At Telegraph UK , ” Sectarian attacks in Iraq leave over 70 dead .” And at New York Times , ” Political Role for Militants Worsens Fault Lines in Iraq “: BAGHDAD — It was one of the deadliest insurgent groups in Iraq in recent years, an Iranian-backed militia that bombed American military convoys and bases, assassinated dozens of Iraqi officials and tried to kidnap Americans even as the last soldiers withdrew. But now the Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki is welcoming the militant group into Iraq’s political system, a move that could tilt the nation’s center of gravity closer to Iran. The government’s support for the militia, which only just swore off violence, has opened new sectarian fault lines in Iraq’s political crisis while potentially empowering Iran at a moment of rising military and economic tensions between Tehran and Washington. The militant group, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, broke away from the fierce Shiite militia commanded by the anti-American cleric Moktada al-Sadr, who has strong ties to Tehran. The American military has long maintained that the group, led by a former spokesman for Mr. Sadr, Qais al-Khazali, was trained and financed by Iran’s elite Quds Force — something that Iran denies. Since the American military withdrawal last month, Iraq has been convulsed with waves of attacks that have raised concerns about its political stability. On Thursday, bombings killed at least 68 people, including 44 Shiite pilgrims in a single attack in the southern deserts near Nasiriya. With that backdrop of violence , the Iraqi government can plausibly claim that its overtures to the group are an earnest attempt to make peace with a powerful armed foe while nudging the country closer to a much-needed national reconciliation. Thousands of other militants, both Sunni and Shiite, have cut deals with the government to stop fighting, and few officials see a meaningful peace in Iraq that does not include reconciling with armed groups. On Thursday, Asaib Ahl al-Haq made another conciliatory gesture, saying it would release the body of a British bodyguard, Alan McMenemy, who was kidnapped in 2007 with four others, only one of whom was released alive. Yet, critics worry that Mr. Maliki, facing fierce new challenges to his leadership from Sunnis and even his fellow Shiites, may now be making a cynical and shortsighted play for Asaib’s support. They say Mr. Maliki may use the group’s credentials as Shiite resistance fighters to divide challengers in his own Shiite coalition and weaken Mr. Sadr’s powerful bloc, which draws its political lifeblood from the Shiite underclass. Way to go Democrats! This is what cut and run gets you! Congratulations!
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Obama’s Precipitous Withdrawal: Dozens Killed in Bomb Attacks Amid Iraq’s Political Crisis
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File-Sharing Officially Recognized as a Religion in Sweden
Charred remains of an American flag police say was burned in front of the Occupy Charlotte camp in North Carolina Friday. (Image source: WBTV-TV)
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4 Arrested After Setting American Flags on Fire at Occupy Charlotte Camp
At Telegraph UK , ” Coordinated bomb attacks across Nigeria kill at least 40 ,” and ” Boko Haram: the group behind the Nigerian attacks .” Also at London’s Daily Mail , ” Bombs kills 39 at Catholic churches during Christmas Day mass as series of explosions rock Nigeria .” And at New York Times , ” Churches Are Hit in a Series of Bombings Across Nigeria .” (Via Memeorandum and The Other McCain .)
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Nigerian Explosion: Bombs Hit Churches in Christmas Day Terrorist Attacks
Did an ACORN front group plan and execute last week’s bizarre “Occupation” of a San Francisco Bank of America branch? As you’ll recall, nearly 100 people were arrested after storming into the bank, chanting slogans and attempting to setup camp indoors. Now, following this incident, some are wondering if an ACORN front group may have been behind the organized chaos. We already know that the staged protest was organized, in part, by ReFund California, a group that describes itself as , “a state-wide coalition of homeowners, community members, faith leaders and students working to make Wall Street banks pay for destroying jobs and neighborhoods with their greedy, irresponsible and predatory business practices.” This is the same group that also organized a protest at Cal State University last week. But who is behind ReFund California? Among the coalition’s “partners,” which includes unions and like-minded groups, is the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) . This group, which is likely unknown to most, was covered in-depth in JudicialWatch’s ” The Re-branding of ACORN ,” a report that focuses upon covert, ACORN front-groups. Here’s what the report had to say about ACCE: ACORN CA has become the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), incorporated on December 8, 2010. ACCE maintains seven offices in California. According to Secretary of State records, the registered agent of ACCE is Amy Schur, who is also the organization’s executive director. Schur was formerly the lead organizer for ACORN CA and was a member of ACORN’s management council. She reportedly knew of the embezzlement of ACORN funds by Dan Rathke, but chose to inform neither the ACORN board of directors nor law enforcement about the crime. Lead organizer in the San Diego office is David Lagstein, former lead organizer for ACORN in Michigan. ACCE board member Edgar Hilbert was also formerly with ACORN CA member. ACCE took over the office space previously occupied by ACORN CA at 3655 So. Grand Avenue, Suite 250, Los Angeles, CA 90007. Interestingly, in January 2011, Schur put out a press release highlighting ACCE’s