The u. S. Is now rushing a new shipment of hellfire missiles and Surveillance Drones to the Iraqi Government. We will go to baghdad for report. As wall street prepares to pay out over 90 billion in yearend bonuses, an offshoot of occupy wall street urges the banks to reconsider how they spend their massive profits. 60 billion in pay for two years of the National AffordableHousing Trust fund. This is the program that is financed for 10 years could end homelessness in american and america. Next up, 21 billion in needed repairs to Public Housing and wall street to take care of that. And you know what . It would still have 10. 4 billion left over. And while the philippines struggles to rebuild after typhoon haiyan, the country is been forced to continue paying out billions of dollars in debt to the world bank and other lenders. All of that and more coming up. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. A car bombing in the lebanese capital of beirut has left at least five people dead. The victims included the attacks apparent target, the homage financelebanons former minister. He was an age of former prime iri and a vocal critic of seared president bashar alassad. A u. S. Drone strike in pakistan has killed four people. The attack it a compound in the tribal region of north waziristan. Pakistani officials described the victims as afghan members of a militant group. The strike human midst of ongoing protest against u. S. Drone war. On thursday, demonstrators recently blocked nato supply route near the city of quetta. Fighting continues in south sudan amidst mediation efforts by african countries. The leaders of ethiopia and kenya are in the capital juba in a bid to infighting between Government Forces and rebels loyal to the countries ousted former president. The u. N. Says the violence has claimed over 1000 lives and displaced tens of thousands. Rebels have captured half the capital in south sudans main oilproducing state, the upper nile. The head of the u. N. Mission in south sudan said the country is facing its worst crisis since gaining independence from sudan two years ago. Days have been1 a very trying time for south sudan and the citizens of this newborn nation. What has happened this last week, for many of them, has brought back the nightmares of the past. The nation painstakingly built over decades of conflict is at stake. Dozens of people have been killed this week and continued fighting the Central African republic it. Muslim and christian militias have battled the other and attack civilian areas and fighting erupted earlier this month. The red cross says it has recovered 44 bodies in the streets of the capital over the past two days. A mass grave with 30 bodies was also reportedly found there a muslim rebel base. The military government in egypt has pressed ahead with its crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood one day after declaring that group a terrorist organization. On thursday, dozens of brotherhood members were arrested and their assets seized. Over a thousand groups also had their banks Bank Accounts frozen, including a network of hospitals. The terrorism designation marks an escalation of the campaign against the brotherhood since the ouster of president Mohammed Morsi in july. On thursday, one person was killed as brotherhood supporters clashed with rebels in cairo. The state department has expressed concern to the Egyptian Government over its latest moves. Israeli forces have bombed the gaza strip for the second time in three days. The latest tracks came after firedinian militants rockets into southern israel, causing no damage. Israel has also cut off its noncommercial crossing into gaza. Palestinians say the plant will again be forced to shut down unless the crossing reopens today. Intends to grapple with massive flooding in the southeast. The death toll from weeks of torrential rain stands at 44, with more than 60,000 list. It is the worst rainstorm to hit brazil and 90 years. A u. S. Citizen kidnapped by al qaeda in pakistan two years ago has appeared in a new video appeal to president obama. Warren weinstein was working as a u. S. Government contractor when he was seized. Al qaeda has said it will free him if the United States stops airstrikes in afghanistan and pakistan, and freeze al qaeda prisoners, among other demands. On the tape, weinstein asks president obama to help when his release. It seems i have been totally. Bandoned and forgotten now in your second term as president of the United States, and that means you can take hard decisions without worrying about reelection. So i again appeal to you to instruct your appropriate officials to negotiate my release. Weinstein goes on to say his captors have agreed to let his family members visit him if the u. S. Allows the same courtesy to its al qaeda prisoners. A pair of u. N. Experts has asked the u. S. And yemen to account for suspected drone strike that reportedly killed up to 15 people earlier this month. The victims were on their way to a Wedding Party when they were apparently mistaken for a knockout a convoy. In a statement, the u. N. Special rapporteur on a traditional, summary or arbitrary executions, called on the u. S. And yemen to confirm their responsibility for the attack. Specialdoes, the u. N. Repertoire on torture, said bombing and a legitimate target such as a convoy of civilians would amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. A plan to relocate a u. S. Military base on the island of okinawa as one local approval after a multiyear dispute. The okinawa governor has signed on to u. S. Effort to move the base to a more remote area. A movement of residents has oppose the base altogether a push for