U.S. Denies Nixed Summit Is Snub

Conflicting Explanations Surround Cancellation Of Bush's High-Stakes Meeting With Iraqi Prime Minister

(CBS/AP)  President Bush's high-profile meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Wednesday was canceled in a stunning turn of events after disclosure of U.S. doubts about the Iraqi leader's capabilities and a political boycott in Baghdad protesting his attendance.

Instead of two days of talks, Bush and al-Maliki will have breakfast and a single meeting followed by a news conference on Thursday morning, the White House said.

The meeting will focus on the reposition of U.S. troops inside Iraq, engaging Iran and Syria, and dealing with militias, reports CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod.

Bush and al-Maliki are also expected to agree on the transfer of more authority to Iraqi security forces, said U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad.

“There will be an agreement on transfer of capabilities, Iraqi capabilities at the faster rate to the Iraqis and to the prime minister, yes,” he told CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric.

The abrupt cancellation was an almost unheard-of development in the high-level diplomatic circles of a U.S. president, a king and a prime minister. There was confusion — and conflicting explanations —about what happened.

Bush had been scheduled to meet in a three-way session with al-Maliki and Jordan's King Abdullah II on Wednesday night. He and had rearranged his schedule to be in Amman for both days for talks aimed at reducing the spiral of violence in Iraq.

The last-minute cancellation was not announced until Bush had already come to Raghadan Palace and posed for photographs alone with the king.

White House counselor Dan Bartlett denied that the delay was a snub by al-Maliki directed at Bush or was related to the leak of a memo written by White House National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley questioning the prime minister's capacity for controlling violence in Iraq.

"Absolutely not," Bartlett said, adding that king and the prime minister had met before Mr. Bush arrived from a NATO summit in Latvia. "That negated the purpose to meet tonight together in a trilateral setting."

A senior administration official, who spoke with Khalilzad, basically echoed Bartlett's account.

The Jordanians and the Iraqis jointly decided it was not the best use of time because they both would be seeing the president separately, said the official.

Members of the Jordanian and Iraqi delegations contacted Khalilzad, who called Air Force One and spoke with Mr. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, giving them a heads-up, the official said.

However, Redha Jawad Taqi, a senior aide of top Shiite politician Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim who also was in Amman, said the Iraqis balked at the three-way meeting after learning the king wanted to broaden the talks to include the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Two senior officials traveling with al-Maliki, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information, said the prime minister had been reluctant to travel to Jordan in the first place and decided, once in Amman, that he did not want "a third party" involved in talks about subjects specific to the U.S.-Iraqi relationship.

With al-Maliki already gone from the palace, Bush had an abbreviated meeting and dinner with the king before heading early to his hotel.

The cancellation came after the disclosure of a classified White House memo, written Nov. 8 by Hadley. In one particularly harsh section, Hadley asserted: "The reality on the streets of Baghdad suggests Maliki is either ignorant of what is going on, misrepresenting his intentions or that his capabilities are not yet sufficient to turn his good intentions into action."

Administration officials did not dispute the leaked account, saying that on balance the document was supportive of the Iraqi leader and generally portrayed him as well-meaning.

The president "has confidence in Prime Minister Maliki," said White House press secretary Tony Snow, who added that al-Maliki "has been very aggressive in recent weeks in taking on some of the key challenges."

The memo recommended steps to strengthen the Iraqi leader's position, including possibly sending more troops to defend Baghdad and providing monetary support for moderate political candidates for Iraq's parliament.

The Iraqi prime minister also faced political pressure at home about the summit. Thirty Iraqi lawmakers and five cabinet ministers loyal to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said they were boycotting Parliament and the government to protest al-Maliki's presence at the summit.

[perception5]

Wow more secret memos from the NYTimes...... you know has revised their slogan to "Every liberal lie that's fit to print". If you want to read more please see the story above.......

[olebd]

No leader will be able to curb the violence. There is a civil war. It will take leaders from all sides now to come together and make a plan for peace. Although I think they like fueding as much as the Hatfields and McCoys did.

Here's an idea, let's give the Iraqi people OUR leaders....then WE can start fresh in our own country!

[aeasus]

And some people thought Bush was clueless... sheeesh!!!

[webdepot]

One person is not going to stem the violence in Iraq.. it has to be a collaborative effort.

It's really a shame the neocons only know how to start wars, then throw up their hands and say it's the next president's problem. Talk about an attitude of cut and run, the neocons invented cut and run..

