[Vision2020] Iraq Warns It 'can find friends elsewhere'

[Tom Hansen]

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.  Isn't he a member of the duly elected Iraqi
government?

I'm wondering how Bush will spin this when he presents his "summary" of
General Patraeus' progress report next month.

>From today's (August 23, 2007) Spokesman Review -

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Iraq warns it 'can find friends elsewhere' 
Carol J. Williams 
Los Angeles Times
August 23, 2007

BAGHDAD - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki warned the Bush
administration after talks with longtime U.S. adversaries in Syria on
Wednesday that Iraq "can find friends elsewhere" if Washington doesn't like
the way he runs his country.

Al-Maliki's defiant rhetoric followed criticism from the White House and
congressional leaders in recent days of the leader's ability to unite his
Cabinet and improve stability.

Together with his recent overtures to Iran and Syria, it raised questions
about his diplomatic priorities and sensitivity to U.S. concerns about two
neighboring countries Washington accuses of supporting terrorism.
 
"No one has the right to place timetables on the Iraq government. It was
elected by its people," al-Maliki said in Damascus, where he is making a
three-day visit. "Those who make such statements are bothered by our visit
to Syria. We will pay no attention. We care for our people and our
constitution, and can find friends elsewhere."

Al-Maliki said the criticism from the United States was motivated by
election politics.

Washington's relations with both Syria and Iran, where al-Maliki paid an
official visit earlier this month, are severely strained. Although U.S.
officials have put a positive spin on al-Maliki's Syria trip as necessary
nurturing of regional relations, Washington has accused Damascus of looking
the other way as weapons and foreign militants have flooded across the
border into Iraq.

Leaders in both Syria and Iran used al-Maliki's visits to demand that Iraq
set a timetable for U.S. forces to withdraw, and to blame the American
presence for drawing in foreign militants and destabilizing the region.

The summits also involved what all participants described as cordial
discussions about border security, strengthening regional alliances and
economic interests.

During al-Maliki's Aug. 8-9 visit to Tehran, he and Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appeared before cameras holding hands and pledging joint
efforts at fighting terrorism.

U.S. political and military leaders accuse Iran of arming and training
Shiite militias that have been wreaking havoc in Iraq. Sectarian violence in
Iraq has claimed tens of thousands of lives in recent months and displaced
millions.

The Pentagon also accuses Iran of providing armor-piercing munitions to
Iraqi insurgents.

Al-Maliki's opponents have complained about his focus on foreign policy at a
time when vital legislation languishes and sectarian differences have set
his Cabinet ministers against each other.

If the Iraqi government doesn't respond to the demands of the Iraqi people,
President Bush said Tuesday, "they will replace the government."

The White House appeared to step back from that message Wednesday. Bush
praised al-Maliki as "a good guy" with a tough job who deserved U.S.
backing.

National-security spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Bush felt his comments
Tuesday were "misreported." He said that the Iraqi prime minister "knows
we're frustrated" but also that Bush continues to support him.

Joost Hiltermann, of the International Crisis Group, said he doubted Bush's
criticism of al-Maliki was inspired by the prospect of closer ties between
Iraq and its neighbors. More likely, he said, the administration was
preparing Americans for a disappointing assessment of the Iraqi government's
performance when Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker report
to Congress in mid-September.

"Washington is frustrated with (al-) Maliki, but the problem is rooted in
the absence of a credible political framework to build a peace process
around. As a result, we are entering a period of passing the blame," said
Vali Nasr, a senior fellow in Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign
Relations.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"People who ridicule others while hiding behind anonymous monikers in
chat-room forums are neither brave nor clever."

- Latah County Sheriff Wayne Rausch (August 21, 2007)