Protests
Politics
Middle East
International Relations
Violence
Social Issues
Political unrest
Iranian influence
?? Iraq: the people are no longer settling for the crappy deal they were handed post-saddam. Instead of a centralized dictatorship, Iraq became a violent plutocracy.
?? Iraq: first takeaway from the protest wave is that violence isn't anymore an effective deterrent to protesters. They've seen so much violence growing up that it barely registers anymore.. knowing they'll likely face it anyway.
Second takeaway: Iran is now seen as a problem/oppressor by protesters. Iran became a shorthand for the armed millitias/death squads operating in the country under Iranian control.
??Iraq: a protest in Michigan by Iraqi sees ppl angry at a man trying to remove an anti-irannian banner. They throw him out chanting: "Iran out, Baghdad free"
??Iraq: a bit about competing narratives trying to explain/spin the events to suit their own agenda.
1- Sectarian: spinning protests to blame Shias squarely for Iraq's misery
2- Anti-imperialist: lamenting Saddam's toppling, loss of order
3- Generic: Shia vs Sunni vs Kurds
1- Sectarian: spinning protests to blame Shias squarely for Iraq's misery
2- Anti-imperialist: lamenting Saddam's toppling, loss of order
3- Generic: Shia vs Sunni vs Kurds
??Iraq: after death squads targeting alleged protest leaders, now tv stations that broadcast news about protests are being attacked in attempt to quell the uprising
??Iraq: the perennial question of "why isn't Western media paying attention?"
1- it is actually covering it but not intensely
2- the rule holds: what's in it for the West? i.e how does it affect "us"
3- what's novel about it?
The answer to Q #2 decides levels of coverage.
1- it is actually covering it but not intensely
2- the rule holds: what's in it for the West? i.e how does it affect "us"
3- what's novel about it?
The answer to Q #2 decides levels of coverage.
?? Iraq: when Western sensibilities block a story from being told - Social Media rules are actually hampering the flow of information from closed socieities
?? Iraq: stronger indications that the death squads (militias & paramilitary groups) were unleashed to SILENCE media to quell protests at ANY cost.
??Iraq: something to consider --a good portion of the people killed by militias in the streets of Baghdad come from Sadr's areas of influence. Very likely to trigger an armed response. Mortar barrages, hit and run attacks..
??Iraq: In addition to the internet blackout, Am being told that activists across the country were told in no uncertain terms that if they write/publish/agitate about the protests, their families will be targeted.
?? Iraq: what Baghdad protesters are facing - lethal force to stop them at any cost.
?? Iraq: PMU commander, former MP Jalaldine Saghir calling protesters "Baathists, terrorists" and vows to use full force to crush them.
?? Iraq: the Million dollar question.. or rather: has the Iraqi civil war ever ended?
?? Iraq: the numbers point to a clear trend - the powers that be in Iraq (militias, paramilitaries, gov, Iran etc.) are willing to kill and maim to stop the protests.
?? Iraq: The excellent folks at @netblocks show that the internet blackout is partially lifted
@netblocks ?? Iraq: who is protesting? the generation of post 2003. No recollection of Saddam, barely remember the Americans but came of age under successive corrupt parties, violent militias, failed governance.
?? Iraq: on the other side, men in masks, no insignia opening fire on protesters. Most likely, members of the various militias operating in the country & whose ties & boundaries with the state are blurry.
?? Iraq: in places like Sadr cirty, Thawra in Baghdad & Southern Iraq, which are overwhelmingly Shia, the militias opened fire on protesters. The fact the protesters were Shia themselves didn't earn them any mercy.
?? Iraq: "O world I call you, hear me, our revolt is not a revolt of a religion nor a sect, but one to avenge humanity.."
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