Iraq's leaders agree on key benchmarks

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

Talk is cheap in Iraq, and this sounds a bit suspicious to me.

By Waleed Ibrahim and Wisam Mohammed

Quote:

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's top Shi'ite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish political leaders announced on Sunday they had reached consensus on some key measures seen as vital to fostering national reconciliation.

The agreement by the five leaders was one of the most significant political developments in Iraq for months and was quickly welcomed by the United States, which hopes such moves will ease sectarian violence that has killed tens of thousands.

But skeptics will be watching for action amid growing frustration in Washington over the political paralysis that has gripped the government of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore congratulated Iraq's leaders on the accord, hailing it in a statement as "an important symbol of their commitment to work together for the benefit of all Iraqis."

The apparent breakthrough comes two weeks before U.S. President George W. Bush's top officials in Iraq present a report that could have a major influence on future American policy in Iraq.

"I hope that this agreement will help Iraq move beyond the political impasse," Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih told Reuters. "The five leaders representing Iraq's major political communities .... affirmed the principle of collective leadership to help deal with the many challenges faced by Iraq."

Maliki's appearance on Iraqi television with the four other leaders at a brief news conference was a rare show of public unity

Source

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

After reading the article, I ask what is different from a month ago? They agreed to disagree. I agree that it is very convienent timing for such an announcement.

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

Sounds like they are good at putting spin on events also. Laughing

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

The Sunni's are so sure Maliki can hold up his end of the bargain.

Sunni politicians raise doubts over deal.

By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer

Quote:

BAGHDAD - Sunni politicians applauded goals set down in an agreement hammered out by the country's top leaders under intense American pressure but expressed doubt Monday that the U.S.-backed prime minister would actually see them through.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and four other senior leaders declared Sunday they had reached a consensus on a number of issues, including freeing detainees held without charge, easing the ban on former Saddam Hussein supporters in government posts, regulating the oil industry and holding provincial elections.

No details were released, and most measures require parliamentary approval.

But in a step toward implementing the deal, U.S. and Iraqi officials announced that coalition forces would increase the number of detainees released during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins next month.

"Releases will start as early as this week and continue through the end of Ramadan," the U.S. command said in a statement. It did not say how many would be freed.

President Bush hailed the agreement, saying it "begins to establish new power-sharing agreements."

"These leaders ... recognize the true and meaningful reconciliation that needs to take place," Bush said in a brief statement Monday upon arrival in Albuquerque, N.M. "They recognize this is a process. Yesterday's agreement reflects their commitment to work together for the benefit of all Iraqis to further the process."

However, the deal did not convince the main Sunni Arab political bloc to take back the government posts they abandoned this month over differences with al-Maliki, a Shiite.

The Sunni walkout has paralyzed the government ahead of a crucial report to Congress by Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Gen. David Petraeus, which will likely determine the fate of the troubled U.S. military mission in Iraq.

Some key Sunni figures dismissed the agreement as a stalling tactic by al-Maliki to ease pressure from Washington.

Source

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Sounds like the "BIG" sorry of agreement on "benchmarks" was just a BS story to help the Admin put together a success that they can present to Congress. IMO, it was never that big of a deal.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

OOPS! Not the deal you thought?

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A new political accord between Iraq's main Sunni Arab, Shi'ite and Kurdish leaders will not be enough to lure boycotting Sunni Arabs back into the government, a spokesman for the biggest Sunni Arab bloc said on Monday.

In a rare positive political development, Sunni Arab Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi joined Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other leading Shi'ite and Kurdish politicians to announce late on Sunday that they had agreed on key issues.

Although they did not announce details, they said they had agreed on a mechanism for releasing detainees, the text of a law on distributing oil revenue and measures to readmit former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party to public life.

LINK

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

So basically nothing has changed except the political spin. Laughing

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Gee, we were right again! We saw this as a piece of crap and guess what?

Barely a week goes by in Iraq without a new example of why talking about national reconciliation is far easier than actually accomplishing it.

Late on Sunday five Iraqi politicians, representing the country's Sunni, Shi'ite and Kurdish constituencies, announced a deal to allow some former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party to return to government jobs, which has been a key demand of Iraq's Sunni Arabs. U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker called the announcement a "positive and encouraging message."

ARTICLE

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

Quote:

U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker called the announcement a "positive and encouraging message."

This assmonkey wouldn't know what positive and encouraging developments were if they bit him on the nose.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Since he has only about 2 weeks before he reports to Congress, I would say he is looking for some small successes that will help the case of a longer stay and more money.

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

With the report coming out that they aren't meeting benchmarks, he's going to need some good spin tactics.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

You can bet that the Admon is already spinning this, but will it succeed? I say it will at least for the near future. Bambi will get his wishes, maybe not all but most.