President obama is set to visit the kingdom this week to meet King Abdullah. We will speak with Patrick Cockburn on al qaedas second night. Why the global war on terror went wrong. Then, right to heal. People need to support iraq is people right to reparation. You are thousands of families that have birth defects and women who have been trafficked with no right of citizenship now. All of that needs to be addressed. 11 years ago this month, the u. S. Invaded iraq will stop today, group of iraq is elaines and u. S. Veterans of the war come together in washington to demand u. S. Government be held accountable for the lasting effects of war at home and abroad. Where 529 to egypt supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood have been sentenced to death. We will speak with democracy now correspondent Sharif Abdel Kouddous will stop all of that and more coming up. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. The white house and congressional leaders have unveiled similar proposals to end the National Security agencys bulk collection of phone records. Both measures would leave the bulk data in the hands of phone companies. Under the white house version, the nsa would seek for permission to obtain specific records. Under the house version, the nsa would seek Court Approval after a search. While the nsa currently retains bulk data for five years, phone companies would not have to keep it beyond 18 months. Speaking in the netherlands, president obama said the reforms are part of a process to win back the publics trust. The process that is taking place where we have to win back the trust, not just of governments, but more importantly, of or near citizens. That is not going to happen overnight. I think there is a tendency to be skeptical of governments and to be skeptical particular of u. S. Intelligence services. Phone bulk collection of records has been among the most controversial of Edward Snowdens disclosures in the last nine months. In a statement, snowden called obamas embrace of ending bulk surveillance a turning point, adding writing on his website, Glenn Greenwald said the death toll from a mudslide in Washington State has risen to 24. The local fire chief said no one was found alive in a challenging day of searching for survivors. We had a very challenging day today with the rain. It further complicated things. We continued our search and recovery operation on the entire slide area. Unfortunately, we do not find any signs of life. We did not locate anybody alive. I still consider it a rescue operation. It is rescue and recovery. We have not lost hope yet. Theres a possibility we could find some of you live in a pocket area. We are coming to the realization it may not be a possibility, but we are going full steam ahead. Around 170 people are reported to be missing, but there are hopes that number will fall as more report their whereabouts. According to the Seattle Times , there have been concerns about the air is geologic instability dating back to 1950. In 1999 report for the army corps of engineers warned for the potential of a large catastrophic failure. But county officials have greenlighted building projects, including one after 2006 slide. More revelations have emerged in the General Motors safety scandal linked to scores of deaths. The New York Times reports gm knew of a fatal safety defect in our cars, but continued to mislead the families of accident victims. Confirmedmeeting hundreds of thousands of cars had faulty ignition switches, shutting down engines and air bags. But gm kept us finding secret for the next five years, telling the victims families there was insufficient evidence of any flaws. In one case, gm threatened to go after a victims family for legal fees unless the lawsuit was withdrawn. Earlier thisnded year after gm admitted to the faulty ignition switches and recalled some 3. 1 early in cars. You make knowledge the defects have caused 12 deaths, but independent estimates say the toll could be in the hundreds. In indiana refinery owned by the energy giant bp has lead to an undisclosed amount of oil into lake michigan. The whiting facility is used to refine tar sands crude oil from alberta, canada. Lake michigan serves as the water source for millions of people, but the Environmental Protection agency says the spill has been sufficiently contained. The epa also says it will investigate whether the spill violates the clean water act. The spill comes less than two weeks after the u. S. Government lifted a ban on bps ability to seek oil leases in the gulf of mexico. It also followed saturday spill of up to 170,000 gallons of oil in texas. This week marks the 25th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez Oil spill. Heards. Supreme court has arguments in two key cases about an employees right to Birth Control under the Affordable Care act. The law exempt religious nonprofits from providing insurance that covers contraception, but two forprofit companies, hobby lobby and conestoga would, say they should also be exempt to to religious police. At stake is not only the issue of contraception, but the question of whether corporations can make claim