Iraq PM Maliki to address US Congress in joint session (next Wednesday)

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will address a joint session of the US Congress on July 26, one day after meeting US President George W. Bush, Representative John Boehner announced.

Maliki "will be here next week to speak to a joint session," said Boehner, majority leader in the House of Representatives.

The invitation for Wednesday, July 26, was slated for 11:00 am (1500 GMT).

Such invitations to address joint sessions of the US Senate and the House of Representatives are privileges reserved for the closest of US allies, such as Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Former Iraqi interim prime minister Iyad Allawi spoke to a joint session of Congress in September 2004.

Bush paid a surprise visit to Maliki in Baghdad on June 13.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060718/pl_afp/uscongressiraq

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. What will he want now? More $$$, troops, or what?

[VegasWolf]

2. He should say, "I demand your forces out of my country!" nt

[Paulie]

4. He just might...

wonder where his family is right now....

[Rose Siding]

3. Gee, I wonder what he'll say

PROGRESS!

[Charlie Brown]

5. will he take part in the daily prayer to the Christian God? nt