NEWS: IRAQ's PM CONDEMNS ISRAELIS
[ed: ...and he is your own puppet installed ally of all people... the one you spend a trillion dollars and 3000 American lives to install... nice going...]
Peter Spiegel, Washington
July 27, 2006
theage.com.au
PRESIDENT George Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki are attempting to present a united front against violence in Baghdad, but their first White House meeting was overshadowed by deep disagreement over Israel's attacks on Lebanon.
At a joint news conference to announce a plan to move more troops into the Iraqi capital, Mr Maliki criticised Israel's air strikes in Lebanon and called for an immediate ceasefire. That drew outrage from some members of Congress.
The Bush Administration has repeatedly rejected calls for a quick ceasefire, saying such a course would allow Hezbollah to regroup and leave Israel vulnerable to future attacks.
The friction with Mr Maliki, a Muslim ally who is utterly dependent on US support, underscore the difficulties the Bush Administration faces in winning backing for its pro-Israeli foreign policy in the Middle East.
Mr Maliki said he had expressed concern at the destruction caused by Israel's attacks on the Lebanese people. According to a translation, he urged an immediate ceasefire "to stop the killing".
The Prime Minister's views and even more inflammatory statements by other Iraqi officials — including a parliamentary resolution branding Israeli attacks "criminal aggression" — prompted 20 congressional Democrats to call for the cancellation of Mr Maliki's invitation to address a joint session of Congress overnight, Melbourne time.
While Republican leaders refused, they also expressed concern at Mr Maliki's statements. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said: "Maliki's criticism of Israel's right to defend itself is unacceptable. Unless Mr Maliki disavows his critical comments of Israel and condemns terrorism, it is inappropriate to honour him with a joint meeting of Congress."
Some Democrats were weighing a boycott of the speech, but Democratic leaders were expected to attend and were not encouraging absences.
The backlash threatened to undermine Mr Maliki's visit and attempts to underscore the joint commitment to end the surge of sectarian attacks in Iraq that has claimed thousands of lives.
Mr Maliki's stance on Lebanon reflects his delicate position, caught between his reliance on the Bush Administration for nearly all security and economic support and an Iraqi population that is dominated by Shiites largely sympathetic to Hezbollah, which is also led by Shiites.
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