How do we know Al-Maliki pushed off the meeting due to TODAY's Memo leak

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

and not the other more obvious reason - they (Iraq) have been in negotiations with Iran which were announced TODAY?

I am starting to think the memo was leaked to provide cover for the more horrible, embarrassing story

[NOLADEM]

1. Kick....Great question.

Anybody got a good answer?

[John Gauger]

2. I vote the second option.

It makes more sense to me.

[EST]

3. Al-Sadr threatened Maliki that he would opt out of the govt.

if Maliki met with bush. Whether or not he would follow through on thet threat was moot, fiven that Sadr had the only reliable, loyal army to bring to the table.

If al Maliki loses al Sadr, he loses any chance of holding the government together. If he loses bush,well, fill in the blanks.

Lo-he can't meet with bush and he can't not meet with bush, so he pulled off the closest move he could and insulting bush won't lose him bush, but it may mollify al-Sadr.

[majorjohn]

11. I think Sadr's threat stories are bullshit

How would Sadr benefit from doing that?

[Kelly Rupert]

12. Funny you say that

AMMAN, Jordan - A scheduled dinner meeting between President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was canceled Wednesday, hours after 36 Iraqi politicians loyal to militant Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr withdrew from their government posts and denounced Bush as "the world's biggest evil..."

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/16125507.htm

[majorjohn]

13. I read that else where...

Yet I don't buy that. So it is believed that the politicians decided to withdraw because Maliki was going to meet with Bush, and so they do. Then what? Maliki decided to not meet with him today, but he will tomorrow? So what exactly changes?

[EST]

15. Al-Sadr is famous for his brinksmanship.

Sometimes it is a lot of hot air, but no one knows whether he's going to follow through or not.
He is not yet strong enough to actually take over the government and be assured of keeping it, but that is his ultimate plan.

To be good at brinksmanship, one must be willing to follow through on threats and actually do so often enough to be feared. He is feared.
He, along with the Shia majority, will end up owning Iraq and now have to attempt to preserve something worth owning.

Maliki's snubbing of bush is probably the best result he, and the rest of the wannabe's, could hope for and it illustrates the patently obvious fact that bush is powerless as is Maliki--al Sadr holds all the best marbles.

[GreenZoneLT]

17. Sadr may be dumber than Bush

Sadr's a legacy, too. His dad was a famous cleric who was murdered by Saddam. Moqtada's sort of an empty vessel for Shiite hopes; an effective demagogue, but not educated or a cleric (despite how he's described in the Western media).

Al-Hakim and the Badr organization are more politically powerful; Sadr's main strength is his loose control over his militia, who are getting training and equipment from Iran via Hezbollah (although it's quite likely that the Badr folks are getting the same as Iran hedges its bets).

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

4. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. There's a lot of friendship in the ME these days.

They are doing everything but openly pointing their fingers and laughing at him. MKJ

[aquart]

5. Another reason we need to leave now.

So they can get back to hating each other as is right and proper.

[sam sarrha]

7. I have to laugh every time i see that photo of McCain humping Bu$he's leg

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

6. This was supposed to be a big diplomatic deal - I don't think the 3 network

talking heads fly out to cover the sharing of a Morton's pot pie. This was SUPPOSED to be a quite a schmooze. Making the snub all the greater.

[sam sarrha]

9. i really dont think anyone wants to do that any more..

[Richard Steele]

8. You'd have to be pretty stupid to believe the WH's lame spin on this one.

The obvious reason is exactly that: obvious.

[Subdivisions]

10. No longer needed a third for the talks because Iraq has already

struck a deal with Iran.

What a complete and utter failure, disgrace and worthless twit George W. Bush is.

100% Loser.

[GreenZoneLT]

16. What could Bush do for Maliki, anyway?

I couldn't figure that one out. Looks like he can make Maliki look stronger by getting punked. Thanks, George!

I don't believe a word about the supposed Iran deal. I've been in Baghdad five months, and there's been a new, high-level accord among Iraqi and regional leaders about once a week. Never makes the slightest difference in the level of violence. Iran said it will do everything it can to bring peace to Iraq -- AFTER a U.S. troop withdrawal. Shyeah, you know what? Uh uh.

The upside to Maliki dissing Bush is that maybe it will sink into George's head, he'll get huffy, and take his ball and go home.

It sucks, but when we leave, Iraq's going to make Darfur look like a Sunday School picnic. But it'll happen if we leave three years from now just like it will if we leave this week. The Iraqi middle class may be ready for democracy, but the guys with the guns aren't going to let them have it.

[Old and In the Way]

14. I have no doubts you are correct.

How's that diplomacy working for you, George? Hope you brought the golf clubs! :rofl: