Bush, al-Maliki Talks in Jordan Postponed

President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will be putting off their meeting by one day, the White House said Wednesday.

The delay comes after the high-stakes summit was marred by public disclosure of U.S. doubts about al-Maliki's capacity to control sectarian violence and a walkout of Iraq's coalition government by 30 parliamentarians loyal to radical anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Five Cabinet ministers and 30 lawmakers suspended their participation in Parliament saying their action was necessary because the meeting in Jordan constituted a "provocation to the feelings of the Iraqi people and a violation of their constitutional rights." Their statement did not explain that claim.

"The reality on the streets of Baghdad suggests Maliki is either ignorant of what is going on, misrepresenting his intentions, or that his capabilities are not yet sufficient to turn his good intentions into action," the Times quoted the memo as saying.

Al-Maliki and Bush are meeting in Amman, the Jordanian capital, Wednesday and Thursday in a summit aimed at halting Iraq's escalating sectarian violence and paving the way for a reduction of American troops.

"We are sticking to our position. ... The boycott is still valid," Falih Hassan, a Sadrist legislator, said in an interview with The Associated Press. "Bush is a criminal who killed a lot of Iraqis and we do not want him to interfere in Iraq's affairs. The Iraqi government should negotiate with the U.N. Security Council, not with the leader of the country that is occupying Iraq."

The Security Council responded to a request from al-Maliki, who said a top government priority is to assume full responsibility for security and stability throughout Iraq but that it needs more time.

They're using Palestinian politics. Sadr and his gang are feeding off of Iraqi blood. A solution to the cirsis of their making is the last thing they are interested in. It is very difficult to look at these Sadrist vampires as anything other than a roadblock to be crushed into a speed bump and then flattened by the traffic moving steadily toward the future. Recalling that the electricity and water in Sadr city is functioning because U.S. troops make it so - and that has a flavor of occupational control - I think the U.S. Army should offer training in the skills required to operate the electric and water facilities to locals living in Sadr City. It's the right thing to do. American troops should continue to facilitate the survival of the individuals residing in Sadr city because the core of their mission in Iraq is humanitarian. But U.S. troops shouldn't take Male volunteers. They should only accept Women age 17 to 35 from Sadr city for training. It could be an ultimatum. If Iraqi women don't volunteer - the city doesn't get water or electricity. Let the women of Sadr City control the electricity and water supplies while Sadr and his anti American Militia continue to pretend they are Palestinian victims. Their entire strategy is predicated on local domination at the expense of national security and sovereignty. Pitting their motives against their local community's interests will eventually break them. If they all decide to commit suicide in the process - oh well!

They should only accept Women age 17 to 35 from Sadr city for training. It could be an ultimatum. If Iraqi women don't volunteer - the city doesn't get water or electricity. Let the women of Sadr City control the electricity and water supplies while Sadr and his anti American Militia continue to pretend they are Palestinian victims.

You sexist pig! Allah (piss be upon him) has sent his messenger to say that women do not matter! To grant mere women control of the electricity and water would humiliate the men. Typical American hegemony. The only solution available is to have the Iranian Hezbullah men assume control, and impose their will. But hey, they will kill some Sunni's along the way.

Re: "I think Ahmanutjob took the American elections as a statement that Bush has no support anywhere, is totally finished, and has no power any longer. Of course, he misunderstands our system, but that's how he sees it..."

I think - unfortunately - many Americans believe that too - that President Bush is "totally finished, and has no power any longer" after all the daily onslaughts from the media/press against President Bush!

Too bad the wimpy Repubs couldn't have stood strong together and vociferously countered the lies of the liberals and media!

We need warriors and not wimps in '08!

I would expect that the Survey Group has seen this memo,

I wouldn't. This ridiculous commission was the creation of Congress, not the Administration. The leaks are a WH problem and someone needs to call a plumber. The CIA, State Dept. Pentagon and WH all seem to be filled with people at odds with Administration policy and willing to break the law to throw up roadblocks. The President needs to pull Alberto Gonzalez aside and insist that he start investigating these leaks and prosecuting the leakers.

We already know from the Scooter Libby-Judith Miller connection that this administration (like every other administration) selectively leaks to the MSM in general and to the NY Times specifically.
Since National Security Advisor Steven Hadley wrote the al-Maliki memo, we may not know the method of the adminstration's madness with this particular "leak."

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.