markfromireland

The "lesson learnt" from the Northern Ireland Peace Process for the Middle East and Afghanistan isn't what British Government ministers claim it is.

Three Iraki refugees have released a 15 track album of peaceful and uplifting music for World Refugee Day. All proceeds from the sale of their music will be used to help other Iraqi refugees.

A second member of the gang that kidnapped and then murdered Margaret Hassan has been convicted.

The first and so far only prosecution of a contractor for a crime of violence or crime of physical abuse under MEJA resulted in a 26 month sentence.

18 - that's the number of journalists murdered in Irak in 2008.

The self-congratulatory reports in American and British media about how Irak is returning to "normality" ignore some rather uncomfortable facts. The first uncomfortable fact is that Iraki women are less safe now than at any other time during the war, the occupation, or the years before. Some of the other uncomfortable facts are that a large proportion of Iraki women say that access to basic services such as clean water and basic medical care has become more difficult, and that moreover they have become more and more impoverished. Did I remember to wish you Happy International Women's Day? No? Happy International Women's Day.

The Gorilla's Guides team are giving a souvenir of the day to anyone who wants it.

The number of laboratory confirmed Cholera cases in Irak is now 738.

The Syrian government has broken relations with Baghdad. It has completely opened it's border. Expect some painful blowback.

By its raid on Syria the USA has just invited every regional actor to give the Iraki political pot a good hefty stir. You can be sure that invitation will be taken up.