Iraqi PM Asks U.N. To Help Stop Terrorism

Maliki Says Chaos In Iraq Will Have "Disastrous Consequences" For The World

(AP)  Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki warned the U.N. General Assembly Wednesday that the continued flow of weapons, suicide bombers and terrorism funding into his country would result in "disastrous consequences" for the region and the world.

Al-Maliki, who met with President Bush Tuesday, urged the international community and countries in the region to support Iraq's national reconciliation process to rid terrorism from the country and bring peace to the region.

"National reconciliation is stronger than the weapons of terrorism," he said. "Today we feel optimistic that countries of the region realize the danger of the terrorist attacks against Iraq, that it is not in their interest for Iraq to be weak."

Al-Maliki said his country had reduced sectarian killings and brought stability to some regions, such as Anbar province in the west. He said thousands of displaced families have been able to return to their homes.

He said Iraq also has hundreds of political parties active within 20 political alliances; more than 6,000 civil organizations; hundreds of newspapers and magazines and 40 local and satellite TV stations. But terrorists are targeting this "new Iraq," he said.

"Terrorism kills civilians, journalists, actors, thinkers and professionals. It attacks universities, marketplaces and libraries. It blows up mosques and churches and destroys the infrastructure of state institutions," al-Maliki said.

Al-Maliki said he has warned the countries in the region that "the continued overflow of weapons, money, suicide bombers and the spreading of 'fatwas' inciting hatred and murder will only result in disastrous consequences for peoples of the region and the world."

Washington has long accused Iran of aiding Shiite Muslim militias in Iraq that it says have killed hundreds of American troops with powerful bombs known as explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs. The U.S. has also accused Iran of training fighters and sending them into Iraq to attack American and Iraqi troops.

Iran disputes those allegations, saying it does not meddle inside Iraq.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told world leaders Tuesday that the U.S. government's policy on Iraq was destabilizing the occupied country.

"They even oppose the constitution, National Assembly and the government established by the vote of the people, while they do not even have the courage to declare their defeat and exit Iraq," he said.

The U.S. delegation walked out of the General Assembly chamber when Ahmadinejad went to the podium, leaving only a low-ranking note-taker to listen to his speech, which also indirectly accused the U.S. and Israel of human rights violations. Gonzalo Gallegos, a State Department spokesman, said the U.S. wanted "to send him a powerful message."

In his meeting with al-Maliki on Tuesday, Bush pressed the Iraqi leader to make progress on measures deemed critical to the reconciliation process. Much-delayed action on such initiatives as a national oil law have stalled in the Iraqi parliament amid factional bickering and, in some cases, defections.

"Some politicians may be trying to block the law to gain special advantage," Bush said. "And these parties have got to understand that it's in the interests of Iraq to get good law passed."

In his speech to the General Assembly, al-Maliki only briefly noted the proposed oil law, saying his government has completed the work on it and was awaiting its approval by the Iraqi parliament.

He said national reconciliation was not the responsibility of his government alone.

"We look at national reconciliation as a life boat, a perpetual peace project and a safe harbor for the political process and the democratic experience," he said. "It is a group responsibility held by political powers, intellectual leaders, religious leaders, the educated, civil organizations and all the active powers in the Iraqi arena."

Following al-Maliki's speech, Cuba's foreign minister launched a blistering attack against Bush, saying the president "came into office through fraud and deceit" and has "no moral authority or credibility to judge anyone."

Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque also accused Bush of authorizing torture of prisoners at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Roque's comments were in response to Bush's speech Tuesday in which he envisioned a Cuba without ailing leader Fidel Castro.

"In Cuba, the long rule of a cruel dictator is nearing its end," Bush said. "The Cuban people are ready for their freedom. And as that nation enters a period of transition, the United Nations must insist on free speech, free assembly and, ultimately, free and competitive elections."

[toldyouso21]

You can barely see the wires holding Al Maliki''s hand up and making his lips move...It''s really, really good...

[prinzowhales]

Jowand--Ultimately, it would depend on the situation. No events in the world are closed ended.

If, however, Iran were to attack the United States in an act of unprovoked and wanton aggression, I would respond in kind; open channels for dialogue to discover if there was a cause for the attack and seek to find a peaceful resolution; if a satisfactory peaceful solution were not found, I would ask Congress for a declaration of war and bring about a resolution by force of arms.

[jowand]

Supply lines and the small size of the occupying force made the Iraq war a very high risk strategy for imposing democracy in the Middle East.


