Baghdad is victorious!

Why were the USA and UK in Iraq?

China has been granted a license to develop Iraq’s largest known oilfield.

"The three largest Chinese oil companies are already gearing up to bid for 11 other oil and gas field contracts in Iraq that will be auctioned off later this year."

http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/07/china-iraq-oil-markets-equity-cnpc.html

American forces have now departed from all Iraqi cities.

As the Americans left there were chants of "Out, America, Out!" and "America has left! Baghdad is victorious!"

Lion's Den: Good-bye, finally, to Iraq's cities

Was the UK in Iraq simply to kill Iraqis?

The UK defence secretary has agreed to a new investigation into the deaths of 20 Iraqis in Basra in 2004.

UK concedes new Basra death probe

The UK government had told a court that the dead were killed on the battlefield.

But it admits that it has failed to provide enough evidence of this to the court.

"(The government is proposing) an investigation of the murder of Iraqi detainees... and specific allegations by five Iraq nationals of ill-treatment."

It has been alleged that Iraqi civilians were detained following "the battle of Danny Boy" - a clash between British soldiers and Iraqis near the town of Al Majar-al-Kabir, in Maysan Province, on 14 May 2004.

Lawyers for five Iraqis have produced evidence supporting allegations the captives were taken to British base Camp Abu Naji, where they were tortured, murdered, and their bodies mutilated.

~~

By the Rivers of Babylon

What does the Iran election crisis mean for Iraq? Specifically, what does it mean for our people in Iraq? Specifically, our soldiers and marines and aircrew. Specifically, the 1/128th of the Wisconsin National Guard.

I'm asking. I really have no idea.

I expect it makes things more dangerous for our people because it makes the situation more complicated. I would guess the decisive influence of Iran in Iraq means the Iran election crisis will also be a crisis for Iraq.
The GOP, laughably, is trying to take credit for democratic ferment in Iran. Of course, these people cannot be taken seriously on any subject, particularly events in Southwest Asia.

Someone I do take seriously about events in the region is my nephew. He's a member of the 1/128. We've exchanged e-mails the last couple days and he's had some interesting things to report.

He's very guarded. Won't say where he is or what he's doing.
South of Baghdad, he says. Driving people around, he says . That's about it.

Mufti is the uniform of the day, he says. Has been for a couple weeks. He doesn't think that has anything to do with the Iran election crisis. Its just kind of odd.

The Revolutionary Guard have disappeared from the area, he says. He thinks that may have something to do with the election crisis.
They recruit in the area. They collect taxes in the area. They operate schools and dormitories and a clinic in the area. They have a couple big office buildings in the area.

The Guard stand out in the Iraqi communities where they operate, he says. They are much better dressed than the average Iraqi and travel about in Mercedes 350GX SUV's. They don't bother Americans and my nephew thinks they are actually beneficial to keeping order in the area of his unit's operation. He doesn't really like the Iraqi's and refers to them in the most contemptuous terms.
In the last several days, he reports, the Guard has vanished. I asked if they could have submerged themselves in the local population but my nephew thinks not. As I said, he doesn't think much of Iraqis and doesn't think the Guard does either. Consequently, he doesn't believe they could hide among the locals as the local militia fighters do.
What will happen now? As of this posting, it appears today's demonstrations are called off to forestall further attacks from the regime's storm troopers. Whether the drive to recast the election will succumb to the storm troopers remains to be see:15n.
Whatever the outcome, my nephew hopes it will permit the return of the Revolutionary Guard to Iraq South of Baghdad. He thinks they are necessary to keep the local militia/gangs in check.
Keeping the local militia in check is the only way he sees that US forces can exit and a speedy exit from Iraq is what he devoutly wishes.

A brief moment of happiness

I hope LeBlanc keeps up the Iranblogging, but couldn't resist interrupting briefly to post this from ObWi.

"After almost eight years of captivity, each step of Khelil Mamut's [right] freedom is a little overwhelming.

The ocean, which he could hear only on windy days when the waves crashed beyond Guantanamo's razor wire rimmed fence, is now something he can wade into.

People call him by his name, not 278, his internee serial number.

Then there was the horse he saw while walking one of the island trails on Thursday, the day he and three other Chinese citizens of the Muslim Uighur minority arrived in Bermuda. The animal made him stop suddenly, just to stare.

"How can I express it," he said yesterday, describing the new tropical home where he now lives with the three other former Guantanamo detainees. "It is so great, so beautiful."

"This may be a small island," added Abdullah Abdulqadir [not pictured]. "But it has a big heart.""

Click over for full credits.