"Iraq News" Posted by Samson Saturday AM 12-7-19

KTFA:

Samson:  Trump envoy visits Erbil

7th December, 2019
An informed source said, today, Saturday, that the American President's envoy for coalition affairs against ISIS and the Syrian file, James Jeffrey, will visit the Kurdistan Region and the federal capital, Baghdad, with the aim of meeting with a number of senior officials in the region.

And Kurdish media quoted the source as saying that, in addition to Jeffrey’s meeting this morning with the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani, he will have another meeting with the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party Masoud Barzani today as well.

It is noteworthy that the US special envoy for the alliance against ISIS arrived on Thursday in the capital, Baghdad.   LINK

Samson:  America threatens to include Iraqi government officials in the sanctions list 

13:45 - 07/12/2019

On Saturday, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker threatened to take sanctions against Iraqi government officials and military leaders if they were found to be involved in "violations" against the demonstrators.

"This process is ongoing and these designations do not favor future announcements," the US State Department website quoted in an interview with its translation, "The Information," with Schenker as saying, in response to the latest sanctions.

"We will appoint more (more names) in the future, but I cannot comment on that at this time," he added.

In response to a question, does that mean that sufficient evidence has not been collected against a (Iraqi) government official? Schenker answered by saying, "I cannot say which (official) we are working on or working for, but a warning was issued to them saying: Yes, if you flagrantly violate human rights and if you commit acts of violence against demonstrators, regardless of whether you are in the government or outside The government, you are in danger of being named (definitely on the sanctions list).”

In response to a question whether the United States bears some blame for the current situation in Iraq and the desire for a new constitution, Schenker said, “We tried to work with who we could work with at that time. However, whether Iraq should have a new constitution, the matter Up to the people of Iraq . I can tell you now that they are working on a new electoral law. They are developing an independent electoral commission. But yes, they certainly need reforms.”

He continued, “Frankly, without this commitment from political leaders in Iraq , there will not be much difference between those who are appointed as prime minister, and as I said last week, Iraqis are tired of economic stagnation, rampant corruption and mismanagement. They want better than their leaders, and they want accountability.”   LINK

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Samson:  An extraordinary session of Parliamentary Security and summoning four military leaders

7th December, 2019
Today, Saturday, an informed source said that the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee held an extraordinary meeting, summoning four senior military leaders.

The source said to Shafak News that "the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee will hold a special session tomorrow, Sunday, to summon the commander of Baghdad Operations, the Air Defense Commander, the Baghdad Police Commander, and the commander of the 11th Iraqi Army."

He added that "during the session, investigations will be carried out on the crimes that occurred last night in Al-Khilani Square and Al-Rashid Street, and that a number of the dead and wounded were among the demonstrators, as well as the recent events in Najaf."   LINK

Samson:  Ericsson agrees to pay a billion dollars to settle a corruption investigation in America

14:13 - 07/12/2019

The US Department of Justice has announced that Swedish mobile operator Ericsson has agreed to pay more than $ 1 billion to settle a corruption investigation that includes bribes to government officials in countries including China, Vietnam and Djibouti.

The charges include paying a criminal penalty of more than $ 520 million in addition to $ 540 million to be paid to the US Securities and Exchange Commission on a related matter.

The Ministry of Justice said in a statement that the company acknowledged that it conspired with others to violate the law against foreign corruption practices between 2000 and 2016 at least by engaging in a scheme to pay bribes with the aim of falsifying books and records and not applying acceptable internal accounting restrictions.

The authorities stated that Ericsson used third parties to pay bribes to government officials to secure her work and ensure its continuity.

Ericsson Misr Ltd., one of Ericsson subsidiaries, pleaded guilty to the South New York District Court for alleged conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Anti-Corruption Foreign Act.

Acknowledgment of guilt may lead to tougher additional penalties, including the withdrawal of important licenses, but the company can negotiate to ensure its business continues.  LINK

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Samson:  Iraq retrieves 300,000 rare artifacts from the United States

7th December, 2019
The Iraqi embassy in the United States has received three hundred artefacts, which the Iraqi government loaned about a hundred years ago, to a US university at the time for the purpose of restoring it and reading its contents.

Sources reported, “Between 1922-1934, archaeologists from the University of Pennsylvania discovered thousands of broken clay tablets in the ancient city of Ur, near the city of Nasiriyah.”

She noted, "The panels, which are more than four thousand years old, were loaned temporarily by the Iraqi government to the university for the purpose of restoring them and reading their contents, after nearly a hundred years have passed since the Iraqi embassy in Washington received three hundred pieces, to be returned about three thousand other pieces." coming soon". 

According to the specialists, these artifacts represent commercial transaction receipts, similar to modern credit cards, and reflect part of the bureaucratic system of the Third Ur dynasty. 

Experts say: These receipts were no longer needed after years of use, so the Sumerians owners decided to use them as pillars to build a temple, and for this most of these fragile clay tablets have been broken and broken. These items were received by the Iraqi embassy in Washington, to be shipped to their original place in the Iraqi Museum in the capital, Baghdad.   LINK

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Samson:  Al-Sadr reveals that Al-Hanana was bombed

7th December, 2019
Saleh al-Iraqi, close to the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, revealed, today, Saturday, that "Al-Hanana", the area of ​​Sadr's residence, was hit by a drone.

"After we found the authority to publish the news, I say: (tenderness) at dawn today was bombed by (a pilot plane), in response to orders issued from his permission (for the blue caps) to protect the rebels yesterday night in Baghdad and Najaf, " Saleh al-Iraqi said in a statement received by Shafaq News. Previously".

He continued, "Here my commander says: The most important thing is to protect the demonstrators and their security ... And as the father said (Jerusalem) I say with what he said: I am not important in my face, my hand, nor my eyes, but the important thing is the safety of the country and the love of the country from faith ... Note that investigations are ongoing."   LINK

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Samson:  Al-Diwaniyah Strike to Protest "Al-Senk Massacre"

7th December, 2019
Civil activists in Al-Diwaniyah Governorate announced today, Saturday, that a general strike will be organized in the province, in protest against what happened yesterday in the Al-Senak area in the capital, Baghdad.

Activists told Shafak News that, "In response to the massacre by the party militia against the protesters in al-Khilani Square and Al-Sinak Bridge last night, a general strike will be called and the permanence will be suspended in denunciation of what happened."

The activists called on "everyone from school students, professors and employees to activate their national role and not work tomorrow, and participate in the angry demonstration that will start tomorrow, Sunday, at eight in the morning, in protest against the actions of the parties towards the demonstrators."

It is noteworthy that 10 of the demonstrators were killed and dozens wounded, yesterday night, by unidentified gunmen in the areas of Al-Khilani Square and Al-Senak Bridge near Al-Tahrir Square in the center of the capital, Baghdad.

After that, the Ministry of Interior announced an investigation into the shooting. The Interior Ministry spokesman said in a statement, "The security forces opened an investigation into the shooting incident that took place in the vicinity of the Al-Sinak area in Baghdad." He pointed out that "the security forces started to cordon off the place in search of the elements that carried out this work, and intensified its presence in the areas near the scene of the accident."   LINK