Public protests were launched nationwide over the past two days in Iraq, growing in intensity as demonstrators slam the lack of a post-war recovery from the ISIS conflict, and continued corruption woes.
While Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi confirmed the right of protesters to assemble, Iraq wasn’t just going to have public shows of dissent, so troops were out in force quickly, opening fire with live ammunition on the people, wounding hundreds. At least 28 have been killed so far.
Protesters and their supporters were armed in places as well, where security situations quickly worsened, and battles erupted. While this started in Baghdad and to the city’s immediate south, before long it was a nationwide issue.
Iraq’s government is responding as governments in the region so often have in similar situations, violent crackdowns, an indefinite curfew across Baghdad and some other cities, and cutting off more or less the entire country’s Internet access.
Protests have been a recurring issue for months, almost always culminating with the government promising some reforms, and those reforms having by and large been forgotten.
The more this escalates into violence, the harder it’s going to be for the Abdul Mahdi government to back down and make promises to end the unrest. Continued fighting risks the public demanding bigger, and real, changes.
Gee, where is Paul Bremmer when you need him?
Or eric prince….
or Saddam…
Or Saddam?
Where’s Muqtada?
Good question. Remember, when he won, he did not want his party in the government, to allay fears that Shia would dominate. Now he has options. To ket Government resign, and a mire nationalistic one come to power. Let us see how he handles it โ but he must let this government play its hand.
Wasn’t “chaos” our goal? Same as in Hong Kong
Destruction and murder was/is the goal, chaos is just a bonus for US militancy. Oh, and refugees, millions and millions of em.
George Bushy Boi,,,Mission Accomplished,,,you #uc#in RAT!!!
ISIS reinvented.
Chaos will stop immediately after Iraq agrees to let US bases be used for attack on Iran.
But it may backfire. Iraq has better intelligence now, and the government may chose to fall โ and let Al-Sadr form another one.
Last election when Al-Sadr won, he wisely kept his party outside of government. Knowing full well that US continuous presence in Iraq was paralyzing any development.
The upshot can be, a new government more nationalistic that will get support from people, so the secular version of ISIS can be isolated.
Protesters outraged that recovery never got to them?
Sounds just like the US, except the American people are more cowed by power, and more ignored in their feelings by politicians and media.
Why can’t they just address their issues democratically, you know, like we taught them to all those years ago.
While this appears to be legit issue, when you see the same happening in Haiti, Venezuela, Hong Kong and now Iraq, it says the west and east are in an intense war to destabilize the footprint in one anotherโs sphere of influence.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
You beat me to it!
If Israel isn’t involved already, they will be.
Why is this not shocking. It is a perfect storm โ US presence is the region is a guarantee that no freedom of movement is possible in the region, and with it, infrastructure and trade languish. With no economic development possible, living standards on below Saddamโs era level. UStroops presence is infuriating, and the fact that Israel can bomb within the country with impunity โ all have combined into toxic brew.
All a living reminder that once US troops enters, the normalcy, peace of mind and freedom โ are all gone and for a long time. Empire just wants to put its claws into the society and not let go.
Protesting against government would make sense if people demand that foreign troops go. Otherwise it is a waste of time. No government can work on domestic economy for as king as imperial drones are looking for fresh excuses to stay.