Posted on 12/09/2006 7:59:56 AM PST by veronica
WASHINGTON -- Zalmay Khalilzad, who was announced this week as leaving as U.S. ambassador to Iraq, is the leading prospect to replace John Bolton as envoy to the United Nations.
President Bush was reported by aides as looking for someone who approximates Bolton's combination of toughness and diplomatic skill and has tentatively decided on Khalilzad. A native of Afghanistan, he has served in government posts dating back to 1985 and is the highest-ranking Muslim in the Bush administration.
Speculation on a new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to succeed John Bolton is focusing on the current U.S. ambassador in Iraq, Khalilzad, and a former U.S. deputy ambassador at the U.N., Richard Williamson. A footnote: State Department sources have said Andrew Card, who on April 14 finished five years as White House chief of staff, was interested in the UN post and was a dark horse to get it. However, he never made any such desire known to the president and is not being considered for the UN.
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
the fact that he's Muslim which in my mind is NOT by itself indicative of untrustworthiness or inability to look out for our interests.
Sorry . There was a time that I would agree with you , not any more. I trust NO Muslims
Big "IF" there my friend.
Get the US out of the foul, stinking corrupt UN, and get the foul, stinking corrupt UN out of the US. We need to scream it right into the scumbag politicians' faces every minute of every day.
More religion of peace crap from the republican't party.
It would fit right in with the persistant never ending love affair the white house has with all things muslim. In fact he would be outstanding in continuing the President's policy of doing absolutely nothing against Iran while Iran kills our troops in Iraq, year after year.
I wonder if he would interrupt the U.N. five times a day so all moslems could pray.
Yes, the fear takes precedence and it is because of what we see from the muslims all over the world.
Of course many are trustworthy, but, their first loyalty is to the koran and the muslim religion - not to any infidels.
How do we know when the pressure from other muslim clerics becomes too much for them? We have seen the threats to others who have left the faith.
In fact, in our church is a Iranian woman who because a Christian. Her husband had left her and then she converted. She has had three or more threats on her life. A religion that has a love of freedom for all? I think not.
Well put.
And we are supposed to stick our heads in the sand? Why the war on terrorism if we are to welcome all those that hate us into our government.
I want those people to have freedom and a fine life. I do not want them in my government because they consider us infidels and many in there religion are willing to kill us because of it.
,,, definitely poop.
Serious question. If you guys are apparently so convinced that the current administration of your country is pursuing policies so 'suicidal' to the future of the country, what exactly are you doing to overthrow that administration?
That would be the only logical course of action, surely?
I shall rest easier at night now knowing that you are the one 'vetting' security clearances for the government now. Were you also the one that 'vetted' Madeline Albright and crew when they let someone walk into the State Dept building in DC and steal their laptops with unauthorized classified information on them, or perhaps Sandy Berger who waltzed in and out of a classified repository with classified documents stuffed down his pants?
"Do you need to ask? I think the American public has started by throwing out some of the liberal trash that represented them in the past. We are not done yet!!!"
Really, when did that happen? But the guys that I posed the question to seemed so implacably opposed to fundamental parts of your constitution, as well as the policies not only of your current President, but also any of the credible future candidates, that I wouldn't have thought democratic methods would be sufficient for them.
a fox in charge of the chicken house.
Five years out from 9-11, and I have yet to see any real progress in transforming Islam. There is no doubt that radical Islam is a breakaway element of Islam, but as it is such a large movement, and there is nothing resembling it within the Christian or Jewish religions, it's fair to ask if Islam itself is the problem. Is it a cult which cannot coexist with Christianity and Judaism? It would appear that way, yet if one looks at an Islamic nation like Turkey, the evidence points the other way. But Islam at its core does not appear promote and encourage the self-actualization that Christianity and Judaism do. To quote John Ashcroft, "Islam is a religion in which God requires you to send your son to die for Him. Christianity is a faith in which God sends His son to die for you." Though I am a Jew, I understand fully what he meant by this statement, which got him in some hot water. I direct you also to this article 'Innocent religion is now a message of hate' ...which opens with this quote: "It is a certain fact that not all Muslims are terrorists, but it is equally certain, and exceptionally painful, that almost all terrorists are Muslims."
