Congressman Nick Rahall (D - WV) arrives in Iraq, criticizes "US war rhetoric"

AFP via Babelfish translation ^ | September 14, 2002

[HAL9000]

An American elected official in visit in Baghdad criticizes "the rhetoric of US war"

Saturday September 14, 2002 - 15h47 GMT

BAGHDAD, 14 seven (AFP) - an American member of Parliament, Nick Rahall, on mission of peace "in Baghdad, invited Saturday the Administration of the president George W Bush to attenuate his" rhetoric of war "with regard to the Iraqi mode.

"We are very worried by the climbing of the rhetoric of war emanating from our Administration. It is time to attenuate this rhetoric and to rather let prevail the reason and the dialogue ", declared Mr. Rahall with the press at the end of discussions with deputies and the president of the Iraqi Parliament Saadoun Hammadi.

Mr. Rahall arrived at dawn by plane coming from Damas, accompanied by the executive director of Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA), a ' think tank ' based in San Francisco, Norman Solomon, of International president de Conscience, a group of defense of the humans right based in Atlanta, James Jennings, and of the ex-senator James Abourezk.

"Our delegation does not exclude a peaceful outcome from the current situation between Iraq and the United States. We do not want to see occurring what arrived at your country twelve years ago ", it added in allusion to the war of the Gulf.

Mr. Rahall, representative democratic of Western Virginia, moreover "regretted" that the addressed invitation at the beginning of August by Mr. Hammadi with the Congress to send a mission of investigation on the supposed prohibited weapons of Iraq "did not arrive to all the members of the Congress" because it according to him "was diverted on other levels within our government".

"I consider it regrettable that you did not receive response to this invitation and I hope as a member of the Congress that my visit here today will contribute to the opening of a dialogue" between the United States and Iraq, it has says.

"We come here to tighten the hand for a dialogue with the Iraqi people and its direction", it added.

Mr. Rahall had before visited a hospital of pediatry in Baghdad and had met the Minister for Health as well as the Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Aziz in his office in the Iraqi capital, according to the correspondent of the AFP on the spot.

Nothing filtered on these discussions.

Mr. Rahall, who is of Lebanese origin, had indicated on his arrival in Baghdad that it was "on mission humane" sponsored by IPA."Je am here to convince the Iraqi people that the American people are worried by his suffering and to show the Iraqis that the vast majority of the Americans are individuals épris of peace and not of the sabre-rattlers ", has it says.

"We want to give a chance to peace and this mission could be regarded as history if it could contribute to a peaceful payment", the member of Parliament added.

Mr. Rahall affirmed that it planned at the time of his meetings with the Iraqi persons in charge "to insist on the need for granting an unconditional access and without obstacles to the experts in disarmament of UNO".

Mr. Aziz had affirmed Friday that an "unconditional" return of the inspectors in Iraq does not règlerait the problem, while specifying that it returned to the Iraqi direction to come to a conclusion about this question.

Mr. Bush called Thursday, in a speech with UNO, the Security Council to adopt a new resolution to force Iraq to disarm and threatened to resort to the force if this country refused to yield there. Friday, it required that any resolution be equipped with a cut off date shortly.

The American member of Parliament as affirmed as its visit had been approved by the State Department "in the name of the national interest".

[NorCoGOP]

No kidding. I slept hard, but not that hard!

Can we revoke this idiot's passport, give him a microphone, and have him standing on the roof of the first target, to give us the "up close and personal" segment the public craves?

...just a thought.

[Wondervixen]

What do you wanna bet that lying SOB James Humphreys tries to buy his way into a three man race for Byrd's seat? He's not having such hot luck trying to buy Shelly Moore Capito's.

[Glenn]

Wouldn't it be funny if

With Rockefeller becoming the senior senator, it won't matter who the junior is. They'll just be stepping and fetching for the Jaybird.

[folklore]

I am sure that if Byrd dies in office, Gov. Wise will appoint himself. He knows he can't beat Mullethead.

[HAL9000]

Where the hell did they get JAMES Rahall? It's Nick Joe Rahall.

It was my error. I've posted a request to the moderators to fix the headline.

[folklore]

No, this would be funny. Jay Wolfe beats rocky is and sworn in, then Byrd dies and Jay Wolfe becomes the senior senator.

[Nick Danger]

the addressed invitation at the beginning of August by Mr. Hammadi with the Congress to send a mission of investigation on the supposed prohibited weapons of Iraq "did not arrive to all the members of the Congress" because it according to him "was diverted on other levels within our government".

Lemme guess. A bunch of identical envelopes addressed to members of Congress arrives at the Postal anthrax screening facility one day. The guy there looks at the return addresses and sees they're all from Iraq. This, I think, is the "other level within our government" that diverted these letters. They may make it out of there yet, but not before they've been X-rayed, Y-rayed, and Z-rayed to make sure there's no funny white powder in there.

[gunnedah]

Hang the SOB for treason or marry him off to a camel.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" John Thune in South Dakota should demand that Senator Daschle (D-Iraq) accept or repudiate the presence of Abourezck or whatever the hell his name is in Iraq. Disgusting traitors."

Daschle D-Iraq-very, very good-mind if I use it, also? Does anyone have any doubt,that given the chance-members of the Democrat party, would have sent high level delegations to Afghanistan to butter up Osama bin Laden and trash President Bush and the US?? Major cells of anti American hatred flourish within the Democrat party.

