Iraqi political news from IWPR

I am still intrigued by the different windows into Iraq’s internal politcs that are provided by the Institute for War & Peace Reporting’s near-daily Iraqi Press Monitor.
Reading the IPM doesn’t give a complete picture of what’s happening inside the country these days. In the circumstances, a “complete picture” is impossible for anyone to provide! But many of the items covered in IPM you really can’t find easily anywhere else in the English-language open-source literature. So it provides a useful and handy supplement to what I read elsewhere.
Continuing in the latest-news-first style of the blogosphere, then, here are things I have found interesting in recent IPMs:

From the edition of September 30:

(You may have seen some of the recent promo shots on the t.v. about the re-opening–18 months after the invasion–of the bridge in Tikrit? On the Beeb commentary, they did at least note that most of the people present at the opening were members of the occupation forces, not Iraqis. Maybe this item might inform you why that was:)
National Guardsmen protest US action
(Addustour) — National Guardsmen in the Dolooeya neighbourhood of Tikrit have resigned in protest over US bombardment of houses there. Local commander Captain Ibrahim Khalil and some other Guardsmen resigned due to the bad behaviour of the Americans in the city, which is supposed to be under his responsibility. Dolooeya witnessed clashes in which US forces used helicopters to attack some houses, resulting in the wounding of 61 civilians. A strike by government workers was planned for Wednesday unless the American forces leave the district headquarters they are stationed in.
(Addustour is an independent daily published by former journalist Basim al-Sheikh.)
People dependant on food rations says WFP
(Al-Mutamar) — The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) said 25 percent of Iraqis depend completely on the food they receive as rations. Most of them sell some of the items to get other essential needs like medicine and clothing. In a pessimistic report, however, the WFP said the items distributed to the people are not enough to prevent bad nutrition. Sanctions and the war are responsible for the deterioration of the situation of people who depend completely on the rations. It is worth mentioning that the WFP is funded by the USA.
(Al-Mutamar is issued daily by the Iraqi National Congress.)
Cartoon of the Day
(The IPM’s Cartoons of the Day are nearly always worth looking at, on the assumption that the team that chooses them think they represent views that are widely held inside the country.)

(Al-Mutamar) — (IWPR’s interpretation of cartoon) — A US soldier is blowing up the balloon of “Civil War”, while an Iraqi child is trying to pop it. The cartoon suggests that the Americans are trying to start a civil war but that Iraqis are trying to prevent that.
Saddam trial to start in October
(Al-Mashriq) — The trial of former President Saddam Hussein and other officals of his regime will start by October 15. Ministry of Justice spokesman Noori Abdul Raheem said Saddam will be the last one on trial since some former regime members will be used as prosecution witnesses against him. The source did not mention the place of the trial. Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih visited Ali Hassan al-Majeed, formerly known as “Chemical Ali”, who blamed the Halabcha chemical attack on Nazar al-Khazraji.
(Al-Mashriq is published daily by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments.)
Fighting goes on in Haifa Street
(Al-Sabah al-Jadeed) — Clashes continued for the second day on Haifa Street between unknown armed elements and the multilateral forces backed by Iraqi National Guardsmen. All the roads leading to Haifa Street were closed by the Guardsmen who deployed in the Sheikh Maroof, Rahmaniya, and Doriyeen neighborhoods to prevent the movement of vehicles and pedestrians. Warplanes flew low and illuminated the areas surrounding Haifa Street with lasers.
(Al-Sabah al-Jadeed is an independent daily paper.) From the edition of September 29:

Cartoon of the Day

(Al-Mutamar) — A number of small people are carrying banners proclaiming their Rights, but a much larger US soldier tosses them into a waste basket marked ‘Terrorism’. The cartoon suggests that the Americans label countries that ask for their rights as terrorist, especially powerless countries.
Fighting resumes between US and Sadrists
(Al-Nahdhah) — Several civilians were killed and others wounded yesterday when clashes renewed between the multilateral forces and the militia loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr. As helicopters attacked some areas of Baghdad, multilateral forces blocked all exits and entrances leading to the city. Local residents said they heard the explosions resulting from US warplanes all night long. Many tanks patrolled the city. Meanwhile, clashes in Haifa Street broke out between armed elements and the multilateral forces. Many residents of al-Rahmaniya neighbourhood were killed and many others wounded. The multilateral forces besieged the entire area.
(Al-Nahdhah is a daily newspaper issued by Adnan al-Pachachi.)
No plan to arrest Muqtada Sadr
(Al-Adala) — Najaf Deputy Governor for Security Affairs Ali al-Sheebani has denied that the government intends to arrest Muqtada al-Sadr. He added that the Iraqi police are ready to provide Muqtada with protection if he is willing to accept it. He also said the government does not plan to prohibit Friday prayers in the holy shrines, but has postponed them for now due to the security situation.
(Al-Adala is issued dily by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.)
Wasit governor demands greater sums for compensation
(Al-Mutamar) — Wasit Governor Mohammed Ridha al-Jashami has declined to receive compensation from the US forces for those affected by recent events in the governorate. Jashami said the amounts don’t match the extensive damage and losses suffered in poor neighbourhoods. US forces allocated only $1,500 for each martyr and nothing to others whose houses were destroyed. The governorate has asked for $15,000 for people killed in the clashes and $10,000 for others adversely affected by the fighting.
(Al-Mutamar is issued daily by the Iraqi National Congress.)

