Iraq PM, President Announce New Alliance

Forbes ^ | 8/16/2007

[bruinbirdman]

The Iraqi prime minister and president on Thursday announced a new alliance of moderate Shiites and Kurds, saying Sunni moderates refused to join but the door remained open to them.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the agreement was the first step to unblock political stagnation that has gripped his Shiite-led government since it first took power in May 2006.

The announcement after three days of intense political negotiations in the capital was disappointing because it did not include Iraq's Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi and his moderate Iraqi Islamic Party.

President Jalal Talabani and al-Maliki were flanked by the leader of the northern autonomous Kurdish region, Massoud Barzani, and Shiite Vice President Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi.

The four men signed a three-page agreement, which they said ensures them a majority in the 275-member parliament that would allow movement of critical U.S.-demanded legislation.

Talabani, a Kurd, said al-Hashemi refused the invitation to join in the new political grouping but "the door is still open to them and they are welcome at any time."

Al-Maliki also called on the Sunni Accordance Front, which includes al-Hashemi's party, to return to the government, to heal a rift that opened when the bloc's five Cabinet minister quit the government.

The four-party agreement was unveiled four weeks before the top U.S. commander in Iraq Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker are to deliver a progress report on Iraq to Congress.

[goldstategop]

Good News Bump! The Iraqis have sealed the deal on a moderate coalition - something the Democrats have said was impossible. This is bad news for them but good news for America. Bottom line: The Surge is paying off big political dividends.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Uncle Ike]

” Good News Bump! “

Maliki visits Iran...

Maliki talks with Syria...

Maliki ‘pulls off a miracle’ alliance with the Kurds....

Which data point doesn’t fit????

[goldstategop]

In life, not everything goes our way. We ought to take what we can get. This is better than nothing. And the Democrats don't see any up side to what our troops are doing in Iraq. That's where those of us who support them differ with them.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Uncle Ike]

I’m not sure how you made the leap from my mistrust of Maliki to non-support of our troops and their mission....

In truth, “take what we can get — better than nothing” sounds somewhat lukewarm to me....

[goldstategop]

Would you trust the Kurds? They are pro-American. If the Iraqis finally start solving their own problems, the easier it will be for us to bring our boys home. And a positive outcome the Democrats dread most of all. The poisoned chalice of Iraq drained in time for the 2008 election.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Uncle Ike]

” If the Iraqis finally start solving their own problems, the easier it will be for us to bring our boys home “

Actually, I don’t think we’re all that far apart, here..

And, if this is ‘real’, it *is* a marvellous development...

I just don’t trust at first blush anything involving Maliki-the-Opportunist.....

[goldstategop]

No one knows if this deal will hold up. Nevertheless the fact is clear it would NOT have happened without The Surge. Our military successes have given Iraqis the opportunity to address the future of their country. I look at things positively because I believe good MUST vanquish evil and I love America and I want God to bless her success. That's the opposite of the doom and gloom, America is evil and be damned outlook embraced by the Democrats.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

I just don’t trust at first blush anything involving Maliki-the-Opportunist.

'Trust but Verify'
--Pesident Ronald Reagan

[goldstategop]

Ronaldus Magnus Bump

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[sure_fine]

I think its just another smoke screen

[ClaireSolt]

I wonder if power is not shifting among Sunnis. Apparently, those in Parliament represent an elite living in Jordan, Now, however, there is that new alliance in Anbar with a dynamic leader who wants to form a political party. I see no point in dissing Maliki. He is a brave man who took on a very hard job.

[sure_fine]

IMO, Maliki has earned more than dissing

[sure_fine]

when they get back from vacationing during all the suicide bombings, we will find out maybe what he does consider important

[ClaireSolt]

Probably, nobody has recently elected you to risk your life everyday being PM of a country at war. You are probably one of those bench warmers who like to carp at people from the sidelines. Thank God for the 1sst amendment.

[sure_fine]

rah rah rah

[tobyhill]

“The four men signed a three-page agreement they said ensures them a majority in the 275-member parliament that would allow action on legislation demanded by the U.S.”

While I believe the US appreciates the Sunnis help in fighting terrorist it is the Sunnis have chose to isolate themselves from the rest of the Government.