Protesters once again penetrated the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, occupying buildings and battling police and soldiers. At least four protesters were killed when police opened fire with live ammunition.  Another 90 were wounded.  The prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, condemned the Green Zone breach – the second in three weeks – and called for adherence to the law. But Abadi is rapidly becoming irrelevant in Iraq.  No one is listening to him.  And he has failed to enact reforms that would address the enormous corruption in Iraqi society. Radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has stepped into the leadership void and now has firm control of the street demonstrations.  His goal is nothing less than revolution. Voice of America: “Storming into state institutions and tampering with public property cannot be accepted and tolerated,” Abadi said. But Abadi’s leadership is seen as weak. His previous denunciation...(Read Full Post)