| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| Khalilzad sez U.S. Patience 'Running Out' |
| 2007-03-26 |
| BAGHDAD (AP) - The departing U.S. ambassador said on Monday that he believed Iraq was heading in the right direction but cautioned that Iraqi leaders must understand that U.S. voters were increasingly impatient with the war. Based on our own push-polling. Zalmay Khalilzad, who is leaving his post after 21 months that had seen a massive increase in violence in Baghdad overall, declared that insurgent and militia attacks had decreased by 25 percent in the six weeks since the start of U.S.-Iraqi security plan on Feb. 14. Massive...overall? Sloppy, or is someone being clever? "I know that we are an impatient people, and I constantly signal to the Iraqi leaders that our patience, or the patience of the American people Aides to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki have said that Washington has signaled that he must make progress on a series of benchmark legislative and political measures by June 30 or face a withdrawal of American support for his government. Not that the Dems will wait for that timetable. The United States has denied making the threat but Khalilzad was clear that al-Maliki was under heavy U.S. pressure to move rapidly on several issues, especially a law that would provide a fair distribution of Iraqi oil wealth among all ethnic and sectarian groups, a measure that is especially important to the White House. Didn't I read here that measure passed the Iraqi Parliment? Maybe the AP doesn't visit the 'Burg? He also said the Iraqis need to act on political and sectarian reconciliation between Sunnis and Shiites, and on amending the constitution to make it more palatable to the Sunnis. Despite repeated promises of quick action from the Iraqis and heavy pressure from the Americans, those measures still await action in parliament. Yeah! You guys need to pass bills quickly, like our Democratic-controlled Congress! |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #6 |
| Posted by: Verlaine 2007-03-26 15:51 |
| #5 |
| Posted by: Bobby 2007-03-26 12:40 |
| #4 |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2007-03-26 10:52 |
| #3 |
| Posted by: djohn66 2007-03-26 09:23 |
| #2 |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2007-03-26 07:53 |
| #1 |
| Posted by: phil_b 2007-03-26 06:57 |