1/31/2020

alexis and jeff team up with adam to destroy blake (dynasty)

a lot happened tonight on 'dynasty' ('the cw').



blake had a nightmare where he confronted alexis about her tricking him into killing mac.  she laughed as he tried to choke her and told him, 'i'm not afraid of you. i can manipulate you into doing anything i want including murder.'


awake, blake asked crystal to let go of her anger.

kirby and fallon lunched with kirby noting blake had gotten away with murder.  fallon wants to take fallon unlimited to the international community.  how? via streaming.  kirby had some ideas for tv shows 'but mostly having to do with dogs.'  but fallon's got some partnership plans with european content.

alexis discovered that adam was living in her carriage house.  she told him he could stay but warned him blake would never forgive him.  she said he should help her and jeff (get revenge on blake).  'it would mean the world to me,' said alexis, 'if my husband and son could get along.' she warned him to choose a side because 'no 1 with the name carrington can remain neutral for long.'

sam and fletcher got done having sex and were getting dressed.  fletcher wanted to meet fallon as sam's boyfriend but sam freaked out with the word choice.  he ran to fallon who told him, 'my merger is falling apart.' why?  the european deal is already over possibly - the partners don't feel fallon has enough european appeal.  sam has his own problems.  'fletcher called me his boyfriend earlier and i kind of freaked,' sam confessed.  when fallon finally pays attention, she grasps that fletcher's soccer event - a team from spain - could be just what she needs to put fallon unlimited on the map.

fallon goes to michael culhane - who controls the team thanks in part to her.  and he agrees to let her have signage at the half-time show.




jeff and alexis argue over how to take out blake.  alexis wants to use blackmail.  jeff says no so alexis proposes bringing on adam to do the dirty work.  jeff tells her, 'i can't work with him. so just let it lie.'

does alexis not know that adam poisoned jeff?  no.  later in the episode he will tell her about it and she insists 'i had no idea.'



unless she doesn't know, i don't understand why she's pushing so hard for jeff and adam to have a relationship.

by the way, daniel di tomasso is playing fletcher - the publicist who has become sammy jo's boyfriend.  renee e-mailed a week ago wondering if fletcher was played by jackson browne's son ethan (who does some modeling).  i could see that so i looked it up.

daniel di tomasso was on 'major crimes' and 'timeless.'

kirby walks in on adam at the carriage house - she's brought some of his stuff from the mansion.

kirby: you're not wearing a shirt.

adam: was i supposed to be?


kirby is clearly turned on by adam.  if you watched the original 'dynasty,' you know adam and kirby were a couple until adam raped her.

sam underwood, who plays adam, is sexy.

anyway, kirby and adam made dinner plans but adam also learned from kirby's father joseph that the gardner snitched on adam and now blake wants him gone.  adam notes that alexis owns the carriage house and joseph noted that blake owns all the land around it and adam can't leave it without getting on blake's land.

now's probably a good time to point out that blake's telling crystal to let the past go - the past where alexis shoots a gun, kills mark jennings and has crystal dragged on the ground by her horse until crystal miscarries.  but blake won't forgive his own son adam for setting a vineyard on fire.

crystal finds a therapist to help her address her anger.

okay so fallon and blake are at war over the streaming issue because he's going after her potential european partners.  she enlists sam for help because she wants to turn the the half-time into a full blown show.

'i think i'm ready if you still want my help,' adam tells his mother.  he's choosing his side and it's alexis now that blake has rejected him.

adam and jeff meet up - set up by alexis.

jeff is furious.

adam: i'm sorry about the poisoning it was a bad judgment call on my part but you're clearly okay.


no, jeff isn't.  but he doesn't tell adam that he has neurological damage as a result of the poisoning or that it's killing him.

adam:  would it make you feel better if you punched me?

jeff punches adam.  then tells him, 'actually, it did make me feel better.'

they then rush to carry out alexis' plan.

meanwhile fallon wants the mascot to weave in and out of fireworks. he won't do what she wants so she gives him $50,000 to leave and then tells sam he needs to wear the uniform. sam agreed finally but only because it's been his lifelong dream to play pluto at disneyland.

sam catches on fire and burns the fallon unlimited sign - it had read 'fallon unlimited spain.'  it now reads 'f u spain.'

