http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/
A Lack of Precision on Hillary and Levin’s Words About Maliki
I’m not really a fan of Nouri al-Maliki. I don’t think anybody’s impressed with his performance as Iraqi prime minster.
So when Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., says, “I hope the parliament will vote the Maliki government out of office and will have the wisdom to replace it with a less sectarian and more unifying prime minister and government,” it is, in and of itself, not that objectionable. We can hope for leadership changes in a lot of countries — Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, and Syria come to mind...
But that’s getting reported as Levin calling for Maliki’s ouster.
It’s a rare day that I find myself in agreement with Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, but he said to the Post that, “if it appeared that Maliki had been ousted at Washington’s behest, his replacement would be seen as a U.S. puppet — a kiss of death in the region.”
So as Hillary says:
“The Iraqi government’s failures have reinforced the widely held view that the Maliki government is nonfunctional and cannot produce a political settlement, because it is too beholden to religious and sectarian leaders,” the New York senator said in a statement given exclusively to CNN’s Jessica Yellin.
Clinton went on to say she “hope[s] that the Iraqi parliament will replace Prime Minister Maliki with a less divisive and more unifying figure when it returns in a few weeks.”
She may be precise with her words, but it’s not getting reported that way. CNN’s headline is, Clinton: It’s time for Maliki to go. The Levin comments were reported as, “Senator Calls for Maliki’s Ouster.” It sounds like they’re calling on the insurgents or some faction to overthrow him, and that’s “off message” to put it mildly.
Secondly, our friends on the left side of the aisle loudly lament that America is seen as arrogant, a bully, an imperialist power meddling in the affairs of other countries... and then they turn around and tell the Iraqis who their leader ought to be. Uh, guys, ya ever think comments like this might be part of the problem?
08/22 05:27 PM
Former Saddam Hussein commanders on trial
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/08/21/iraq.trial/
August 21, 2007
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Fifteen former Iraqi officials from the regime of executed dictator Saddam Hussein went on trial Tuesday for their alleged roles in the slaughter of thousands of Shiite Muslims during a 1991 uprising, court officials said.
They are charged with crimes against humanity in the case being heard by the Iraqi High Tribunal. Estimates of the Shiite death toll range from 20,000 to 100,000.
Four of the former regime members now standing trial have already been convicted for their roles in the Anfal campaign — an Iraqi Army offensive in the 1980s that killed up to 100,000 people in Iraq’s Kurdish region.
Mohammed Khaleefa, the chief Judge in the Anfal trial, will also preside over a five-judge panel in this case.
Those on trial, who were also convicted in the Anfal case, are:
# Hussein’s first cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majeed, nicknamed “Chemical Ali,” who was sentenced to death for genocide and war crimes. He is appealing the ruling.
# Sultan Hashem Ahmed, military commander of the Anfal campaign, is also appealing his death sentence.
# Hussein Rashid Mohammed, deputy general commander of the Iraqi armed force, assistant chief of staff for military operations, and former Republican Guard commander. He is also appealing his death sentence.
# Saber Abdel Aziz al-Douri —(((DIFFERENT Al-Douri))) director of military intelligence during the Anfal campaign — received a life sentence.
The others on trial include:
# Abdul Ghani Abdul Ghafour
# Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hasn
# Ibrahim Abdul Sattar Mohammed
# Ayad Flayyeh Khaleefa
# Sa’edi Tou’ma Abbas
# Ali Hameed Mahmoud
# Ayad Taha Shehab
# Lateef Muhal Hammoud
# Sufyan Mahr Hasan
# Waleed Hameed Tawfeeq
# Qais Abdul Razzaq Mohammed