From the edition of September 28:

Elections to be held on time
(Al-Mashriq) — National Assembly President Fuad Masoom said 75% of the people preferred having the election on time. He said it would not be fair to deprive the people of their electoral rights for the sake of the remaining 25%. Supporters of Muqtada Sadr, meanwhile, will not take part in the elections and Muqtada himself will present another new peace initiative, according to Sadr assistant in Nasiriya Aws al-Sheebani. Deputy Prime Minister for National Security Affairs Barham Salih said the election will take place in the due time but might be postponed in areas of tension.
(Al-Mashriq is published daily by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments.)
Scientific symposium protests violence
(Al-Mutamar) — In a symposium held in Baghdad to discuss “violence against scientists”, many of the participants have asked the government to protect them from terrorists. Many Iraqi physicians have fled the country after being targeted by kidnappers. The speakers asked the authorities to safeguard scientists, physicians, and university professors from terrorism and kidnapping. They want this violence completely ended because it aims to stop scientific progress in Iraq. More than 100 physicians have been kidnapped, according to a survey by the health ministry.
(Al-Mutamar is issued daily by the Iraqi National Congress.)
Cartoon of the Day

(Al-Sabah Al-Jadeed) — US President George W. Bush addresses the world before a poster saying “the race to the White House”. Bush says it is harder to eliminate smoking than terrorism. It refers to the idea that in his race for re-election, Bush invents campaigns to keep people busy.
Apology demanded from Allawi for handshake with Israeli
(Al-Mada) — National Assembly members have asked Prime Minister Iyad Allawi to apologise to the Iraqi people for shaking hands with the Israeli foreign minister. NA Member Mishan al-Jobouri described the event as “shameful”. Jenan al-Obaidi, representing Najaf, said Najafis are angry about this and they reject any kind of normalisation with Israel. Abdul Kareem al-Anezi said the prime minister must officially apologise to the Iraqi people. Allawi said there was no American pressure behind the handshake.
(Al-Mada is issued daily by Al-Mada Institution for Media, Culture, and Arts.)
‘Fallujah residents’ support elections
(Al-Sabah al-Jadeed) — Political and social activities of Fallujah support holding the elections on time despite the security situation. In a statement, “Fallujah residents” expressed enthusiasm for free elections, and said they will support it if the results are not previously decided. They will elect anyone known for his willingness to serve the country, regardless of his ethnicity or sector. They warned the Americans not to use the election as an excuse to enter the city.
(Al-Sabah al-Jadeed is an independent daily paper.)
Najaf prepares for pilgrims
(Al-Adala) — Deputy Governor of Najaf Ali al-Sheebani said the city’s holy shrine will be opened to the visitors by next Thursday. He added that procedures have been taken to make Najaf a safe and stable city. Efforts also have been made to rehabilitate public services after they were damaged during the recent clashes and confrontations. Iranian visitors will be accommodated in hotels outside the city centre as agreed with the Hareer Iranian tourist company.
(Al-Adala is issued daily by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.)

From the edition of September 27:

Cartoon of the Day

(al-Mutamar) –[Interpretation by IWPR] — An American soldier is hiding a paper with “democracy” written on it even as he indicates that everything is “OK” to some deaf, blind, mute people. It means that Americans are not faithful to the democracy they are marketing to other countries.
Note by HC: This cartoon is obviously open to a number of different interpretations. I note firstly that the paper the soldier’s hiding behind his back says, “Democracy, The First Lesson”. The Iraqi “people” are represented here as stripped down to their underwear– which is a very humiliating state for most Iraqis to find themselves in– as well as raggedy looking and impoverished. The “Americans” in Iraq are always represented by a soldier. (I wonder why?) They’re also drawn much bigger than the Iraqis.
These three Iraqis seem to me to represent “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” rather than persons with physical disabilities. In addition, they all seem to have their hands bound behind their backs. And of course, their response to the big American “thumbs up” is one of complete bewilderment and consternation– and they can’t even see the “lesson plan” the soldier has hidden behind his back.
For most Iraqis, one “thumbs up” image they have constantly in mind is that exhibited by the infamous Lynndie England in the Abu Ghraib photos…
The representatives of the “Iraqi people” depicted here and in the same cartoonist’s 30 September drawing seem to be a clear reference to Naji al-Ali’s iconic Hanzala figure. I’d love to know the name of the Mu’tamar cartoonist.