Iraqi prime minister to visit White House

[ECH1969]

President Bush snuck over to Baghdad to meet him last month. Now he plans to welcome Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to the White House for the first time.

Al-Maliki will visit July 25, the White House announced Thursday as Bush visited Germany.

Bush has praised the new prime minister for his commitment to advancing democracy and reform. Al-Maliki has promised to crack down on militias and sectarian violence, promote national reconciliation, accelerate reconstruction efforts and restore essential services such as electricity.

Tensions have arisen over allegations that U.S. soldiers raped and murdered an Iraqi teenager and killed her family.

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/iraq/index.ssf?/base/politics-8/1152793480237560.xml&storylist=iraq

[leftchick]

1. this will worsen al- Maliki's position with Iraqis

He should be telling the US to get the hell out now!

[gratuitous]

2. Why doesn't he just drop in on five minutes' notice?

Oh yeah, Stupidhead doesn't like surprises.

[bemildred]

3. Not safe in Baghdad, anyway. nt

[rooboy]

4. "Oh Mister Booosh... I notice you have a Green Zone here as well."

[0007]

5. After they pat each other on the ass about twenty times

and give each other that VIP grin, they'll have a spot of tea.

What a waste of space.