to religious rights. Both sides of the debate rallied outside tuesday session. Cisco routers of planned parenthood praised the supreme forts three women questioning the corporations claim to religious exemption. The importance of having women on the Supreme Court was sought today. I was so proud to be there is a woman who cares about womens health, that the justices talk about the fact what is at stake in this issue or in this case is whether millions of women and their right to preventive care, including Birth Control, is trumped by a handful of ceos who have their own personal opinions about Birth Control. A ruling on the case is expected at the end of the Supreme Courts term in june. The Obama Administration is extending the deadline for enrolling in the new Health Care Program for those unable to sign up before monday. People who apply but arent able to complete their sign up by the monday deadline will be granted an extension until mid april. At least 80 people have been killed and dozens more winded in a series of attacks across iraq. The dead included at least 41 soldiers. Iraq continues to face its worst violence in six years. Last week marked the 11th anniversary of u. S. Invasion. We will have more on iraq later in the broadcast. Top human nations rights official says egypts sentencing of hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood members to death marks an unprecedented violation of international law. On monday, 520 nine supporters of ousted president morsi or ordered killed over the death of a Single Police officer in protest last summer. The trial lasted just over two days, with the majority tried in absentia. A spokesperson for the unit high commissioner for human rights said the sentencing is unprecedented in recent memory and not write a legal. We are extremely alarmed at this extraordinary case in egypt were 529 people were handed down a death sentence after a trial just lasted two days and then breached a whole range of procedures that is clearly in violation of international law. Colville, thepert spokesperson for the human commissioner on human rights. We will have more from egypt after the headlines with Sharif Abdel Kouddous in cairo. President obama wrapped up a Nuclear Summit in the netherlands on tuesday with a dig at russia and response to republican critics of his stance on ukraine. Obama called russia a Regional Power that acted out of weakness and annexing crimea. He also said republicans have exaggerated the importance of the ukraine crisis in relation to u. S. National security. Is a Regional Power that is threatening some of its not out ofeighbors strength, but out of weakness. Russias actions are a problem. They dont pose the number one National Security threat to the united states. I continue to be much more concerned in it comes to our security with the prospect of a Nuclear Weapon going off in manhattan. But president obamas comments come after the u. S. And its g7 allies kicked russia out of the group of eight. The president s overseas tour continues in belgium today were he will deliver an address in the capital of brussels. Ahead of his visit, he faced a protest from demonstrators calling for the closure of guantanamo bay. We are very disappointed, of course, because that was his promise. We thought the situation would change. But the situation has not changed. There are still 154 people there. In their situation is really very, very bad with the Hunger Strike for for instance, forcefeeding, no hope of being freed although, a lot of them have been cleared for release. Really, we ask them to do something. Seven people have been detained in alabama after blocking the entrance to Detention Center for undocumented immigrants. The protesters each also undocumented themselves chained themselves in front of county Detention Center. An activist with the Alabama Coalition for immigrant justice said the rally was called to oppose harsh conditions for prisoners. Youre asking that the Detention Center treat their detainees better. A lot of them have been complaining theyre not getting the appropriate food, that they are not allowed to practice their religions. And they dont have an area in which they can actually go outside and breathe fresh air. Click the alabama protest, as dozens of prisoners at the immigration jail in Washington State have resumed a Hunger Strike. The strikers began refusing meals earlier this month and a call for improved conditions at the northwest Attention Center in tacoma, owned by the geo group. An attorney for the prisoners has around 70 have resumed fasting after the jails managers failed to implement pledge reforms. The Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office meanwhile has released figures estimating and Immigration Reform bill advanced by House Democrats would decrease the federal deficit by 900 billion over 20 years. The house measure is similar to the bill passed by the senate Immigration Reform has stalled in the house where republicans have refused to allow a vote. California, a 74yearold africanamerican woman has been released from prison after serving 32 years for murder committed by her abusive boyfriend. Mary virginia jones was convicted of murder in 1981. But Defense Attorneys say her boyfriend kidnapped two men, forced jones to drive at gunpoint to los angeles alley were he shot both men, one of whom died. Jones then ran away, reportedly expecting her boyfriend to kill her as well. But instead, she was arrested and convicted of his crime. Her boyfriend was also arrested and died while awaiting execution. On tuesday, dmitry jones goody celebrated her mothers release after more than 30 years. Bitter or angry. Im just grateful at the fact she has been released and that she is given a chance to come home. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with nermeen shaikh. Welcome to all our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. Widespread outrage continues to grow after the largest mass sentencing in modern egyptian history. Human rights groups, the united states, and the European Union have denounced egyptian courts 529nt decision to sentence supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi to death. The convictions followed a trial that lasted just over two days, with the majority of the accused tried in absentia for their alleged role in killing a Single Police officer last summer. Mass trial has opened involving 683 people, including top Muslim Brotherhood leader mohammed badie. Denouncey, marie harf the trials. Imposing the Death Penalty on 529 defendants after a twoday trial would be unconscionable. The verdicts handed down yesterday by the court and the command meant another mass trial for 683 individuals today in the same court represent a flagrant disregard or basic standards of justice. The imposition of the Death Penalty for 520 nine defendants after a twoday summary proceeding cannot be reconciled with egypts obligations under International Human rights law and its a limitation of these instances would be unconscionable. The exceptionally swift trial and harsh sentence marks a new escalation of the Egyptian Military regimes crackdown on morsi supporters. Amnesty International Said the recent mass convictions were a grotesque example of the shortcomings in the selective nature of egypts justice system. On tuesday in alexandria, students took to the streets in protest. This is the beginning of an escalation and we will stop the police. We will not be quiet. Were here against military rule no all chanting together, matter the movement, anyone chanting anything other than down with military rule, we are obliged to do with them. We are here united. But two leading egyptian activists have been freed after over 100 days behind bars. They are among a group of activists charged with violating the military regimes antiprotest law. They and 23 others have been released on bail but still face a trial resumes next month. For more we go to cairo, egypt where we are joined by democracy now correspondent Sharif Abdel Kouddous. 529t with the sentencing of people to death. By all accounts, this was a stunning verdict was handed down the other day. As you mentioned, 529 people sentenced to death in one of the largest death sentence rulings in modern history across the world. The judge issued his verdict after just one day in court on saturday. A session which offends lawyers said a werent allowed to present their case at all the for the judge. Defendants were hundreds of them in a cage in the courtroom chanting. The judge ordered Security Forces to close in on the defense lawyers and then quickly adjourned the session and said he would issue his verdict two days later. When the verdict came down, it sent shockwaves throughout the international community. It has come in condemned by the eu, the u. S. As did local and International Human rights groups. As you mentioned, that same judge just adjourned another mass trial of many similar charges involving suspected morsi supporters, including the head of the Muslim Brotherhood. This trial involved over 680 people in the judge, again, adjourned it. The defense boycotted the proceedings following the verdicts and the other case. Youll issue verdicts on that case on april 28. It sparked protests in egypt. A group called the students against the coup of call for protests in at least six universities today, promorsi groups including the anticallings of call for demonstrations as well. Serving tolly only stoke the flames of tension in egypt further. Sharif, could you explain specifically what this case was about . What are these 529 people convicted of . They are charged with murder, attempted murder, joining an outlawed group with the intention of pummeling the government instilling government weapons in connection with the attacks on a Police Station in southern egypt. This took place in august following the raids on the promorsi citizens where at which set offns violence and much of the country. In this particular attack, one Police Officer was killed. In retaliation, these 545 people were put on trial. As we know, 529 of which have now been sentenced to death. Even additional officials involved with this case judicial officials involved with this case are critical of the ruling. It is widely expected to be overturned on appeal