creation, defending ACORN and announcing that the new-found group would continue the important work of organizing in California. The release reads : It has been a difficult and emotional time. We, the California leadership, staff and members who have been working with ACORN, believe that ACORN, both locally and nationally, has been a tremendous force advancing the interests of low-income and working families in this country. At the same time, very real internal mistakes have been made and vicious politically motivated attacks have led to right-wing activists digging through our trash and editing undercover videos to tell a lie so malicious that, if it were true, would upset any citizen. Nevertheless, those of us who have been working with ACORN in California believe that we can’t wait any longer to be in full control over our destiny. The leadership and staff that were working with ACORN in California made the decision to break off from ACORN and launch a new organization here in California called Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE). Needless to say, it’s clear that the organization has deep ties to ACORN. And when it comes to ReFund, while the coalition looks like a separate entity, it’s contact information goes back to ACCE (clearly, ReFund is a project of the ACCE — or, at the least, a project the ACCE has a major stake in). Now, this brings us back to last week’s Bank of America incident. Writer and filmmaker Lee Stranahan was at the event, where he captured some very interesting footage. Throughout the clip he posted on YouTube, individuals wearing what appear to be yellow ACCE shirts look like they’re leading and guiding the protesters inside of the bank branch. In the beginning of the video, a woman in a yellow shirt appears to be leading the group. Around the 1:00 mark, you’ll notice a man in a yellow shirt waving protesters inside the Bank of America branch. Just seconds later, the man in the yellow shirt also slips inside of the bank. The crowd, of course, is chanting, “We are the 99 percent!” Watch the video, below: Around 3:15, the woman was purportedly leading the group in the beginning of the clip can also be seen inside of the bank. At 4:28, you’ll notice a man wearing what is very clearly an ACCE shirt, with the shirt’s design appearing in clear view. Here’s a screen shot: Considering the ACCE’s “make banks pay” mentality, it makes sense that the group would be behind these actions. But considering that someone from the protest allegedly urinated inside the bank and with the knowledge that private property was so vehemently violated, one wonders how a legitimate organization could condone such actions. At the least, the public deserves to know that there may have been nothing “organic” about this protest. Additionally, considering the allegations that were previously waged against ACORN, any and all of its offshoot groups — including ACCE — deserve elevated scrutiny. This report follows two additional pieces the Blaze has written about ACORN’s reformation (one about an Orlando group and another about a New York City-based organization). All three reports show that the ACORN affiliates are heavily supportive of the Occupy movement.
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Was the Bank of America ‘Occupation’ a Coordinated, ACORN-Affiliated Attack?
One thousand “Occupy” demonstrators walked through downtown Oakland Saturday. Despite public officials saying that overnight protest camps will no longer be permitted, KTVU reports that a handful of protesters have begun to set up tents. A mass day of action was planned for Saturday on the group’s website, as NBC Bay Area reports that the group planned on establishing a new encampment. Occupy Oakland had a large scale forceable eviction earlier this month, the first of its kind. The eviction brought heavy criticism to the city’s mayor and police department,while galvanizing encampments nationwide. ABC 7 reports on Occupy Oakland march through Downtown Oakland Saturday: The San Jose Mercury News reports that Saturday’s protest remained peaceful throughout the afternoon until demonstrators knocked down a chain-link fence surrounding a vacant city-owned lot which the group had targeted, claiming it as the new site for Occupy Oakland. Oakland Tribune video shows protesters knocking down fences around their targeted camp: “‘More tents! More tents!’ one protest organizer shouted over a sound system which was rolled onto the dirt lot at about 6 p.m., asking people to solicit tent and blanket donations via phone and tweets. ” Saturday’s defiant campaign comes after Police removed the main Occupy Oakland encampment once again last Monday . The new camp established Saturday is five blocks away from where Occupy Oakland was evicted during a pre-dawn police raid early last week. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that police had set up a perimeter around the new site Saturday. But hundreds of demonstrators who had just concluded a march through downtown got past officers with ease and without confrontation. Police spokeswoman Johnna Watson told KTVU that there have been no arrests or citations, but the city’s position remains that the protesters can’t stay overnight.
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Occupy Oakland Sets Up Tents Despite City Officials Saying They Won’t Tolerate New Camps
An Occupy Richmond protester carries supplies to the group's newest campsite: Next door to the mayor's home. (Image source: WRVA 1140)
Raymond H. Boone, Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones' next-door neighbor, speaks with protesters who are occupying his lawn. (Image source: WRVA 1140)
Occupy Richmond protesters set up camp next door to Mayor Dwight C. Jones' home. (Image source: WTVR-TV)
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Occupy Richmond Sets Up Camp on Lawn of Mayor’s Neighbor
