October 25, 2006
MALIKI GETS IT....Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is unhappy over the Bush administration's recent timetable talk:
"I affirm that this government represents the will of the people and no one has the right to impose a timetable on it," Maliki said Wednesday at a nationally televised news conference. "The Americans have the right to review their policies, but we do not believe in a timetables."
With less than two weeks to go before critical midterm elections in the United States, Maliki accused U.S. officials of election-year grandstanding, saying that deadlines were not logical and were "the result of elections taking place right now that do not involve us."
Smart man. He may be off base about our right to insist on seeing some actual results from his government, but he knows political cynicism when he sees it. The timing of George Bush's sudden enthusiasm for "blueprints" and "adjusting tactics" is no coincidence, and he knows it.
—Kevin Drum 6:13 PM
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George Bush NEVER said "Stay the Course," except when he did!
And this doesn't matter -- it is only about war, it isn't about a blowjob!
Posted by: Al's Mommy on October 25, 2006 at 6:16 PM | PERMALINK
"American propaganda" he called it. Used those very words he did. It just got even uglier.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 6:16 PM | PERMALINK
I'll say one thing about al-Maliki,
he's no librul cut-and-runner.
A fine quality in a Prime Minister
Posted by: Determined to Strike on October 25, 2006 at 6:21 PM | PERMALINK
Maliki came right out and said it was election year politics.
Bush said if people were unhappy about it to "look right at me." (I think they plan to, George.)
Bush and Rove insist the polls are all wrong - "You have your math, I have the math." Karl Rove said yesterday. Did he mean the Diebold has been cast?
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 6:22 PM | PERMALINK
never trust a bush....
Posted by: mr. perspective on October 25, 2006 at 6:23 PM | PERMALINK
Pretty good political analyst, Maliki is. Better than most in the U.S, who are still willing to impute decent motives to Bush.
Of course Maliki also has ties to terrorists (the Shiite death squads), so we're in bed with people who support terrorism against te United States. Time to invade ourselves, I guess. Utter incoherence.
Posted by: david mizner on October 25, 2006 at 6:25 PM | PERMALINK
...even if it bursts into flame and speaks, after this mess.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 6:25 PM | PERMALINK
Ah, Kevin.
This is GREAT News! This shows the Iraqi people are voicing their will through their representative government. This further vindicate's Bush's prescient decision to establish a democracy in the Middle East.
Freedom marches on...
Posted by: egbert on October 25, 2006 at 6:28 PM | PERMALINK
you owe me a keyboard, egbert.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 6:30 PM | PERMALINK
"I affirm that this government represents the will of the people and no one has the right to impose a timetable on it," Maliki said Wednesday at a nationally televised news conference. "The Americans have the right to review their policies, but we do not believe in a timetables."
Well sorry Mr. Maliki but it's a democratic thing and demoracticly speaking, polls show that most Iraqis want the US to leave.
Poor Mr. Maliki should never take Bush at his word, because and infidel's word is meaningless AND since Mr. Maliki consorted so much with that infidel, George Dubya Bush, I feel certain the will of Iraqi people will want to have a different Prime Minister once US troops start to leave.
Posted by: Cheryl on October 25, 2006 at 6:30 PM | PERMALINK
I urge Prime Minister Maliki to evict all US forces from Iraq.
Posted by: Hostile on October 25, 2006 at 6:31 PM | PERMALINK
Maliki will live about 42 minutes after the Americans leave.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 6:31 PM | PERMALINK
If Sadr is not assasinated he will be the leader of Iraq within the decade. (Or another cleric, if not Sadr.)
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 6:33 PM | PERMALINK
Smart man. He may be off base about our right to insist on seeing some actual results from his government, but he knows political cynicism when he sees it. The timing of George Bush's sudden enthusiasm for "blueprints" and "adjusting tactics" is no coincidence, and he knows it.
Being able to put two and two together isn't exactly rocket science, even Republicans know that Bush sudden flip-floppery is for pure political reasons.
It's only centrist Dems that can't seem to figure out that Bush lies everytime he opens his toothless, denture wear gums and utters all his nasal quality BS in true redneck Tex-ag'in style.
Posted by: Cheryl on October 25, 2006 at 6:44 PM | PERMALINK
When W said "Stay the Course," what he really meant was "Elect some Democrats"
Posted by: craigie on October 25, 2006 at 6:47 PM | PERMALINK
Maliki will live about 42 minutes after the Americans leave.
Now, now, I'm sure he'll be an American refugee, taking up residence close by to Ms. Imelda Marcos, the shoe queen. Doesn't she live in Hawaii?
Posted by: Cheryl on October 25, 2006 at 6:52 PM | PERMALINK
If Sadr is not assasinated he will be the leader of Iraq within the decade. (Or another cleric, if not Sadr.)
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 6:33 PM | PERMALINK
In ten years, if anyone in Iraq has a purple finger, it'll be from thumbscrews.
Posted by: Osama_Been_Forgotten on October 25, 2006 at 6:54 PM | PERMALINK
Now OBF - even Saddam had elections. Plus, they called the Congo "Democratic" even though they went 40 years without an election.
