Pataki, after visit to Iraq, says things are much worse

[DoYouEverWonder]

November 29, 2006

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Gov. George Pataki, eyeing a run for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, flew out of Iraq to Kuwait on Wednesday and said things were much worse from the security standpoint than when he first visited in early 2004.

"Now you have the Iraqi government in place," Pataki said after leaving Iraq with three other governors. "It's a plus from the standpoint that it's a democratically elected government that reflects the votes of the Iraqi people.

"On the other hand, by all accounts, this government is not delivering the security or the services that the people of Iraq need," the New York governor added. "That has to change and that has to change quickly."

Pataki, in a news conference via satellite with New York reporters, hedged on whether America should withdraw its troops quickly if the Iraqi government doesn't get the violence under control.

In the past, Pataki has been a strong supporter of President Bush's efforts in Iraq.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-bc-ny--governors-iraq1129nov29,0,4218718.story?coll=ny-statenews-headlines

I always knew Pataki wasn't the brightest bulb in the box.

[NOLADEM]

1. Who pays for this?

[AlamoDemoc]

7. Halliburton? New York tax payers? Lobbyists? your guess is good as mine!

[AlamoDemoc]

2. I think he's the worst politician NY State ever elected, IMO...D'Amato is another one

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. At least D'Amato

had a personality.

[BrotherBuzz]

3. He's just floating the test meme:

America should withdraw its troops quickly because the Iraqi government can't get the violence under control.



Will it play in Peoria? Menken said, "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people".

[mallard]

4. Observations on the standing cost of ousting Saddam

Things are not better for Iraq or the world due to the invasion and foreign miltary occupation, for which there seem to be very few avenues for purely non-violent, politcal opposition; or else the new democratic authority would have the balls to insist on a plan for phased withdrawl - hand the Iraqi back the keys to their country. Soveriegnty in terms of the national identity is something that might make people stop wanting to kill each other - duuuuuh.


Meantime, the Saddam trial is out of hand with over-dependency on US 'experts' for the prosecution. It doesn't look right at all. Closing in on setting an execution date, this ugly business will not calm the streets of Baghdad.

What will Saddam have to say in his last statement that doesn't spark of the cry of a victim?

Hawaiians wear 'Locals Only' apparel with pride. What's hard to understand about that?

Let them work it out and they will.

[grytpype]

6. Good thing he checked this out for us, because otherwise how would we know?

[MidwestTransplant]

8. Blame the Iraqis is the Republican M O these days.