Maliki is right about Clinton & Levin.

[Skidmore]

If that man is the elected leader of Iraq, what business do they have calling for him to be replaced. That is a decision for the Iraqi people to make, if they have the will to do so.

[Kagemusha]

1. And those Senators called for the Iraqi people to do just that.

That's not very nice, but people are reading it like calling for the US to replace him and that's not what they said. We'll see what the results are, though. I just am not flattering those senators by pretending that they're directly responsible for anything that happens in this.

It's just, before people get too far on their high horses, I'd like to point out that the US has expended an awful lot of blood for this ineffective Iraqi government. It's not as if the US is an uninvolved stranger here.

[Demeter]

2. Sorry, It Isn't Like That

See Naomi Klein's videos posted on this site and youtube

[ck4829]

3. And the Iraqi people are trying to do just that

But, Maliki's people said they would sabotage any attempt to replace him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Iraq_from_2006#No-confidence_moves

[NNN0LHI]

4. Remember what happened when the Iraqis tried holding their own REAL elections in 2003?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A42905-2003Jun27?language=printer

Occupation Forces Halt Elections Throughout Iraq

By William Booth and Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, June 28, 2003; Page A20

SAMARRA, Iraq -- U.S. military commanders have ordered a halt to local elections and self-rule in provincial cities and towns across Iraq, choosing instead to install their own handpicked mayors and administrators, many of whom are former Iraqi military leaders.

The decision to deny Iraqis a direct role in selecting municipal governments is creating anger and resentment among aspiring leaders and ordinary citizens, who say the U.S.-led occupation forces are not making good on their promise to bring greater freedom and democracy to a country dominated for three decades by Saddam Hussein.

The go-slow approach to representative government in at least a dozen provincial cities is especially frustrating to younger, middle-class professionals who say they want to help their communities emerge from postwar chaos and to let, as one put it, "Iraqis make decisions for Iraq."

"They give us a general," said Bahith Sattar, a biology teacher and tribal leader in Samarra who was a candidate for mayor until that election was canceled last week. "What does that tell you, eh? First of all, an Iraqi general? They lost the last three wars! They're not even good generals. And they know nothing about running a city."


Malaki is Bush's puppet in Iraq. He wasn't elected to anything except in some peoples minds.

Don

[MonkeyFunk]

5. Maliki DOES suck

he can't govern.

Last week he was George Bush's ineffective puppet - now that Hillary doesn't like him, he becomes the symbol of Iraqi democracy.

[The Vinyl Ripper]

6. Who the hell _could_ govern that charnel house..

The US created?

[William769]

9. Thanks for pointing out the obvious.

Some people around here can be really transparent.

[MonkeyFunk]

11. If Clinton came out against cancer

people here would start clamoring for the right of self-determination of all cells.

[mmonk]

7. If we are going to the trouble of inserting

a puppet government, the least they could do is listen. Puppet governments are not supposed to be independent.

[madrchsod]

8. since bush brought up vietnam the other day

"Upon learning of Diệm's ouster and death, Ho Chi Minh is reported to have said, "I can scarcely believe the Americans would be so stupid."<56> The North Vietnamese Politburo was more explicit, predicting: "The consequences of the 1 November coup d'état will be contrary to the calculations of the U.S. imperialists ... Diệm was one of the strongest individuals resisting the people and Communism. Everything that could be done in an attempt to crush the revolution was carried out by Diệm. Diệm was one of the most competent lackeys of the U.S. imperialists ... Among the anti-Communists in South Vietnam or exiled in other countries, no one has sufficient political assets and abilities to cause others to obey. Therefore, the lackey administration cannot be stabilized. The coup d'état on 1 November 1963 will not be the last."<57>"

maliki should watch his back in the emerald city....

[MethuenProgressive]

10. "what business do they have calling for him to be replaced" Quotes, please?

Neither has said "he should be replaced".

[bdamomma]

12. the US will appoint another dictator to do their bidding

and then find a way to eliminate him when he doesn't do what the US says.

[Evergreen Emerald]

13. they have also called for Bush to be replaced

the nerve I tell you.

[bigtree]

14. He's right about the interference. his statement was odd though

he IS a product of the U.S. invasion and occupation. He will gain his independence when he tells his protectors to leave.

[Tinksrival]

15. I keep wondering how this fits......

http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/4052/Allawi_Pays_300k_for_Anti-Maliki_US_Campaign

Allawi Pays $300k for Anti-Maliki US Campaign
Bush's Former Envoy to Iraq is Top US Lobbyist for Key Iraqi Critic of Iraqi PM

Documents obtained by IraqSlogger show Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki's chief Iraqi opponent, Ayad Allawi, is paying Washington lobbyists with close ties to the White House $300,000 to help with Allawi's efforts in the U.S. to promote himself and undermine Maliki.

The powerhouse Republican firm retained by Allawi is Barbour, Griffith, & Rogers (BGR), and its BGR International unit is headed by President's Bush's one-time White House point man on Iraq, Robert Blackwill, who will lead the lobbying efforts on Allawi's behalf.

Allawi signed the BGR lobbying contract with Blackwill, who served as Presidential Envoy to Iraq in 2004 when Allawi was appointed the country's interim prime minister with the U.S. government's blessing.