LAT: Iraqi Officials Criticize Rice, Rumsfeld Visit

[DeepModem Mom]

Mixed Reception for Rice, Rumsfeld on Trip to Iraq
The surprise visit has some Iraqi officials worried that it could hurt government talks. Experts see an effort to shore up U.S. opinion.
By Louise Roug and Paul Richter, Times Staff Writers
April 26, 2006

BAGHDAD — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld paid a surprise visit to Baghdad on Wednesday to express support for Iraq's new leaders, but drew criticism from Iraqi politicians who said they feared the unannounced visit might do more harm than good.

"We didn't invite them," said Kamal Saadi, a Shiite legislator close to the new prime minister-designate, Nouri Maliki.

Saadi said Iraqi leaders had not been given advance notice of the visit, which came just days after Iraqi politicians broke through a months-long impasse on the selection of a prime minister.

"Maybe Rumsfeld's visit can be justified" because of American troop presence, "but I can't see a clear reason behind Rice's visit," Saadi said. "The crisis is over and negotiations are taking place."...

***

Some observers and Iraqi politicians speculated that the visit had more to do with the U.S. domestic audience than the creation of an inclusive and sustainable government in Iraq....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraqvisit27apr27,0,2007834.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[ECH1969]

1. The whole visit was simply to take heat off Rummy

Rice was just there as cover for the main goal.

[Robbien]

2. Meanwhile undermining the legitimacy of Iraqi independence

Each step BushCo takes causes mayhem.

[callous taoboy]

9. Condi may even get another oil tanker named after her one day....

but it's not looking bloody likely.

[saigon68]

15. She may get a cell at the Hague too

The Ugly War Criminal with her endearing smile

[freeplessinseattle]

3. They really dislike Rice

Last time she visited didn't they say "she shouldn't have come"?

[ECH1969]

5. None of the men would shake her hand or look at her face

Of course muslim men don't shake the hands of women as it would rase their importance in society more then it should be.

[ShockediSay]

7. They dislike Rice? So do I. What good has she done

as Sec of State??? Name one significant accomplishment, apart from her finger wagging and pointing.

[Erika]

4. They don't want us there

Condi isn't wanted anywhere except for shoe stores. She's "bombing" out big time.

[Theduckno2]

8. George Tenet received The Medal of Freedom for a job well done,

It naturally follows that if Condi keeps "bombing" out, couldn't the Vice Presidency be her next stop?

I am tempted to place a smilie "sarcasm" here but given the bizarro world of the Bush Administration I'm not so sure I being sarcastic.

:)

edit: grammar

[Rose Siding]

14. Condi said she and Rums were "having a great time here in Iraq"

"We're working very hard together," she said. "We're actually having a great time here in Iraq. I think it's very stimulating for us both to be in these meetings with Iraq's leaders together."
============

Doesn't seem like the sort of thing to say in a war zone where people are dying. Maybe that's the Huck Finn approach: 'having wonderful time, wish you were here'

[The Wielding Truth]

18. Hope our soldiers are having a great time, too!

Sick how they are so clueless to the iraqi protocol. Then again Iranian invasion plans could be in discussion, and we all know how that turns on this crew.
Disgusting how they cherish profits at any cost of national credibility,natural resources,our environment,innocent Iraqi life,or
even our national security.

[madrchsod]

6. what the fuck are they bitching about?

it`s our country, so just get over it boys. we didn`t build that green city for nothing

[Rose Siding]

10. Droll, LAT

snip>
Some observers and Iraqi politicians speculated that the visit had more to do with the U.S. domestic audience than the creation of an inclusive and sustainable government in Iraq.

[Mark E. Smith]

11. No Open Arms For Rice, Rumsfeld ("We didn't invite them" say Iraqis)

BAGHDAD -- America's top diplomat joined the U.S. defense secretary in a surprise visit to Baghdad on Wednesday to express support for Iraq's new leaders as they try to put their troubled nation back on course.

But Iraqi officials said they, too, were surprised by the unannounced arrival of Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and some said they feared it could disrupt negotiations to form a new government, and erode its legitimacy.

"We didn't invite them," said Kamal Saadi, a Shiite legislator close to the newly named prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki.

Saadi said Iraq leaders hadn't been notified in advance of the visit, which came days after Iraqi politicians broke through an impasse on the naming of a prime minister.

"It would be more appropriate if they would leave us alone," said Mahmoud Othman, a senior Kurdish legislator. "Let us solve our problems by ourselves."

"Enough is enough," agreed Sheik Mahmoud al-Sudani, a politician affiliated with popular Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr ...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0604270181apr27,1,7098539.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

Now how could they not want a visit from nice people like Donald Rumsfeld and Condi Rice? Besides, don't these Iraqis know about the troubles President Bush is having back in the United States? Certainly they must know that for this administration photo-ops are always the first priority.

[Gregorian]

12. Funny, they're not welcome here either.

[Auntie Bush]

16. If bush* had guests like that pop in on him...do you think he would

be pleased and happily receive them? He'd probably excuse himself and go to Crawford for his unplanned vaction...that is if Cindy isn't visiting. No doubt he'd be pissed!

We need an icon for "I'm pissed"! Save me from having to type/say it.
It could simply be a man's figure with his back turned and elbows bent!
Maybe someone else has a better suggestion.

[MuseRider]

13. Once again

no candy and flowers and open arms.

How many times do you have to repeat this before it dawns on you that nobody likes you?

Just in time to cause disruptions to the negotiations to form a new government. I suppose they did not think about all of that, it is only important that they get their little photo op.

[Divernan]

17. Unprecedented/offensive violation of principles of international diplomacy

First Bush's puppet masters reneged on most international treaties to which US was party; then they violated the hell out of the Geneva Convention(putting US soldiers at certain risk of receiving the same inhumane treatments dished out at Abu Grahib & Guantanamo; then they violated the most hard won and precious international law by intiating an unprovoked pre-emptive war; now they dare to send uninvited cabinet level officers into another country ?!?!?!?! This is NEVER done. They're treating Iraq like it's American Samoa.

So they are doing it to further undermine the fragile legitimacy of the fledgling Iraqi govt.
The question is why. To further civil war? That will be the effect.

[cliss]

20. You're right.

My first thought was, "this is like the boss, coming in to check on his employees at 4:55 p.m."

But as far as diplomacy, I hadn't thought of that. To just "pop in" like that is unbelievable. Such Neanderthal tactics. But neither of these two goons understands protocol.

The desperation really shows on their faces, too. Don Rumsfailed was practically hugging Mr. Al-Maliki.

....strange though, how Mr. Al-Maliki is in fact an ally of Muqtada Al-Sadr.....(could this just be -- a-- photo-OP?)

[PATRICK]

19. The first discomforts of being

used, Discarded and remolded into the Iranian war policy. If they are that naive and blind not to know how they are regarded by the WH then in that one important regard they have been well selected by the Occupation Forces.

If America attacks Iran they will have occasion to be more than miffed by a selfish grandstand of the Puppet-masters in the midst of civil strife.