Edwards Calls Iraqi Leader Weak

[babylonsister]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070714/edwards-iraq/

Edwards Calls Iraqi Leader Weak
AMY LORENTZEN | July 14, 2007 03:50 PM EST | AP


MAQUOKETA, Iowa — Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said Saturday the U.S. needs help from Syria and Iran in stabilizing Iraq and he called the Iraqi prime minister a weak leader.

Edwards again said that if he were president today, he would immediately draw reduce the number of U.S. troops in Iraq by about 50,000.

"The Iraqis are going to have to take responsibility, and they haven't," he told about 200 people at a town hall-style meeting in eastern Iowa.

The prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, says his country's army and police are capable of keeping security and that American troops can leave "any time they want."

Edwards, a former North Carolina senator, told reporters that the U.S. "should be making our own evaluation about the circumstances in Iraq" and that al-Maliki has not proved effective in stopping violence.

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[yurbud]

1. I wish they'd drop this "blame the Iraqis" crap. He's weak because he has to serve two masters:

Bush and the Iraqis.

The interests of the two are not the same.

[BeyondGeography]

2. Why don't you go run Iraq, John? Piece of cake, eh?

A fitting reward for anyone who thought the war was a good idea until 2005.

[tularetom]

3. When I read stuff like this I'm not encouraged that

the Iraq situation will be much improved if Edwards becomes president. It tells me that he either:

1. Has bought into the bush bullshit line about we'll stand down when they stand up or

2. hasn't bought into it but cynically thinks he must say crap like this to get votes.

I'm not sure which is worse, but I'm not thrilled with either alternative.

[PBass]

4. Come on, we're talking about the US-installed government. They ARE weak.

Replace the word WEAK with INEFFECTIVE, exact same meaning here, but with less emotional associations. Iraqis who are seen to be cooperating with the US-installed governemnt often wind up dead. That's not a prescription for an effective leadership.

I don't see how anybody can criticize Edwards for this... unless you'd prefer a Democrat who sugarcoats what's happening in Iraq.

[LBJDemocrat]

5. Edwards is right

The Iraqi prime minister lets the militias run free. There are Shi'ite militias that have infiltrated the interior ministry.

[jsamuel]

6. He is weak. All the Iraqi's agree.

Has anyone heard all the news stories interviewing Iraqi's? That is what they all say. He has no power to do anything.