Rice to shun Iran at meeting of Iraq's neighbors

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday she has no plans to meet Iran's foreign minister at a conference of Iraq's neighbors next week, amid increasing U.S. complaints about Iranian support for Iraqi insurgents.


Rice renewed U.S. calls for Iran to end its backing for Shia militias and said she would repeat that message at the neighbors' meeting in Kuwait. But she said she would not press the point directly with her Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, who is also expected to attend Tuesday's conference.

"I don't intend to meet the Iranians, that is not in the plan," Rice told reporters in Washington. "The Iranians will be at the meeting ... but, no, I don't have any plans to meet them."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080417/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/rice_2

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Crocker: Room at the table for Iran


Published: April 10, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Print story Email to a friend Font size:WASHINGTON, April 10 (UPI) -- The United States would enter trilateral talks with Iraq and Iran if the Iraqis wanted a round of security talks, the top U.S. diplomat in Iraq said.

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker was answering a question about why a more forceful response wasn't made to the upswing in violence and attacks on the Green Zone -- in which U.S. soldiers were killed -- after having "laid out a fairly persuasive case for Iranian involvement" in the attacks.

more:http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/04/10/crocker_room_at_the_table_for_iran/7393/

US ambassador in Iraq invites Iran talks
Fri Apr 11, 11:12 AM ET

WASHINGTON - The U.S. ambassador in Iraq says the Bush administration wants to test whether Iran is really interested in talking to the United States about a country of mutual interest — Iraq.

Ambassador Ryan Crocker says even though Iran has backed out of recent appointments to meet with him to talk about Iraq, he's ready and waiting for the meeting. Crocker told reporters Friday that the Bush administration thinks it's worthwhile to make the offer, and worthwhile to make the case to Iran that it should butt out of Iraq's internal affairs.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080411/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iran_1

[bdamomma]

1. that is a rather immature attitude of her isn't it???

[dipsydoodle]

6. What comes

of being immature I guess.

[ooglymoogly]

2. Rice is not neighborly to anyone except

fawning over Isr@el and like Emelda Marcos, the most expensive shoe store in town.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Great plan from the minds of the 5 year-olds running the State Dept.

[ToughLuck]

4. What the hell is wrong with these people..she won't talk ..wow thats impressive

She is another complete failure..I wonder if its true she is hoping McCain asks her to be VP, LOL,
how much easier for Dems to win the White House that would be!

[seafan]

5. Well, today we have our answer from Ms. Rice about dialogue with Iran.

Rice to shun Iran at meeting of Iraq's neighbors, April 17, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday she has no plans to meet Iran's foreign minister at a conference of Iraq's neighbors next week, amid increasing U.S. complaints about Iranian support for Iraqi insurgents.

Rice renewed U.S. calls for Iran to end its backing for Shia militias and said she would repeat that message at the neighbors' meeting in Kuwait. But she said she would not press the point directly with her Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, who is also expected to attend Tuesday's conference.

"I don't intend to meet the Iranians, that is not in the plan," Rice told reporters in Washington. "The Iranians will be at the meeting ... but, no, I don't have any plans to meet them."

.....

But, we were hopeful.


Asia Times: US edges closer to engaging Iran, April 12, 2008

[Supersedeas]

7. i guess sitting in the same table is not a meeting -- more Condi doublespeak

[maddezmom]

8. Rice says Arabs must shield Iraq from Iran's sway By Sue

Rice says Arabs must shield Iraq from Iran's sway By Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday she would press Iraq's Arab neighbors hard next week to do more to support Baghdad's government and shield it from Iran's "nefarious influences."

Rice, set to attend a conference of Iraq's neighbors in Kuwait on April 22, said her message would be for Arab states to fulfill their promises to increase diplomatic, economic, social and cultural ties with Baghdad's government.

"What Iraq now needs most and what I will push for in Kuwait is greater support from its neighbors," Rice said. "That includes establishing embassies in Baghdad and exchanging ambassadors."

Iraq's Sunni Arab neighbors, notably Saudi Arabia, have so far resisted U.S. pressure to open embassies in Baghdad, which Washington argues would bolster the Shi'ite-led government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and help counter the influence of neighboring Shi'ite Iran.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080417/ts_nm/iraq_arabs_rice_dc_1;_ylt=AoVmQ3wiF0_857AbvBBE1GhX6GMA