But that was pretty damned funny.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 7:00 PM | PERMALINK
Now OBF - even Saddam had elections.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 7:00 PM | PERMALINK
But I thought Democratic countries didn't attack their neighbors. . .
Posted by: Osama_Been_Forgotten on October 25, 2006 at 7:05 PM | PERMALINK
Where are these democratic countries of which you speak? I haven't seen one lately.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 7:06 PM | PERMALINK
At press conference, Bush seemed mighty indignant that Maliki used the word "timetable" (after assuming the reporter had used it). After all, timetables are for cut and run defeatocrats real Americans set benchmarks.
Whats the world coming to when foreign leaders dont speak in Republican talking points?
Posted by: Common Knowledge on October 25, 2006 at 7:17 PM | PERMALINK
Global Citizen >"Where are these democratic countries of which you speak?..."
Mars ?
Why do you think so many people want to go there, eah ?
"The first lesson of democracy is not to hold the public in contempt." - Ronnie Earle
Posted by: daCascadian on October 25, 2006 at 7:17 PM | PERMALINK
Dan Froomkin is saying Bush hasn't changed course and give facts about his lasted press questions.
It's merely election rhetoric.
Bush is lying about changing tactics and doesn't Bush always LIE and try to appear middle of road everytime there is an election?
E. J Dionne on PBS is saying that same thing, Bush is lying for mid-term elections reasons and nothing else. Bush will go right back to "stay the course" once the elections are over.
Froomkin"
"But Bush didn't have much new to say today, other than endorsing yesterday's already largely debunked announcement in Baghdad of a "new plan" that sounds very much like the old plan.
Posted by: Cheryl on October 25, 2006 at 7:46 PM | PERMALINK
"stay the course, benchmarks, timetables"
Is it possible that America somehow voted in 04 for the wrong "flip-flopper"? Hmmmmmmmmmm?
Posted by: thethirdPaul on October 25, 2006 at 7:49 PM | PERMALINK
Bush is lying about changing tactics and doesn't Bush always LIE and try to appear middle of road everytime there is an election?
I dunno about the "middle of the road" thing, but Bush seems to lie everytime he speaks.
Posted by: cmdicely on October 25, 2006 at 7:52 PM | PERMALINK
Oh and this:
NBC's David Gregory posed this question: "Mr. President, for several years you have been saying that America will 'stay the course' in Iraq. You were committed to the policy. And now you say that no, you're not saying 'stay the course,' that you're adapting to win, that you're showing flexibility. And as you mention, out of Baghdad we're now hearing about benchmarks and timetables from the Iraqi government, as relayed by American officials, to stop the sectarian violence.
"In the past, Democrats and other critics of the war who talked about benchmarks and timetables were labeled as 'defeatists, ' 'Defeat- o-crats,' or people who wanted to 'cut and run.'
"So why shouldn't the American people conclude that this is nothing from you other than semantic, rhetorical games and all politics two weeks before an election?"
Posted by: Cheryl on October 25, 2006 at 7:58 PM | PERMALINK
Did he ask what rhetorical and semantic meant?
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 8:03 PM | PERMALINK
Retreat is strategic redeployment : especially if the Air Force gets some time in on target practice in Iran. The mullahs are remiss in their practice of salaam to the self-appointed Decider.
Posted by: opit on October 25, 2006 at 8:24 PM | PERMALINK
Did he ask what rhetorical and semantic meant?
No, but he did ask what a "sextarian" is.
Posted by: Disputo on October 25, 2006 at 8:56 PM | PERMALINK
I get that joke too!
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 8:57 PM | PERMALINK
Prime Minister al-Maliki is rapidly on the path of Alexander Kerensky - Just a few days left, but Iraq could become an October Revolution of a different sort.
Posted by: thethirdPaul on October 25, 2006 at 9:53 PM | PERMALINK
You're right, third Paul. Al Jazeera is reporting that Iraqi military people visited Washington recently to plan a coup with US help.
Can you believe it? No wonder Bush isn't talking about democracy in Iraq anymore.
Joint U.S.-Iraqi plot underway to oust PM Maliki
Posted by: nepeta on October 26, 2006 at 1:33 AM | PERMALINK
A smart person can assess a situation quickly, and look at potential and probable risks. You've seen the type - your smart co-worker, the guy who processes your order quickly, the customer rep who (rarely, but once in a while) understands your predicament. A dumb person doesn't know any better, an acts on instinct even when logic says other wise, and will continue to argue and belabor his/her point, even though any reasonable person who see the flaw is his/her logic. Say what you will about Democrats and Republicans, but there is no doubt the current group of Republicans are one of the dumbest group of people we've seen in our country's history.
Posted by: Andy on October 26, 2006 at 3:15 AM | PERMALINK
Al Jazeera is reporting that Iraqi military people visited Washington recently to plan a coup with US help.
Cue Tom Lehrer:
"They've got to be protected,
All their rights respected,
'Til somebody we like
Can get elected!"
Posted by: JBWoodford on October 26, 2006 at 10:11 AM | PERMALINK
It seems after the recent press conference the new benchmark and plan is really "Git R Dun".
I saw this t-shirt and thought it was pretty funny.
http://www.cafepress.com/bigsplashnow.82990326
Posted by: deltroy on October 26, 2006 at 12:19 PM | PERMALINK