'well that's unfortunate,' fallon says.

blake and crystal fought.  crystal says, 'i don't understand why you're attacking fallon.'  she also says that she can't just let it go - alexis killing 'our unborn child.'  she also says blake 'won't do a thing to punish that horrible woman.' 

adam and kirby had dinner.  'running away doesn't fix anything,' kirby shares with him when he wonders if he should move back to montana.  when he goes to get more wine, kirby removes an earring and drops it behind the couch cushion.

'you poisoned him,' alexis snarls as she slaps adam.  how can he be so cruel, asks alexis and he replies that it's probably in the genes.  she threatens to kick him out of the loft. she then takes adam to jeff.  jeff is upset but alexis asks him to listen to her.  she says 'we need all the help that we can get.'  as for his not trusting adam?

alexis pulls out her phone and tapes adam who states, 'my name is adam carrington, i want to confess that i poisoned jeff colby with the intent to make him sick if not kill him.'

blake has another nightmare.  in this 1, adam, fallon and alexis torture him.

sam shows up at fletcher's to apologize for the stunt at the game.  and fletcher says he should have called 1st.  yes, there's another man present?  is it a boyfriend? a husband? we have no idea but sam is upset.

crystal and blake made up.  he told her that she was right that he always protects alexis.  crystal said she needs to break the cycle of anger.  blake says he needs to as well.  he vows that he's going to get back control of  carrington atlantic.

alexis and jeff blackmail a man into giving them control of carrington atlantic.

meanwhile, crystal calls her brother about alexis.  she wants him to kill alexis.

let's close with c.i.'s 'Iraq snapshot:'


Friday, January 31, 2020.  Bernie Sanders continues to rise as Joe Biden continues to crater in the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani calls for support of the protesters in Iraq and Moqtada al-Sadr suddenly does a flip-flop, and more.



In the United States, the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination continues.  War Hawk Joe Biden continues to flounder.  But the corporate press felt they had a spare they could count on if Biden short-circuited.  That was centrist Amy Klobuchar.  That was her.  Now?


Repeatedly, presidential candidate has boasted about putting the killer of 11-year-old away for life. A year-long investigation now shows the person she convicted, 16-year-old Myon Burrell, is likely innocent. Blistering article.


Robin McDowell (AP) reports:

During a presidential debate, Amy Klobuchar defended her tough-on-crime record during her days as a top Minneapolis prosecutor.
She recounted a story that has helped propel her political career, including her 2007 Senate bid: Members of the African American community were seeking justice for kids killed in gun violence, she said. When a little girl was struck by a stray bullet while doing homework at the dining room table, Klobuchar’s office helped put away the shooter.
But what if Myon Burrell — a black teen sentenced to life in prison — was innocent?
A year-long Associated Press investigation has uncovered new evidence and myriad inconsistencies in the police investigation.


Not good news for Amy as Iowa prepares for their caucus next week.  Meanwhile Chuck Todd, Mark Murray and Carrie Dann (NBC NEWS) report:

If you want to know why Joe Biden is going (mostly) all-in here in Iowa, moving more of his advertising dollars into the Hawkeye State, look no further than our brand-new national NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.
Bernie Sanders has jumped into the national lead among Democratic primary voters, albeit well within the margin of error — it’s Sanders 27 percent, Biden 26 percent, Elizabeth Warren 15 percent, Bloomberg 9 percent, Pete Buttigieg 7 percent and Amy Klobuchar 5 percent.
Sanders’ African-American support has increased (from 8 percent in December to 28 percent now — though still behind Biden’s 52 percent).
And he’s almost tied with Biden among non-white Democratic primary voters — 32 percent support for Sanders, 34 percent for Biden.
Bottom line: If Biden doesn’t stop Sanders in Iowa, there’s a real chance he might not be able to stop him after the first two states (and maybe Nevada, too).

Joe's not doing well in New Hampshire.  Joe's starting to crater.  And when you talk about them being "neck and neck" in national polls, grasp that Bernie's earned that support where Joe's had it bestowed on him via the corporate press repeatedly insisting he's electable or he's this or he's the front runner or blah blah blah.  Bernie's earned his support.  Joe's has been bestowed upon him.

