" The Dinar Daily ", Monday, 11 August 2014
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  1. #1

    " The Dinar Daily ", Monday, 11 August 2014

    It is EVICT MALIKI DAY + ONE HUNDRED THREE ( 103 ) or " E - M DAY + 103 "

    PREVIOUSLY AND CONTINUING

    "..... despite the superiority of Maliki’s electoral coalition, the competing Shiite forces, the Kurds and the Sunnis, are together able to form a comfortable majority to prevent Maliki from remaining in office. "......................

    Maliki likely fears that if he rushes to do business with parties outside the Shiite alliance, his Shiite rivals would do the same and that they may have a better chance to win over the Kurdish and Sunni forces, because there is a general consensus among them to not keep Maliki in power.

    At the same time, the rest of the Shiite groups fear that this consensus is not solid enough to withstand discussing the details, and that going alone to the Kurdish and Sunni forces may put them in a weak bargaining position and make them appear responsible for breaking Shiite unity.

    An important factor here are the choices that the Sunni and Kurdish forces will make. If the Sunnis and Kurds rush to form ethnic and sectarian alliances, then the Shiite alliance may do the same.

    Some are proposing scenarios such as replacing Maliki with another figure from the State of Law Coalition as a compromise to ensure the continuation of the Shiite alliance.

    [* a source said in a statement to the Agency ((eighth day)) that there is an agreement semi-final between the U.S. and Iran to take on Ahmed Chalabi as prime minister for the next government as a compromise candidate.]

    Yet, such a solution may come at a later stage, after the favored options by most parties have been exhausted.

    What is certain now is that a harsh negotiating season will [ * HAS ] begin [ * BEGUN ] as the conflict moves from its electoral aspect into the closed negotiating rooms and deals among the elite. - - from al Monitor

    The State of Law coalition has expressed his commitment to the nomination of current Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for the assumption of office for the third time in a row. "

    and

    Ktlta al-Hakim and al-Sadr refused to renew Maliki's nomination to head the government and call for the coalition to provide irreplaceable

    Thu Jul 17 2014 22:33 | (Voice of Iraq)

    long-Presse / Baghdad

    New coalition al-Hakim and al-Sadr, on Thursday, refusing to nominate the prime minister expired, Nuri al-Maliki, for a third session, while Pena possibility of acceptance of another candidate presented by the coalition, threatened first by resorting to the opposition, revealing the second support the nomination of Adel Abdul Mahdi and Ahmad Chalabi for the post.

    Was Deputy for a coalition of citizen, of the Supreme Council of the Islamic, led by Ammar al-Hakim, to hold the prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, the state third, a "problem" to reject so many components of the National Alliance and other blocs, noting that many of them is the same, will turn to the subject If you do not submit a coalition of state law, an alternative candidate for the post.

    Ali said an inch, in an interview to the (long-Presse), said that "stuck to the prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, the state third, a problem within the National Alliance, could hinder the formation of the government for a long time," adding that "a lot of the components of the National Alliance and other blocs outside reject Maliki's nomination. "

    He added an inch, that "the political blocs could accept another candidate presented by a coalition of state law for the position," noting that "a lot of political blocs, including a coalition of citizens, would prefer to stay opposition if they insisted al-Maliki to head the next government," returned that there are "many figures that can occupy the prime minister runs the country. "

    For her part, the Liberal block of the Sadrist movement, rejected the state's third generation, revealing its support for the other two candidates. The MP said the Liberal bloc, F Bureau, said in an interview to the (long-Presse), "The bloc rejects the state's third generation, and supports the nomination of Adel Abdul-Mahdi, or Ahmad Chalabi to head the new government."

    According to the Court, that "the National Alliance can accept dissector last for a coalition of state law, non-Maliki," returned to "Maliki's insistence on the nomination itself would make him aloof from the National Alliance."

    The president of a coalition of state law, Nuri al-Maliki, new in (the fourth of July 2014 present), adherence to the nomination for a third term, amid worsening opposition to the majority of political forces Therefore, most notably the Sadrists, and a coalition of citizens, and the Kurdistan Alliance and the Sunni Arab blocs, as well as a coalition of national leadership Iyad Allawi, to do so.

    It is noteworthy that the National Alliance, a parliamentary blocs, the largest, has failed so far to choose its candidate to head the next government, amid worsening differences between components on more worthy than others in the job, amid confirmation actors in it, the need to undergo a candidate for "compatibility and acceptability" within the coalition in the national space.

    https://translate.googleusercontent.c...#ixzz37oG3bVdd

    and

    Prime Minister's file is thorny and complex

    24/07/2014 09:30:00

    BAGHDAD / NINA / MP, of the Ahrar bloc, Hakim al-Zamili said that talks between the parties of the Iraqi National Alliance to nominate a person for the post of prime minister are still without a result.

    Zamili told the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA /[SIZE=3] "The file of prime minister is the most important file among other three presidencies," pointing out that "the Sunni political blocs have chosen Salim al-Jubouri as the chairman of the House of Representatives and the Kurdish groups have agreed on a personal as President of the Republic, and remaining file is the post of Prime Minister. "[/SIZE]

    He added: "The name of Prime Minister will be resolved next week, after the religious authority, popular forces and regional and neighboring countries, confirmed the need to resolve this file as soon as possible."

    He said: "choosing prime minister with wide admissibility will be a positive factor towards the calm and solving many problems in the country," noting: "The religious authority was clear in its speech, that the candidate must be accepted nationally, and this does not exist at the current Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who has problems with the Ahrar and the citizen blocs on one hand, and with the Sunnis and Kurds, on the other hand. "

    He explained that there is more than one character to be a substitute for Maliki in the next phase, from inside the Dawa Party, and the National Coalition has two candidates, Ahmed Chalabi and Adel Abdul-Mahdi, therefore, the process of selecting one of the characters will be a thorny and complex. "

    https://www.ninanews.com/english/News...ar95_VQ=HFJFDJ

    and

    Officially, Speaker, his 2 Deputy Speakers assume their posts


    Tuesday, 15 July 2014 21:23

    Baghdad (AIN) –The Speaker of the Parliament and his two Deputy Speakers assumed their duties officially.

