US Senators: Iraq Crisis Meetings Are Maliki's "Last Chance"

AFP:

"We believe that the recent high-level meetings among Iraqi political leaders could be the last chance for this government to solve the Iraqi political crisis," they said in a joint statement.

"And should it fail, we believe, the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the Iraqi people need to judge the government of Iraqs record and determine what actions should be taken -- consistent with the Iraqi constitution -- to form a true unity government to meet those responsibilities," they said.

Read the whole story: AFP

Comments

[wmbear]

11:19 PM on 08/20/2007

HOW LONG IS THIS CRAP GOING TO FUCKING CONTINUE...

(Excuse my split infinitive.) It's clear that the REAL reason NO politician now seems to want to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq is that they don't want to take the rap for "losing Iraq" (whatever THAT means -- hard to see how there's anything there left to be lost). What a bunch of chickenshit assholes, Republicans AND Democrats alike.

[InFRAUDweTRUST]

08:40 PM on 08/20/2007

The republican spin over this UNMANAGED occupation is nauseating.

[mbondr]

08:33 PM on 08/20/2007

It really highlights what his purpose for being there is (or maybe was) and that was to turn over the oil. Can't/won't deliver the oil? We pull him out and put in a new puppet. Either we get the oil or the puppet gets the blame. Vicious, just vicious.

[tcuoohjohn]

07:44 PM on 08/20/2007

Occupying Iraq in 2003 was a dumb idea. It is a dumb idea in 2007 and will remain a dumb idea in 2008.

[tcuoohjohn]

07:41 PM on 08/20/2007

Oh Grow the hell up...These people are Arabs fer Christ sake. They know as much about governance and democracy as fish know about bicycles.

They have spent the last 7,000 years in tribal conflict.

[BuckBurris]

09:06 AM on 08/21/2007

That, tcuoohjohnn, is bullshit. In the 1950s Iraq was a prosperous, progressive, well educated nation with a living standard and an economy equal to the European average. It seemed to have a great future, but since it had oil, there were some larger, more powerful countries interested -- in the country and its government. Those powerful nations were not at all averse to corruption. So over time, things changed in Iraq -- for the worse. Finally there was a fellow named Saddam and he was friends with the Americans Rumsfeld, Cheney, and Daddy Bush. He was encouraged to attack Iran, which had had the audacity to overthrow one of America's favorite dictators, the Shah. (Recall the CIA plot to overthrow the democratically elected government there to set up that dictator?) That war was costly (and by playing both sides, we helped make it more so for both sides. Lovely moral behavior that! But it also allowed us to pull off almost unobserved some illegal funding of some of our favorite terrorists in Nicaragua.) We are wonderful people, the best that ever lived. And we only do good and help people. Later, you will probably recall that we used Saddam's war against Iran as part of the charges against him. (He doesn't mind that duplicity now since our new puppet government has hanged him. But his American accomplices will never be charged, will they?) Now, tcuoohjohn, please tell us what you think Iraq would be like today if they had not had our invaluable help (and that of other great nations.) While you're at it, tell us if you think our work there has made the world a bertter place or benefitted the average American any.

[freedomis]

07:33 PM on 08/20/2007

It does not matter anymore what the politicians do the Iraqi people are not going to let the occupiers have the oil they want that is, of course,if there are any people left.I will not vote for any incumbent and I'm from Calif.Either one of my senators could have at least filibustered and my rep is a go-alonger.That's it.Tony

[BuckBurris]

08:41 AM on 08/21/2007

Could it be that your sweet Senators have more in common with old Joe than you had thought about?

[TJTelecaster]

07:22 PM on 08/20/2007

No last chance these ass-holes have blown it as bad as our ass-holes..!

[SoFlaJet]

07:15 PM on 08/20/2007

Perfect, Just another excuse to help the republicans to continue the war..."well we have to wait to see how the new Iraqi president is gonna do before we make a decision" I can see it now..

[lornejl]

08:54 PM on 08/20/2007

That should buy em another 6 months for sure.

