President Obama's Weekly Radio Address

Iraq, still a war zone...

Once considered a bastion of al-Qaeda in Iraq, the Baghdad district of al-Doura is now called "victory neighbourhood", where attacks are rare. But as the US military prepares to withdraw from Iraqi cities, al-Doura remains a maze of cement walls built to enforce security and keep Shia militias out.

As Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel-Hamid reports, former residents say they are hesitant to return until al-Doura becomes the multi-religious district it once was.

One is loyal to the Kurdish autonomous government while the other is allegiant to Baghdad.

Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel Hamid reports on how the split has raised fears of sectarian violence in a strategic city.

Mosul, a northern Iraqi city, has been one area where the country's security forces are preparing to take full control, but there are two local armies patrolling the city.

When I grow up, I want to be a really cool old lady

...and the time is coming sooner than I think. These gals are awesome! Totally cool.

Stephen Colbert with President Barack Obama

This was a taped appearance by the President in preparation for Stephen Colbert's schtick on his recent trip to lift the spirits of the troops in Iraq.

From The White House Blog:

THU, JUNE 18, 7:46 PM EST

Behind the Scenes with Colbert

Posted by Jesse Lee

Have a look behind the scenes as the President makes his bold, resolute, and yes, decisive decision to order Stephen Colbert's hair removed:

Here's the hair cut in case you missed it. I was offline and offtv for awhile so I actually did miss it as it was happening. Enjoy.

Colbert in Iraq: Stephen Colbert pops his military style shaved head into commencement speech from Iraq

"I, Stephen Colbert, by the power invested in me by basic cable, officially declare we won the Iraq war," Colbert said, as his audience broke out into applause.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney's speech on national security

Video: President Obama explains why he isn't releasing additional detainee photographs

President Obama with troops in Iraq

Transcript by way of Jed at Daily Kos:

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you, guys. Let me say Multinational Force Iraq, Multinational Corps Iraq, Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq First Corps, America’s Corp Band: Thanks to all of you.

Listen, I am so honored.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you.

THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.) I am honored — I’m honored and grateful to be with all of you. And I’m not going to talk long because I want to shake as many hands as I can. (Applause.) And I’ve been talking all week. (Laughter.)

But there’s a couple of things I want to say. Number one, thank you.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: You’re welcome.

THE PRESIDENT: You know, when I was at Camp Lejeune I spoke about what it means for America to see our best and brightest, our finest young men and women serve us. And what I said then is something that I want to repeat to you, which is: You have performed brilliantly in every mission that has been given to you.

AUDIENCE: Ooh-ah.

THE PRESIDENT: Under enormous strain and under enormous sacrifice, through controversy and difficulty and politics, you’ve kept your eyes focused on just doing your job. And because of that, every mission that’s been assigned — from getting rid of Saddam, to reducing violence, to stabilizing the country, to facilitating elections — you have given Iraq the opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country. That is an extraordinary achievement, and for that you have the thanks of the American people. (Applause.) That’s point number one.

Point number two is, this is going to be a critical period, these next 18 months. I was just discussing this with your commander, but I think it’s something that all of you know. It is time for us to transition to the Iraqis. (Applause.) They need to take responsibility for their country and for their sovereignty. (Applause.)

And in order for them to do that, they have got to make political accommodations. They’re going to have to decide that they want to resolve their differences through constitutional means and legal means. They are going to have to focus on providing government services that encourage confidence among their citizens.

All those things they have to do. We can’t do it for them. But what we can do is make sure that we are a stalwart partner, that we are working alongside them, that we are committed to their success, that in terms of training their security forces, training their civilian forces in order to achieve a more effective government, they know that they have a steady partner with us.

And so just as we thank you for what you’ve already accomplished, I want to say thank you because you will be critical in terms of us being able to make sure that Iraq is stable, that it is not a safe haven for terrorists, that it is a good neighbor and a good ally, and we can start bringing our folks home. (Applause.)

So now is not the time to lose focus. We have to be even more focused than we’ve been in order to achieve success.

The last point I want to make is I know how hard it’s been on a lot of you. You’ve been away from your families, many of you for multiple rotations. You’ve seen buddies of yours injured and you remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

AUDIENCE: Ooh-ah.

THE PRESIDENT: There are probably some people here who have seen children born and have been missing watching them grow up. There are many of you who have listened to your spouse and the extraordinary sacrifices that they have to make when you’re gone.

And so I want you to know that Michelle and myself are doing everything — (applause) — are doing everything we can to provide additional support for military families. The federal budget that I have introduced increases support for military families. We are going to do everything required to make sure that the commitment we make to our veterans is met, and that people don’t have to fight for what they have earned as a consequence of their service.

The main point I want to make is we have not forgotten what you have already done, we are grateful for what you will do, and as long as I am in the White House, you are going to get the support that you need and the thanks that you deserve from a grateful nation. (Applause.)