And if Joe loses Iowa -- which he may -- and New Hampshire, watch that support crater even further.  Again, he was gifted with it, he didn't earn it.  He's not worked hard on the campaign trail.  He's taken it easy.  He's avoided the press.  He's been unable to turn out crowds and the campaign knows that they have to go easy on him schedule wise because he can't handle a real schedule.  A real schedule leads him to make crazy claims and start attacking voters.

Joe's not fit to campaign -- not physically or mentally fit.  So shame on those pimping his campaign because if he's not qualified to campaign (and he's not) then he's certainly not qualified to be the president.

I know we included this in yesterday's snapshot but it's important so let's note Shaun King on the lies of Joe Biden one more time.

For nearly 50 years, has publicly pretended to have been a part of the Civil Rights Movement. He's not "exaggerating" or "embellishing," he is creating entire fictional storylines to impress white liberals & connect w/ Black voters. It must be confronted A thread...
 
 
When running for office, does not just have gaffes or embellishments, he creates wildly fictional storylines about his life and work that simply are not true. These are lies. And he tells them to get votes and build a rep he has not earned.
4:52
 
 
  • Just 3 weeks ago lied to say he protested the Vietnam War. In 1987, he had to admit and apologize that he never protested it. Here he admits that during the war he “wore sports coats” and hated “flak jackets and tie dyed t-shirts”
     
     
  • I have counted 31 times from 1975 until THIS WEEK that has lied about leading or participating in sit-ins during the Civil Rights Movement. HE NEVER PARTICIPATED IN A SINGLE SIT-IN. Never. Here he lies to a state convention about it.
     
     
  • Another time where sat he “sat-in and marched and all of that stuff.” He did not. His campaign admitted in 1987 that this was not true. But over the past 2 months he has started to tell lies just like this again hoping people forgot.
     
     
  • Here lied about doing sit-ins in 1960 in Delaware. I spoke to the actual leaders there. HE WAS NEVER THERE. The places he said he did sit-ins DID NOT EVEN HAVE SIT-INS. Leaders in Delaware told me these lies are well known there.
     
     
  • This is LAST WEEK in South Carolina. He’s in a church. And it’s abusive for him to do this. And THESE ARE LIES. Complete fabrications. NONE OF THIS HAPPENED. He must be held accountable for telling these lies.
     
     
  • This is LAST MONTH in Iowa where AGAIN began flat-out lying about what he did in the Civil Rights Movement. THIS IS NOT TRUE. He did not do the things he is saying he did here. He already admitted this in 1987. It’s not OK.
     
     
  • At 12pm today I am releasing new information verifying that has been lying THIS WEEK about marching and protesting and being trained in the Civil Rights Movement. He needs to publicly apologize and immediately stop telling these lies. It’s stolen valor.
     
     
  • I need you to see this. In 1987, after getting caught lying about marching and organizing in the Civil Rights Movement, here is what said. THESE ARE HIS WORDS. "I was not marching. I was not an activist. I was not there. I was a suburbanite kid."
     
     
  • In 's 400 page autobiography from 2007, let me show you THE ENTIRE SECTION he wrote about his time in the Civil Rights Movement. It's all of 2 sentences long. He says he learned about it FROM NEWSPAPERS AND TELEVISION.
     
     
  • 2008. Voters have just chosen to be the 1st Black man ever nominated by a political party to be President. Here he speaks for 20 minutes introducing as his VP. He NEVER mentions any "work" Joe did in the Civil Rights Movement.
     
     
  • Obama just announces that will be his VP choice. Biden, who NOW claims to have marched, protested, sat-in, registered voters in the Civil Rights Movement, does not mention such actions ONE SINGLE TIME in this speech. It's strange, right?
     
     
  • The DNC just nominates to be their Vice President. They show a video of his life. He speaks and tells his whole life story. He NEVER, not once, mentions all of the work he NOW claims he did in the Civil Rights Movement.
     
     
  • 2012. The DNC has Hollywood produce a video of the life story of . They don't make one single mention of his "work" in the Civil Rights Movement. No sit-ins. No registering voters in 1960. No trainings at Black churches. NOTHING.
     
