Today From Iraq...

AlDhari’s Outcry Must be Heard

alquds alarabi :: 2006-11-28 ::

    The rising sectarian bombings that have engulfed Iraq in the past few days are evidence that Iraq has sunk deeper into the ugliest civil war which cannot be brought to a halt with whatever means being adopted by the current rulers of Iraq at the moment. It is also absolutely clear that the current “Iraqi government” which was allegedly “democratically elected” under occupation is unable to provide the most basic form of security to the people it was supposed to be representing, nor do the US forces of occupation along with their allies and mercenaries all of whom are fundamentally responsible for Iraqi security as an occupation power.

    Dr Harith AlDhari, the head of the peaceful Association of Muslim Scholars, was 100% correct when he accused this government for being sectarian and placed the responsibility upon its shoulders along with the occupation for these hideous and despicable indiscriminate crimes against the ordinary and innocent people of Iraq irrespective of their ethnicity, sect, color, race or religion. He was also right to demand from the international community to withdraw their recognition of this evil regime which has proven to be a menace to its people.     MORE

 

Doing away with the do-nothing congress

    Soon to be Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says that he plans to keep senators working long hours and the he is doing away with the current "do-nothing" congress.

                ------------------------------------------------------------

 

By NEDRA PICKLER
The Associated Press
Wednesday, November 29, 2006; 7:59 AM

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader-elect Harry Reid said Tuesday he's doing away with the "do-nothing Congress" that Democrats campaigned against and plans to keep senators working long hours _ focusing first on ethics, the minimum wage and stem cell research.

The Nevada Democrat said he would tackle those priorities after cleaning up the "financial mess" the outgoing Republican Congress is leaving behind, a reference to nine long-overdue spending bills covering 13 Cabinet departments for the budget year that began Oct. 1.

"They're just leaving town, it appears," Reid said during an interview with The Associated Press in his Capitol office. "And so we're going to have to find a way to fund the government for the next year."

The must-pass legislation totals more than $460 billion and could divert time from other items on the Democratic agenda. "It's certainly not going to help it," Reid said.

He is wrapping up his final days as Senate minority leader. He will assume control of the Senate's agenda on Jan. 4, when the next Congress convenes with 10 new senators, at least 52 new House members and Democrats holding majorities in both houses for the first time since 1994.

"We're going to put in some hours here that haven't been put in in a long time," Reid said. That means "being here more days in the week, and we start off this year with seven weeks without a break. That hasn't been done in many, many years here.   MORE HERE