    The Parliament succeeded in electing Speaker of the Parliament, Salim al-Jebuori, and his first Deputy, Haider al-Ebadi, as well as his 2nd deputy, Aram al-Sheikh Mohamed.

    and

    Iraq parliament elects Kurdish politician Fuad Masum as new president


    KURDISH politician Fuad Masum has become the new president of Iraq, in a step towards forming a new government that visiting UN chief Ban Ki-moon says must be inclusive for the country to survive.

    Fierce fighting ... volunteers who joined the Iraqi army to fight against Jihadist militants of the Islamic State (IS) brandish their weapons as they come as backup at a checkpoint north of Baghdad. Source: AFP

    A June onslaught on Sunni Arab areas north and west of Baghdad, led by the jihadist Islamic State group, has brought Iraq to the brink of breakup, with the government struggling to assert any authority beyond its Shiite power base.

    Parliament elected Masum, who served as the first prime minister of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region more than two decades ago, by an overwhelming majority of 211 votes to 17.

    He had been almost guaranteed the job after Kurdish parties struck a late-night deal to support him.

    Under an unofficial power-sharing deal, Iraq’s Kurds traditionally get the post of president.

    The move could pave the way for a deal on the much more powerful post of prime minister.

    and

    Chalabi: all political blocs signed a national coalition that requested the block elder


    Baghdad newspaper of integrity

    Coalition leader said citizen MP Ahmed Chalabi, a national coalition to sign parliamentary blocs as the largest bloc.

    Chalabi told reporters, "we have a request from the first meeting of the Parliament aatiar the national coalition is the largest bloc, signed by both blocs."

    He said "some heads blocks National Alliance (Ziya al-Asadi, Ahmad Chalabi Baquer Al-Zubaidi) met with Parliament Speaker Salim Al-jubouri to inform him of their declaration that they are the largest bloc".

    He was speaker of the House of Salim Al-jubouri, said today that "the Constitution is clear in explaining the larger parliamentary bloc combined within the Parliament."

    He said that "the parliamentary bloc with the largest number of seats, and the Constitution was careful to use the word Parliament is formed after the House of representatives at its first meeting".

    "We are going back to the old Mahdi Al-Hafidh as if it had received a request from the State of law bloc, for he was Moderator exclusively back then."

    The President said the House "label greatest mass determined in accordance with the Constitution and there is dialogue between the National Alliance and State of law coalition and the President will meet with a number of political leaders after I finished for me," he said.

    The President of the Federal Court judge, Midhat al-Mahmoud, the biggest parliamentary blocs that formed the Government in 2010 itself would constitute Ministerial cab in 2014.

    Attorney for the State of law Coalition, Hussein Al-Maliki, said today, "the State of law Coalition had received the Federal Court as a parliamentary majority by Nouri al-Maliki remains a candidate for Prime Minister."

    The National Alliance was revealed on July 12 that the State of law coalition has applied to the Federal Court to inquire about the biggest bloc of seats in the new Parliament, noting that "the demand made in isolation from the National Alliance."

    https://www.microsofttranslator.com/b...F%3Fp%3D104917

    and

    The President of the Republic: the national coalition is the largest bloc and not state law


    Agency day 8 :
    July 26, 2014

    Baghdad

    Source in Baghdad said on Saturday that the President of the Republic, Fouad Massoum, contained a request by outgoing Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, provides for the Declaration of a State of law bloc, the largest in Parliament, has the right to form the next Government.

    The source added that "the infallible confirmation receipt with reacted formal letter from the Presidency of the House of representatives provides for the Declaration of the National Alliance, the largest parliamentary bloc, and it is adopted in the formation of the next Government, not state law."

    https://www.microsofttranslator.com/b...2F%3Fp%3D60675

    and

    Article 76:


    First: The President of the Republic shall charge the nominee of the largest
    Council of Representatives bloc with the formation of the Council of Ministers
    within fifteen days from the date of the election of the President of the Republic.

    Second: The Prime Minister-designate shall undertake the naming of the members
    of his Council of Ministers within a period not to exceed thirty days from the date
    of his designation.

    Third: If the Prime Minister-designate fails to form the Council of Ministers
    during the period specified in clause “Second,” the President of the Republic shall
    charge a new nominee for the post of Prime Minister within fifteen days.

    Fourth: The Prime Minister-designate shall present the names of his members of
    the Council of Ministers and the ministerial program to the Council of
    Representatives. He is deemed to have gained its confidence upon the approval,
    by an absolute majority of the Council of Representatives, of the individual
    Ministers and the ministerial program.

    Fifth: The President of the Republic shall charge another nominee to form the
    Council of Ministers within fifteen days in case the Council of Ministers did not
    win the vote of confidence.

    https://www.iraqinationality.gov.iq/a...nstitution.pdf

    * The Prime Minister-designate shall present the names of his members of the Council of Ministers and the ministerial program to the Council of Representatives. He is deemed to have gained its confidence upon the approval, by an absolute majority of the Council of Representatives, .............; and,

    * so there would not be a vote upon the PM designate per se, but upon the ministers the PM designate chooses to seat ; and,

    * absent a vote of confidence by the Parliament on the PM and his government ( Council of Ministers ), by the majority, then the President may charge a new nominee.


    and

    Jaafary: INA, biggest bloc not SLC

    Sunday, 27 July 2014 13:54

    Baghdad (AIN) –The head of the Iraqi National Alliance, Ibrahim al-Jaafary, assured that the INA is the biggest bloc and not the State of Law Coalition headed by the Premier, Nouri al-Maliki.