     
  • IMAGINE THIS. nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Obama tells Joe's ENTIRE life story. Joe tells his own ENTIRE life story. Not ONE single mention of Joe being a freedom fighter in the Civil Rights Movement. ZERO.
     
     
  • For 8 entire years of his entire administration, , not 1 single time, not when they were running for office, not when they were in office, & not now that they are out of office... Did President Obama EVER mention doing ANYTHING in the Civil Rights Movement.
     
     
  • “He has accumulated some very credible civil rights credentials since adolescence - participating in a high school restaurant boycott and in sit-ins along US 40.” lied to the in 1975 about his activism. HE NEVER DID A SINGLE SIT-IN IN HIS LIFE. EVER.
     
     




    Shame on Joe.


    Once upon a time in Iraq, Moqtada al-Sadr was moving beyond the base of support he had as a result of who his dead father had been.  Once upon a time, he was building support and was not just one of many Shi'ite clerics in the country, he was becoming a movement leader.  That has changed.  THE ECONOMIST notes today:

    THE HENCHMEN of Muqtada al-Sadr, Iraq’s most capricious—and perhaps most powerful—cleric, not only participated in the anti-government protests that have rocked Baghdad and other cities for months, they defended them. Others who joined the demonstrations stood a good chance of being frisked by Mr Sadr’s men, who looked out for troublemakers. Together with the mainly Shia crowds they demanded a new political system, one not dominated by a small elite, and a fairer distribution of the country’s oil wealth.
    But on January 25th Mr Sadr ordered his followers to withdraw, blaming the hostile behaviour of the protesters towards his men. A crackdown on the protesters who remained appeared imminent. Over 600 people have been killed since the unrest began in October.  As expected, the police cleared the streets in some cities.  The protesters, though, have not gone home.  There are more now.


    Moqtada turned on the protesters last Friday.  Why?  There are many reasons being floated.  The government of Iran directed him to do so was one rumor.  His tender feelings were hurt by the protesters noting he was not their leader and that they'd continue to protest no matter what.  His delicate ego was harmed last Friday when some protesters carried posters denouncing him. The protesters had demanded change and the government had promised a new prime minister only to see the deadline pass at the start of last week with no progress so Moqtada wanted to disassociate himself with the protesters because he didn't want to come off a failure.

    Whatever the reason, Moqtada made an ass out of himself.

    Saturday saw attacks on the protesters from Iraqi security forces (including militias).  The world watched.  The world saw the protesters continue their bravery and continue their protests.  And the world was left to wonder if some of those Iraqis who were injured and killed might have been safer if Moqtada hadn't suddenly pulled his support?

    By pulling his support, he walked back years of building a movement.  That began in 2012 when he joined with other Shi'ites, as well as Sunnis and Kurds, to demand then-prime minister and forever thug Nouri al-Maliki honor The Erbil Agreement or face a no confidence vote.  Moqtada stated Nouri could end the effort at any time just be implementing the agreed upon terms in The Erbil Agreement.

    Following that stand, Moqtada presented himself as a populist.  He called for protests and he called for support of the protesters.  When the battle to retake Mosul from ISIS was finally launched, Moqtada called for the protesters to go home and resume after Mosul was liberated or 'liberated.'

    Moqtada was building a strong reputation and building support among Shi'ites who had previously had nothing to do with him and among non-Shi'ites.

    His move last Friday was a blow to his image.  And that is most likely why he called off Monday's protests last Sunday.  He knew he wouldn't be able to count on anyone beyond his cult in Sadr City's section of Baghdad.  It was too late to bus people in from Basra -- as he had done last Friday.  He called it off because it was going to be a low turnout -- the sort that he could muster -- those tiny crowds -- back when he was darting back and forth between Iran and Iraq.

    Last Friday, he didn't just forsake the protesters, he harmed his own image.


    That doesn't mean it's all over for Moqtada.  He's bounced back before and probably will again.  But it does mean that he was building a strong, national presence and he's now just the guy who represents the slums of Baghdad and Basra.  He's the guy who can't even improve the living conditions of his supporters.

    He probably grasps that which would explain his turnaround today.