[ketch65]

**"The reality on the streets of Baghdad suggests Maliki is either ignorant of what is going on, misrepresenting his intentions, or that his capabilities are not yet sufficient to turn his good intentions into action."**

Actually, maybe he knows, if he uses force, and puts down the insurgents and fights against them in their districts and villages there will be heavy civilian casualties.

Then in time, they will come back and say, "see see he's killed his own people" and then he'll end up like Saddam with his head in a noose.

Don't forget, this very scenerio the US has laid out was also laid before Saddam.

No one wants to end up like the leaders America always turns on, when it's needing a cheap trade route, or a cheaper deal on a natural reserve.

In other words, America's running out of leaders willing to stand up and take control because America has no credit, with it's promises and deals.

[ketch65]

**HEADLINE**

WHO IS WILLING TO STAND UP AND BE THE NEXT BUTCHER OF IRAQ?

Fearing stepping on Washington's toes, or giving them an excuse to hang them in the same gallows as the last US approved and supported leader of Iraq, (Saddamm Hussein)), the latest Leaders are using fly swatters to slap suspected insurgence, saying, "please, please, we beg you in the name of Allah and his great prophet to lay down your weapons, and help us work and sell our oil for food, once again as our former leader did!""

LATEST HEADLINES::::::

Revolts and widespread chaos follows message to insurgents and radicals.

It seems that because the latest Iraqi leadership failed to capitalize the word His when mentioning Allah and His Prophet in leaflets they distributed, there is a nation wide coup being planned against the leadership.

America demands leadership step up to plate and get swinging, with any and all force, US sending massive shipments of weapons to be used to stifle the insurgency!

HEADLINES;;; Iraqi Leaders beg US to not make them become the next butchers of IRAQ!

Sunnis and ****** joining forces, chanting, "PLEASE DON'T KILL YOUR OWN PEOPLE, PLEASE PLEASE, WE ARE ONLY TRYING TO SPREAD THE ONE TRUE RELIGION OF PEACE ON EARTH",,

US DEMANDS something be done, so it has an excuse to invade Iraq again!

US soldiers, SUPPORT YOUR COUNTRY AGAIN THE INSURGENCY MARCHING IN YOUR STREETS AND BACK YARDS!!!!!!!!!!!

[rsoxfan1123]

So now the violence in Iraq is being blamed on Al Maliki? Right. Maybe Bush could do a better job as president of Iraq controlling this mess. We could loan him to Iraq.

[huskerarmy]

"Wow more secret memos from the NYTimes...... you know has revised their slogan to "Every liberal lie that's fit to print". If you want to read more please see the story above......."

So are we better off if Bush in fact does have confidence in Maliki to halt the violence, considering all that we are seeing? Didn't Bush express confidence in "Brownie" after Katrina? Then of course the GOPer slogan has been revised to "Who you going to believe, us or your own lying eyes?"

[rsoxfan1123]

huskerarmy-Al Maliki is quickly becoming another bush scapegoat. I seriously doubt ANYONE could control the mess this administration made inside Iraq.

[luvny-2009]

rsoxfan1123 - THAT'S a GREAT IDEA...yeah let's give Bush to Irag!

White House Losing Faith In Iraqi Leader?
US Losing Faith in Amercian Leader?

hummm interesting

[rsoxfan1123]

and actually, "Brownie" released tapes of conversations he had with bush warning our fearless leader that he doubted the levies would hold and that he needed help. the calls were made a few days before bush got on national television and claimed no one had told him the Katrina mess could happen.

[rsoxfan1123]

luvNY-I liked it. we could loan bush to Iraq for two years, finish his term off, and let him solve iraq's problems as skillfully as he has handled ours.

[ketch65]

LATEST HEADLINES::

Saudi Arabia, China, the EU and Brazil have just agreed to invade America and save it from what is called, "the burning Bush!"

American people told to hang on, help is on the way,

Massive looting is being organized already in most parts of the United States already anticipating the upcoming holidays!

President Bush cannot be reached for a comment due to the fact he moved out of the United States some time ago without telling anyone!

AMERICA HANG ON, YOU JUST HANG IN THERE, HELP IS ONE THE WAY AND SO IS THE EURO, YEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

[sunshine_2]

"No question it's tough," Mr. Bush said Tuesday. "There's a lot of sectarian violence taking place, fomented, in my opinion, because of these attacks by al Qaeda, causing people to seek reprisal." ... President Bush.

