Debbie Schlussel: New Boss Same As the Old Boss: Welcome to the "New" Iraq
In the past, I've written about Mithal Al-Alusi, the courageous, independent, Sunni member of Iraqi parliament, who supports democracy and wants peace and relations with Israel. He's also wary of the intense Iranian influence over the Shi'ite ruling figures. For all of this, Al-Alusi has lost two sons to targeted assassination--where he was the primary target.
Now, we see what the "new" Iraq is all about. It's the same as the old Iraq. It's intolerant, extreme, and barbaric.
Al-Alusi, because he visited Israel, has had his parliamentary immunity lifted. His fellow "democrats" in the Iraqi parliament voted for this overwhelmingly. With his immunity lifted, he can now be prosecuted and face the death penalty, which was the goal of those who moved to lift it. They want him executed.
Iraqi legislators said Sunday that parliament had voted to lift the immunity of a Sunni Arab lawmaker who visited Israel.The parliament has also banned Mithal al-Alusi from traveling outside Iraq or attending parliamentary sessions, they said.
Sunday's punishment was confirmed by Osama al-Nujeif, a Sunni Arab lawmaker, and Haider al-Ibadi, a Shi'ite lawmaker.
The two men said Alusi's trip was illegal and a humiliation for Iraqis who see Israel as a historical enemy. Without parliamentary immunity, Alusi could be subject to prosecution.
Alusi, chairman of Iraq's Democratic Party, Mithal al-Alusi, surprisingly arrived at a conference on terror in Herzliya last Wednesday, calling for the establishment of a joint intelligence network with Israel and the United States.
"In Israel, there is no occupation, there is liberalism," Alusi said to the sound of roaring applause.
Alusi made his first trip to Israel in September 2004 to participate in a counter-terrorism conference. Apparently as payback, extremists murdered his two sons, 22 and 30.
The next time you hear conservatives or President Bush or anyone else point to the died purple fingers of the Iraqi people voting in elections, remember: This is what they voted for.
Let's hear it for the new Iraqi "democracy" and "freedom." This is what over 4,000 of our soldiers died for?
Please tell me how this kind of stuff is different than Saddam's activities? Oh, it's Shi'ite instead of Sunni. Same difference.
Posted by Debbie on October 1, 2008 08:39 AM to Debbie Schlussel