on procedure alone. So we will have to wait and see what happens with that. It really was a stunning verdict. Especially when you put it in the context of recent court case in which a trial was brought against Police Officers who were charged in the killing of 37 prisoners who died of suffocation in a truck in august. One Police Officer was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three other sentenced to one year suspended sentences. When you compare those to the lack of justice, it is very start. Defense attorneys in the Muslim Brotherhood case boycotted the proceedings, complaining of judicial irregularities and media censorship. This is a defense lawyer. And limited today in the crime, there is a boycott of all lawyers to the hearing. An historical stand. And everyone should know the lawyers will not turn its back on a state based upon the law of the spearhead that is the law. Hours after tuesdays trial began, protest broke out at many universities. Police fired in the air and attended to disperse hundreds of demonstrators attempted to disperse hundreds of demonstrators. Sharif . Right. As i said, this is further stoking flames of tension in egypt. We have seen ongoing protests since morsis ouster back in july. But really, in 2014, a second wave of repression and crackdown has been significantly increasing. Many hundreds, thousands of people have been imprisoned by at least at least 16,000 people are in jail, have been in prison since morsis ouster in july. The harrah counter that put it at 24,000 in prison. Up to 2500 people have been killed. We have seen some of the worst violence, some of the worst repression and egypts modern history take place. And rulings like this only serve to feed the flames of tension in egypt. Can use a little bit about how the regime has responded, if at all, to the condemnation from the eu, the international community, the u. S. , and human rights organizations in egypt to this verdict . Well, officials in egypt typically cited the independence of the judiciary and do not comment on justice cases. Heard them defend the ruling or say he could not comment on it. Typically, this has been a typical response of the egyptian regime to these kinds of cases. There are other cases that are ongoing as well that have received international attention, particularly the case of the al jazeera journalists who are on trial. This is a landmark case. Three al jazeera journalist have been in prison for nearly three months now after being arrested on december 29. Theyre on trial on terrorism charges. Canadian is a citizen. The third Court Session of their trial adjourned on sunday. The next session is being held on march 31. Theyre living in a notorious in allfor sharing a cell three of them, locked up 23 hours a day. Theyre not allowed any books or writing materials. And to recently, they were not even allowed newspapers. Mohammed fahmy had a fractured shoulder and related to his arrest. It was worsened and broke during his detention. In the first weeks of his imprisonment, he was denied any proper medical attention. He was imprisoned in the were section of the prison, the maximum security wing known as the scorpion where he was held in solitary confinement without a bed, without sunlight and his condition worsened and healed incorrectly. Now he can only lift his right arm a few inches from his ways. He requires surgery and physical therapy in order to recover. So this case has sparked solidarity protest around the world by journalists and others, calling for their release. , from thesion defendants cage, told Reporters International pressure was very important to their case and that it helped alleviate some of their conditions. So theyre calling on people to continue the pressure and demanding to be released with a fair trial. This is Mohammed Fahmy from the cage in the courtroom condemning the proceedings. [indiscernible] where does this case go and why are these three journalists being tried by the Egyptian Government . Chargedsaid, they are ath joining or aiding terrorist organization, charged with creating false scenes that harm egypts reputation abroad and the benefit of the Muslim Brotherhood. It is a very significant escalation in the crackdown on the press in egypt. It marks one of the rare times turn list have been put on trial rare times journalists have been put on trial. The Al Jazeera English was broadcasting from egypt, would cover a lot of opposition voices, a lot of the protest taking place on universities and so forth. We can only imagine or surmise that this is a way to clamp down on any media that was really of theg the other side egyptian politicals here. We have seen a crackdown on the local press, the promorsi channels have been shut down. The private media and the state media act as a propaganda mouthpiece, for the most part, for the regime. It is very hard to hear opposition voices. People also assume this is a crackdown also because of al guitar a aa owned station. Freedom groups across the country have condemned this case. Journalists around the world are calling for their release. It marks a serious escalation in the repression on press