[forpeace]

07:11 PM on 08/20/2007

*

".........and the Iraqi people need to judge the government of Iraqs record and determine what actions should be taken -- consistent with the Iraqi constitution.........."

You mean Iraqi Constitution written by US?!

............since when US cares about what Iraqi People think or want??

*

[BuckBurris]

11:55 PM on 08/20/2007

But heck and darn, I think that the writers were advised by friends like the wonderful FRC folks. Now to show that they are not working in the dark completely but knew very well what ythey were up to, Gelb of that group has joined Biden and proposed a solution to Iraqi problems that looks like an old Israeli plan put out by Ze'ev Schiff in the 1970s in which, after America had conquered Iraq, she should break the nation into at least three pieces. So there's even a back up plan for when this one fails ... as expected?

[Smirk]

07:10 PM on 08/20/2007

From the article:

"A White House spokesman said Petraeus and Crocker will testify before Congress September 11 and 12. He denied that the dates were picked to fall on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States."

Oh sure. The scheduling's not political, not in Washington, DC. Give it up! Why bother to pretend? Especially when the other side would probably do the same thing in similar circumstances.

[curocat]

08:09 PM on 08/20/2007

The white house needs time to review Petraeus report before he is allowed to report it to Congress. One news commentator said that the White house would edit the report. He's comment, why even report.

[BuckBurris]

07:10 PM on 08/20/2007

It must be said that the Iraqis did pick as good a bunch of 'leaders' as we allowed them to. Recall that we gave them a slate of approved puppets to pick from.
How many of you believe that with a free choice the Iraqis would be stuck with what they have?

[amanda85]

07:17 PM on 08/20/2007

"How many of you believe that with a free choice the Iraqis would be stuck with what they have?"

I guess the same people who believe the Iraqis are "free" and vote in democratic elections...

[forpeace]

07:40 PM on 08/20/2007

*

"BuckBurris
It must be said that the Iraqis did pick as good a bunch of 'leaders' as we allowed them to. Recall that we gave them a slate of approved puppets to pick from.
How many of you believe that with a free choice the Iraqis would be stuck with what they have?"
==============================

If Iraqis had the free choice, they would have kicked the Occupier and their Puppet Government out of their country!

*

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

06:57 PM on 08/20/2007

Last chance, or next-to-last last chance before the one after which we really REALLY will leave them to their own devices?

[wmbear]

11:15 PM on 08/20/2007

THIS HAS MY VOTE...

For most accurate comment so far. This time we really really really mean it, honest to god we swear.

[MidSection]

06:54 PM on 08/20/2007

Anybody who thinks that we're not going to be in Iraq for the next several years is delusional. Today Democratic rep. Baird from Washington, returning from a trip to Iraq even stated so, and he's breaking with the leadership. He was a war opponent and now says we need to stay. That's the reality. we're on the gound now, and there is no way that the Dems will pull out before the next election. Yes, they are worried of looking weak. Listen to Obama, or Hillary.......they are pretty much saying the same thing.....the surge will go on...the war will continue, and those on the far left will continue to be ignored by their own party.

[HamletsMill]

07:28 PM on 08/20/2007

Well, Baird better sign up to serve himself because we are running out of soldiers to send for a third, forth, and fifth tour of duty.

How about you?

I did my time in the military once. I'm trained. But kicking in doors and riding up and down roads waiting to get blown up by IED's while people decide to organize a nation is not a winning strategy. This dog isn't going to hunt. So we had better come up with something else.

I say partition the country and let people go to where they are protected in their faction.

Now.

Starting tomorrow morning.

[VietVet67]

06:53 PM on 08/20/2007

Rove is available after the 31st.

[allstate28]

06:52 PM on 08/20/2007

He plays bush like a piano. LOL

[DANA66]

09:02 PM on 08/20/2007

IF PRESIDENT BUSH WANTS DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ. well he has to support the democratically elected government of Al-Maliki.
period

[wmbear]

11:13 PM on 08/20/2007

MORE LIKE A JAW HARP...

Actually.