDIAN WARRIOR has to think and split the tribe and must live peacefully in his own hunting ground.My old tribe live very nicely and we let the fufo white man gamble in our land temporarily until we could retire from their stupidity. We are All American and we loved these land of ours.Let me tell you friends,my daughter Fying White Dove and My son Wild Crazy Wolf are good people and both are medicine folks by profession.I send them to Whiteman medicine school by hard work and determination that they be educated and I did by working in a gas station I owned for many years, not from fufo whiteman gambling casino. How about galljdaj. What have you accompliced for your children and your community as a whole.We need to change of heart and I am very sure they will be more happy in their own reservation and their chief to lead where about to go and sell the fufo whiteman need on oil and all be very happy. Those mullah that create and advocate killing using their religion should be given a hoe and let them work in the field and plant wheat for their food.I hate blind adherence to the religion and their leader with out any regards for the welfare of the common people.
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` ~galljdaj+
11-22-08, 01:57 PM |
waca, The story you posted, I believed before you posted it.
Why did you not post an answer to my question, to which I have no belief or knowledge of?
Your story is very nice, and I can see you are satisfied in having done your best. It should be clear to you, my reading and understanding of the 6:03 am post is, its not your best. Is it your reflection now also? Is that why you do not defend it? Is that why you ask me about my accomplishments, hoping I have not also done my best?
Should you decide to reconsider defending the 'post', I will explain some of my 'bests'. If you have been a frequent visitor to this site, you likely already have read some of my histories. I believe you are somewhat younger than I am, and as you move along in 'old age' it will become obvious to you like it has me, that histories are just that, done. You were challenged on your recommendation for the future.
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yukon
11-22-08, 03:34 PM |
globalresistance
globalresistance;115241:
Sadly, Bush’s agenda of a global police state and fascist empire continues. The American people must understand that this present American economic collapse will continue until we unite and drive our thieves, war criminals, and attackers of civil liberties out of Washington DC.
Then why did Americans vote for a marxist moron?
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