freedom in egypt. Sharif, could you speak briefly about the release of alaa abd elfattah and Ahmed Abdel Rahman along with 23 other activists released on bail and the significance of their release . Right, well i think the crackdown has focused largely on the Muslim Brotherhood and his supporters, but it has seriously widened much beyond that and has encompassed all kinds of opposition voices from including alaa abd elfattah, who is one of the most prominent activist in egypt. He was jailed under the mubarak regime, jill by the Supreme Council of the armed forces. He was jailed this time for 100 days without having a hearing. His case was transferred to a criminal court, and he was refused a hearing up until just a few days ago in which the judge did grant bail. He is charged with organizing a protest and violating the very taccone and protest law that was draconian protest law that was put in place by the unelected government in november. The case is very meaningful because it is still ongoing. You still could get a verdict. He was held in a prison section from with other activists the april 6 youth movement. Thousands of other protesters had been rounded up on the 1000 rounded up on january 25 of this year. They have been held in terrible additions. There has been widespread accounts of beating, of torture. Prosecutors have been complicit in this crackdown by renewing preventative detention orders, so where preventative detention is being used as a form of punishment. Many people have not seen a judge and are just being held with 15 day detention orders that continually are renewed. When court cases to come, theyre typically handed Something Like two to three years in prison for charges like breaking the protest law or gathering are trying to harm National Security. Many of these protesters are poor. They dont have proper legal representation. Any of them are the only breadwinners in their family. Many of them are young. This is seen as a targeting of a tire dust of an entire generation that First Express with egyptian politics has been the revolution. They have seen over the past three years, friends and colleagues and loved ones be jailed or be killed or be wounded in this uprising and the struggles and i doubt very much that this kind of repression will silence them. In fact, it is really stoking the flames of further unrest. In 2013 we still have a long way to go to achieve real change in egypt. Sharif, we want to thank you for being with us, Sharif Abdel Kouddous reporting from cairo, egypt. Were looking at images of alaa abd elfattah when he was released, holding his baby who was born when he was in prison under mubarak. Just as he was born, as his father was imprisoned years before. Sharif abdel kouddous, thank you so much. When we come back, we will look at saudi arabia with Patrick Cockburn in london. Stay with us. [music break] this is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with nermeen shaikh. Al qaeda second act. Why the global war on terror went wrong. That is the name of the new fivepart series published in the uks independent newspaper that examines the resurgence of jihadists across the middle east. The key part of the series examines how saudi arabia has openly backed legit groups in syria, iraq, and other countries. Many analyst say the conflict has grown into a proxy war between saudi arabia and iran. Saudi arabias history backing jihadist groups goes back decades. 15 of the 19 september 11 hijackers were saudi. The 9 11 Commission Report identified saudi arabia as the main source of al qaeda financing. Wikileaks published u. S. Diplomatic cables which identified saudi arabia as the Worlds Largest source of funds for islamist militant groups. Is by this record, saudi arabia remains a close u. S. Ally. President obama is heading to saudi arabia this week to meet with King Abdullah. Members of congress and human rights organizations of all been calling on obama to address the kingdoms treatment of the just minorities, women, and political activists. To talk more about obamas visit to the oilrich kingdom, we go to london to speak with Patrick Cockburn, the middle east correspondent for the independent who wrote the series. One of the pieces is called is saudi arabia regretting it support for terrorism . So can you answer that question, Patrick Cockburn, and also talk about it in the context of president obama eating with King Abdullah . Theyre rather nervous at the moment that having supported groups that have links to al qaeda, so theyve introduced some laws saying against saudis fighting in syria or elsewhere. But it is probably too late for this to have any affect. Organizationsype control a massive area in northern and Eastern Syria at the moment and northern and western iraq. The largest number of volunteers fighting with these al qaedatype groups are saudi, most of them originally came from there. But these people not control their own oil wells. Theyre probably less reliant on saudi money. Will president obamas visit make much difference . It is doubtful. Extraordinary relationship, which doesnt get much attention between saudi arabia and the united states. Saudi