Killing of 'Al Hurra' journalist. posted by Richard Seymour

At the considerable risk of being misunderstood, I'd like to point out how pointless this is, if it is supposed to be an act of resistance. The gangland-style shooting of a journalist and his three-year-old son is obviously exceptionally cruel, and surprising, given that it took place in Basra where the fighting is supposed to have died down.

We are told that this journalist worked for the US-funded television station Al Hurra (meaning 'The Free One'). The television station carries such delights as 'Free Hour' and documentaries about Marlon Brando, which I doubt the average Fallujan can really do without. It is fooling no one , of course, and may well be doomed . More info here and here .

He also edited a local newspaper and was a prominent member of the al-Dawa party, which nominally opposes the occupation and calls for Iraq to become an Islamic state. It is anti-sectarian, in that it unites Shiites and Sunnis, but was originally founded by the Shiite Sheikh Mohammad Baqir al-Sadr. It will have its own militia and private intelligence networks from its years of resisting Saddam from bases in Iran. They have worked with the Interim government under Iyad Allawi, and are now recommending a candidate for Prime Minister, who acted as vice-President under Allawi (this will have to be approved by Sistani ). I confidently expect, then, that this killing is less a strike against the occupation than part of an internal power-struggle. Whichever it is, there is no justification for it. (I hate to platitudinise, but there it is).

Here is a rather crushing irony:

A safe house in Baghdad for abused and threatened women — a refuge that a Nashville Army Reserve major helped establish — has fallen.

But rebels didn't take it. Instead, with no advance warning, the interim Iraqi president ordered the eviction of the women and staff, according to a U.S. Embassy daily report.

"One of President Ghazi al-Yawer's staff, accompanied by eight armed guards, evicted the occupants … with only 30 minutes' notice," said the Feb. 1 memo.