Posted on 11/21/2008 12:36:02 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
BAGHDAD: Through the televised parliamentary brawling, shouting and points of order, the battle lines are becoming clear in the Iraqi political debate over a security agreement that would govern the last three years of the American military presence in Iraq.
But the pact that is nominally at the center of the wrangling appears not to be the main problem. The quarreling is really about what the country will look like when the American troops eventually depart, and whether the security agreement will give too much control to the Shiite-led Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.
When cornered on the stairways and balconies of the Iraqi Parliament building in the Green Zone, many of those who are threatening to vote against ratification openly admit that they approve of its terms.
"To be clear, it is not the treaty that is the problem," said Aala Maki, a senior member of the Iraqi Islamic Party, a Sunni party that has suggested it might not vote for approval. "What will be built on the treaty, that is the problem."
Other than the followers of the radical Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr, who reject any agreement in principle (and who continue to bang their hands on their desks in Parliament when it is being discussed), most lawmakers consider the pact at least satisfactory, if not ideal.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
Bit of news from Iraq.
I’m sure the Iraqis will work it all out just fine, given their deep tradition for solving disagreements peacefully. /heavy sarc
Well, they need to.
And they will.
Most of the media-fed back home will never undertsand this, but the Iraqis love freedom. Somehow, they'll get this worked out.
The Iran influence in the government has been a problem all along. But when push comes to shove, Iraqis are Iraqis, not Persians. This was demonstrated well this past spring when Sadr raised his ugly head and had his thugs bomb our bases several times a day until he got his ass kicked once again. And Maliki supported this. He had no choice.
I've said it all through these past few years and I'll say it again: It's going to work. Iraq will become one of the strongest countries in the Middle East because it is FREE.
In line with your statement, I don’t think a lot of Americans and otherwise, appreciate the fact a majority of Iraqi now sense a better future, and love the freedoms they have been given.
televised parliamentary brawling, shouting and points of order, the battle lines are becoming clear... The quarreling is really about what the country will look like when the American troops eventually depart, and whether the security agreement will give too much control to the Shiite-led Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki... "To be clear, it is not the treaty that is the problem," said Aala Maki, a senior member of the Iraqi Islamic Party, a Sunni party that has suggested it might not vote for approval. "What will be built on the treaty, that is the problem." Other than the followers of the radical Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr, who reject any agreement in principle (and who continue to bang their hands on their desks in Parliament when it is being discussed), most lawmakers consider the pact at least satisfactory, if not ideal.Bush's fault. :') Thanks Ernest.
I’m with you and Allegra and Scott can go suck rocks : )
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