ousting u. S. Forces off the island am assigning Environmental Concerns in Sexual Assaults by u. S. Soldiers on local residents. The u. S. Maintains 34 bases and 18,000 troops on okinawa. More than 100 thousand people remained without power in maine on thursday after nice storm that swept up from the midwest. Freezing temperatures over the past several days have killed 27 inple, 17 in the u. S. And 10 canada. President obama has signed into law the two major congressional measures of the past month, a Pentagon Spending bill and a new budget for 2014. The military bill bars the transfer of Guantanamo Bay prisoners to the u. S. , but freeze up their release to foreign countries. In a signing statement, obama called the u. S. Transfer been unwise and said he will continue to work for its removal. The measure also keeps military Sexual Assault cases within the chain of command while adding some new protections for survivors. Ae budget bill averts Government Shutdown early next year, but ignores the extension of jobless benefits for the unemployment that expired this week. In Appeals Court has overturned the conviction of a top ranking clergymen of pennsylvanias Roman Catholic church for covering up sexual abuse by philadelphia priest. Monsignor william lynn was found built to last year hiding the molestation by transferring predatory priest to unsuspecting congregations. He was the highestranking u. S. Church official to be convicted of covering up child abuse to date. But on thursday, his conviction was overturned after a judge ruled he wasnt legally responsible for the victims welfare. Lynn remains jailed pending an exit expected appeal by prosecutors, but his attorneys will now seek his release on bail. Members of the greenpeace arctic already have begun leaving russia after charges were formally dropped earlier this week. The group of 28 activists and to journalists were jailed for two months for trying to stop russian oil drilling in the arctic. On his way home to sweden, itvinov vowedry l to remain involved in anti drilling protest. I am glad this chapter is over, that the book still remains to be written. As long as there is threat for the arctic, as long as Multinational Companies like as prom and shall annex on and the puppet regimes are intent on ripping the arctic, we will certainly continue to fight and work toward a new feature. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with juan gonzalez. Welcome to all our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. As iraq faces the worst violence in years, the u. S. Is reportedly sending arms to the country. The New York Times reports the United States has rushed a new shipment of hellfire missiles to help the Iraqi Government fight militants. The cia is also helping Iraqi Forces Target militant camps with aerial strikes. Governmentaqi officials said about 75 care hellfire air to ground missiles had been said last week. An additional shipment of unmanned scaneagles Surveillance Drones is also expected next year. Bombings mustday targeted christian areas. This is an iraqi christian. Day wish on christmas happiness for christians in iraq and around the world, and i wish the iraqi people can overcome these difficult times. And i hope for the return of happiness and peace in the country. According to the United Nations, more than 8000 iraqis have been killed this year in the worst violence since 2008. To talk more about the situation in iraq, were joined by two guests. In washington, d. C. , raed jarrar and in baghdad, William Dunlop. We welcome you both to democracy now lets go to William Dunlop in baghdad. Talk about the level of the violence, the numbers of people who are dead, and is it possible we are talking about the numbers debt equal to the height of the iraq war under president bush . Year,r the course of this theres been a sharp increase in violence compared to the previous years where there was a steady decline in the number of people killed. This has in the case is specially since april after a Security Forces raid on a protest site in which dozens of people were killed. Death toll spiked after that raid and has remained at a highly elevated level for the remainder of the year. The toll were seeing this year around the levels of 2008, so not quite the worst year of the iraq war in 2006, 2007, at the height of the war. Approaching that level, and approaching a level of violence that has not been seen since near the height of the americas monitor presence in iraq. Iraqi Security Forces are effectively [indiscernible] heightened violence alone. William dunlop, what has been the impact on the ability of the government to function or provide asic services to its people . There are elections coming up in april. What will be the impact on that . In terms of basic services, they remain severely lacking in terms of clean water and electricity. That is throughout the country. Violence is not the only issue that is impacting corruption and delays in building up the power grid are also affecting those services. As far as generally functioning, most of the government is headquartered in the green zone, which is a highly secure area in central baghdad. Most highranking officials are effectively shielded from the impact of violence by working in this area. Nonetheless, there is been severe lyrical deadlock plaguing the country, you could say, for several years now. Major legislation has languished. Not much has been done on the governmental level. There are parliamentary elections on april 30. Depending on the result, that could result in some changes in the cabinet and potentially the Prime Minister as well. However, after the preceding elections in 2012, took almost 