Iraqi Gay Leader Gunned Down; Militia Killings Continue

[Barrett808]

Source: EDGE

Iraqi Gay Leader Gunned Down; Militia Killings Continue
by Kilian Melloy
EDGE Contributor

In America, the media is rife with assurances that stability has increased in Iraq. In Iraq, for gays and lesbians at least, times have never been worse, a fact that was underscored by the assassination of a GLBT leader, most likely by a religious militia.

The UK Gay News reprinted a statement issued by UK-based GLBT Equality activist Peter Tatchell, the leader of the gay rights group Outrage!.

Tatchell wrote, "This morning, I received news from Iraq that the coordinator of Iraqi LGBT in Baghdad, Bashar, aged 27, a university student, has been assassinated in a barber shop.

"Militias burst in and sprayed his body with bullets at point blank range."

Continued Tatchell’s statement, "He was the organizer of the safe houses for gays and lesbians in Baghdad. His efforts saved the lives of dozens of people."

Read more: http://www.edgelasvegas.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=80985

[donco6]

1. So, if the surge worked, we should be able to pull out, right?

How can you say the "surge" worked when it didn't change anything systemically in the country? Whenever you add a shitload of troops somewhere, you're bound to see a decrease in activity. But if the activity resumes the minute you pull out, what's the point of a "surge"? How can you say it worked?

[nachoproblem]

4. Because apparently a bandaid is all that matters

I just had this argument with somebody. Another Democrat even, and who is usually to the left of me on issues. It was very frustrating. The surge "worked" because the parameters of "working" mean only that the surge was meant to decrease the violence in the immediate presence... and it's a good thing for all those Iraqi people who would have been blown up otherwise. True, but so what? They will be blown up when we leave, unless we stay forever, and we've already established that staying forever is unacceptable. The country of Iraq is just not fundamentally aligned the way we would assume or wish it would be. We broke something that can't be fixed, which was the paradoxical but nevertheless real equilibrium that country had with Saddam. People who think the surge "worked" assume that we have a moral responsibility to fix it because we broke it. I think that because it can't be fixed, we no longer have the right to try to fix it.

OT, sorry, I just wanted to get that off my chest.

[Baby Snooks]

2. You think this man matters?

There are Democrats as well as Republicans who will read this and simply not care. Just another queer. The way so many in this country still views gays and lesbians. Quite a few of the "fundamentalists" will actually applaud it and wish they could do the same here.

[mitchtv]

3. Can you imagine Brian Williams reporting this

Or Keith , for that matter. Gay news is for LOGO and Democracy now only.

[nachoproblem]

5. Apparently the militia thought he did.

Bullets aren't cheap.

Yes, that is an absurd way to rationalize hope. I basically agree with you. But I am also kind of surprised there was a GLBT leader there in the first place.

[Baby Snooks]

8. Iraq was secular under Saddam Hussein...

Reality is that Iraq under Saddam Hussein was secular rather than clerical and so civil law rather than religious law prevailed and while there was no such thing as "gay rights" in Iraq nonetheless there was some freedom in the sense that religious hit squads weren't allowed to go hit the streets in search of gays and lesbians to assassinate or women who dared to attempt to contribute to Iraqi society as equals.

But we wanted the oil. So we plunged Iraq into the Middle Ages of Islam to get it. And probably won't get it. We also plunged Iran into the Middle Ages of Islam to get it. And still haven't gotten it. We also plunged Afghanistan into the Middle Ages of Islam in order to build a pipeline by which to transport oil from Russia as well as Iraq and Iran and be able to bypass the Persian Gulf in the process. By transporting the oil by pipeline to India and Israel. This didn't happen overnight. It took 30 years to put into place. And still isn't in place. Because of Iran and Syria. No doubt if they can find a "reason" we will invade both and occupy both before this administration leaves office in January although if John McCain becomes president, it won't leave office.

The millions of lives for billions of barrels policy of the Bushes. And the Clintons. And apparently of Congress.

We are a shameful nation among nations.

[WriteDown]

6. I'm confused....

Did Larry Kind ask him about this?

[ooglymoogly]

7. There are religious Nazis all around us. Unfettered

say by an ill conceived reckless invasion, they become unfettered. When that happens the worst atrocities of Nazi Germany will be inevitable and it will happen anywhere religion gains too much control.