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Posted by donbl1 at 03:14 PM : Sep 27, 2007

Removing Saddam was the Clinton doctrine, it was not all about WMDs. WMDs were a part of it, the other parts are being conveniently overlooked as it has turned to politics just like Vietnam did. The military force being too small to occupy that''s true. Half a million US troops in Vietnam didn''t help either, the war was being fought the wrong way. Johnson wouldn''t go after the real source of the problem in North Vietnam and Bush isn''t going after the real source of the problem with Iraq, Syria and Iran. Like it or like it not, Johnson was undermined by Congress and Nixon and Bush is being undermined by Congress; looks who is on Al Jizeera on a regular basis.

[lars008-2009]

Posted by donbl1 at 03:14 PM : Sep 27, 2007

so did the demonic-rats in 1998,,,

the war is legal, demonic-rat hero al bore says so,,,

the resumption of hostilities was only a matter of time since iraq broke the ceasefire agreement,,,

blame saddam for iraq,,, Even clintoon and the dems wanted the resumption of hostilities back in 1998,,,

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"Iraq''s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

Moreover, no international law can prevent the United States from taking actions to protect its vital interests, when it is manifestly clear that there is a choice to be made between law and survival. I believe, however, that such a choice is not presented in the case of Iraq. Indeed, should we decide to proceed, that action can be justified within the framework of international law rather than outside it. In fact, though a new UN resolution may be helpful in building international consensus, the existing resolutions from 1991 are sufficient from a legal standpoint. - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/gore/gore092302sp.html

[donbl1]

Jowand,

And, yes, Bush was looking for a reason to remove Saddam. He based his case on WMD which Saddam did have at one time (gassed the Kurds) but had destroyed.

If Bush had had a better strategy to pacify and rebuild the country while keeping control, he would have been one of the strongest of presidents in this century.

However, his administration''s plan was berefit of reality and now he is stuck. A tremendous opportunity was wasted.

LBJ and Bush both fell into the trap that the might of the US was overwhelming and that it would be quick and over. No war is quick and over except Granada.

Supply lines and the small size of the occupying force made the Iraq war a very high risk strategy for imposing democracy in the Middle East.

[jowand]

The crews were probably hyped up about the danger and not used to "hot" engagements. Something was misinterpreted somewhat like the incident in the Persian Gulf and the Iranian airliner. 50,000 deaths later the war was over.......

The moral? Do not pump up the troops too much or you will have an overreaction.

Did the fight happen? No. Ghosts...... on the radar.


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Posted by donbl1 at 02:59 PM

I think LBJ and his inner circle were looking for a fight. What makes me wanna puke is people like McNamara running his mouth 30 years later about what a mistake it all was.

[donbl1]

Jowand,,, Gulf of Tonkin,

Good example of a hair trigger on the drive for war.

Friend of mine was weapons officer on the Turner Joy a few years after the incident in the Gulf of Tonkin. The logs of that night were confiscated and removed from the ship shortly after the incident which is very rare on a US ship.

The crews were probably hyped up about the danger and not used to "hot" engagements. Something was misinterpreted somewhat like the incident in the Persian Gulf and the Iranian airliner. 50,000 deaths later the war was over.......

The moral? Do not pump up the troops too much or you will have an overreaction.

Did the fight happen? No. Ghosts...... on the radar.

[lars008-2009]

Posted by Prinzowhales at 02:40 PM : Sep 27, 2007

A million Iraqi men, women and children have been murdered by fascist nazi terrorislam.

These animals have murdered 1,000,000 Iraqis and thousands of Americans. Will someone not rid us of these fascist nazi terrorislamists???

don%u201Dt you just hate these stupid silly little fascist nazi terrorislamic muslims pretending to be liberal Americana,,, and begging for the usa to leave iraq,,, lol,,, they must be really getting their arses kicked,,, hahahahahaha,,,

and these fascist nazi terrorislamic muslim collaborators,,,

[jowand]

Posted by Prinzowhales

I''''ve been told you Progressives, Liberals can''''t answer a direct simple question with a direct on the topic answer. Here''''s a question, not too complicated, prove them all wrong.
If you were President of the USA
What action will it take by Iran for you to order a military strike on Iran?
Please don''''t try and side step the question by asking me a question back.



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Posted by jowand at 02:51 PM : Sep 27, 2007

Oooooooooooooooh PRINZI baby where are you, what''s your answer going to be?

[jowand]

Posted by Prinzowhales

I''ve been told you Progressives, Liberals can''t answer a direct simple question with a direct on the topic answer. Here''s a question, not too complicated, prove them all wrong.
If you were President of the USA
What action will it take by Iran for you to order a military strike on Iran?
Please don''t try and side step the question by asking me a question back.