    Speaking to AIN, he said "The INA is the biggest bloc and not the SLC," noting that "The biggest bloc was not named during the first parliament session where we released a statement in the presence of the representatives of the INA including the SLC."

    https://www.alliraqnews.com/en/index....t-bloc-not-slc

    and

    Badr Organization declares its commitment to the decision of the National Alliance for the prime minister post


    Mon Jul 28 2014 23:32 | (Voice of Iraq)

    Baghdad - where

    Announced the Badr Organization, led by Transport Minister Hadi al-Ameri, its commitment to the decision of the National Alliance for the post of prime minister.

    He said the first deputy secretary general of the Badr Organization, Abdul Karim Younes, told all of Iraq [where], "The National Alliance, previously was the biggest blocs in the last session in 2010 and is now the largest bloc in the current session."

    In response to the invitation of reference for the selection of the best and not to cling to positions, Yunus said that "there is a fundamental point for the selection of the elements of the government positions, is that available to have an element Ulkipa experience and sincerely to the people of Iraq," explaining that "the reference was not directed her words to someone Maliki particular they are always talking in general, and not particularly calls to the interests of the country. "

    and

    06/08/2014 (00:01 pm) - Number of readings: 304 - number (3139)
    Badr talking about "candidate" is identical to the reference specifications .. The news about a couple of days to withdraw the nomination of al-Maliki officially




    BAGHDAD / Mohammad Sabah

    Hinted deputy from the Badr Organization (25 seats in the coalition of state law), that his bloc will not support the nomination of Nuri al-Maliki for a third term, because the Shiite parties keen to provide personal, "according to the opinion of reference Najaf," enjoys the admissibility national, and pave the way for political change, what confirms loss Maliki is one of the most prominent allies, after Hussain al-Shahristani told (about 25 seats, also in state law) partners that is identical with the opinion of the religious authority, which means the loss of support within Maliki's bloc by about half.

    https://www.dinarupdates.com/showthre...ll=1#post68119

    and

    He added that "there is a mechanism within the National Alliance for the selection of figures for the positions taken by the coalition government and we are bound by the mechanics of it," adding that "with the opinion of the organization, which calls for the reference to be there figures efficient and able to run the country properly."

    The supreme religious authority, Ali al-Sistani called for the formation of a new government within 15 days and not to cling to office officials have formed, in reference to the insistence of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on the third term in the presidency.

    The Web site of the Office of the supreme religious authority Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, the official said, "Sheikh Abdul Mahdi al-Karbalai, a certified top Shi'ite cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, said during a Friday sermon in Karbala [110 km south of Baghdad] need to form a new government within a period of time not to exceed duration Constitutional amounting to 15 days, and not to cling to their positions by the officials, "in an apparent reference to the current Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who insists on running for a third term.

    And rejects most of the members of the National Alliance and the Kurdistan Alliance and the Federation of Iraqi forces Maliki's nomination for a third term and looking to provide the National Alliance candidate for prime minister for being the largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament.

    Read more: https://translate.googleusercontent.c...#ixzz38pQmgO00

    * The following is a reference to the " by-laws " of the NA which I have been referencing, "there is a mechanism within the National Alliance for the selection of figures for the positions taken by the coalition government and we are bound by the mechanics of it," . *

    and ACCORDING TO VISSER :

    " Unlike the procedures for electing the president of the republic (for which a separate law with elaborate procedures exists) the nomination of the Iraqi prime minister is governed entirely by the Iraqi constitution. As a result, the selection of the prime minister candidate is arguably the most sensitive and unpredictable stage of the Iraqi government formation process. " https://gulfanalysis.wordpress.com/20...new-president/

    and

    " ... it is for the new president to identify the largest bloc and ask its PM candidate to form the next government. Whereas the pan-Shiite alliance has declared itself the largest bloc repeatedly, there is a case to be made that as long as it does not have an agreed PM candidate it doesn’t exist in a way that is interesting to the Iraqi government formation and that the State of Law bloc of PM Maliki – whose candidate is Maliki – is the biggest bloc. It is being reported that Masum will meet soon with the Shiite alliance to clarify these things. Unless a PM candidate emerges, Maliki could legitimately complain to the federal supreme court that Masum is wasting his time with a non-existent political alliance. https://gulfanalysis.wordpress.com/20...new-president/

    and

    " The biggest bloc in the Iraqi parliament that also has a PM candidate is currently State of Law, whose candidate of course is Nuri al-Maliki. Members of this bloc, including Maliki himself, are now explicitly demanding the right to form a government, separate from the rest of the putative pan-Shiite alliance. Unless a bigger bloc comes up with a candidate before the constitutional timeline for PM nomination expires on 8 August (or a few days later if holidays are counted), President Fuad Masum has a constitutional duty to charge Maliki with forming his third government, regardless of whether he has a realistic chance of reaching an absolute majority when he presents it to parliament for approval or a second attempt by another candidate will be needed. " https://gulfanalysis.wordpress.com/20...ouble-in-iraq/ https://gulfanalysis.wordpress.com/20...ouble-in-iraq/

    and

    National Alliance holds decisive meeting next Thursday to name PM

    05/08/2014 13:22:00

    BAGHDAD / NINA / A source in the National Alliance said that the alliance will hold a crucial meeting next Thursday to nominate its candidate for prime minister from the state of law.

    The source told the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA / today that "the religious authority has given a deadline to the National Alliance ends next Thursday to announce its candidate for prime minister, and within the constitutional period.

    He added that "the blocs, within the State of Law, will be asked to choose a candidate for each bloc for a vote within the meeting which will be held next Thursday and then who gets the highest votes, will be the candidate of the National Alliance, and will be presented for a vote in the House of Representatives."

    https://www.ninanews.com/english/News...ar95_VQ=HFKMJD

    *** IF THE FOREGOING IS TRUE THEN THE CANDIDATE WILL COME FROM THE SLC AND BE NOMINATED BY A VOTE OF THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ***

    and[COLOR=#b22222][B]

    and

    Feeling heat, Maliki warns Sistani against opposing third term

    On July 25, the official website of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani posted an article reporting that Sistani has called on Iraqi officials not to cling to their positions, alluding to the insistence of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on seeking a third term. Official spokespeople for Sistani have previously criticized the performance of the Iraqi government, as well as the stances of Maliki himself; this, however, is the first time that Sistani has directly demanded Maliki withdraw his candidacy.

