NYT: Democratic Leaders Seek Special Iraq Envoy to Try to Stem the Violence

[DeepModem Mom]

Democratic Leaders Seek Special Iraq Envoy to Try to Stem the Violence
By CARL HULSE
Published: November 30, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 — Leading Senate Democrats called Wednesday for President Bush to appoint a special envoy to work with Iraqi leaders to bring increasing violence in Iraq under control.

“Violence in Iraq has reached critical levels, and the violence is not predominantly instigated by insurgents, but is taking place between Sunnis and Shia,” said Senator Harry Reid, who will become the majority leader, and four other top Senate Democrats in a letter sent to Mr. Bush. “It is our belief that coalition military action alone cannot end this violence.”

The lawmakers said in the letter that the special American envoy could follow up on issues raised between Mr. Bush and Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq during their planned meeting on Thursday in Jordan....

***

(Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island) helped initiate the letter, which was also signed by the incoming majority leader; Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat; Senator Carl Levin, Democrat of Michigan and the incoming chairman of the Armed Services Committee; and Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, Democrat of West Virginia, who will become chairman of the Intelligence Committee....

In their letter, the Democrats said that a special envoy with existing relationships in Iraq and elsewhere in the region could devote full attention to keeping the pressure on Mr. Maliki to try to contain the violence. They said the current American ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, had too many other duties to give his full attention to such an initiative....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/30/world/middleeast/30capital.html

[tularetom]

1. Translation: time for the grownups to step in and take the toys away

from the petulant child who has managed to use them to fuck up the world in ways undreamed of a mere six years ago...

[anotherdrew]

2. Send the Envoy

"Nuclear Arms in the Middle East
Israel's attacking the Iraqis
The Syrians are mad at the Lebanese
And Baghdad does whatever she please"

"Looks like another threat to world peace for the Envoy"

-Zevon

[BlueManDude]

3. Bush will say no - then say yes.