Posted on 03/10/2007 10:11:02 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
"Direct Talks" but not one on one talks as been hyped up by the media in an attempt to make President Bush look bad.
The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said he exchanged views with Iranian delegates "directly and in the presence of others" at the gathering led by Iraq's neighbors and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
I agree... bad, bad news... this administration is getting way too "nuanced."
FR is very busy right now for a Saturday, yet just two of us responding. OUR GOVERNMENT IS GIVING LEGITIMACY TO THE KILLERS OF OUR TROOPS, AND PROPOSING AN ALLIANCE WITH THEM.
Can it get much worse????!!!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6436561.stm
Last Updated: Saturday, 10 March 2007, 18:39 GMT
Iraq plea to help tackle violence
The violence continued as the delegates discussed security
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has appealed to its neighbours to help tackle the insurgency which has left tens of thousands dead since 2003.
He was addressing an international meeting in Baghdad which brought together envoys from the US, Iran and Syria for the first time in years.
The US blames both for stoking the violence, but the meeting was said to be constructive and positive.
As talks started, a car bomb in Sadr City was reported to have killed 18.
About 40 people were injured in the attack in the largely Shia neighbourhood of Baghdad. At about the same time, at least two mortar shells landed near the conference venue but injured no-one, a witness said.
What has obstructed the economic and political building process in Iraq and has threatened civil peace is the terrorism
The one-day conference on ways to restore stability in Iraq was also attended by envoys from other members of the UN Security Council, the Arab League, the Gulf Co-operation Council as well as other states bordering Iraq.
Observers say it was seen as an attempt to break the ice, and the beginning of a process.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said the meeting had decided to set up several committees to discuss issues including security, refugees and energy supplies.
'Direct exchange'
The US has had no diplomatic relations with Iran for almost three decades, and its ties with Damascus have been severely strained.
The Americans are said to have shaken hands with the Iranian and Syrian envoys and US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said there had been "direct exchanges and meetings and discussions" between the US and Iranian delegation.
"The discussions with Iran and with others with regard to Iraq was instructive, businesslike, problem-solving in its orientation. I think I would leave it at that," Mr Khalilzad said.
He also appeared to address Iranian complaints that several Iranian diplomats were being held by US troops after being detained in Iraq in January.
He told the conference: "The coalition does not have anyone in detention who is a diplomat."
'In the front line'
Our correspondent says that for Iraq the meeting wa an important opportunity to bring together neighbours and other powers who have often seemed to be using the country as a proxy battlefield for their own struggles.
The conference venue is just outside the fortified Green Zone
In his opening address, Prime Minister Maliki called terrorism "an international epidemic" for which the people of Iraq were paying the price.
"Iraq is the first front line in facing this terrorism - which needs a lot of international co-operation to confront it - especially the neighbouring countries in particular to support us in this great war," he said.
Iran is a key supporter of the Shia majority in Iraq, while Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Arab states would like to see a better deal for Iraq's Sunni minority.
But our correspondent says Iran and Saudi Arabia have been working closely together recently to help defuse similar conflicts in Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority and there are hopes that this spirit will give impetus to the conference.
Ahead of the talks, US President George W Bush - on a Latin American tour - said the US message to Syria and Iran was unchanged.
"We expect you to help this young democracy and we will defend ourselves and the people in Iraq from weapons being shipped," he said.
The conference comes amid a new security drive by US and Iraqi forces.
Mr Bush has ordered in more than 20,000 additional troops to try to quell the unrest.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - North Arabian Sea
USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - North Arabian Sea
(navy.mil)
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Hi,Dita,,,CVN-69 was pulled out of the Persian Gulf a few days ago,,,been in there a week or so,,,odd timing,,,
Was this "arranged" as a show of good faith by the
Moozzi~DOS ?? He don't order Carrier Strike Groups around..
Moozzi~DOS must have had Help...
That would be a "DamnifIknow",,,All should be able to see it,,,maybe they all "Drank the Orange~Juice" !!!
If This Krap Don't Embolden moozzi,,,I Don't Know What Would !!
Prayers Up for the TROOPS,,,
GOD Bless And Keep Them...
Wake Up And Smell The Orange Juice/Koolaid bump...
Well, we just cut our nuts. A moozie ambassador and direct talks with a terrorist. W has some splaining to do.
Hey,WB,,,Lots of folks have seen this thread but only a few
seem to care enough to Support The Troops with a post
condeming the MOOZZI~DOS et al for talking to Terrorists!!!
WTH has happened ???
Looks like the Bush admin is following the advice of the appeasement-happy Baker and his commission, which of course sends a message of weakness to all our enemies. ....a message they've received in many forms and on many occasions during the past three decades.
Asking Iranian help to end the violence in Iraq is akin to asking for Nazi help to end the violence in Europe in WW2.
Amen to that, Mr. Mojo. Apt analogy. Still waiting for the FR apologists.....
The writing is on the wall.
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