    Summary⎙ Print Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani hinted at Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s intention to seek a third term, saying that Iraqi officials should not cling to their positions in power.

    Author Ali Mamouri

    Posted August 8, 2014

    Translator(s)Steffi Chakti

    The article came in response to the stance of Sayyid Mahmoud Shahroudi — a prominent religious figure known for his close ties with Iran’s leadership and the Maliki-led Dawa Party — in support of Maliki. The website also noted the support of other Shiite religious authorities in Qom and Najaf for Sistani's position.​

    In another development, Sayyid Jafaar al-Sadr, the son of the the Dawa Party founder, called on all of Dawa's leading members to end their support for Maliki, since the latter is the main obstacle to settling disputes and forming a new government.

    In the same context, the Badr and independent blocs belonging to Maliki’s State of Law Coalition announced they would split from the coalition if Maliki insisted on a third term. This means the coalition would lose the majority of votes within the National Iraqi Alliance, from which the prime minister should be chosen.

    Maliki sent a warning text message to the office of Sistani. Al-Monitor learned the content of the message, which reads: “It is with great dissatisfaction that I received the hint that your official delivered during the Friday sermon in Karbala about officials not clinging to their posts. The majority of Shiites and the enemies of the political process figured that I was the one concerned. This is why I ask you, as prime minister who was elected for two terms, as the leader of the largest coalition, and as the [politician] who won the highest number of votes in the third session, to clarify your stance and end your involvement in the political process and the choosing of the prime minister. [I ask you] to limit your role to the provision of religious and moral guidance to your followers and leave politics to politicians. Iraq is going through a delicate phase in its political and security history and I cannot, amid these circumstances, give up on my national duty to protect the unity of Iraq and its people and defend the rights of those who voted for me.”

    The Iraqi political system is parliamentary, not presidential, and candidates' number of votes do not influence their nomination for governmental positions. They are strictly chosen through the votes of the members of parliament. The State of Law Coalition joined the National Alliance during the first parliamentary session, which makes the alliance the largest coalition and the one to name the prime minister. This alliance will be threatened with division if Maliki insists on running for a third term.

    This came in tandem with news that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called on Maliki to step down, in clear support for Sistani’s position. These rapid developments angered Maliki, who felt the developments were quickly mounting against his wish for a third term.

    Maliki expressed his anger on Aug. 6 during his weekly speech, when he warned against outside attempts to intervene in the naming of the next prime minister. He said these attempts violate the political and constitutional process, threatening that all hell would break loose if an attempt was made to unconstitutionally name a prime minister.

    Clearly, this speech is Maliki’s last attempt to instill fear among his rivals related to his stepping down. This speech is, however, a far cry from being a real threat. Maliki has no political or security power to allow him to hold on to his post if Sistani and Iran explicitly oppose his candidacy.

    https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/orig...#ixzz39s81VFzb

    and

    Source: The parliament's session postponed to Monday instead of tomorrow

    09/08/2014 11:58:00

    BAGHDAD / NINA / A parliamentary source said that the parliamentary session, scheduled on Sunday, was postponed to next Monday.

    He told the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA / "the parliamentary session, scheduled tomorrow, was postponed to next Monday," without giving any details about the reason for the postponement.

    https://www.ninanews.com/english/News...ar95_VQ=HFLLFE

    and, now a reason,

    Parliament session postponed to next Monday

    Saturday, 09 August 2014 14:34

    Baghdad (AIN) –The Parliament Speakership postponed the parliament session to next Monday.

    Parliamentary source stated to AIN "The Speaker, Saleem al-Jobouri, and the Deputy Speaker, Haider al-Ebadi and Aram al-Sheikh decided to postpone the session to next Monday to give the political blocs a chance to finalize its discussions to nominate a candidate for the Premier Post."

    https://www.alliraqnews.com/en/index....xt-monday.html

    and or, but maybe

    Parliament rapporteur announces holding parliament session on Sunday

    Saturday, 09 August 2014 19:57

    Baghdad (AIN) –The parliament rapporteur, Niyazi Ouglu, announces holding the parliament session on Sunday.

    Speaking to AIN, Ouglu said "The parliament will hold its session on next Sunday at 12:00 p.pm where the session agenda includes discussing the file of the displaced families and the formation of the parliamentary committees."

    https://www.alliraqnews.com/en/index....on-sunday.html
    Last edited by chattels; 08-12-2014 at 08:23 AM.



  2. #2

    Visser : True intelligence

    EXCERPTED AND REPEATED FROM THE " RUNNING " POST HEREINABOVE : FLASHBACK

    ACCORDING TO VISSER :

    " Unlike the procedures for electing the president of the republic (for which a separate law with elaborate procedures exists) the nomination of the Iraqi prime minister is governed entirely by the Iraqi constitution. As a result, the selection of the prime minister candidate is arguably the most sensitive and unpredictable stage of the Iraqi government formation process. " and

    " ... it is for the new president to identify the largest bloc and ask its PM candidate to form the next government. Whereas the pan-Shiite alliance has declared itself the largest bloc repeatedly, there is a case to be made that as long as it does not have an agreed PM candidate it doesn’t exist in a way that is interesting to the Iraqi government formation and that the State of Law bloc of PM Maliki – whose candidate is Maliki – is the biggest bloc. It is being reported that Masum will meet soon with the Shiite alliance to clarify these things. Unless a PM candidate emerges, Maliki could legitimately complain to the federal supreme court that Masum is wasting his time with a non-existent political alliance.