arabia is one of the few absolute monarchies on earth. Therefore, it was always absurd to be allied to saudi arabia and even get to introduce democracy in syria or libya or anywhere else. So, probably, they will come out with comforting statements and the saudis will be saying to obama, well, look, we are taking measures against the jihadis now, so lets step up our tents to overthrow alassad in syria. But in practice, the groups they are supporting are closely linked to the main al qaeda group. I dont think things will change very much. I want to turn to u. S. Diplomatic cables released by wikileaks in 2010. In a memo, secretary of state then the clinton identified saudi arabia as the Worlds Largest source of funds for islamist militant groups such as the afghan taliban. She writes Patrick Cockburn, that was u. S. Diplomatic cables from 2009 released in 2010. Could you explain why you think u. S. Has been hesitant to act against saudi arabia and the way that it has against other countries in the arab world following nine 9 11 and especially following these revelations . Is pretty extraordinary given that so much of what happened on 9 11 can be traced back to saudi arabia. Why hasnt there been a greater reaction in the u. S. And the rest of the world . Well, the saudis have cultivated people in washington washington. Nt in there are enormous arms sales by the u. S. To saudi arabia. The arms on order at the moment. Re worth a total 86 billion fighter aircraft, helicopters, everything else. Moneyey have also spent cultivating former diplomats, officials, academics and so forth. Refore, there hasnt been i found this rather amazing, more pressure on saudi arabia or on the u. S. Government to stop iaudi arabia supporting jihad movements. It is not just money. A lot of it, propaganda of a satellite television, which iss antihia, antichristian, hate propaganda, so long as they have these methods of propaganda, they can probably raise money to send to syria and iraq and elsewhere. Obamas trip the president , tempted by secretary of state john kerry to show the significance of it, in the u. S. , it is being seen as a reconciliation trip. The u. S. Wanting to improve its relationship with saudi arabia. Especially afraid when saudi arabia wanted the u. S. To be tougher on iran. Interestingly, saudi arabia sharing the same view as israel on this issue. Can you talk about that in the role saudi arabia is playing in the world . Tour, therean, last was a difference between saudi arabia and the u. S. Last year, there was a difference between saudi arabia and the u. S. Over the al qaeda type organizations in syria, which in turn are destabilizing iraq. The saudi arabia was eager for obama to launch a military assault on syria last august after the use of poison gas in damascus. A were vocally upset when the u. S. Did not do this. They have pushed for u. S. War with iran going back several years. King abdullah is quoted on diplomatic cable as saying cut off the head of the snake. Thatwill try to ensure they are at one with the u. S. In trying to bring down alassad and opposing iran. Patrick cockburn, you have also pointed out these Islamist Groups have proliferated since 9 11, and especially after the killing of Osama Bin Laden in 2011. Could you explain what the distinction is, if any, between al qaeda and these offshoot groups and if the hesitation on the part of the u. S. Has to do with the fact that these new groups operate regionally rather than in the west . Draw toi think they greater distinction washington draws a greater distinction between people who have a direct operational link to the remains of Osama Bin Ladens al qaeda in pakistan and other groups that have the same ideology, operate in the same. Ay, have the same methods and you could see that in libya where the u. S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens was killed by jihadis, who in fact, were not al qaeda, and he seems to have thought and the people around him thought were not as dangerous as al qaeda. Tragically, he and they were approved wrong. You can see that in syria at the ,oment, that the Largest Group the Islamic State of iraq and the levant is not in fact part of al qaeda it used to be. ,heres a new group ,al nusra but there isnt much difference between these groups. Theyre all pretty well the same. They are extraordinarily bigoted and brutal. Or any othera nonfundamentalist muslims who fall into their hands. So pretending that one group simply because it is funded by saudi arabia is not the equivalent of al qaeda, i think is selfdeception. In selfdeception, which may well have disastrous results as happen in afghanistan in the 1980s, which eventually produced the taliban and Osama Bin Ladens al qaeda. In 2011, democracy now spoke to bob graham and asked him about how part of the 9 11 Commission Report remains redacted. The suppressed pages were in the congressional joint inquiry. Throughoutigently 2002 to gather as much of the information as we could and to make recommendations. Report. N 800plus page one chapter of which related primarily to the role of the saudis in 9 11 was totally censured. Every word of that chapter has been denied to the american people. What about that, Patrick Cockburn . Bond are bush says he was called a saudi ambassador to the united states, sitting out on the truman balcony with resident bush the day after the 9 11 attacks. 