News and Analysis (2/23/09)

Under an Iraqi law similar to America’s “Congressional immunity,” Mohammed Daini remains free to vote his conscience:

• Sunni Lawmaker Linked to 2007 Parliament Bombing, Iraq Officials Say (LA Times)

“Those arming both sides in the conflict ‘will have been well aware of a pattern of repeated misuse of weapons by both parties and must therefore take responsibility for the violations perpetrated’”:

• Amnesty Calls on US to Suspend Arms Sales to Israel (Guardian)

“It is difficult for me to believe that I was abducted, hauled from one country to the next, and tortured in medieval ways — all orchestrated by the United States government”:

• Freed Guantanamo Detainee Says U.S. Behind His Torture (Reuters)

War and sectarian violence has left an estimated 740,000 widows threatening the stability of Iraq’s society:

• Iraq’s War Widows Face Dire Need With Little Aid (NY Times)

Amos Gilad was fired for publicly criticizing Olmert about the policy linking Schalit’s release to a Gaza cease-fire:

• Israel Replaces envoy to Egypt Talks, Hamas Irate (Reuters)

Despite a population growing increasing hostile to American support, the Pakistani government seems to welcome the military support from the US:

• U.S. Unit Secretly in Pakistan Lends Ally Support (NY Times)

Almost six years after the invasion of Iraq, security concerns limit the museum’s reopening to a few hours and will only display pictures of the most valuable treasures:

• A Brief Window Opens into Rarely Seen Iraq Museum (Christian Science Monitor)

Imran

Minaret of Freedom Institute Program Assistant