A Muslim wrote that article. One of those seemingly all-too-rare "moderate Muslims."
Vis a vis the ME, I think we have to face the fact that Arab leaders in the ME have so poisoned the populations against the West, against Jews, against Israel, for generation upon generation, that we have an intractable problem to deal with, coupled with the rise of a Mafia-like military wing if you will (Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, etc) and democratizing Iraq may be a pipedream. The evidence in Gaza supports my theory, certainly. Give the Palestinians a chance to democratize, and they vote for a terrorist regime.
And I really don't see the overall Islamic world dealing with this problem as it should. I think there is a tacit, pervasive acceptance among Muslims of this Mafia movement, perhaps stemming from a longstanding sense of inadequacy as compared to other religions. Or, is Islam inherently intolerant of other religions? Does it seek domination by way of the sword, as it sometime seems??
I have no answers, only questions. And yes, I am somewhat leery of Islam at the moment. No doubt there are highly Americanized Muslims, who share our values and are fully red, white and blue. As for others here, and in Europe and the ME, I am dubious, and I believe I have damn good reason to be. Cause and effect.
I also think it's fair to ask of Zalmay Khalilzad, even taking into account his stellar resume, which I fully acknowledge - why now? Is he being touted for his experience and skills, or is this more acquiescing to the Arabists at the UN and the State Dept? What message is being sent? I think it will be very interesting to read the Israeli press on this matter, for their stake in this choice is significant.
That is a well-written and thought out post.
I don't have the answers, either, but if we take the position that no muslim can be placed in a position to act responsibly, then we can hardly expect them to ever act responsibly. That leads to the Michael Savage approach to solving the problem with Islam, which is to kill them all, preferably with thermonuclear devices.
However, if we believe there should be an alternative other than genocide of about 20% of the earth's population, it certainly should involve reasonable muslims asserting leadership positions. Yet we can see the aversion to that on this thread.
It's all very complex. For instance, note this Time Magazine article Iran Reacts Favorably to the Baker-Hamilton Plan (Dec. 9)
...snip..."Iran is also increasingly concerned about the need to stabilize Iraq, say TIME's sources, in contrast to U.S. charges that Tehran is fueling instability there. The sources indicate that Iranian officials essentially agree with the Baker-Hamilton conclusion that while Iran gains an advantage from having the U.S. mired in Iraq, its long-term interests are not served by Iraqi chaos and territorial disintegration. "Iran would love to see the situation stabilized in Iraq," says a source. "That is a very important concern for Iran. But Iran doesn't want to see the U.S. declare victory, in case the Americans would like to attack Iran next." The sources say that among the ways Iran could be helpful is to try to persuade groups representing the Shi'ite majority and Kurds in Iraq to be more conciliatory to the Sunni minority whose grievances fuel the insurgency.
As evidence of Iran's readiness, the sources say, Larijani earlier this year publicly accepted an offer made by U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad to hold talks with Iranian officials in Baghdad."
So are we moving from Iran/Axis of Evil to Iran/Partner in Peace? How does this mesh with the "Bush Doctrine? Why are we holding talks, or wanting to, with a nation that openly promotes the destruction of Israel?
Speaking as one who is convinced that Israel MUST destroy the Iranian nukes, and does consider this Iranian regime as evil, it's all rather disconcerting.
MmmmKay....
What do you suggest? White Christians only in gubermint posts? Perhaps you can send the goobermint your ideas for vetting or become a consultant? Maybe you just can remain the ultimate skeptic and trash every public servant who isn't you?
Ahhh....should they wrap themselves in the flag, run 20 laps and then renounce any religion that isn't related to Jesus himself?
Help me here I'm trying to understand you? If Mr. Khalilzad's past history doesn't convince you what is your litmus test? DNA testing? Anal exam? Nostril swab? Come on dude, help me out here
There's probably no harm in talking with the Iranians if there is a remote chance that it might do some good. I am not of the opinion that there is such a remote chance, but I'm not privy to all the information that some have.
Iranian nukes under the current regime are unacceptable and that's a separate issue from the Iraq situation. I'm not at all convinced that air strikes will destroy or cripple Iran's nuclear capabilities. They've surely taken measures in anticipation of that possibility.
I wish I knew how it would all play out.
nice dodge...nice try.
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