15 of the 19 hijackers were from saudi arabia. And then bondr bush, being one behind ther forces forces, the rebel forces in syria . Yes, it is amazing. It has had unfortunate consequence by not going after the very obvious roots of al qaeda in saudi arabia. In terms of money and political support. This has enabled al qaeda to grow again. Al qaeda, i worked on the map, now controls an area in Northern Syria in Northern Iraq which is about the size of great britain. Al qaeda was rather a Small Organization at the time of 9 11. Since then, weve had the war on terror, vast resources poured into this increase in intelligence and security services, rendition, torture everything else. At the end of it, al qaeda and its affiliates are far larger than they were then at the time of 9 11. I mean, this is a pretty extraordinary situation. Of course i just want to clarify, bandar bush was the nickname. He is now saudi arabias intelligence minister. He is the cockburn, intelligence minister now, but as you point out to one of your articles, he is no longer in charge of saudi arabias policy in syria. Could you explain what you think the impact of that decision will be and whether saudi policy with respect to the rebels is actually changing . A very good question. I think we will maybe see the over the next week. It may be interesting to see what comes out of obamas visit. Syria failed somewhat disastrously. He wanted to get rid of assad and they failed to do that. Instead, weve had these jihadi, al qaedatype organizations grow enormously. They control much of the territory. Now the saudis seem to be taking a slightly more diplomatic line. What theyre saying is we shall differenthadis were from al qaeda, but still be able to overthrow assad. We will do this from jordan, but will this really happened . And if they do fund an antiassad army, would it just be a mercenary army that has no real support within syria . Were going to move onto a segment on iraq. Th melody toldnth, about france 24 if you could comment on that as well as your final comment in a recent piece, saying all of the ingredients for repeat of 9 11 are slipping into place. The difference today, being al qaedatype organizations are now far more powerful. Use a filter for a long time the iraqis felt for a long time that saudi arabia and the gulf monarchies were a central prop to al qaeda in iraq through private donations, through hate preachers, antishia preachers, and have finally come out and said it. They have a lot of evidence also from suicide bombers who were captured before they blew themselves up. On the other question, yes, definitely. Ande drone attacks in yemen waziristan, these declarations of victory i think just divert attention from the fact you look at the map that al qaeda and out cuttype groups, are no different from those who follow some of the modern, now control a large territory, have large revenues from oil wells, have lots of experienced people. At the moment, theyre fighting against assad and the Iraqi Government. But they dont ike the governments of the west anymore. Theyre not ideologically committed to just one enemy. So if they do want to start making attacks in the west again, along the lines of 9 11, there are far better equipped militarily, politically, financially in any other way than they were when the attacks of 9 11 were originally made. Patrick cockburn, thank you for being with us, middle east correspondent for the independent. Just completed a five part series including the piece is saudi arabia regretting its support for terrorism . President obama is visiting saudi arabia on friday along with john kerry. When we come back, two women. They join together for the right to heal on this 11th anniversary of u. S. Invasion of iraq. Stay with us. [music break] lee yates said she wrote the song after speaking to fellow veterans about the Yellow Ribbon magnets people put on their cars. She was deployed twice to iraq where she served in the Third Infantry Division as an Army Public Affairs specialist from 2002 to 2008. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with nermeen shaikh. We turn now to iraq which faces mounting sectarian violence 11 years since the u. S. Invasion in march 2003. More than 2100 people have been killed this year alone. Meanwhile, the u. S. Confirms it sent a new round of weapons shipment to the Iraqi Government to help it combat militant groups. For more we go to washington, d. C. Where we are joined by two guests who are part of the right to heal coalition of iraqi civilians and u. S. Military veterans. Joyce wagner is codirector of iraq veterans against the war. She served as a marine from 2002 to 2008. Is thear mohammed president of the organization of womens freedom in iraq will stop she recently gathered thousands of signatures in baghdad to request a hearing before the Interamerican Commission for human rights. The request was denied. Welcome