I don't agree with the enthusiasm of Andy in Amman. The country has had it's trouble from Iraq when four Iraqis traveled there and set off bombs that killed people at a wedding.
Prime Minister Maliki was right in skipping a session with Bush. He has a lot on the line, including his own life. When discontent is verbalized in Iraq regardless the benign intent as a protest as with the Shi'ite Cleric al Sadr and innate right to say it, there is always someone who is willing to carry out statements to a degree of violence that was never intended.
Prime Minister Maliki has my sympathies. He is in a very difficult position and was absolutely correct in not meeting Bush's demands to be seen with him, as a defiance by the Iraqi people that feel otherwise; with his own protest. I admire him more today than yesterday. Giving into the demands of a USA President does not show strength so much as weakness and the Iraqi people needs leaders that are strong and determined to carry out their will. I admire him for that today.
As per usual, The New York Times is on the cutting edge of information regarding the war processes in Iraq. It's not an easy position for them to be in, but, it is admirable and will be liberating to them in time. I belive they are already finding their way out of the propaganda maze that has dominated DC ever since the elections of 2000.
Iraq Panel to Recommend Pullback of Combat Troops
By DAVID E. SANGER and DAVID S. CLOUD
Published: November 30, 2006
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 — The bipartisan Iraq Study Group reached a consensus on Wednesday on a final report that will call for a gradual pullback of the 15 American combat brigades now in Iraq but stop short of setting a firm timetable for their withdrawal, according to people familiar with the panel’s deliberations.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/30/world/middleeast/30policy.html?hp&ex=1164949200&en=b95eba287d888001&ei=5094&partner=homepage
I also believe Iraq's neighbors are stepping up to be counted and that can only serve to be a stabilizing force in the region, regardless of it's controversy. There is a lot happening all over the region and I have the upmost hope with the visit by Pope Benedict VI that the region is seeking solutions to long standing problems.
The ever sought after electricity grid.
Iran, Syria to connect power networks via Turkey
LONDON, November 30 (IranMania) - Iran and Syria reached an agreement to connect their electricity networks via Turkey and Iraq, Iran Energy Minister said, MNA reported.
“Ministers from Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey will also hold talks in Damascus in future to bring together their electricity networks,” Parviz Fattah told reporters after a meeting with Syrian Energy Minister Ahmed Khaled al-Ali who is currently on a visit to Iran.
Fattah noted that transmission power lines have previously been posted at Iran-Iraq and Syria-Iraq borders. “Iraq has implicitly announced its agreement on a multilateral connection, but further negotiations are needed to reach an overall accord,” the minister added.
The official also stated, “We agreed to operate two units of Syrian Banias power plant during a next trip to this country. The units are currently being renovated by Iran’s Azarab Company of Arak.”
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=47655&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs
Perhaps now everyone can begin to understand Iran's demand for ample nuclear energy. I still see Russia as a good source of enriched uranium, but, if Iran can prove to be a benevolent power to the region in supplying reliable energy to the people there, the quality of life will increase immeasurably as it is something the USA has never been able to supply to those people, and in time Iran's status will change. I welcome the success of such projects.
I don't believe the people of Iran are interested in anything hostile. Call it what you want but in a presentation by Ted Kopple it was very obvious to me, the Iranian people feel betrayed by the International Community in it's equity under the UN Nonproliferation Treaty. At some point in time, the world has to realize Iran, as Iraq's neighbor did everything any other country would do with an aggressive Superpower just over the border.
The USA acted out of character with the Iraq invasion and this country is paying for it.
Syria, Turkey to launch free trade zone next year
Syria and Turkey agreed Wednesday to put into force a free trade zone agreement between the two countries at the beginning of next year, the official SANA news agency reported.
Syrian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah al- Dardari discussed the issue with his visiting counterpart Abdullatif Sener during a meeting.
Both sides discussed ways to enhance joint cooperation, particularly in the customs field to develop border posts between the two neighbors.
"To build a genuine partnership and establish different investments we should activate the role of our industrial and trade chambers, businessmen and investors," Dardari noted.
For his part, Sener, also Turkish Minister of State, said that agreements between the two countries would definitely meet the demands of both friendly peoples.
Upon arrival Tuesday evening in Damascus, Sener, who is on a four-day official visit, expressed the hope to increase the volume of trade exchange to one billion U.S. dollars from the current 850 million dollars, SANA said.
http://english.people.com.cn/200611/30/eng20061130_326673.html
The Pope's visit to Turkey could not be a better indication to the region's hope for tomorrow and a peace that will be sustainable through economic development and stable quality of life for people there. We all know where there are people prospering al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and all the others cannot survive. When people find the life they are looking for with a promise for their children they will stop siding with radical murderers such as al Qaeda.
