America's waning clout in Iraq

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20060105/wl_csm/oduck;_ylt=AtV_Hx2BxfyplHTIOCE.RuWs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-
America's waning clout in Iraq

By Jill Carroll and Dan Murphy Thu Jan 5, 3:00 AM ET

BAGHDAD AND CAIRO - As the weight of the Shiite Islamist victory in
Iraq's election is still being calculated, US influence in the country - in reconstruction, security, and politics - is steadily receding.

While a diminished US role in Iraqi affairs was inevitable, the speed of the retreat raises some risks to the establishing of a stable, US-friendly Iraq. The Shiite parties that dominated the vote in December have closer affinity to
Iran than to the US. At the same time, the Bush administration is planning sharp cuts in reconstruction aid, a major point of leverage in Iraqi affairs.

"I think it's pretty clear our influence is waning as far as agenda setting," says Noah Feldman, a law professor at New York University and a former top US adviser on the writing of Iraq's Constitution.
..........

[pinniped]

1. All the more reason to not finance further reconstruction.

:sarcasm:

Everything is fully sovereign and Iraqi owned, except the oil, of course.

[Born Free]

6. FEMA in Iraq

A coworker claims his brother works for FEMA and is going to Iraq, he further claims the reason FEMA failed so miserably in New Orleans is because FEMA is so involved with Iraq. He also claimed that Coast Guard are be used in Iraq. He says they are spending a lot more in Iraq and hiding it from the general public by using FEMA .....I have no idea how to find out if any is true.

[LynnTheDem]

11. He's correct re the Coast Guard in Iraq; 1 was already killed.

The ruination of America, courtesy of bush and the rightwingnut morans.

[daleanime]

2. Influence??

Is that a code for bullet in the brain?

[Clarkie1]

3. They are doing everything wrong, still.

"sharp cuts in reconstuction aid"

Idiots.

[mom cat]

7. Yes! Cut reconstruction aid! Let Iran do it and win the hearts and minds

of the Iraqi people. I bet they still have some unused boxes of chocolate!

[cliss]

4. Interesting and fascinating.

Here, we spend upwards $280 - $300 billion dollars. And for what? To install an islamic theocracy in Iraq?

Meanwhile, this country is broke. We raided the Piggy Bank, and it's empty. My God, how they misjudged this plan.

This should also remove any doubts about the U.S. installing a "puppet government". The Iraqis are going to do what they want, regardless of what we want for them.

Ultimately, this will be a good thing. I just wish we didn't bankrupt ourselves in the process.

[stillcool]

8. This removes no doubts....

about the US installing a 'puppet' government. Chalabi as Minister of Oil is my first clue. Just because the Iraqi's throw BushCabal a curve ball now and then does not mean we are not in the thick of this. So many news stories are planted for spin or effect. Like watching a poker game...you never know who is bluffing.

[henslee]

5. Mission accomplished.

[Lexingtonian]

9. Hey, at least we're not cutting and running.

Wait- maybe we are....

[LynnTheDem]

10. closer affinity to IRAN than to the US

Gee, who the fuck coulda knowed.

Gee.

Everyone in the entire fucking world. EXCEPT bushCartel & the rightwingnut idiots.