    and

    " The biggest bloc in the Iraqi parliament that also has a PM candidate is currently State of Law, whose candidate of course is Nuri al-Maliki. Members of this bloc, including Maliki himself, are now explicitly demanding the right to form a government, separate from the rest of the putative pan-Shiite alliance. Unless a bigger bloc comes up with a candidate before the constitutional timeline for PM nomination expires on 8 August (or a few days later if holidays are counted), President Fuad Masum has a constitutional duty to charge Maliki with forming his third government, regardless of whether he has a realistic chance of reaching an absolute majority when he presents it to parliament for approval or a second attempt by another candidate will be needed. "

    https://gulfanalysis.wordpress.com/20...ouble-in-iraq/

  3. #3

    Kurds prepare for counteroffensive as US strikes IS

    Kurds prepare for counteroffensive as US strikes IS

    MAKHMOUR, Iraq — As US warplanes are launching rounds of airstrikes on Islamic State (IS) targets in northern Iraq, Kurdish peshmerga armed forces appear to be gradually preparing to launch counteroffensives to regain areas they conceded to the jihadist group.

    Summary⎙ Print US airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS) have boosted the morale of Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga forces that are getting ready for a counteroffensive to regain lost territory.

    Author Mohammed A. Salih

    Posted August 10, 2014

    Since Aug. 2, IS militants made forays into the peshmerga-controlled territories of the Ninevah plains, seizing control of the key areas of Sinjar, Zummar and Wana in western Ninevah, and moving into the towns of Hamdaiya, Telkayf, Bartalla and Bashiqa on the north and east of Mosul. IS also made gains in Makhmour and Gwer, roughly 50 kilometers (31 miles) southwest of Iraqi Kurdistan’s capital city, Erbil. As of Aug. 10, Gwer had returned to peshmerga control.

    The US military has confirmed that its aircraft have attacked IS positions around Makhmour and Sinjar since Aug. 8, and Kurdish forces say IS militants have also been targeted near Khazir, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Erbil.

    “US airstrikes have strengthened the peshmerga’s morale,” said a close aide to a senior peshmerga commander on the Makhmour front, who did not want to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media. “The peshmerga are now waiting for an order to attack IS positions and move forward. They are waiting for the zero hour.”

    The source, who has been in the area for the past several weeks, added that peshmerga forces have now advanced beyond the Qarachukh Mountains and are in control of the eastern flank of Makhmour. The mountain range separates Makhmour from the highway that heads toward Erbil.

    Although IS forces took Sinjar and Zummar following some degree of fighting with peshmerga troops, a number of Kurdish officials told Al-Monitor the withdrawals in areas north and east of Mosul and southwest of Erbil have been tactical for retreat to the surrounding mountains where a more effective defense can be set up.

    “[This also serves as protection] for the peshmerga as air raids are conducted against IS positions,” said Saeed Mamuzini, a senior official in the Mosul branch of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) who is currently based alongside peshmerga forces in the Bashiqa Mountains near the town of Bashiqa in eastern Ninevah.

    Mamuzini said some limited fighting occurred on Aug. 9 between the peshmerga and IS fighters after a unit of Kurdish forces descended into Bashiqa from the mountains to strike an IS unit and withdrew later.

    The limited advances in Makhmour and Bashiqa might be modest signs of efforts for a possible broader campaign to expel IS forces from the areas they control. Kurdish forces hope the US attacks will seriously undermine the Islamic State's operational and defense capacities so they can begin to advance.

    “US attacks have decreased the amount of IS movements on the front lines,” said Mamuzini. “The peshmerga have made plans and things will be changing within a few days.”

    Islamist militants have also controlled at least parts of the Mosul dam, Iraq’s largest hydropower dam facility that provides electricity and drinking water for Mosul and parts of the Ninevah plains.

    In a press conference in Erbil, Fuad Hussein, chief of staff to Kurdistan Regional Government President Massoud Barzani, told reporters on Aug. 8 that IS was now in control of the dam.

    “They wanted to move toward Erbil after taking over the dam but their plans were halted [following US air raids],” Hussein said, alongside Iraq’s Kurdish foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari. Hussein also said Kurdish peshmerga will push back the jihadist groups in the coming days without providing further details.

    While the news of the Islamic State's control of the Mosul dam has created concerns in the country, Mamuzini told Al-Monitor that the militants do not control the whole dam, which is built in the turquoise waters of Mosul Lake in the heart of the Ninevah plains. He added that the peshmerga still maintain control of parts of the dam. The claims could not be verified by Al-Monitor as the area lies largely under IS control.

    Many Kurds, both at the popular and official levels, appear to have been taken by surprise by the Islamic State's offensive capabilities. Zebari said on Aug. 8 at the same press conference that the Kurdish peshmerga's firepower does not match the Islamic State's as the militants possess mighty weapons such as tanks and long-range artillery pieces captured from the Iraqi army.

    “IS needs to be taken seriously because they have a lot of weapons,” he warned at the same press conference.

    “IS is different and more powerful than al-Qaeda. They are well trained and have advanced weapons.”

    As the peshmerga are overwhelmed in the fight against IS, hundreds of fighters from the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have taken to the battlefields of Sinjar and Rabia close to the Syrian border and around Erbil.

    Thousands of volunteers have also beefed up defense lines in the areas bordering IS zones in what is an extensive war for Kurds.

    A combination of peshmerga and YPG forces have succeeded in reaching the Sinjar Mountains and have so far rescued around 5,000 Yazidis trapped on a mountaintop surrounded by IS militants.