    Moqtada Sadr flips again, calling his supporters to "renew the peaceful, reformist revolution" -
     
     


    Moqtada Al Sadr has flipped once again, he resumes support for street protests ahead of President Barham Salih’s ultimatum for parties to nominate someone for PM by tomorrow.
     
     



    Now he's again for the ongoing protests?  Yeah, he made a huge mistake last Friday.

    Has he not made the foolish move he did last Friday, he might be headed right now to becoming one of the strongest voices in Iraq.  That didn't happen.  The strongest voice in Iraq remains Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.  ASHARQ AL-ASWAT reports:


    Iraq's leading Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, on Friday condemned the use of force to disperse protest camps across the country, as security forces stepped up a crackdown against demonstrators.

    Protesters across Iraq are seeking the removal of what they see as a corrupt ruling elite and an end to foreign interference in Iraqi politics, especially by Iran, which has come to dominate state institutions since dictator Saddam Hussein was toppled in a 2003 US-led invasion.

    Nearly 500 people have been killed in the unrest which began in October, with both security forces and unidentified gunmen shooting people dead. At least 11 have been killed since the protests resumed earlier this month.

    Sistani, who delivered his message through a representative at Friday prayers in the holy city of Kerbala, also renewed calls for early elections to be held freely and fairly.

    "It is imperative to hurry and hold an early election for the people to have their say, and for the next parliament to be formed from their free will, to take the necessary steps towards reform," he said.

    He said that the next parliament would be able "to take decisive measures that will determine the future of the country, especially regarding the preservation of its sovereignty and the independence of its political decisions."



    I think it was last week when I noted that I saw al-Sistani's name in the headlines and feared for a moment that he had passed away.  Iraq could not afford that right now.  And al-Sistani is not going to live forever -- none of us are.  When he passes, someone will have to fill his shoes.  That could have been Moqtada but Moqtada's actions last Friday now call that into question.

    al-Sistani is not anti-Iran or anti-Iranian government.  He is an Iraqi and he has pride in his country.  That belief in a better Iraq is why he has such strong support.  He has stayed out of the political factions, he has focused on uniting the country and on the people's business.  He is a national figure, as a result, and when he speaks, people listen.

    That was the road that some of us saw Moqtada traveling down.  But, again, last Friday's actions messed all that up.

    Key points from Ayatollah Sistani's statement dated 31.1.2020 (thread) 1. Four months have passed since the popular movement [protests] began to demand reform, and the elimination of corruption from the country's government and institutions.
     
     
     
    2. During this time period a lot of innocent blood was spilled and thousands of citizens were injured. More clashes are taking place to this day, which is resulting in more innocent victims being hurt.
     
     
  • 3. While the Marja'iyah reiterates its condemnation of the use of violence against protesters, assassinations, and the attempts to break up the peaceful protests and sit-ins... (contd.)
     
     
  • (contd.)...it also rejects at the same time the actions of some groups who are carrying out violence against the security forces, and destroying and forcefully closing down schools and public institutions.
     
     
  • 4. These unjustified actions do not serve in mobilising more people. On the contrary, it results in the decline in solidarity with the protest movement.
     
     
  • 5. At the same time, the continuation of the current political, economic and security crisis is not in the interest of the country or its future. Thus preparations must be made so that the crisis can be resolved. (contd.)
     
     
  • (contd.) This includes the creation of a new government, which should be trusted by the people, and should be able to calm the situation, and restore the respect of the government.
     
     
  • 6. The new government must also prepare to hold free and fair elections as soon as possible.
     
     
  • 7. Returning to the polls to determine what the people want is the best way in light of the current climate, given political divisions and an inability to agree on the necessary reforms. This risks exacerbating the crisis in the country.
     
     
  • 8. Thus it is important to hold snap elections so that the people can have their say and that parliament is free to take the necessary steps for reform and determine the country's future especially in preserving its sovereignty, independence in its political decision and unity
     
     
  • 9. Finally: The Marja'iyah vehemently condemns the unjust plan, which was recently revealed to give the occupation [Israel] legitimacy over its usurpation of Palestinian lands.
     
     
  • 10. The Marja'iyah affirms its position in standing with the oppressed Palestinian people, and their determination in their right to regain their occupied lands and establish an independent state.
     
