McCain Falsely Claims the Iraqi Prime Minister Has ‘Condemned Hezbollah’

[ProSense]

McCain Falsely Claims the Iraqi Prime Minister Has ‘Condemned Hezbollah’

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has repeatedly refused to condemn Hezbollah for its role in initiating the Lebanon-Israel conflict. Yesterday, in a press conference with President Bush, he “criticized the ‘damage and destruction’ caused by Israeli attacks but said nothing on Hezbollah’s role.” Other Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt, have condemned Hezbollah for its role in initiating the conflict.

Sen. John McCain appeared on Fox this morning and falsely claimed that Maliki has “condemned Hezbollah.” McCain said that, as a result, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and others who have criticized Malaki for his position on Hezbollah are “not qualified to lead.” Watch it:



http://thinkprogress.org/2006/07/26/mccain-hezbullah

[librechik]

1. not so false

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N26296064.htm

"WASHINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - Iraq will join some other Arab League nations in condemning Hizbollah's attacks on Israel, Iraq's foreign minister told U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday, as Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki addressed a joint meeting of Congress.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told lawmakers that Iraq will join Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt in condemning Hizbollah, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada told reporters.

Reid and many other Democrats were irate that Maliki last week denounced Israel as the aggressor in the conflict in Lebanon, without laying any blame on the Islamic militant group Hizbollah. They had called for him to apologize or clarify his remarks..."

[napi21]

2. I also heard that Reid talked to Maliki this AM, and said he

condemned Hezbollah. Reid said he was dropping his objections to letting him speak to Congress.

[mzteris]

3. Not so Not so false.....

keep reading........

". . . WASHINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - Iraq will join some other Arab League nations in condemning Hizbollah's attacks on Israel, Iraq's foreign minister told U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday, as Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki addressed a joint meeting of Congress.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told lawmakers that Iraq will join Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt in condemning Hizbollah, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada told reporters.

. . .Reid and many other Democrats were irate that Maliki last week denounced Israel as the aggressor in the conflict in Lebanon, without laying any blame on the Islamic militant group Hizbollah. They had called for him to apologize or clarify his remarks."


Maliki did NOT condemn Hezbollah - and was called on it - now he says he's "going to".....

[librechik]

4. yeah--it's all a shameful game of semantics

I swear I wasn't playing "gotcha"

If I were Maliki I'd have a hard time condemning Hezbolla too, under the circumstances