Kerry Arrives in Cairo on Trip to Push for New Iraqi Government (Read for details)

The New York Times ^ | Sunday, June 22, 2014 | Michael R. Gordon

[kristinn]

Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Cairo on Sunday morning on the first leg of a trip that is intended to hasten the formation of a cross-sectarian government in Iraq.

SNIP

President Obama announced last week that he is planning to send as many as 300 military advisers to help Iraqi forces counter ISIS. But the legal protections they would have for this mission are still being worked out.

The advisers would not have the standard immunity that is granted to diplomats and military officers assigned to the American Embassy in Baghdad. But the Obama administration is also not planning to go through the time-consuming process of negotiating a status of forces agreement that would provide legal immunity.

“Exactly what form those legal protections will take, I think, is something that we are working out,” said the official on Mr. Kerry’s plane who cannot be identified in accordance with the State Department’s protocol for briefing reporters. “They are a range of ways in which to do this, but I don’t know that the exact modality in this case has been settled on yet.”

Mr. Kerry is the highest ranking official to visit Cairo since the election of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his arrival follows a June 10 phone call by Mr. Obama to the Egyptian leader.

A second official on the secretary’s plane said that during his short visit here Mr. Kerry would make the point that it is in Egyptian political and economic interest to build a more inclusive government.

“We do not share the view of the Egyptian government about links between the Muslim Brothers and terrorist groups,” said the official. “With regard to the challenge that the Muslim Brothers pose, I would characterize it more as a political challenge than a security challenge. “

[allendale]

If the Obama administration were serious of stopping the ISIL offensive and preserving what little the heroic sacrifices of brave Americans accomplished in Iraq, they would be telling the Saudis in no uncertain terms to stop their funding of ISIL. Otherwise Obama is sending more brave young Americans to die needlessly

[Tupelo]

On Friday, Rush was talking about the fact that Kerry must have not done so well in school since he was being sent to Iraq. Once again Rush has been proved right. “Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Cairo on Sunday morning on the first leg of a trip that is intended to hasten the formation of a cross-sectarian government in Iraq.”

The dumb ass went to Cairo. Guess He confused Iraq with Egypt.

[ScaniaBoy]

The advisers would not have the standard immunity that is granted to diplomats and military officers assigned to the American Embassy in Baghdad. But the Obama administration is also not planning to go through the time-consuming process of negotiating a status of forces agreement that would provide legal immunity.

And so what will happen when the US advisors have to defend themselves against these guys?

A Shia cleric loyal to anti-US cleric Moqtada al Sadr has warned that the 300 US military advisers en route to Iraq will be attacked.

Note that even as the Shias are threatened with a bloodbath by their Sunni foes, it is still the US that is the real enemy. Go figure....

[Eric in the Ozarks]

What the heck’s Lurch doing in Cairo ?

[ROCKLOBSTER]

even as the Shias are threatened with a bloodbath by their Sunni foes, it is still the US that is the real enemy

Blow up both the sunnis and the shites...daily.

Protect and assist the Kurds, let them have the oil fields and defense worthy real estate.

[virgil]

I could see Sunni and Shiites uniting to fight US troops if we sent them in. It would be another war. This is what happens when we have a president that the only thing he does is play golf and spy on Americans.

[ScaniaBoy]

2nd reason: "Another is that they should crack down on funding to the Sunni militants in the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The group is largely self-sustaining because of success in extortion and its plundering of banks in Mosul, Iraq. But some funding “has flowed into Iraq from its neighbors,” said a senior official on Mr. Kerry’s plane."

And at the same time that Kerry wants Islamic states to crack down on the ISIS, he attacks the Egyptian government for being "mean" to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Clearly signs of a well thought out and consistent foreign policy. /s

[allendale]

Time for an orderly and safe evacuation of the embassy. This sorry chapter in American history must end. It was sheer stupidity to assume that Islamic culture is compatible with the values and institutions that emanated from the enlightenment.The nonsensical nation builders return to their academic cocoons. It should be obvious that Islamic culture begins to crumble when confronted with modernity and its practices. Also these oil exporters will sell to anyone with the hard currency that will keep them from starving.

[vaudine]

John Kerry could not "push" his way out of a paper bag, so good success, Johnny .

vaudine

[PLD]

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Nearly 4,400 dead Americans, 10 years and $2 trillion.
How much more ?

[silverleaf]

“We do not share the view of the Egyptian government about links between the Muslim Brothers and terrorist groups,” said the official. “With regard to the challenge that the Muslim Brothers pose, I would characterize it more as a political challenge than a security challenge. “

well we finally found an ally Obama won’t dump- the Muslim Brotherhood. Tell the Egyptian Copts that “the brotherhood” is not a terror front and belongs in a government that is committed to nonsecular tolerance. That’s like saying the Mafia is the waste disposal, private security and adult entertainment business.

BTW, Mr Kerry, Iraq has a constitution and has held 4 elections and Malaki won his majority as fair and square as any elections in any muslim country, even after charges of ballot fraud were investigated.

HTH does Kerry think “we” are going to upend their government, and how?

Like el Sisi and the Egyptian experience in the past 3 years with the “muslim brothers” in Egypt... who go batshit crazy on the Christians and any other opponents when they get power ...... how is Maliki supposed to deal with
sunni/baathist sore losermen who start burning bombing and butchering when they lose an election?

Mr Kerry, why are you stumping for support to call Maliki as an illegally elected “noninclusive” dictator? No wonder Putin and Iran told you and Obama to take a hike.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/19/us-iraq-election-idUSBREA4I0C120140519

http://www.npr.org/2014/04/29/307913551/ahead-of-iraqi-election-maliki-remembered-as-a-rebel-who-fought-saddam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_parliamentary_election,_2010

[NonValueAdded]

Cairo? In Eqypt where we tried to push the MB on the country and the military had to step in and undo Øbama’s choice? That country? That’s where Kerry is pushing for regime change in Iraq?

[Mouton]

Lurch thought it was Christmas Eve and he was planning on observing the push into neutral Jordan??

[silverleaf]

the US is their enemy if Obama is trying to undo the Maliki government which from all indications was elected fair and square under Iraq’s Constitution

the real forces opposed to a democratic and inclusive government are ISIS and their allies from Saddams old regime- and Obama and our State Department and...
other agencies” ..are sympathetic to the “sunni” alliance butchering policemen and soldiers and civilians and Shia- as a disenfranchised political bloc

give us a break

[mojito]

A fool and his errands.

[CyberAnt]

I hope General el-Sisi tells Kerry to go home and MIND HIS OWN BUSINESS.

[elpadre]

What is Kerry going to do about the Iraq constitution which was approved by the UN, US and all Western nations?