Again Mr. Bush's opinion is not based on the reality of the unfolding events. It may have been initiated by "others" at one point, but this is now Iragi vs. Iraqi violence in the streets in an attemopt to gain more political power, or just kill the other religious faction off.
While the President still wants to make the World believe it is all al Qaeda, the UN and the rest of the world see a country on the verge of civil war, if they are not already in it.
Now we either have two very incompitent leaders running this war, or they are both in denial, or worse is that al-Maliki does not care who else dies; so long as he is not killed by the militia men he (apparently) has no control over.
England & Poland has indicated it will pull out all of its troops, by the end of 2007 if things do not change very rapidly. Canada made a similar public statement, this week as well, but seems less willing to stay as long.
Unless the Militias are made to dis-arm, immediately, and the Political Leaders and Religious Leaders become willing to work towards a diplomatic solution... Why should America Give One More Life to keep al-Maliki in power?

[sunshine_2]

ketch65....

LATEST HEADLINES::

Saudi Arabia, China, the EU and Brazil have just agreed to invade America and save it from what is called, "the burning Bush!"
.....

If you ever have a real thought or Honest Opinion It might be worth reading. You are however no comedian. Do You Ever Hare A Real Thought, or is your brain as scrambled as the eggs I eat for breakfast. Get off of the Hard Drugs, we told you that are not good for your dieing brain cells,

[ketch65]

LATEST HEADLINES:

Saddam being released from his prison cell for 6 months to train latest leaders of Iraq how to deal with the violence!

Leaders begging Saddam to explain to them how the oil for food plan works, and if he thinks they too will also end up like Saddam in the years to come when the American public of course forgets even this mess?

Saddam laughs and says, "I was on South Park once!"

STAY TUNED!

In the polls today!

American public poll shows most Americans willing to support a future invasion of the entire world complete with nuclear weapons if it insures their uninterupted HDTV signals and fast food delivery!

Most Americans say it's not only righteous but God would want it televised as well!!!!!

Tonights News: America demands once again, GOD BLESS AMERICA because of slow long lines at most fast food restaurants!!!!

[huskerarmy]

"and actually, "Brownie" released tapes of conversations he had with bush warning our fearless leader that he doubted the levies would hold and that he needed help. the calls were made a few days before bush got on national television and claimed no one had told him the Katrina mess could happen."

Indeed the scapegoat card is once again in play.

[ketch65]

Sunshine_2 what's the difference, at least I'm not butchering my own people!

At least I go to work everyday and support my family, my community, and ultimately your livelihood as well.

I have a right to be humorous if I want.

If you don't like it, don't read it....

No need to get all upset and wanna go to war over it...

[huskerarmy]

Ketch65,

I have to admit, I liked your last one. "God would want it televised..." That is funny!

[huskerarmy]

After the November election, Bush now sees a mandate to send more troops to Iraq... It is time for the American people and responsible leaders to send Bush a directive to join us in the reality based community.

[frankly6]

Is there anyone left with any objectiivity that thinks that Bush ever knew what he was doing? I think history will paint him as the worst President with the best spin machine.

[rsoxfan1123]

frankly6-actually his spin machine is not that good.

[houser123]

Some of you are missing the point for sending more troops to Iraq. Ask yourself this question, who among the top Presidential contenders is advocating more troops? Only one, John McCain. If and its a very big "IF", for some reason more troops were sent and the current situation reversed itself, McCain would appear to have all the right answers and would be in a position to gain the presidency. If the situation stayed the same or got worse and I dont see how that could happen, McCain could say not enough troops were sent. Either way McCain puts himself in a good place for 08. Meanwhile as each day goes by, 100 Iraqis are killed, 3 American soldiers are killed and we spend 183 million dollars and our president wants more time. What part of mandate does he not understand.

[blondmadison]

It's true the leaders of this country sidle up to other leaders like Saddam or Noriega or or--and then turn on them and take them down.

America has no credibility at this point-if it ever had any to begin with. American administrators behave like full of themselves bullies when abroad. As if they rule the world.

I refuse to participate anymore. I am an observer now and the whole photo of this era is repulsive.

No one will ever get another vote out of me again. They are liars and conartists--Sociopaths and Psychopaths and the general publics not only allow this but are pawns and victims of it in an insidious game of death for power and money.

