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‘Hilarious’: Iraq leaders laugh off new US sanctions
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] An Iraqi paramilitary leader and a politician have laughed off financial sanctions Washington recently placed on them for alleged corruption and human rights...which are usually open to widely divergent definitions... abuses. "They should have given us this honor a long time ago," said Qais al-Khazali, one of the newly-sanctioned figures, in sardonic remarks to an audience of supporters on Sunday. Khazali heads Asaib Ahl al-Haq, a pro-Iran  ...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneouslytaking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militiasto extend the regime's influence. The word Iranis a cognate form of Aryan,the abbreviation IRGCis a cognate form of Stürmabteilung (or SA),the term Supreme Guideis a cognate form of either Shahor Führeror maybe both, and they hate armed faction that makes up part of the broader Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU) militia tied to the Iraqi state. The US Treasury on Friday accused his group of "widespread forced disappearances, abductions, killings, and torture" under the Global Magnitsky act. The measures block financial transactions with and travel to the US for people who commit human rights abuses or corruption. "I’m embarrassed. Designate me a terrorist! A global terrorist. What is this Treasury list?" Khazali said. "That means the money we have in US banks will go," he added sarcastically. The US also sanctioned Iraqi businessman and political figure Khamees al-Khanjar, whom it accused of bribery. In a statement, Khanjar’s party condemned the decision and said the accusations were "extremely funny and illogical." "He was never an official, nor was his party part of the government," invalidating the corruption allegation, it said. Khanjar is an influential Sunni powerbroker with close ties across Iraq’s leading political parties. Related: Qais al-Khazali: 2019-12-07 US slaps sanctions on 3 Iran-linked Iraqi militia heads over protest abuses Qais al-Khazali: 2019-04-27 Kirkuk: 16 turbans toes up, gov’t to investigate 3 cops airstruck by Coalition fire Qais al-Khazali: 2019-01-31 Hashd al-Shaabi 'primary threat' to US in Iraq: Intel chief Related: Asaib Ahl al-Haq: 2019-10-27 Iraqi paramilitaries threaten ‘revenge’ after offices torched Asaib Ahl al-Haq: 2019-10-26 At least Asaib Ahl al-Haq: 2019-07-02 Iraq wants Shia militias as ‘indivisible’ part of army by July 31, militia headquarters closed, Tater withdraws Related: Hashed al-Shaabi: 2019-12-07 US slaps sanctions on 3 Iran-linked Iraqi militia heads over protest abuses Hashed al-Shaabi: 2019-12-06 Pro-paramilitary demonstrators flood Iraqi protest camp, 15 stabbed Hashed al-Shaabi: 2019-10-18 Prominent Iraqi Blogger Snatched from Home Posted by: Fred 2019-12-09 |
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