     
  • 11. Thus, the Marja'iyah calls on all Arabs, Muslims and all free peoples of the world to support them in this struggle.
     
     


    Iraq: Sistani Slams Use of Force Against Protest Camps, Calls for Early Election | Asharq AL-awsat


    al-Sistani has been a leader.  He has stood with the people.  It's a shame Moqtada did not do the same.


    authorities ramped up violent tactics to quash ongoing protests across Baghdad, southern Iraq btw January 25 and 27, 2020. Security forces set fire to protesters’ tents, fired live ammunition, and detained protesters in Baghdad, Basra, and Nasriya.
     
     


    And here's the Human Rights Watch report that Belkis Wille is Tweeting about:

    Iraqi authorities ramped up violent tactics to quash ongoing protests across Baghdad and southern Iraq between January 25 and 27, 2020, Human Rights Watch said today. Security forces set fire to protesters’ tents, fired live ammunition, and detained protesters in Baghdad, Basra, and Nasriya. Human Rights Watch was unable to determine the extent of casualties or numbers detained.
    “The burning of protester tents in city squares looks like a coordinated effort by Iraqi authorities to force peaceful protesters from public spaces,” said Belkis Wille, senior crisis and conflict researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Instead of using unjustifiable force, Baghdad authorities should meet protesters’ demands by addressing rampant corruption and improving access to basic services and jobs.”
    Human Rights Watch interviewed nine protesters and three medics in the three cities.
    The authorities’ campaign to end the occupation of the squares began on January 25, the day after the supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr, a prominent cleric, left the protests in the squares. Authorities launched what appeared to be a coordinated campaign to end protesters’ occupation of central squares in Baghdad, Basra, and Nasriya. Witnesses described how armed men in unmarked uniforms arrived in vehicles typically used by security forces and attacked protesters, beating and detaining people and burning their tents. Seven protesters said that in all three cities they have since returned to the squares and set up new tents.
    At 3 a.m. on January 25, a convoy of military and security force vehicles belonging to the Shock Forces, a local police unit, arrived in Basra’s Bahrya Square. Three protesters who were there said that men with weapons, some with hunting rifles and some masked, beat and, in some cases, detained protesters without any justification and then burned or destroyed at least 130 tents. The three men said they did not hear the attackers issue any warnings but did hear them yelling that the protesters were “jokers” and “agents of America.” The masked men used four small bulldozers to remove the remains of some of the tents, the three protesters all said. A video posted on Facebook on January 26 showed the remains of tents in Bahrya Square.
    At noon on January 25, uniformed Federal Police and other security forces wearing black, beige camouflage, and blue uniforms descended on al-Khalani Square in Baghdad, lit seven tents on fire, and fired live rounds at protesters, according to a protester who was there. The person, who had been asleep at the time, said he did not hear the attackers issue a warning. A video posted on Facebook on January 25 shows protesters in al-Khalani Square trying to extinguish fires. A medic who was present said the medical team transported 13 gunshot victims to the hospital.
    Another protester said that around 8 a.m. on January 26 the security forces came back to al-Khalani Square and went to nearby Tahrir Square, some in Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) vehicles, and started dismantling concrete blocks and other obstacles that protesters had used to block off the area. He said he saw security forces in al-Khalani Square open fire with AK-47s and hunting rifles and launch tear gas cartridges at the crowd, unprovoked and without warning. “I saw them shoot two protesters in the legs, drag some of the protesters on the ground and load four into their vehicles,” he said. “I saw them set fire to seven tents in Tahrir Square.” He said the forces pulled out at 10:30 a.m., once they had control of al-Khalani Square, but came back at 12:30 p.m. after protesters had returned and again used tear gas and live fire to disperse the crowd.
    At 1 a.m. on January 27, armed men opened fire on crowds and set tents on fire in Haboby Square in Nasriya, two protesters said. One said he waited in his tent through 10 minutes of gunfire, then emerged and saw tents around him alight. He said he saw gunfire injure four people and found a protester dead from a gunshot wound in one of the tents that had not burned.
    The other protester said he saw the security forces fire their weapons at tents with gas cylinders inside for heating, which burst into flames. Videos posted to a news website appear to show burning tents in Haboby Square on January 27 and a convoy of vehicles used by security forces driving away. Two of the vehicles, both pickup trucks, appear to have armed uniformed men in the back, and gunfire can be heard in the area.
