I’ve just received word from Iraq that Jalal Talabani has officially launched a lawsuit against Hawlati, one of Iraqi Kurdistan’s last independent newspapers for the crime of criticizing him and corruption that has occurred under him and his family.

Talabani’s actions not only are a poor reflection of Iraqi Kurdistan’s black-sliding, but also insulting to so many Kurds and Coalition servicemen who gave their lives to bring freedom to Iraq and grant security to Iraqi Kurdistan. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan should be ashamed of itself.

Any closure of Hawlati will mean, in effect, that the Kurdish press is no more free than the Libyan or Syrian press.