Posted on 10/25/2006 8:25:52 AM PDT by MNJohnnie
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1725292/posts?page=1
Iraqi Government Plans to Demobilize Illegal Militias
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2006 – The Iraqi government has plans to demobilize all illegal militias, including radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s so-called “Mahdi Army,” the senior U.S. diplomat in Iraq said today.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki “has agreed to getting rid of the militias,” U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters at a Baghdad news conference.
Illegal militias that commit violence and murder need to be dealt with, Khalilzad said, noting the Iraqi government recognizes that fact.
Maliki wants to demobilize all the militias, including al-Sadr’s, Khalilzad said. Yet, he noted, U.S. officials don’t have direct contact with Sadr, although there is some interaction with some of Sadr’s representatives in the Iraqi Assembly.
Khalilzad said he believes that an integrated, political approach is the best way to try to convince militia leaders to disband their men and stack arms.
However, Maliki doesn’t rule out the use of force to coerce the militias to disband, Khalilzad said. “We will see what happens,” he added.
Khalilzad said he believes the Iraqi government is taking the right path in addressing the militia issue. Iraq’s prime minister is anxious for Iraqis to assume more security roles and responsibilities, to include dealing the problem of militias, the ambassador said.
Meanwhile, U.S., coalition and Iraqi security forces “are actively tracking, targeting, detaining people who are operating in death squads, and their leadership, who are breaking the law,” Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, said.
When Iraq’s government zeroes in on the militia issue, then the Iraqi security forces will become the dominant security forces in the country, Casey predicted.
“I think it will happen,” he said.
I dunno. Thats why i wanna hear the clip.
You've been there all night? ;-)
"Barf alert" is right. What a disgustingly condescending column. geez
LMBO! I was observing the room from afar last evening ;-) I think it is safe to come out from under the bar..but keep the kevlar on stand-by for this evening ;-)
Sun-Times is a rag.
ABC World News (10/24, story 5, 2:30, Tapper, 8.78M) reported, "Michael J. Fox has been an impassioned advocate for years. Lobbying for embryonic stem cell research, which he argues can help people who suffer as he does from Parkinson's disease. But Fox has never injected himself so directly and so emotionally on the campaign trail and on TV until now." Michael J. Fox: "In Missouri, unfortunately Senator Jim Talent opposes expanding stem cell research. Senator Talent even wanted to criminalize the science that gives us a chance of hope." Tapper: "That's one of three TV ads so far Fox has recorded for candidates this season. This one goes after Republican Senator Jim talent of Missouri, where embryonic stem cell research is also on the ballot as a referendum. Today, the Talent campaign called the Fox ad, false. Since Senator Talent supports stem cell research that doesn't involve destroying a human embryo."
New Ad Featuring Sports Stars Intended As Response To Fox Spot.
The Washington Times (10/25, Pierce, 88K) reports, "A response to a political ad by actor Michael J. Fox warns Missourians that a referendum on Nov. 7 is intended to trick voters into approving human cloning. Mr. Fox, in his ad for Democratic Senate candidate Claire McCaskill, accuses Republican Sen. Jim Talent of opposing stem-cell research that could help people like him and urges the election of Mrs. McCaskill. ... However, a new ad scheduled to run in Missouri uses the attention focused on Mr. Fox to denounce the referendum as misleading. The ad includes St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jeff Suppan, scheduled to pitch in the World Series tonight, warning voters that the ballot initiative would legalize human cloning. 'Don't be deceived,' he says. Former St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, who led the team to a Super Bowl victory, says, 'Don't be tricked' into thinking that stem-cell research will bring any cures within the next 15 years. The ad is introduced and ended by actor Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in 'The Passion of the Christ.'"
I fell asleep.
The Washington Post (10/25, B6, Marimow, 748K) reports that with Cardin's campaign releasing a new ad "showing Michael J. Fox clearly stricken by Parkinson's disease," Steele "accused his Democratic opponent yesterday of being soft on his support for stem cell research. Steele's campaign highlighted Cardin's vote against a bill that would have required the National Institutes of Health to conduct such research without destroying human embryos. 'There is only one candidate in this race who voted against stem cell research and it's Congressman Ben Cardin,' Steele said in a news release. 'Cardin had a chance to support stem cell research that would not destroy human embryos, and he voted against it -- not because of his beliefs on the issue, but as a transparent political stunt.'" Cardin "voted against the measure in question because, spokesman Oren Shur said, it was a 'cruel attempt by House Republicans to cover up their opposition to real embryonic stem cell research.' Cardin, he said, believes federal money should go to the 'promising research supported by the scientific community.'"
Double barf alert. MJF got what he deserved when Rush pointed out he was whoring out his illness for a sham cause.
I guess since Reeves died, the Dems had to come up with another sob story, ala Cindy Shehag and the Jersey girls.
When are we going to find a cure for liberals?
LOL
Rush panting is so funny!
Did you have peanut shells all over you?
Happy birthday, Johnnie!
LOL! IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY TOO! BORN IN 1972!
People are going to learn that they were being lied to...and people do not like that. The MJF ad was, imo, a big mistake.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.