WP: Iraqi Official Appeals for Greater U.S. Role

[Pirate Smile]

Iraqi Official Appeals for Greater U.S. Role

By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 3, 2005; Page A19

To prevent the breakdown of Iraq's troubled transition and a potential civil war, Iraq's new government appealed to the Bush administration yesterday to take a much more assertive role, particularly on four key political and military issues, according to Iraqi and U.S. officials.

In talks with Vice President Cheney yesterday and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari requested greater U.S. and coalition help in crafting a new constitution. The deadline is now less than three months away, but deliberations have been slowed as Iraq still works on the composition of a constitutional committee.

With time running out for writing the constitution and then holding elections in December for a permanent government, Zebari warned that the United States has withdrawn too much, leaving the new government struggling to cope and endangering the long-term prospects for success.

"This entire project -- of regime change and building democracy and encouraging reforms and American prestige -- has really reached a critical mass for us and for them," Zebari said in an interview yesterday. "We've come through difficult times and made a great deal of progress, at a great cost and loss. If we are unable to write a constitution with consensus, what is the alternative? This process would be prolonged and people will start to walk away. Walking away means the possibility of chaos, division or even civil war. There are people who are fomenting that now."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/02/AR2005060201789.html

[thebigidea]

1. you really have to wonder about someone that thinks they need more Cheney

I see the glorious elections really opened the Door of Freedom(TM) in Iraq. Makin' good progress. Good progress!

[LynnTheDem]

2. LOL! Oh yeah, the US Puppets know EXACTLY how long they'll last

1) If they come out of the Green Zone.

2) US leaves.

"US help to create an Iraqi Constitution"...guess how the IRAQIS are gonna feel about that.

The UK did the exact same shit during their first occupation of Iraq; had their puppets publicly call on teh UK to stay, on the UK to draft the Iraqi Constitution.

It never fooled the Iraqis then; it ain't fooling them now.

[Benhurst]

3. This would be funny if people weren't getting killed. Sure they

want us to stay, just like the French wanted the Germans to stay.

[merwin]

4. How more assertive can you get than hundreds of thousands of troops

that are constantly in combat. I would say that's pretty assertive.

[kurtyboy]

5. I think the Iraqis finally broke the code!

If you want George Bush and gang to do something, request the opposite--Want the US out? Ask for more help....