Iraqi leadership's failures raise pressure on U.S.

[Roland99]

Source: LA Times

Publicly, administration officials say they remain committed to Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, even though after a year in office, his elected government has failed to complete any important steps toward political reconciliation — the legislative "benchmarks" sought by U.S. officials.

But privately, some U.S. officials acknowledge that the congressional clamor to find another approach will increase sharply in coming months if no progress is made toward tamping down sectarian violence, bringing more minority Sunnis into the government and fairly dividing up the nation's oil resources.

Intervention "is the eternal temptation for the Americans," said one U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity when discussing internal deliberations. "As we get closer and closer to the fall, and the benchmarks are not met … there will be a growing appeal to the idea that if we can replace the top guy, we can get back on track."

Although U.S. officials vow not to meddle in the government they helped to create, they have brought their influence to bear again and again, including in Maliki's selection as prime minister in early 2006. In January of this year, top U.S. officials considered, and narrowly rejected, a proposal to try to reorganize the fractious political order around a new moderate coalition.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-usmaliki21may21,0,1227105.story?coll=la-home-world

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Intervention is what keeps The Beast fed (while Americans starve and die and suffer).

But, just another piece of evidence that Iraq truly is sovereign, eh? :sarcasm:

[rodeodance]

1. all these 'interventions' ae 'Plan B"

[Roland99]

2. And pretty much always have the opposite desired effect.

But, what else to expect from morans that believe in Creationism and Intelligent Design instead of evolution.

They love to play God.

[Javaman]

3. Nouri Maliki meet bus. nt

[Mika]

4. Iraqi leadership's failures = mission accomplished.

This IS plan A.

[Eugene]

5. Bush urges Iraq's Maliki to move on reconciliation

Source: Reuters

Bush urges Iraq's Maliki to move on reconciliation

1 hour, 1 minute ago

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President George W. Bush called Iraqi
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Monday and urged him to proceed with
political reconciliation among warring groups there, the White House
said.

Maliki has been under fire from U.S. lawmakers for not moving quickly
enough to gain approval for an oil revenue-sharing law and other
measures aimed at a political reconciliation in Iraq.

Bush gave renewed support to Maliki in the phone call marking his first
anniversary as prime minister.

"The president reaffirmed his confidence in the prime minister and noted
the courage he has shown during a challenging and difficult year," White
House spokesman Tony Fratto said.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070521/pl_nm/iraq_usa_bush_dc_1

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Source: Associated Press

Bush reaffirms confidence in Iraqi PM

37 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush expressed confidence in Iraqi Prime Minister
Nouri al-Maliki on Monday despite growing frustration in Congress about his
government.

And the top military commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, said Iraqi
government efforts "in the coming months will be critical to whether or not"
the country succeeds.

Bush, at his ranch in Texas, called al-Maliki to mark the one-year anniversary
of his inauguration.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070521/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq_6