You citizens of America should be prosecuted for allowing your administrations legal means of getting away with outright murder, as you cry victim all the way as if it were a justified excuse.

Makes one wonder what the point of life is and why certain people think they own the earth to the extreme of getting their cronies of gangs together along with any children they can trick to enforce their perceived ownership.

Bush is like a little kid that does not want his toys taken from him, most people call them dolls, he says: THEY ARE ACTTION FIGURES!!! Well George its time to put away your "Action Figures" its time to go home

[frankly6]

frankly6-actually his spin machine is not that good.


It's just not that effective any more in the face of all the bad news that is finally coming out. As you and I know, Bush didn't have a clue when he became President and hasn't found one since. But his poll #'s were pretty strong for most of his Presidency because of huge spin and extreme secrecy.

[frankly6]

The same spin machine that used to spend most of it's energies trying to make Curious George into Supreme Leader George is now all geared up to vilify Democrats full time.

[mjv2944]

Losing faith, now that an understatement. I have no faith in Iraqi leadership as well as ole Dubya and his merry band of losers. Its amazing how this country survives inspite of some of our inept leaders over the last 200 years. We surely must be a nation of survivors. Hope we can keep it up. We definitely need some new and fresh faces and ideas in DC, the same old crowd, repubs and dems, just don't have it, they've sold our country and their souls out for personal gain.

[bluestardad]

Thats not news We have lost faith in the Iraqi Leadership and our own DickTater from Texas a long time ago.

[antoniof123]

The sad part is that this is real life and it is not funny. I miss Bill and his comedy. This is a sick situation and people are dying. I think it is time to just remove all these jerks maybe send them somewhere, anywhere but here.

[bluestardad]

Baghdad Bob has been brought in to help the Bush Administration and is working behind the scene to help Tony Snow polish up his presentation. It is also rumored that good ole Bob is being considered for employment on the Fox News Channel.

[getcentered]

The new blame game:

Blame it on the Iraqi.

What is this war going to cost us?
Lives, taxes, and respect.
The sooner were out the less we'll lose.


NO MORE REPUBLICANS.

[vancouverboo]

Anybody remember the Nu family in Vietnam? They were our puppet government. When things went terribly wrong there they had to go. They were the sacrificial lambs. It was all their fault.
Here we go again.

[patriotic9]

Now they are realizing but unfortunately it's too late.Any Iraqi leader who is good for IRAQIs will be bad for UNITED STATES.The people of Iraq support ISLAMIC RADICALISM and they proved it by electing a RADICAL SHIA named MALIKI who has close ties to MUQTADA AL SADR,IRANIAN GOVT and AYATOALLAH SISTANI.Democracy in the MIDDLE EAST means DESTRUCTION OF WESTERN VALUES.

[chefrc]

Actually Bush doesn't like him because the Israelis don't and never did like muslims. That's who runs our Government. ( The Israelis , and always have ). Check out http://www.apfn.org/apfn/WTC_STF.htm or stranger thanfiction.com I rest my case. Our government and the Israelis are thick as theives

[vancouverboo]

attn: chefrc,
Hate to clue you in, but our government belongs to whoever buys our government and the jews have bought it, fair and square. End of story.

[rsoxfan1123]

It's just not that effective any more in the face of all the bad news that is finally coming out. As you and I know, Bush didn't have a clue when he became President and hasn't found one since. But his poll #'s were pretty strong for most of his Presidency because of huge spin and extreme secrecy.
Posted by frankly6 at 10:03 AM : Nov 29, 2006

Good point.

[rsoxfan1123]

"President Bush is asking the embattled Iraqi prime minister for ideas on how to train Iraqi forces faster so they can shoulder more responsibility"

Part of the problem is that many of the troops we are training use the weapons and training to attack sunnis or our own troops. "Insurgents" (basicaly Sunni muslims that were removed from power when we took out Saddam) are "infiltrating" Iraq's military. In other words, we have no clue who we are actually training and equipping. Time to get out of this mess- bring our troops home to their families.

[grazinggoat]

there must be an error in this article headline;
it should read: WHITE HOUSE LOSING FAITH IN G.WALKING-LIAR BUSH. This liar should be impeached.

[firststate]

Is Bush as oblivious as he seems, or has he told so many lies that he no longer knows what is true, himself? Neither he nor his staff would do well as scientists. They keep doing and saying the same things, yet somehow expect a different outcome.