90 months for the election did for the government to form. Christian communities celebrated as ms. Nasa baghdad tuesday. The service was also attended by the leader of the it is long supreme council. Council. Lamic supreme theyre targeting us as theyre targeting you. There are those who believe in killing all those that will disagree with them. They think they should all feel the same way and feel with one logic. You are a target for them, therefore, we are partners in our share to gold in the challenge. We will remain partners in confronting extremism, violence, and terrorism. And you talk about the significance of who was coming together and also what is the cause of the violence, William Dunlop . Are two main there factors that contribute to the rising violence this year. Internal, which is widespread discontent among groups. Inority sunni being unjustly hard with heavy such as massty arrest and close enough neighborhoods. That is creating a lot of anger among the community, sparked protest that have continued from us to year. Ultimately, that level of anger is making it easy for militant groups to operate. It is easier to recruit for these groups and provide additional motivation for them to carry out attacks. Theres also next terminal factor, which is the civil war in syria. Establish0 groups in rubbleheld areas. That conflict has resulted in guns and fighters moving back and forth across the borders in western iraq and also reestablishment of some al qaeda bases that have been abandoned. Were also joined by raed d. C. , in from washington, an iraqiamerican blogger and political analyst. Could you tell us what your senses in this astonishing rise in violence in iraq . I dont think many iraqis are surprised because of the levels of violence are up again. Existedons for violence all along and have not been addressed adequately by the current iraqi authorities. So people expect in iraq to see some periods of less violence and periods of more violence. Violence is only one indicator of the failure of the Iraqi Government, as your previous guest said. There are many indicators which iraqis live on a daily basis, including complete collapse of the infrastructure to unprecedented levels of political and financial corruptions in the country. Iraq is still among the top five most corrupt countries in the. Orld the reasons of the violence that were installed in iraq after the was invasion of 2003, by creating a sectarian government, have not been addressed. I think as long as iraq continues to have this sectarian dysfunctional government, the country will continue to go through the cycles of violence. Last month, the iraq he Prime Minister almaliki asked the United States to provide more military aid, including weapons, to help combat iraqs worst violence in five years. He was speaking at the United States institute for peace. We do not tell the world to stand by us and support us, rather, we have a right to ask of the world because we are part of them and because if what happens in iraq is not dealt with, it will expand. And what happens in syria, if not dealt with, will also expand. It will happen in any country where the virus of terrorism is, the virus will spread. The u. S. And Iraqi Government fischel said about 75 hellfire air to ground missiles have been sent to iraq. In addition of eagles can missiles scaneagles missiles. This is one of the most puzzling geopolitical realities. The u. S. Has been funding and training and supporting the same government that has been funded and trained by iran. Unlike other parts of the middle east where iran and the united of a proxy somewhat war, like lebanon, for example, which the u. S. Funds and supports opponents of those parties funded by iran. In iraq, both governments, the United States and the iranian government, have been supporting the same leaders in iraq. I think the most recent shipment of weapons reaffirms this Strategic Alliance between the u. S. And iran inside iraq, betting on the same courses. I think in addition to the most recent agreement between the u. S. And the Syrian Government and the u. S. And the iranian government, are sending an alarming message to the region that the u. S. Will continue to take sides within domestic conflict. And in iraq, seems u. S. Will continue to support the Iraqi Government as it has been accused for years of being behind torture and assassination and the killing of its own people. What do you make of the issue of the neighboring civil war in syria and its impact on the escalating violence in iraq . I mean, the situation in syria is so close to iraq that i dont think the word neighboring explains it anymore. It is all the same conflict now. This is turning into one huge regional conflict. As your other guest indicated, the events in syria are affecting the bordering areas in iraq. Because of many of the new political realities in the region, unfortunately, many iraqis and syrians and others are identifying more with the than the Background National background. So you find many iraqisunnis who will identify more now with a syriansunni them with an iraqishia. In reality, this is the new map being drawn in the region. So what is going on in syria has direct implications on the situation in iraq. Iraq is heavily involved in the syrian conflict. The Iraqi Government, through the iranian government, has been supporting the Syrian Government against the uprising. Of course, the majority of iraq hesunnis are not happy about iraqiaq he government government. This is turning into one large sectarian regional conflict that spreads all the way from iran to lebanon. Beirute explosion in falls within this new fault line. Last week democracy now spoke t