Posted on 08/29/2007 12:30:11 PM PDT by Freeport
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki made a serious step towards national unity at a time when Paris and Washington showered him with criticism. At a news conference in Baghdad on August 26, he announced that at a joint meeting representatives of the Iraqi Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds had reached agreement on a number of issues, which were crucial for the restoration of political stability, such as amnesty of political prisoners, elections to local and provincial governments, a bill on redistribution of oil profits and, last but not the least, abolition of the ban on jobs for the former Baath party members. Disputes over these issues paralyzed the Iraqi government for six months and prompted six ministers from the Sunni Iraqi Accord Front to boycott it. Now the Iraqis have a chance of getting out of the political deadlock. Although the ministers are not rushing to resume their duties, they and the Sunnis in general are not averse to dialogue with other ethnic and religious groups.
All this happened several days after U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker expressed his strong disappointment with political developments in Iraq, and Democratic U.S. senators, Carl Levin and Hillary Clinton, declared that al-Maliki had to resign. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner made the same conclusion after his trip to Baghdad. Only U.S. President George W. Bush supported the Iraqi prime minister, urging his government to step up its efforts
(Excerpt) Read more at spacewar.com ...
It’s good news if they act on it when the Parliament resumes it’s duties in Sep.
I will wait to see the details on these “agreements.”
Perhaps they all saw the writing on the wall. That they’d better hurry and get started on getting along, or else....
Sounds like they had it with AQ too. The Baath party guys are secular, it may work out so long as some smart ass General doesn’t throw the Gov’t over. Any agreement between the major groups is a step forward.
I had also heard on the Dennis Prager Show that several influential Sunni and Shiite clerics issued the first ever joint Fatwa that states that the violence in Iraq must stop. Are we seeing the light at the end of the tunnel here, at least from the native Iraqis?
“It’s good news if they act on it when the Parliament resumes it’s duties in Sep.”
they are probably vacationing with our congress, so don’t look for more than about 18% of it working out
I’m optimistic. I’ve seen several reports that the oil law will be passed when parliament renews. The other issues are high on our list of things we want them to accomplish politically. I guess we read them the riot act.
This 'rift' with Washington almost seems orchestrated to allow him to build credibility with his countrymen by standing up to us.
What are the Democrats going to point to as proof of failure now?
They’d better come up with a whole new set of benchmarks quick, or they’re going to look pretty silly when General Petraeus gives his report.
Oh, it they will find a couple disgruntled Parliament Member, Mayors etc. to bitch and moan. Also look for stories about gas lines, electricity problems, unclean water in certain villages etc. No silver linings for this administration, nosiree Bob...
This happened while the American Congressional sleaze led by Princess Pelosi were vacating.
No, the fix was in and Rats being Rats, heaped on the criticism in advance so they could claim credit.
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