Unfortunately, the old world rhetoric still lives on CNN:
COOPER: No, no, I was just going to -- I was just going to say, I mean, Jeff raises a very good point, which is, is the U.S. really even in control at this point, or really have much influence over events on the ground in Iraq?
GERGEN: I -- that -- that is very fundamental to this, and whether -- and that was raised by the Hadley memo as well, whether Maliki has control over events on the ground. It seems to me almost impossible now for the president to come out of a meeting with Mr. Maliki in the next few hours and say with a straight face, we're now planning to do these three things to help this government, when the government itself seems to be in a shambles, and the man who heads the government has just snubbed him. I just don't know how you persuade the American people, or anyone else, that this is a reliable partner for the United States in the coming months. I don't know how Jeff feels about it, but it just seems -- I think this whole series of events have put into very grave question whether this administration can now work with the Maliki government in a way that persuades others that this is a safe, reasonable and thoughtful way to proceed.
COOPER: We're going to have to leave it there. David -- David Gergen, appreciate it, Jeff Greenfield, as well.
WITH friends like this who needs enemies in Iraq? I mean these bozos don't even give out the latest raw data:
Since the war began, 2,834 military personnel have died. Another 21,921 service members have been wounded. According to one report, up to 54,226 -- 54,226 Iraqi civilians may have been killed -- widely divergent numbers there.
Anderson Cooper 360 won't accept the fact the IRAQI GOVERNMENT has accounted for 150,000 dead CIVILIANS, Anderson ! The Iraqi government is discounted as an authority of the suffering of it's own people. What kind of a moron would insist on Bush propaganda? Oh, wait. One that considers it 'okay' for 54 thousand to be dead and not shaken by that number. One dead Iraqi child is enough for me, okay? It should never have happened and for this we get inaccurate data and pandering to Bush.
Iraqi lawmakers and cabinet ministers allied with Shiite cleric and militia leader Moqtada al-Sadr, a bloc that was pivotal in bringing Maliki to power in May, launched a boycott Wednesday of their governmental duties to protest Maliki's decision to meet with Bush. At the same time, relations between the U.S. and Iraqi governments were complicated by the leak of a confidential White House memo suggesting the Bush administration was close to losing confidence in Maliki's ability to deliver results.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/29/AR2006112900324.html
The facts are far clearer than this rhetoric. In an article in The New York Times only a week or so ago, it was clear Cleric al Sadr had the ear of the Shi'ite majority in Iraq and he did not have the attention of the splintering militias. In fact in the article it reflected the fact that Cleric al Sadr had become far more politically involved and had lost touch with the armed camps in Iraq that still protect their towns and hamlets. So, this is soem of the worst rhetoric I've heard today.
I don't know what everyone thinks they are doing by back peddling into lies, but, I am not surprised this move against Maliki was a political move rather than random bombings.
Isn't this what we were hoping for? A power structure whereby people could be heard and register protests without killing masses of people? This is democracy at it's best.
What are you joking?
Because Bush has been shunned it's a tragedy? Not hardly.
They should be rejoicing in Iraq that Maliki has completely embarrassed Bush right there in Jordan as a protest carried out in the Shi'ites name. This is big deal. Maliki literally told Bush in no uncertain terms, he is the man of his people and not the puppet of the USA.
I think it's great and I feel Prime Minister Maliki has earned his stripes for the first time in awhile. First he removed the American troops from plundering Sadr City and now this. There is progress in that the people of Iraq are being empowered as a force to heard over the occupation of the USA. They have been building a shadow government for a long time now, it's time it came to the forefront of authority and power. It's a good thing.
THE REST OF THE NEWS hour is nothing but hatred, bigotry and war mongering. The program has absolutely nothing positive to offer and things are actually looking up when one finally sees 'the truth' rather than 'the lies of Bush.' Did I hear the bonds for Iraq and Iran are still listed as "B" by Mooney's?
Hm.
I heard someone make the observation in that handing Iraq over to Iran and Syria is like handing Poland over to Hitler. I don't think so. The Kurds need protecting and the USA needs to regroup and repair. A good solid presence in Kurdistan will serve the people there as a security until the rest of Iraq either splits or settles into life anew. This is not history repeating itself. It was very sad to hear the analogy. Saddam is gone. Maliki is not Saddam. The Shi'ites have had enough of death. This is not Pre-WW II Poland.
I don't like rest of the program, it's nothing but an attempt to build greater and more powerful hate against Iraqis. We don't need it and we don't need Anderson Cooper or John Roberts or Mr. Gergen or Jeff Greenfield either !!!!
enough