Both the first of his misunderstandings and lies occurred while reciting the oath of office. His misunderstood the "...faithfully execute the office of the President..." thinking that it meant execute as in kill or destroy. The lie was the "preserve protect and defend the Constitution" part of the oath. He considers it his right to decide which parts of the Constitution and which US laws apply to him. He's not fond of the parts with big words and he hates being told what to do. Since many of his top "buds" were trainees at Nixon's feet, we shouldn't be surprised at his Nixonian attacks on the Constitution.

Petulance is an unattractive trait in a person his age.

[patriotic9]

It's not only BUSH's fault though.All the REPUBLICANS who advise BUSH like CHENEY,etc are equally responsible for the failure.
Most of our politician are from rich families who go to private schools when they are kids.Inthose private schools they get religious education which they bring into politics.Whenever religion will be involved into politics,the result willl be the same like we are seeing rightnow.Onereason,Clinton was the GREATEST PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES was because of the fact that he was from a poor family.
Also those people who go from BOTTOM to TOP,they know what happen at every level of life and different level of SOCIO-ECONOMIC classes and know how to deal with people of all the different levels of SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS contrary to those who are born with the GOLD SPOONS in their mouths.

[chefrc]

Hey vancouverboo.
I am with you brother

[patriotic9]

One lesson we should learn is "A secular Dictator is much better then a DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED RELIGIOUS RADICAL",which means there should be no more effort to bring democracy in the MIDDLE EAST.Also we should not support the SECULAR DICTATORS in the MIDDLE EAST by our TAX DOLLARS.We helped SECUALR DICTATORS like King in Jordan which resulted in the creation of RADICAL JORDANIANS like ABU MUSAB AL ZARQAWI,we helped the SECULAR DICTATORS in EGYPT,which made us see the EGYPTIAN TERRORISTS like ZAWAHRI,we helped secular SAUDI GOVT(They seem to be RADICAL in our eyes but very secular in the eyes of majority of SAUDI citizens and clerics),which made us see the creation of saudi RADICALS like OSAMA BEEN FORGOTTEN.
Conclusion is that we should keep ourselves away form the MIDDLE EASTERN POLICTICS if we don't have enough understanding of their cultures and lifestyles.

[patriotic9]

One lesson we should learn is "A secular Dictator is much better then a DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED RELIGIOUS RADICAL",which means there should be no more effort to bring democracy in the MIDDLE EAST.Also we should not support the SECULAR DICTATORS in the MIDDLE EAST by our TAX DOLLARS.We helped SECUALR DICTATORS like King in Jordan which resulted in the creation of RADICAL JORDANIANS like ABU MUSAB AL ZARQAWI,we helped the SECULAR DICTATORS in EGYPT,which made us see the EGYPTIAN TERRORISTS like ZAWAHRI,we helped secular SAUDI GOVT(They seem to be RADICAL in our eyes but very secular in the eyes of majority of SAUDI citizens and clerics),which made us see the creation of saudi RADICALS like OSAMA BEEN FORGOTTEN.
Conclusion is that we should keep ourselves away form the MIDDLE EASTERN POLICTICS if we don't have enough understanding of their cultures and lifestyles.

[staff2--2008]

our puppet seems to have a mind of his own...

[rsoxfan1123]

bush looked scared spitless last night on the news. that's the first time since this mess began I have seen that look on his face.

[rsoxfan1123]

look at his face on picture #2 above.

[grazinggoat]

firststate
Good remarks regarding the execution of the office of the president... will he shoot the table where Bill did Monica?

[tomar0317]

mjv2944.... good points!

Bob Scheiffer is one of the few journalists who I believe calls it as he sees it. He's notafraid to confront anyone with his perspective with what appears to be the opinions of us, the common folks.
Mr Maliki and the Iraqi government are in a jam and we helped put him there. Even so, we did what the Iraqi folks wanted and since Saddam has been disposed, they have not stepped up to the plate. They as a coiuntry have to. It is not our responsibility to stay as long as it takes to win. There is no winning to be had by America. We can only assist and if not appreciated, then we should leave. This part of the world has been fighting themselves for hundreds of years, we won't stop that. I hope Iran and Syria are successful at stabilizing Irag. Al Queda has nothing to do with the in-fighting.

[grazinggoat]

rsoxfan
regarding pic 2, it's rather he's making an effort to understand the question he's being asked.