to this is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. Yanar mohammed, described iraq 11 years later and what you feel needs to happen. Government, ina Iraqi Government which is attacking the western side of iraq under sectarian reasons. We have the political formula that has alienated people who are called sunnis. There is a war on the western cities of the country. Hundreds of thousands are living leaving their homes and trying to come back to them only to find them bond. Violenceuge sectarian that is done by the government. That hasegislation alienated all of the women of iraq. It also establishes the sectarian divide by laws, something we did not have in the previous times. And we also have political system that has become so much of a dictatorship that it is close to saddams time. Or we have ainning division in the country that is made a big part of the country vulnerable to the Second Generation of al qaeda organizations. Notave a situation that is better than the war. The war in iraq is not over yet. Were living it over and over again. And on top of that, there is a generation of babies who are born with artifacts, whose birth defects, whose parents are living the agony of not knowing what to do with their children. And the story goes on. Parts of iraq are contaminated with white phosphorus, uranium, and the u. S. Government who started the war and eventually caused the contamination in many in the south, in the west, and in the midnorth. The u. S. Government is denying that they are the reason for this contamination and the birth defects. There absolutely quiet about legislation in iraq that is taking us back in time centuries. A new legislation drafted by the minister of justice is treating the women of iraq in the mentality of centuries back. It is allowing the rape of children, female children of iraq. And although Civil Society is standing up against it and we are finding ourselves disempowered in the face of a government that has become terrorist and it disempowers the sunnis and alienates the women and also other ethnicities. Were totally divided because of a political formula that was put 11 years ago. We are trying to work against it, but the job is becoming harder and harder. And when the center for Constitutional Rights and builtd the iraqis the case jointly with the iraq veterans against war and represented it and forwarded to the commission for human rights, the hearing was denied for the second time. Those foring to hold the perpetrators i would like to bring in joyce wagner into the conversation. Joyce, could you comment . You deployed twice to iraq. How did your perception of the war change and were do you feel iraq stands now . Well, there are a lot of reasons why the war in iraq isnt over. Obviously, there are still a lot of violence as a result of the u. S. Invasion. But theres also a lot of toxic materials left over in iraq and and thoseols materials are challenged with a generation of children suffering from birth defects and also impacting your Service Members even years after the war is supposedly over. The Service Members are living with the Health Consequences of those materials for the rest of their lives, if theyre lucky enough to continue to live. Joyce, explain the right to heal campaign. The right to Heal Initiative is something that occurred when a sitter for Constitutional Rights began representing Yanar Mohammed paz organization as well as another iraq you organization and iraq veterans against the war. Were trying to hold u. S. Government accountable for Human Rights Violations in iraq. So the Health Impacts also for veterans come a poster manic stress, going on repeated deployments with posttraumatic stress, the latour sexual likelts, and also things using up soldiers and other Service Members to the maximum and then finding reasons to kick them out of the military so they dont have to take care of them later, dont have to deal with the Health Issues or provide them with educational benefits. And many people are actually left off worse than they were before the ever join the military in the first place. In terms of economic opportunities. So for veterans, those are some of the things we are trying to address. A lot of this is based on a Research Report that was done at in texas in 2011 and 2012 four hood in texas in 2011 and 2012. A number of patterns started to show up in these peoples testimonies. The full report will be in released this year on memorial day. Quick joyce wagner and Yanar Mohammed, thank you both for being with us. Together theyre working on the right to heal campaign. You can watch a live stream tonight of a peoples hearing on the Lasting Impact of the iraq war in d. C. That Yanar Mohammed will be part of, moderated by phil donahue and washington, d. C. Starting at 6 30 p. M. Eastern time. We will have a link to the details at democracynow. Org. That does it for our show. Democracy now is looking for feedback from people who appreciate the closed captioning. Email your comments to outreach democracynow. Org or mail them to democracy now p. O. Box 693 new york, new york 10013. [captioning made possible by democracy now ] ono