    It is difficult to obtain an exact figure as to the number of civilians stuck on the mountain, but some United Nations’ estimates point to as many as 35,000 to 200,000 who have been stranded there with little food and water supplies. UNICEF said around 60 children have died there so far. An airdrop humanitarian campaign underway for days to provide food and water to the refugees has been boosted since the US military joined the efforts on Aug. 8.

    https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/orig...#ixzz3A4TN0MZn

    * IT APPEARS THAT THE KURDS ARE " FIXIN' TO GET READY ", SO THERE IS SOME " LEVERAGING " TO BE DONE WITH BAGHDAD *

  4. #4

    A political source: National Alliance will meet to nominate its candidate for prime m

    A political source: National Alliance will meet to nominate its candidate for prime minister and Maliki's party shunned

    Sun Aug 10 2014 23:37 | (Voice of Iraq)

    long-Presse / Baghdad

    A source of political beginning, on Sunday, that the National Alliance will be held shortly after the meeting in the presence of all components except the Dawa Party, led by al-Maliki to discuss naming the prime minister, and among the leading candidates to head the next government are Adel Abdul-Mahdi and Chalabi and Khodair al and Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

    The source said in an interview with the (long-Presse), said that "a meeting of the National Alliance will be held shortly after, the presence of all components except Maliki's Dawa Party," noting that "the President of the Republic Fuad Masum, commissioned the National Alliance nominate a candidate to head the next government," noting that " infallible request of the National Alliance to speed up the selection of a candidate for prime minister before the constitutional deadline, which ends today. "

    The source, who asked not to be named, said "the candidates for prime minister are Adel Abdul-Mahdi and Ahmed Chalabi and Khodair al and Ibrahim al-Jaafari," noting that "the National Alliance will choose their candidate on the basis of compatibility between its components."

    The Prime Minister outgoing Nuri al-Maliki called, on the sixth of August 2014, the commitment to constitutional entitlements and "mandated candidate of the largest bloc" to form a government, warning that "the confiscation of this right" will open fire Jnhm on the political process.

    It is noteworthy that a coalition of state law, has repeatedly declared his commitment to "constitutional right", being the largest parliamentary bloc, rejecting any "overflow" in this regard, he returned "part of the National Alliance, but it's still the largest bloc."

    And waits for the House of Representatives and one of the thorny issues, of identifying the largest parliamentary bloc, in preparation for the president of the republic candidate to form the next government, which is still ongoing debate on the subject, between the National Alliance, the coalition of state law, and that after the resolution of my presidency, the parliament and the Republic.

    https://translate.googleusercontent.c...#ixzz3A4UTOQsP

    * IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT IF THERE IS A NOMINEE FROM THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE " ADMISSABLE " TO THE OTHER POLITICAL BLOCS THAT THERE WILL BE A CONSENSUS ( IF THE SLC IS EXCLUDED ) *

  5. #5

    Iraq political crisis deepens as Maliki slams president, resists calls to resign

    * FROM A FRIEND *

    Iraq political crisis deepens as Maliki slams president, resists calls to resign

    As Iraq's government forces continue to battle Sunni militants in the country's north and west with the help of American airstrikes, the country's parallel political crises deepened Sunday as embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki resisted calls to step down and accused the new president of violating Iraq's constitution.

    In a nationally televised speech Sunday evening, al-Maliki said he would file a legal complaint against the new president, Fouad Massoum, for neglecting to name a prime minister from Maliki's Shiite-dominated political bloc, which won the most seats in this past April's election.

    At around the same time as al-Maliki's speech Sunday evening, the Wall Street Journal reported that security forces had deployed in unusually large numbers across Baghdad. The soldiers were particularly prominent in the so-called Green Zone, which includes the prime minister's home as well as the parliament building, crucial government offices and many embassies.

    Al-Maliki is seeking a third term as prime minister, but the latest crisis has prompted even his closest allies to call for his resignation. A parliament session scheduled for Monday to discuss the election and who might lead the next Iraqi government was postponed until Aug.19.

    The Journal reported that al-Maliki had been urged to remove himself from consideration for a third term so that an alternate candidate from his National Alliance bloc could be chosen by the president. US official told the Journal that consensus was building around an unnamed candidate whom Washington believes would be a better bet to unite Iraq's fragmented government. However, al-Maliki had not yet agreed to step aside.


    Massoum has given the bloc a deadline of 3 pm local time Monday (8 am Eastern time) to choose a new candidate or he would name al-Maliki to a third term, two Iraqi politicians told the Journal.


    Al-Maliki, speaking on Iraqi TV for the first time since US forces began launching airstrikes and humanitarian airdrops in Iraq last week, said the security situation will only worsen as a result of Massoum's actions.

    "This attitude represents a coup on the constitution and the political process in a country that is governed by a democratic and federal system," al-Maliki said. "The deliberate violation of the constitution by the president will have grave consequences on the unity, the sovereignty, and the independence of Iraq and the entry of the political process into a dark tunnel.

    The political infighting could hamper efforts to stem advances by the Islamic State, the militant group formerly known as ISIS, who have seized a large swath of northern and western Iraq in recent weeks.

    President Barack Obama warned Americans on Saturday that the new campaign to bring security in Iraq requires military and political changes and "is going to be a long-term project." Obama said Iraqi security forces need to revamp to effectively mount an offensive, which requires a government in Baghdad that the Iraqi military and people have confidence in. Obama said Iraq needs a prime minister - an indication that suggests he's written off the legitimacy of the incumbent, al-Maliki.

    Critics say the Shiite leader contributed to the crisis by monopolizing power and pursuing a sectarian agenda that alienated the country's Sunni and Kurdish minorities.

    Just hours after al-Maliki's speech, the US State Department said Sunday it "fully supports" the new Iraqi president.

    State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement the US supports the process to select a prime minister "by building a national consensus and governing in an inclusive manner." She said the US rejects any effort to use coercion or manipulation in the process of choosing a new Iraqi leader.

    https://translate.googleusercontent.c...yEdai9unyDoxKQ

  6. #6

    Washington responded to Maliki: We support infallible and reject any attempt to achie

    Washington responded to Maliki: We support infallible and reject any attempt to achieve results under duress

    5:09: 08/11/2014

    Marie Harff

    Khandan - received the State Department on recriminations Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to President Fuad Masum, confirmed that the United States fully supports the Iraqi President Fuad Masum, as a guarantor of the Iraqi constitution.

