Condoleezza Rice pays unannounced visit to Baghdad

[cal04]

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice paid an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Saturday, arriving as American and Iraqi troops make initial gains in a new crackdown against militants in the Iraqi capital.

A U.S. embassy official said Rice would meet various officials during her visit.

The top U.S. diplomat is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem on Monday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070217/us_nm/iraq_rice_dc_1

[bananarepublican]

1. I wonder what John Bolton will have to say about Condi's latest junket? n/t

[ClintonTyree]

2. ...."Rice would meet various officials during her visit."....

but only within the well protected confines of the Green Zone, I'm sure. Maybe she could take a side trip to Syria or Jordan to visit with the millions of Iraqi refugees who've fled their homeland because of her and her bosses major fuck-ups. :shrug: Nah, they've never been ones for mixing with real people, only hand selected toadies that tell them what they want to hear.

[Canuckistanian]

22. I assume the throne room has been properly prepared

And she is ready to receive her tributes. If she is pleased, she may play a tune on the piano.

[goclark]

24. Will she be visiting all the new schools and drinking the water there?

:puke:

[jmowreader]

3. I'm just going to assume David Petraeus isn't on her list

of "officials" she's going to meet.

[truthisfreedom]

4. They can have her.

We don't need that bitch back here.

[tblue]

6. I'm sure they don't want her either.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. too true. Remember the Iraqnam reconstruction was her baby 2X!

I wonder how well that has gone.

[cal04]

5. Secretary of State Rice visits Baghdad

Insurgent violence remains a concern. Rice's plane circled the airport for 30 minutes before landing because of military action in the city.

Rice was meeting with American troops and U.S. Embassy personnel before a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070217/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/rice

[rodeodance]

11. Lots of time, effort and $$ go into these 'surprize' visits!

[ihelpu2see]

27. As she "Flies over Baghdad she can sense "new optimism" ?? How much PR

has this admin. spent on this failure??? I have never seen so much thrown at a pile of shit policy!

[Eugene]

7. Reuters: Rice in Baghdad applauds military crackdown

Rice in Baghdad applauds military crackdown
17 Feb 2007 09:41:13 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Sue Pleming

BAGHDAD, Feb 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
made an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Saturday, arriving as American
and Iraqi troops make early gains in a new crackdown against militants
in the Iraqi capital.

"They are off to a good start," Rice, whose plane circled over Baghdad
for half an hour before landing, said of the military operation.

"The Baghdad security plan is just beginning to unfold and I think it is
important to realise it was not ever intended to be a single day, but
to ramp up over time," she told reporters. She added it was important
for the Iraqi authorities to use the "breathing space" well.

But in fresh violence in the northern city of Kirkuk, a double car
bombing killed at least 10 people and wounded 60 in a crowded market,
police sources said.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L17147833.htm

This is sheer farce. :thumbsdown:

[trof]

8. How many "Surprise Visits" can you make before...

it quits being a surprise?
:eyes:

[Divernan]

36. "Surprise" is Bush speak for "Uninvited & Unwelcome"

And I'm sure any statements she issues while in Iraq concerning her impressions were drafted before she left DC.

[madrchsod]

9. do you realize how many military personal and machines

it takes to get this thing in and out the green zone?

[rodeodance]

10. "When you see Iraqis toiling and squabbling and struggling ... remember

Rice spoke with American troops and U.S. Embassy personnel before a scheduled meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite. The beleaguered official is increasingly seen as unwilling or unable to deliver security, essential public services or political inclusion for minority Sunnis.

Rice is the highest-level U.S. official in
Iraq since the recent start of a massive security operation in the Iraqi capital. The visit was not previously announced as part of her trip to the Middle East.

She told the U.S. forces and diplomats that their work was worthwhile in helping Iraq and securing the safety of the U.S. at the same time.

"When you see Iraqis toiling and squabbling and struggling ... remember it's not easy to build a democracy," Rice said.

[Benhurst]

12. Ferragamo still has a shop in Baghdad?

[tanyev]

13. Desperately searching the world for someone who wants to see her.

[LiberalFighter]

15. If these gains are so dramatic then why the need for secret visits?

It should mean that it is safer for the people of Iraq and for her to be there.

[onehandle]

17. Yeah. It sounds to me like she could just jump into a local taxi...

...and ride out of the Green Zone to sample the local hummus.

[countingbluecars]

16. With all this attack on Iran talk

I'd be a little nervous if I were Rice. I wonder if she ever wonders about her worth to Bush and Cheney?

[notadmblnd]

18. did she go there to identify the Russian made missles

they claim were found there recently? I know.. she brought them with her.

[KansDem]

19. Wow! Someone must be having one helluva shoe sale there!

:sarcasm:

edited to add :sarcasm:

[POAS]

20. Talk about demoralizing the troops.......n/t

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

21. Pic of her mingling with the proletariat, uh embassy staff.

Don't get too close, please...


Oh, and I couldn't resist this shot of her as she spoke to the Embassy staff...



MKJ

[goclark]

25. We pay their salaries -right?

[NYC]

37. They're roped off.

See the white "fence" type thing keeping them away from her.

[Amonester]

23. Exxon-MOB-ill's CEO & Co (Chevron) must really be gettin' impatient

to profit en masse from the black gold there...

[goforit]

31. Interesting point.....Not fast enough for this salivating greed monster.

[leftofthedial]

26. Hmmmm. I hate to be a tin-foil-hatter, but this is extremely odd

There are no working shoe stores in Baghdad.

[TomClash]

28. Did they open a new Ferragamo store in Baghdad? nt

[kimsterdemster]

29. Go to Hell...

You buck-tooth, bobble-head bitch!!!


Worst President Ever, worst V.P., worst Sec. of State EVER!!!


Bring on 2008!! I never got over election 2000, and I never WILL!! Re-elect Al Gore, save us from this maddness Sir!!!

[LibDemAlways]

30. Pretty telling that four years into this mess

members of the Bush Crime Family still have to sneak in unannounced and could never venture out of the Green Zone.

It's only a matter of time before we see photos of helicopters evacuating the last Americans from Baghdad.

[reprobate]

32. Good! Somebody hand her an M-16, but hold the body armor.

And no ammunition until she qualifies as a marksman.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

33. Was there a shoe sale or something? n/t

[rodeodance]

34. Rice in Jerusalem to press for peace (I wish Madeline was back in the

saddle-----as there might be some hope if that were the case!!)

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/02/17/rice.mideast/index.html?section=cnn_topstories&eref=yahoo

Rice in Jerusalem to press for peace
POSTED: 9:28 p.m. EST, February 17, 2007



Story Highlights
• Secretary of state arrives to discuss Middle East peace process
• Rice reiterates insistence on Hamas' recognition of previous pacts
• Meetings planned with Palestinian, Israeli, Jordanian leaders
• Hamas, Fatah have agreed to form coalition government


JERUSALEM (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Jerusalem on Saturday for a series of meetings with Middle Eastern leaders.

Before having dinner with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Rice said the proper foundation for a two-state solution in the Middle East depends upon creation of a Palestinian government that recognizes Israel and renounces terror.

Livni seconded Rice's prescription, saying that "the path toward a Palestinian state goes through renunciation of terrorism and violence."

Rice came to Jerusalem from Baghdad, Iraq, where she had made an unannounced stop to check on the security situation. (Full story)

She is to meet Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert before a three-way summit Monday with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

[truthisfreedom]

35. Hey Condi... stay there.

We don't want you back.