Iraq Invites Syria, Iran For Talks
Official Says Talks Will Be First 10 Meetings With Iraq's Neighbors
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The Foreign Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose the information, said the talks will be the first of 10 such meetings to take place in the Iraqi capital. Iran was the venue for the last meeting in July.
Along with Iran and Syria, Iraq has invited Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to the discussions. The Arab League, Organization of Islamic Conference and the United Nations also have been asked to attend, the official said.
The United States and the Iraqi government have accused Syria of allowing foreign fighters to cross into Iraq and fight coalition and Iraqi forces. The U.S. has accused Iran of giving support to Shiite militias.
Both countries deny the charges.
CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer recently interviewed Syria's vice president (read more here), asking him about the role his country might play — whether or not the U.S. likes it — in stabilizing Iraq.
Vice President Farouk al Shara would not confirm or deny a meeting in Syria, with the approval of his government, of about 200 senior Baathists and militia members from Iraq to discuss laying down arms to earn a chair at the negotiating table.
Thursday, the official Syrian Arab News Agency reported Syrian President Bashar Assad had stressed his country's eagerness to promote Iraq's security, stability and territorial unity during a meeting with Sheik Harith al-Dhari, head of the powerful Sunni Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq.
In other developments:
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Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
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See all 159 CommentsI have to head out for a while myself. If you like, I'm at exusmcsgt@cox.net. See ya.
Posted by singinrick at 04:40 PM : Feb 01, 2007
And you wonder why so many of us despise you fanatics. Go find a soapbox on a corner, bro. You'l find some others who need fanatacism and who'll listen to you before too much time passes, no doubt. The world is full of gullible people.
Sometimes you would think, with some who claim to be so holy, it is probably with their mothers.
Posted by singinrick at 04:29 PM : Feb 01, 2007
I'd settle for your just pulling the plug on the preaching. Forget about the praying.
And, from what I've seen, you would probably better serve in another capacity.
Posted by singinrick
Not true, Rick. Bible says some are teachers, not all.
Posted by dallison7
Hey Rick, true christians sometimes have ***.
Posted by singinrick
Not my job, Rick. Probably not yours either, but feel free to post your resume.
Posted by dallison7 at 04:25 PM : Feb 01, 2007
Really LMAO. Too funny, bro.
I am not qualified to defend the Bible or God, and neither are you. What's that in your eye?
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See all 159 Comments