Flat denial from White House of Iraqi move to oust al-Maliki

[sabra]

http://www.kndo.com/Global/story.asp?S=5797359&nav=menu484_2

Flat denial from White House of Iraqi move to oust al-Maliki

WHITE HOUSE The White House is flatly denying a report that key Shiite leaders are maneuvering to oust Iraq's prime minister.

Press Secretary Tony Snow tells reporters there's no move afoot to "dump" Nouri al-Maliki (NOO'-ree ahl-MAH'-lih-kee).

An Associated Press dispatch from Baghdad quotes Iraqi lawmakers as saying Shiites are holding talks on a new alliance because al-Maliki has been unable to end sectarian bloodshed.

The alliance reportedly would be led by Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, who met with President Bush last week, though someone else would likely be prime minister. The A-P report quotes a senior aide to al-Maliki as saying, "We know what's going on and we will sabotage it."

Asked what's wrong in the story, Snow said, "Basically, everything."

[whistle]

1. Iraq's elected PM Nouri al-Maliki will either be gone or dead...

....within 90 days

[havocmom]

3. Was wondering about Cheney in Arabia a bit ago

He get orders to take al-Maliki hunting or something? bush/cheney junta does whatever the Sauds want.

[havocmom]

2. LOL, so they are confirming?

Since everything they say is basically 180 degrees off... :shrug:

And how long before Snow figures out he is ALWAYS the last to get any internal memos?

[calimary]

5. I can't imagine how that will ever happen.

He's drunk so much Kool-aid by now that he's turned into one of those smiley Kool-aid pitchers.

[izzie]

4. But did Bush say he was doing a 'hellofajob' yet?

That seems to be the kiss of death.

[The Magistrate]

6. Bad News, Then, Sir, For Mr. Maliki

[sabra]

8. indeed. A few months ago Snow denied that Khalizad was stepping down

low and behold, last week there were reports that it he is in the processing of leaving...

[grytpype]

7. .

[Eugene]

9. "the president has full confidence in al-Maliki" - kiss of death

The White House is denying this story just a little too strenuously
to be credible. They would have been better off to call it a matter
of internal Iraqi politics or even refuse comment altogether.

[yellowcanine]

10. What's all this coup shit, anyway? LBJ 1965 right before a military coup.

All that is needed to complete the Iraq/Vietnam parallels is to have a coup that throws out the elected leadership.

[Printer70]

11. This is real

I read the details on how we're looking to supplant Al-Maliki because he is getting close to Iran, refuses to quell Shia violence, and lacks the authority and following to do so anyhow. The Administration doesn't realize it - but it is rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.