Maliki warns US senators Iraq will not accept foreign pressure

[cal04]

Source: AFP

Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told a delegation of visiting US lawmakers on Saturday that foreign powers should not try to influence the Iraqi political process.

He also resisted calls for his Shiite-led government to rehabilitate former members of ousted Sunni dictator
Saddam Hussein's regime.

Maliki met a group of US congressmen shortly after their chamber voted for a law calling for a timetable for American troop withdrawal from Iraq.

"During his meeting with members of the US Congress headed by Democratic Senator Ben Nelson, Maliki said allowing influence over our affairs to this state or that is a red line that we will not cross," his office announced.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070428/pl_afp/iraqpoliticsus_070428154133

[sutz12]

1. So having 150,000 troops in your country isn't "pressure"?

Is the US not a foreign power?

Does he really want us out?

Is GW Bush an idiot?

So many questions. So few answers.

[krkaufman]

16. Plus funding of another 100,000+ mercenaries and contractors?

I'd say that we take him up on his request, and we remove all American pressure and influence from Iraq, entirely. Sounds like Maliki wants a 100% pullout.

p.s. I suspect, though, that Maliki's comments were specifically designed for public consumption in Iraq.

[maddezmom]

2. Iraq takes step to meeting U.S. election benchmark

Iraq takes step to meeting U.S. election benchmark
28 Apr 2007 16:06:19 GMT
Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, April 28 (Reuters) - Iraq's parliament chose a new election commission on Saturday in what U.S. officials called a significant step towards holding provincial elections, one of the political benchmarks Washington has set for Baghdad.

The nine commissioners were chosen in a closed session of parliament and their names initially withheld until security was organised for them. As with other members of the government and parliament they will likely be targets for assassination amid spiralling sectarian violence.

Washington is pressing parliament to set a date for polls before it breaks for summer recess at the end of June. It also wants a new law on sharing oil revenues and rolling back a ban on former members of Saddam Hussein's party holding office.

These are the key benchmarks that U.S. officials are seeking to draw minority Sunni Arabs, who form the backbone of an unrelenting insurgency, more firmly into the political process.

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL734303.htm

[Rydz777]

10. Saddam

Since the number one excuse for invading Iraq - "Weapons of Mass Destruction" - turned out to be false, we were told that getting rid of the dictatorship of Saddam was sufficient excuse. Now our government is insisting that the former members of that dictatorship be brought back. The first law of holes is to know when to stop digging. OUT NOW.

[Fovea]

3. a bientot Nuri.

Good luck, and all that.

[derby378]

4. That's because Herr Decider has a monopoly on "foriegn influence" in Iraq, already

And he's got al-Maliki's nuts in a vice. No truly sovereign nation would allow an outside power to wall off one of its neighborhoods.

[Miss Chybil]

5. I'm fine with that.

It's his country, let him run it and we can take our toys and go home. Everybody's a winner!

[GregD]

7. Works for me! Troops home NOW!

[Mz Pip]

6. "rehabilitate

former members of ousted Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein's regime." Wonder what that means... Rehabilitate is often a code word for imprison. I guess he needs us there for that.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[rodeodance]

8. guess he does not count George as a 'foreign pressure"??

[Buzz Clik]

9. LOL! Next he'll be breaking out in song: "I've Got No Strings" from Pinocchio.

I love it when the puppets rebel against the puppeteer.

[19jet54]

11. Just like Vietnam?

... heard that one before (South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu) was best buddies with Nixon too.

As the North attacked, the retreat became a rout, the cities of Hue, Da Nang and Da Lat in central Vietnam quickly fell, and the North Vietnamese advanced southwards. As the military situation deteriorated, ARVN troops started deserting.
Thieu requested aid from U.S. President Gerald Ford, but the U.S. Senate would not release extra money to provide aid to South Vietnam, and had already passed laws to prevent further involvement in Vietnam. Nguyen Van Thieu resigned on April 21, 1975, and fled to Taiwan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Vietnam

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki only holds power as long as the US helps - our sons & daughters die to keep him in power - Screw him.

BRING OUR TROOPS HOME!

[Toots]

20. And Vietnam and America are quite good friends today

Hip hip hooray.......Congress used to do the right thing.....

[19jet54]

21. But...

... we had to leave first and let them work out their own issues?

[Xipe Totec]

12. Did you hear that?

it sounded like toe jam being squished by an elephant.

[Warren Stupidity]

13. Marshal Petain to Reichstag: stay out of our affairs!

Oh the irony is just dripping oil here.

[cloudbase]

14. Fine with me.

Maliki won't last a month after we pull out.

[uppityperson]

15. Yahoo news mimics The Onion.

[knight_of_the_star]

17. That's really funny

He wouldn't be in charge if we didn't invade the country in the first place, his own people know his government is a joke and propped up by US bayonets.

[Psephos]

18. This isn't predicted by the puppet theory

I'm actually glad to hear this.

[MichiganVote]

19. Maliki will, however, take as much money as the * US will give him