[Wondervixen]

Sorry HAL, I saw that after three or four others had posted ahead of me...Not sure the Moderators fix headlines though.

[Wondervixen]

LOL...I'm batting 1.000, ain't I?

Looks like they already fixed it even as I spoke.

[Wondervixen]

I like Wolfe and I hope he wins, but Lerch can buy nearly any election as he pleases.

[GeneD]

Which raises the question, is Congressman Rahall doing this under the influence?

[Cindy]

Questions to ask yourself if you're thinking of joining the Democrat party:

Are Democrats Pro-Life?
Are Democrats Pro-Traditional Values?
Are Democrats Pro-America?

[Catspaw]

Mr. Rahall arrived at dawn by plane coming from Damas, accompanied by the executive director of Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA), a ' think tank ' based in San Francisco, Norman Solomon, of International president de Conscience, a group of defense of the humans right based in Atlanta, James Jennings, and of the ex-senator James Abourezk.

The IPA was the same organization that sponsored Scott Ritter's trip to Johannesburg and Bagdad.

[mountaineer]

AN OPEN LETTER TO CONGRESSMAN NICK RAHALL


September 16, 2002


The Hon. Nick Joe Rahall

Member of Congress

3rd District, West Virginia



Dear Congressman Rahall,



First, I understand you will be returning to West Virginia on Tuesday, and I want to be the first to welcome you back home.



Many things happened while you were in Iraq attempting to meet with Saddam Hussein, and I thought it might be helpful to bring you up to date.



· On Wednesday, Sept. 11, as you were departing for Iraq, thousands of your fellow West Virginians observed the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our nation. Memorial services were held across the Mountain State. You might have learned something about your district and your state had you attended them.



· On Thursday, Sept. 12, as you were arriving in the Middle East, President Bush was at the United Nations making America’s case for regime change in Iraq, outlining the many injustices and acts of lawlessness perpetrated by Saddam Hussein against his own people and his neighbors.



· Also on Thursday, the Charleston Daily Mail editorialized about your trip to Iraq, writing, “Rahall's sudden freelancing in diplomatic matters is different. Not only does it clearly violate the separation of powers, it jeopardizes the safety of American soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen by sending a mixed message about the nation's resolve to rid the world of this menace.”



· On Friday, Sept. 13, while you were trying to arrange your tea with Saddam and while you were making speeches in front of the flag of Iraq with a giant picture of Saddam Hussein the background, Daily Mail columnist Bob Kelly wrote, “Last year … Rahall was in a tiny minority when the House voted 409 to 6 to extend the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, which penalizes firms that invest in Iranian and Libyan oil and gas industries. Rahall also opposed the Patriot Act, which passed 357 to 66 in the wake of Sept. 11. It expands government power to track down terrorists. It was this vote that motivated Paul Chapman -- an ex-state trooper, ex-101st Airborne trooper, and ex-Democrat-- to put up $1,500 to run as a Republican against Rahall this fall.”



Mr. Kelly is correct, Congressman. Your lack of resolve to defend America’s interests, and your complete disrespect for your constituents, our country and our President all point out the need to give the voters of the 3rd District a choice in this election. If you can find time between your visits to sworn enemies of the United States, I look forward to debating these and other issues with you as the campaign progresses.



Welcome Home.



Respectfully,

Paul Chapman

Candidate

3rd Congressional District

Chapmanville, West Virginia

[mountaineer]

Press release from WVGOP:

CHARLESTON, WV – State GOP Chairman Kris Warner said today he is mystified and saddened by the actions of the state’s leading Democrats as America continues its war on terrorism and makes preparations to deal with the threat posed by Saddam Hussein.



“First, Congressman Nick Rahall travels to Iraq hoping to meet with Saddam while President Bush outlines the case for action against Iraq,” said Warner. “Senator Byrd remains the most outspoken critic of the President’s war on terror. Now, Governor Wise and Senator Rockefeller attend a fundraiser in Charleston with Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski, who blasts the President and questions whether Iraq truly poses a threat.”



According to the Sunday Gazette-Mail, Mikulski said, “If others won’t go, why should we go? I don’t know what a regime change means, but we’re already at war.” Mikulski, as Wise and Rockefeller stood by, claimed the president has “serious questions to answer to the American people.”



“Instead of demanding answers from our President, she should be demanding answers from Saddam Hussein,” said Warner. “How out of touch are Rahall, Wise, Byrd and Rockefeller? The latest Newsweek poll shows that fully two-thirds of Americans support military action against Iraq, but our top West Virginia Democrats send mixed signals at best.”



Warner challenged Rahall, Wise, Rockefeller and Byrd to clearly state their positions on Iraq. “Do you support the President or not?” asked Warner. “It’s a simple question. Our country needs to be unified, and West Virginians deserve to know where their Democrat leaders stand.”

[RFP]

PING to JAY WOLFE'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER: "Now, Governor Wise and Senator Rockefeller attend a fundraiser in Charleston with Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski, who blasts the President and questions whether Iraq truly poses a threat.” ... Mikulski, as Wise and Rockefeller stood by, claimed the president has “serious questions to answer to the American people.”"

[EternalVigilance]

Verrrry interesting! I have a hunch we can find some ways to make them pay, don't you? ;-)