    The Iraqi authorities should investigate every death at the hands of security forces with the help of international experts if necessary, Human Rights Watch said. Such investigations should be prompt, impartial, and independent, and lead to the prosecution of anyone found to have broken the law governing use of force, including commanders.
    International standards provide that law enforcement officers may only intentionally make lethal use of firearms when strictly unavoidable to protect life.
    Given that security forces have killed hundreds of people, many apparently unlawfully, since protests erupted in October 2019, countries that provide military and law enforcement training and support to Iraq, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Iran should end such assistance until Iraqi authorities take effective action to stop all unlawful killings and hold those responsible to account. The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva should hold a special session into the killings of protesters in Iraq.
    “Protesters have the right to peacefully occupy public spaces and make demands of the government,” Wille said. “The last few days show the grave consequences that can follow when the government is not willing to respect that right.”
    According to the UN, since protests began on October 1, 2019, at least 467 protesters have been killed and over 9,000 have been wounded. According to the Iraq High Commission for Human Rights, security forces have arrested at least 2,633 others, most of whom were promptly released.
    The commission said that between January 20 and 22, security forces in Baghdad, Basra, Diyala, Dhi Qar, and Karbala have killed at least 10 protesters, wounded another 127, and detained 88. The commission said that 24 security forces have also been injured.
    Events of January 19 to 22, 2020
    On January 13, protesters in several southern cities demanded that by January 20 the government take clear steps to address some of their demands, including reform of the electoral law and early elections. The nine protesters Human Rights Watch interviewed in Baghdad, Basra, and Nasriya said that they and others had blocked main roads in those cities with burning tires on January 19. In response, they said, security forces fired live ammunition and tear gas cartridges, and protesters threw stones and Molotov cocktails.
    A protester in Baghdad said that after protesters blocked roads on January 19, anti-riot police fired tear gas cartridges directly at protesters without warning. “My friend was filming about 100 meters away when a tear gas cartridge hit him right in the head,” he said. “He died.” The protesters responded by throwing Molotov cocktails and rocks at the police, he said.
    The protester said that on January 20, he saw Federal Police on Mohammed al-Qasim highway in Baghdad firing at protesters with live rounds and beating some. He said that he saw the police shoot one of his friends in the leg. He and a medic who was there said that security forces on the highway were also using tear gas and stun grenades against protesters, who responded by throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails. The medic said that his team treated at least 60 protesters who were injured by metal fragments from stun grenades and bullets or choking from tear gas. He said six protesters died from gunshot wounds to the head or neck. A video posted on Facebook on January 22 appeared to show SWAT forces beating protesters on the highway in Baghdad on January 20.
    Two Basra protesters said that on January 20, masked armed men arrested five protesters on the streets near Bahrya Square, which protesters had occupied since October. One protester said about 400 protesters started chanting for their release outside the local police headquarters and “all of [the] sudden the gates opened and about 60 police started beating us with wooden sticks.” The two protesters said they saw police arrest at least 10 protesters as the police chased the crowds, beating some.

    On January 21, 1 of the protesters said he saw security forces open fire on a crowd of about 200 protesters next to Bahrya Square, some of whom were lighting tires and blocking a road. He saw one protester shot in the back as he was running from security forces. “They put him in their vehicle and drove him away, and arrested another four men who they dragged along the ground and beat,” he said. Both protesters said that after the security forces left the area at night, the protesters saw an SUV pull up and the people inside open fire on protesters, killing a female medic and wounding seven protesters.


    And Amnesty International's Donatella Rovera asks a key question.

    Why are ‘s security forces allowing these armed masked men in plain clothes to target demonstrators in ? This criminal partnership has been going on for months. Is PM unable or unwilling to act to stop this & hold perpetrators to account?
     
     




    More than three months into protests government and protestors still at a standoff. Protestors being killed and wounded and more quietly arrested or kidnapped. Protest movement now tho seems irreversible.
     
     





    The following sites updated: