How Can We Have Sovereignty When We Don't Have Electricity or Water to Bathe? Iraqi Reporter on US Troop Pullback : Indybay

In Iraq, a deadly car bomb in the northern city of Kirkuk has killed up to 40 people and injured another 100. Tuesday’s bombing came hours after US troops withdrew from major Iraqi towns and cities, marring celebrations on a day that is now officially declared as “National Sovereignty Day,” a public holiday. Tuesday’s bombing is the latest in a string of recent attacks that have killed over 250 people in the past 10 days.

Despite the formal pullback some troops will remain in Iraqi cities while the majority of the 130,000 troops will remain on bases scattered across the country.

The Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Jalal al-Talabani praised the achievements of “the new efforts to rebuild Iraq based on democracy.” President Obama also praised the pullback and called it a step towards Iraqi sovereignty.

Meanwhile the top US commander in Iraq, General Ray Odierno said allowing Iraqis to take charge of their cities is “psychologically important to them.”

We go to Iraq to speak with McClatchy journalist Sahar Issa, an Iraqi citizen, reporting from Baghdad. And we speak with award-winning investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill joins us via democracy now video stream. He is the author of the bestseller Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army and his writing and reporting is available at RebelReports.com.

Sahar Issa, Iraqi reporter working with Baghdad Bureau of McClatchy Newspapers.

Jeremy Scahill, award-winning investigative journalist and author of the bestseller Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army. His writing and reporting is available at RebelReports.com.

How Can We Have Sovereignty When We Don't Have Electricity or Water to Bathe? Iraqi Reporter on US Troop Pullback

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