Blackout plunges Iraqi parliament into darkness

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, May 8 (Reuters) - A power blackout forced Iraq's parliament to cancel its session on Tuesday, at a time when Iraqi legislators are under growing pressure from U.S. officials to pass laws seen as vital to healing sectarian divisions.

Parliament, which is in the heavily fortified Green Zone, usually receives 24-hour power despite severe electricity shortages in other parts of Baghdad.

The lights went off as legislators were about to enter the hall and a couple of hours later, officials decided to postpone the session until Wednesday.

It was unclear what caused the blackout. The building has also had little or no water for months.

Iraq's different political blocs need to agree and pass contentious bills such as an oil law that opens the way for foreign investment in Iraq's long-nationalised oil sector and measures that will roll back a ban on members of Saddam Hussein's former Baath party holding public jobs.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KHA835171.htm

[annabanana]

1. Phhttt. . . .(As if they EVER really saw the light of day). . . . . . n/t

[Roland99]

2. .

:spray:


They better be careful turning corners, they're liable to knock something over.

[blueworld]

3. Has the definition of complete insanity changed?

Chimpy doesn't want Congress dictating to him how to conduct this war?

Has any country in the world, EVER throughout history - ever ever ever - invaded another country and then been unable to occupy the country comfortably with only an occasional rebellion to put down? Isn't the historical purpose of invasion & occupation to rape & pillage & exploit?

Yet under Bush's leadership in the 21st century in a country that oozes oil from every sand dune there is no electricity or clean water? There are 16th Century living conditions & diseases? Camels are more reliable than cars?

How exruciatingly inept can an idiotic tyrant be? Even the ones that only bathed annually knew where to get water after the occupation.

He doesn't need a War Czar, he needs a psychotherapist & any Congress person who isn't screaming about this NOW (not Sept, Bonehead) should be tarred & feathered!

Do they want the US military to "surge" some tents & canteens for the Iraq Parliament after vacation?

US Soldiers are dying, Iraqis are dying, no functioning Iraqi government, no basic services, cholera, disease, HIGH infant mortality, more US dollars being shovelled over there daily.

Where is the outrage? How much is enough?

:wtf:

[gratuitous]

4. Unreliable electricity, 120° in summer

I can't imagine why the Iraqi Parliament doesn't want to keep meeting throughout the summer months in Baghdad. Oh, and the water has been out of commission for months. Yeah, I'd like to see Chimpy "work" under those conditions. Not to mention the odd mortar blast and car bomb going off from time to time, rattling the building and the legislators' teeth.

So, Iraqi Parliament, we can't guarantee any degree of comfort or safety in Baghdad, but we insist that you keep meeting in the blast furnace months of July and August, you pussies.

[treestar]

5. "need to pass an oil law that opens the way for foreign investment"

This is a "Parliament" all right. :rofl:

[kimmylavin]

8. Yeah...

I noticed that, too.
No wonder Our Great Leader doesn't want them taking a recess...

[Barrett808]

6. k & r

[MGD]

7. They aren't going on vacation, they're escaping and evading