    Marie Harff said Deputy State Department spokesman, after he accused Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, infallible violating the constitution "We reject any attempt to achieve results under duress or manipulating the constitutional process or judicial."

    Harff added in a statement, said that the United States is closely monitoring the situation in Iraq, which is in contact with Iraqi leaders.

    For its part, news agency "Reuters" Iraqi police sources, said that the special forces loyal to the owners posted in strategic locations in Baghdad on Sunday night after a speech strict on TV in which he indicated that he would not succumb to pressure to abandoning his attempt to stay for a third term in the presidency government.

    Al-Maliki accused the President of the Republic, "violating the constitution", he said in his speech: "I will make a formal complaint to the Federal Court against the President for committing an explicit violation of the constitution," he said.

    https://translate.google.com/translat...3Fjmara%3D7672

    AND

    US slaps down Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki after he accuses president
    Under-pressure leader accuses rival of violating the constitution amid build-up of security forces in Baghdad


    Iraqi soldiers near Baghdad on Sunday 10 August after pushing back Sunni militants. Photograph: Mohammed Sawaf / AFP / Getty Images
    The United States has thrown its weight behind Iraqi president Fuad Masum after he was accused by prime minister Nouri al-Maliki of violating the constitution.

    As security forces massed in the capital Baghdad, the under-pressure Maliki made the surprise announcement on state television on Sunday night that he would be filing a complaint against Masum.

    But US state department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement: "The United States fully supports president Fuad Masum in his role as guarantor of the Iraqi constitution.

    "We reaffirm our support for a process to select a prime minister who can represent the aspirations of the Iraqi people by building a national consensus and governing in an inclusive manner," she said, echoing an earlier comment made on Twitter by deputy assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs Brett McGurk.

    "We reject any effort to achieve outcomes through coercion or manipulation of the constitutional or judicial process."

    US president Barack Obama has Iraqi Politicians Urged to form a more inclusive Government That can counter the growing Threat from the Sunni Militant group Isis.

    Maliki, who has been under huge pressure to give up his bid for a third term, alleged Masum, a Kurd, had violated the constitution twice, including by failing to task a prime minister-designate with forming a new government.

    "I will submit today an official complaint to the federal court against the president of the Republic for committing a clear constitutional violation for the sake of political calculations," said Maliki.

    Serving in a caretaker capacity since an inconclusive election in April, Maliki has defied calls by Sunnis, Kurds, some fellow Shi'ites, regional power broker Iran and Iraq's top cleric for him to step aside for a less polarising figure.

    However, a bloc comprising Iraq's biggest Shi'ite parties is close to nominating a successor to Maliki, the deputy speaker of parliament Haider al-Abadi said early on Monday, suggesting Maliki would have to step aside.

    Abadi is one of the people that has been mentioned as a possible successor to Maliki.

    His comments in a tweet came after police sources said special forces and Shi'ite militias loyal to Maliki had been deployed in strategic areas of Baghdad after his television speech.

    An eyewitness told Reuters that a tank was stationed at the entrance to Baghdad's Green Zone, which houses government buildings.

    Many Iraqis see as Maliki Partly Responsible for the recent losses to Isis in northern Iraq Because he has Institutionalised Sectarianism.

    Washington, Tehran, the Shiite religious leadership and much of Maliki's own party have pulled their support, but he has dug his heels in and apparently not yet given up on seeking a third term.

    "The United States stands ready to support a new and inclusive government, particularly in the fight against [Isis]," Harf said.

    "We believe such a new and inclusive government is the best way to unify the country against [Isis], and to enlist the support of other countries in the region and international community."

    https://translate.googleusercontent.c...JwQ0p63amQO8Fg
    Last edited by chattels; 08-11-2014 at 09:07 AM.

  7. #7

    U.S.: Baghdad situation tense, no tanks at president's compound

    U.S.: Baghdad situation tense, no tanks at president's compound

    By Jeff Mason

    EDGARTOWN Mass Sun Aug 10, 2014 11:29pm EDT

    (Reuters) - The United States views defiant comments from Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as troubling but has seen no evidence of Iraqi forces mobilizing in an unusual way despite a tense climate in Baghdad, a U.S. official said on Sunday.

    The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he had spoken to Iraq's Kurdish President Fouad Masoum and his aides, who said reports of tanks surrounding the presidential compound were not true.

    Special forces loyal to Maliki were deployed in strategic areas of Baghdad on Sunday night after he delivered a tough speech indicating he would not cave in to pressure to drop a bid for a third term, police sources said.

    The official said Maliki's comments were troubling and made clear the United States would not support implicit or explicit threats that circumvented the Iraqi constitution.

    He said the situation in Baghdad was tense but calm. Having tanks stationed at the entrance to Baghdad's Green Zone, which houses government buildings, was common, he said, and projections of political violence erupting on Monday were overwrought.

    The current standoff underscores the tenuousness of Maliki’s political position, as factions of his own party withdraw support and other elements of the country’s Shi’ite establishment, including Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, suggest he must step down.

    Washington believes there is still time for an alternative to Maliki to be nominated.

    Earlier Maliki accused Masoum of violating the constitution by missing a deadline for him to ask the biggest political bloc to nominate a prime minister and form a government.

    Maliki also said he would submit a complaint against Masoum to a top Iraqi court. The official said it appeared Masoum would submit a counter-complaint to that court.

    https://www.faceiraq.com/inews.php?id=2960737

  8. #8

    Analysts: Al-Maliki's military reinforcements to Baghdad either.. Preparations for "d

    Analysts: Al-Maliki's military reinforcements to Baghdad either.. Preparations for "daash" or "military

    The Iraqi army

    Battles in Anbar

    Baghdad, Iraq (CNN)--the experience of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, security of deployed troops and military vehicles in the light of the political crisis on the country's Government which continues to lead the fighters ' Islamic State Organization "" formerly "progress towards daash cities after the other in a surprise attack in June last, in a move analysts saw as a precautionary step to either address daash or military coup.

    Iraqi security sources said for CNN on the deployment of tanks in a number of neighborhoods in central Baghdad and the green zone, which includes enhancements to the formidable Makar governmental and diplomatic missions, in a move coinciding with the indicators on the Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, to bow to pressure to give up the bid to the Government for a third term.

    He accused Al-Maliki, in a televised address Sunday, President, Fouad Massoum as "violating the Constitution by not mandating the largest parliamentary bloc candidate, adding:" I will make a formal complaint to the Federal Court against the President of a constitutional explicit offense in order to transcend political and factional interests at the expense of the interests of the Iraqi people, calling on the House to "the need for the legislature to constitutional duties in the accountability of the President of the Republic on the rag to the Constitution ."

    He continuedeliberate breach of the Constitution by the President of the Republic will have serious implications for the unity, sovereignty and independence of Iraq and the political process in a dark tunnel, and violated the Constitution simply means not the sanctity of the Constitution does not bind in the country after today. "

    He says the State of law Coalition, led by Al-Maliki, that the largest bloc in Parliament, but the National Alliance which comprises the Coalition says he is the biggest bloc, and this controversy contributed to the delay in the submission of candidate for Prime Minister. "

    Returning to the intensive police presence in the Iraqi capital, which causes were not clear yet, I consider network military analyst, retired Brigadier Rick frankona: as a vow of unlucky reject Iraqi Prime Minister to hand over power. "

    He added: "now move not only security forces loyal to him, but army units on the streets, some bridges were closed in. Looks like an attempt to close the city as a kind of confrontation with the President.. So don't look good indicators. "

    On his part, the retired General, James Williams, a military build-up in response to the "militia" in the country, daash said: "might be a show of force in. If we talk about protecting government offices there may be a belief that "forces daash" closer than perceptions.. The whole thing depends on what happens behind the scenes in Baghdad, but a serious concern.. Or it may be another indication of worrying and is preparing for a coup.

    https://www.microsofttranslator.com/B...itical-turmoil

    AND

    Urgent ... The security forces prevent cars' movement in Sadoun and Abu Nawas streets without knowing the reasons
    11/08/2014 09:00:00

    BAGHDAD / NINA / The security forces prevented all kinds of vehicles to pass in the Sadoun and Abu Nawas streets without knowing the reasons.

    The reporter of the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA / "at 8 am the security forces, suddenly blocked Sadoun and Abu Nawas streets, preventing movement of all kinds of vehicles, without giving reasons. "

    The reporter pointed out that the special security forces are currently deployed around the Green Zone and prevent all vehicles in the surrounding streets.

    The center of the city of Baghdad witnessed tight security and widespread of the elite forces associated with the Commander of the Armed Forces.

    https://www.ninanews.com/english/News...ar95_VQ=HFMFDI
    Last edited by chattels; 08-11-2014 at 09:26 AM.

  9. #9

    SOURCE AT THE COURT : Federal Supreme Court: State of Law is the biggest parliamentar

    Federal Supreme Court: State of Law is the biggest parliamentary bloc

    11/08/2014 11:17:00

    BAGHDAD / NINA / The Federal Supreme Court confirmed that the state of law is the largest parliamentary bloc.

    A source at the court said in a press statement that "the Court announced a decision confirming that the state of law is the largest parliamentary bloc."

    Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced that he will present a formal complaint against the President Fuad Masum, to the Federal Supreme Court for violating the Constitution.

    Maliki said in a televised speech to the Iraqi people last night: "The President of the Republic violated the constitution twice, when he extended the period of declaration of the biggest bloc, which ended last Thursday, and when he deliberately failed to mandate the candidate of the state of law the largest bloc"

    He stressed in his word last night: "The national and historical responsibility determine for all Iraqi people and its various components and its political affiliations, an active and strong presence to thwart the process of overtaking explicit on the Constitution, which would lead to tear the national unity and eliminate the democratic experiment."

    He added: "I call on the sons of the armed forces, volunteers and tribal fighters to stand in their positions and respond with full force against terrorists of the Islamic State and its political allies who declare war on all Iraqis without exception."

    https://www.ninanews.com/english/News...ar95_VQ=HFMFGL

    AND / BUT

    Federal Court denies nominating SLC as biggest bloc

    Monday, 11 August 2014 12:10

    Baghdad (AIN) –A source within the Federal Court denied nominating the State of Law Coalition headed by the Premier, Nouri al-Maliki, as the biggest bloc.

    The source added to AIN "The Federal Court did not issue any decision over considering the SLC as the biggest bloc," assuring that "The same biggest bloc that formed the government n 2010 is the same bloc which will form the government in 2014."

    https://www.alliraqnews.com/en/index....gest-bloc.html
    Last edited by chattels; 08-11-2014 at 09:28 AM.

  10. #10

    Barzani, Saadoun al-Dulaimi discuss joint coordination to confront terrorism

    Barzani, Saadoun al-Dulaimi discuss joint coordination to confront terrorism

    11/08/2014 09:28:00

    BAGHDAD / NINA / Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani discussed with the Acting Minister of Defense, Saadoun al-Dulaimi and his entourage, the joint coordination to combat terrorism and gangs of the Islamic State (IS).

    A statement by the presidency of the region said, "Barzani received al-Dulaimi, in the Salah al-Din resort in Arbil and discussed the security situation and steps to confront the terrorists on the battlefield."

    The statement added: "The views of the two sides were identical in relation to the need for joint and coordination action between all parties and international support in the fight against terrorism, because it is a threat to all."

    About terrorism threats to the Kurdistan region, al-Dulaimi expressed concern about these threats, stressing: "The region is safe and it is a model for other parts of Iraq," describing the region's position as firm and brave.

    Saadoun al-Dulaimi arrived at Arbil yesterday afternoon, and was received at Erbil International Airport by the Minister of Peshmerga and a number of military commanders.

    https://www.ninanews.com/english/News...ar95_VQ=HFMFEL

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