So thank you very much everybody. (Applause.) God bless you. (Applause.) God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)

The President on the 'former' Vice President's recent remarks

Senator Chuck Schumer on This Week - GOP didn't object to spending for Iraq war

Xe (zee) Change: A military contractor by any another name would smell as sweet

I keep thinking of when Prince changed his name to a symbol that nobody could pronounce, and thereafter became known as 'the artist formerly known as Prince' until he changed it again to something else.

RALEIGH, N.C. - Blackwater Worldwide is abandoning its tarnished brand name. Blackwater officials said Friday its family of two dozen business will now operate under the name Xe (zee), pronounced like the letter "z." source: AP

Why the need to change the name? Lots of stuff, but lately this:

Bloomberg: Five Blackwater Worldwide security guards were charged with manslaughter and weapons violations in the deaths of 14 Iraqi civilians in a hail of gunfire and explosives at a busy Baghdad intersection. The government said they displayed a disregard for human life.

The defendants chose to surrender to authorities in Utah today and were to appear in federal court in Salt Lake City. Government officials said at a news conference it intends to try them in Washington, where support for the war in Iraq isn’t likely to be as strong as in the western state.

A sixth Blackwater guard pleaded guilty last week to voluntary manslaughter and related charges, prosecutors said. The firearms charge against the five defendants carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 30 years and the penalty for manslaughter is 10 years. source: Crooks & Liars

Your Fired: Blackwater gets the axe from the State Department also known as The Foggy Bottm Heave Ho

It's so refreshing to see a State Department that actually does something.

Executives of the controversial U.S. security company were notified today by the State Department that its five-year, $1.2 billion contract for services in Iraq will not be renewed in May, U.S. officials tell ABC News. The contract provides yearly options for cancellations.

In a statement, company spokesperson Anne Tyrrell said, "The company has always said that the security services we provide in Iraq would be temporary."

The move by the State Department follows the refusal of Iraqi officials to license Blackwater to operate in the country. Officials cited "lingering outrage" over the Sept. 2007 shooting by Blackwater guards that left 17 civilians dead. source: ABC News

Vice President-elect Joe Biden travels to Southeast Asia

According to this report, for security reasons, the aides are not disclosing the itinerary. I bet if we were good guessers, we could probably figure it out though.

I'm not going to. I'm just going to behave myself. I don't know how long it will last, and I'm not making any promises either.

A Biden spokeswoman says Biden and South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham arrived in the Middle East emirate on Thursday. The senators met with Kuwait's prime minister and foreign minister to discuss Iraq, Iran and international relations.

Biden is traveling in his role as a U.S. senator from Delaware. He takes office as vice president on Jan. 20 but has not yet resigned his Senate seat. source: MSNBC

Indiana Senator Evan Bayh talks to Rachel Maddow about lawsuit by 15 Indiana National Guard against Iraq contractor, KBR, Inc. of Houston, TX

Up to speed...

Army Times

Ind. guardsmen sue KBR over chemical exposure

By Charles Wilson - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Dec 3, 2008 18:50:05 EST

INDIANAPOLIS — Sixteen Indiana National Guard soldiers sued defense contractor KBR Inc. on Wednesday, saying its employees knowingly allowed them to be exposed to a toxic chemical in Iraq five years ago.

The federal suit filed in U.S. District Court alleges the soldiers from a Tell City-based unit were exposed to a carcinogen while protecting an Iraqi water pumping plant shortly after the U.S. invasion in 2003.

The 23-page complaint claims that Houston-based KBR knew at least as early as May 2003 that the plant was contaminated with sodium dichromate, a known carcinogen, but concealed the danger from civilian workers and 139 soldiers from the Indiana Guard’s 1st Battalion, 152nd Infantry.

“It’s not right, what they done,” said Mark McManaway, a 55-year-old truck driver from Cannelton who has since retired from the Guard. McManaway, the main plaintiff in the lawsuit, has suffered nosebleeds and rashes he believes are due to the chemical exposure.

The chemical, used to remove pipe corrosion, is especially dangerous because it contains hexavalent chromium, which is known to cause birth defects and cancer, particularly lung cancer, the lawsuit said. The cancer can take years to develop.

Some of the soldiers who served at the site now have respiratory system tumors associated with hexavalent chromium exposure, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit seeks reimbursement for medical costs, monitoring for cancer and other health problems and unspecified monetary damages. Source: Army Times - read more here

Watch Senator Bayh with Rachel...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

'Green Zone' security in Baghdad belongs to a sovreign nation, and it's no longer the U.S.

Heading in the right direction? We can hope. Time will tell. My fingers are triple knotted.

Iraq takes control of Green Zone

Iraqi forces will now monitor the zone's security

Iraq has taken control of security in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone after a UN mandate for troops expired.

The end of the UN mandate - put into place soon after the invasion in March 2003 - means Iraq will now take greater control of its own security.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki welcomed the move as Iraq's "day of sovereignty" at the handover ceremony.

US and British forces will remain in Iraq - but with Iraqi permission, under two separate bilateral deals.

Powerful symbol

"I'd like to congratulate you and the Iraqi people on this day for which we have waited for more than 17 years," Mr Maliki said at the handover ceremony at the Presidential Palace, the former home of ousted leader Saddam Hussein.

"We have the right to consider this day as the day of sovereignty and it is the beginning that Iraq will regain every particle of its soil as well as all of its will and sovereignty."

Iraqi forces will take over responsibility for the security of the zone, the fortified area which houses the Iraqi government, coalition headquarters and most embassies.

The fortified zone is a powerful symbol of the US-led occupation of Iraq. source: BBC News

Op-Ed from 12/24: "How Bush Can Transcend the Shoe Thrower "

I missed this one on December 24th. Pardon me?

No, of course not.

Pardon him. Pardon the shoe thrower.

Good will.

Peace on earth.

source: The Wall Street Journal

A small outrage requires a grand gesture

By MARK BOWDEN

As a holiday gesture, President Bush ought to ask the Iraqi government to pardon Muntazer al-Zaidi -- the Iraqi journalist who tried to hit him with his shoes.

Sometimes a small outrage affords an opportunity for a grand gesture. The president was not harmed by the stunt. He had the grace to joke immediately afterwards that the missiles were a "size 10." Video of the shoe-throwing, which went viral on the Internet and has been seen now by just about everyone on the planet, has mostly elicited laughter.

But already the consequences have been no joke for Mr. Zaidi. By most accounts, he has been roughly treated in prison, where he was taken after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's guards were seen beating him after he threw the second shoe. He now faces as many as 15 years in prison, one for every one of his 15 minutes of fame. read more here

Iraqi Shoe Throwing Incident: Amatuer footage

The video cuts promptly when the guy is tackled by security, but resumes after President Bush begins speaking again.

Iraq: Iraqi man throws shoes at President Bush --Pretty good duck President Bush

You might have already heard that President Bush made a covert overnight visit to Iraq. At an Iraqi press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nur Kamal al-Maliki an Iraqi man threw both of his shoes at President Bush which is Iraqi custom to demonstrate great anger and displeasure.

The message was received loud and clear by the President of the United States as he explained that he understood that the throwing the shoes in Iraq is much the same as getting flipped off in the United States. The President of course did not put it in those terms, but I certainly did.

BAGHDAD — President Bush flew to Iraq on Sunday, his fourth and final trip to highlight the recently completed security agreement between the United States and the country that has occupied the bulk of his presidency and will to a large extent define his legacy.

But his appearance at a news conference here was interrupted by an Iraqi journalist who shouted in Arabic — “This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog” — and threw one of his shoes at the president, who ducked and narrowly avoided being struck.

As chaos ensued, he threw his other shoe, shouting, “This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.” The second shoe also narrowly missed Mr. Bush as Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki stuck out a hand in front of the president’s face to help shield him.

A scrum of security agents descended on the man, who was about 12 feet from the lectern, and wrestled him to the floor and then out of the ornate room where the news conference was taking place. The president was uninjured and brushed off the incident. “All I can report is it is a size 10,” he said jokingly before continuing his news conference and noting the apologies of Iraqi journalists in the front row. source: NYT

Here is the video:

The Political Carnival

Senate Report: Abuses were "...the direct result of Bush administration policies..."

I don't typically say that much about matters relating to war. Call me chicken. Bawk! Bawk!

I am exceedingly glad to read that someone in the government is finally saying it out loud. It's about time.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new Senate report says the physical and mental abuse of detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay Naval Base was the direct result of Bush administration policies and should not be blamed on guards and interrogators.

The report from the Senate Armed Services Committee is the result of a two-year investigation. It directly links President Bush's policies after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, legal memos on torture and interrogation rule changes with the abuse that was photographed at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq four years ago.

The report says administration officials publicly blamed the abuses on low-level soldiers but called that ''both unconscionable and false.'' source: NYT

Americans not the only ones pinning future hopes on President-elect Barack Obama: Iraqi officials calling for Obama to open dialogue with Iran

President-elect Obama has a lot on his plate. With respect to Iraq, the up side is that it appears that his administration will be going into the challenges with Iraq, Iran and it's neighbors with a great degree of encouragement and support for the key player.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The Iraqi government has called for the administration of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to initiate sustained dialogue with Iran in hopes of greater Middle Eastern stability, a government spokesman said on Thursday.

[ Photo: Reuters – Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh speaks during an interview with Reuters in Najaf, 160 km (100 … ]

"The time has come for a new, serious, and calm policy with an open-minded vision," Dabbagh said in a statement after he had given a speech in Washington.

The Shi'ite-led Iraqi government, which is friendly toward Shi'ite Iran and has been backed by Washington since the 2003 invasion to oust Saddam Hussein, has supported U.S.-Iran dialogue before.

It now appears to be pinning its hopes on Obama for greater talks between the long-time foes. read more here

There's an up side to everything. The challenge is to find it.