Iraq Rejected U.S. Invitation To Attend Middle East Peace Conference
Iraq Rejected U.S. Invitation To Attend Middle East Peace Conference
During his first term, President Bush repeatedly promised that an invasion of Iraq would set off a rush for democracy in the Middle East. From a speech on Nov. 6, 2003:
Iraqi democracy will succeed — and that success will send forth the news, from Damascus to Teheran — that freedom can be the future of every nation. The establishment of a free Iraq at the heart of the Middle East will be a watershed event in the global democratic revolution.
That vision hasn’t come to fruition. The Bush administration has even had to lower its expectations for political success in Iraq. It is no longer aiming for “reconciliation” between Iraq’s sectarian groups, instead going for “accommodation.”
Not only is Iraq not inspiring democracy around the Middle East, but officials are too “busy” repairing their country to participate in the rest of Bush’s “freedom agenda.” During today’s press briefing, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said that while Iraqi officials were invited to attend the Bush administration’s Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, MD, this week, they “decided not to come” because they “have a lot of issues on their plate.” Watch it:
Labid Abawi, Undersecretary for Political Affairs in the Iraqi foreign ministry, confirmed that the “reasons” for Iraq’s absence had to do with “the busy schedule of the officials concerned.”
Transcript:
QUESTION: But the fact that you have all these Arab leaders in town — does it make Iran look more isolated?
PERINO: Well, I think Iran has decided to isolate itself. By their words and their actions they continue to, unfortunately for their own people, make themselves more isolated from the rest of the world.
Yesterday was a significant moment, not just because President Olmert and Prime Minister Abbas were able to forge an agreement about launching these negotiations but because they were roundly supported by over 40 countries that had joined them, including Arab nations. And so that was important.
QUESTION: And Iraq did not come. Why? And what significance does that…
PERINO: Well, they certainly were invited. I think that, obviously, they have a lot of issues on their plate, but they decided not to come. And it was unfortunate, but, obviously, they would have been invited.
QUESTION: Do you know the reason why they wouldn’t?
PERINO: I don’t.
QUESTION: I know they have a lot of issues on their plate, but…
(CROSSTALK)
PERINO: Beyond them being very busy, I don’t know. I’d have to refer you to them.
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Iraq sees this as the joke it is… US of all nations, holding peace conferences?
November 28th, 2007 at 11:37 pmWell, this is a good investment for our money spent there and for the troops killed, isn’t it?
Peace Conference??…
This is a joke! It’s just Bush’s attempt to save face at the end of his disastrous government.
Just another Bush-it!!
November 28th, 2007 at 11:42 pm#2 drtichy
November 28th, 2007 at 11:48 pmAnd what do you want to bet corporate media builds this up in Bush’s favor… just anything to help salvage the Gross Old Perverts from their plight?
Iraqi officials [...] “decided not to come” because they “have a lot of issues on their plate.”
Like a civil war, ethnic cleansing and a brutal occupation. And that’s just for starters.
The Bush administration holding a peace conference is like Duke Cunningham delivering a speech on congressional ethics.
Or Karl Rove lecturing on professional integrity.
November 28th, 2007 at 11:56 pmMISSION ACOMPLISHED 2 – THE MUSICAL!
November 29th, 2007 at 12:07 amRememeber the sloganeering in 2004-2005 by Prez-Nitwit”Freedom is on the march”
November 29th, 2007 at 12:21 amWell seems like freedom ran away from the march.
“Yes, well, clearly they’re just too busy. There was something about choosing the national tree and the national nut. The whole, oooh, Arab/Jew thing was kind of a sideshow because they’re too busy deciding on the national rug.”
“On the other hand, who do you think will play me in the movie? I’m thinking Hayden Pantierre will be about the right age and she’s cute, too. Like me, cute.”
November 29th, 2007 at 12:26 amThe establishment of a free Iraq at the heart of the Middle East will be a watershed event in the global democratic revolution.
HA!!! – doesn’t he mean a waterboard event?…..and how much coke had he snorted when he said that???
November 29th, 2007 at 12:47 am“PERINO: Beyond them being very busy, I don’t know. I’d have to refer you to them.”
So, besides VOI, did anyone in the White House or State Department ask why the Iraqi representatives declined the invitation? Jeez…
November 29th, 2007 at 12:49 amYou know things are bad when your “puppets” decline to follow your lead.
November 29th, 2007 at 1:09 amwhen you look at dana perino doesn’t it remind you of “walk hard: the dewey cox story”?
i mean really.
November 29th, 2007 at 1:16 am“Iraq Rejected U.S. Invitation To Attend Middle East Peace Conference”
What a slap in the face to George Bush. With the latest Blackwater “incident” still a fresh smarting wound, it would stand to reason. Of course that wouldn’t have anything to do with it… would it?
November 29th, 2007 at 2:20 amLooks like this set of puppets is not working anymore. BushCo will be on the lookout for a new Iraqi leader. Ah, where is Chalabi hiding these days? Besides from the Jordanians, of course.
#13 Comment by BARTLEBEE — November 29, 2007 @ 2:02 am
Except that girl was pretty.
Odd how being a Republic front for a lying scumbag can make a pretty woman look ugly.
November 29th, 2007 at 2:23 amDuring today’s press briefing, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said that while Iraqi officials were invited to attend the Bush administration’s Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, MD, this week, they “decided not to come†because they “have a lot of issues on their plate.â€
Like continuing to not getting along together at all ?
Funny little eccentricities built into 2 millenia of slaughtering each other , eh Dana , you empty headed bim ?
November 29th, 2007 at 3:12 amOr i just could be the Iraqis realise that the isreal lobby are part of the reason Iraq has been pulverised into the stone ages
November 29th, 2007 at 5:46 amComment by Kilo — November 29, 2007 @ 4:55 am
You know things are improving in Iraqi when their officials encounter scheduling problems that prevent them from attending meaningless encounters with people that they hate. Allah bless George Bush and his administration for the policies that are responsible for bringing democracy to Iraq.
November 29th, 2007 at 6:40 amIf things really are improving in Iraq, when can we see new video other than the same stock scenes of fully-armed US troops kicking down Iraqi doors?
November 29th, 2007 at 6:56 amAny ideas what might happen to Bush when The UN Mandate for troops in Iraq is rejected by the Iraqi parliment
I do, George Bushes career as president is in the hands of Maliki
Bet there will be millions of pissed Americans if hes out of Iraq before his term with the high casualty figures all for NOTHING
November 29th, 2007 at 7:33 am21 , I dont think democrats will see the plan here
November 29th, 2007 at 7:34 am>Sounds reasonable, if not entirely expected.
maybe they were too busy giving blackwater some of that “maximum oversight” you think they have…
A whole government and they couldnt find one delegate? People with half a brain know that “schedueling conflict” 99.9 percent of the time means “we dont want to show up”…ala how every single one of the republicans seemed to have a schedueling conflict when invited to a debate hosted by a black organization.
> What exactly is the complaint / surprise here supposed to be ?
that people like you are too stupid to see that all your guns and fake machismo can’t make people like america or have the sort of government we want them to have. the iraqis for the most part dont like us and its increasingly looking like they arent asking “how high” when we say “jump”!. their government is and is tending more toward that of another non-atendee, iran, or the palestenians real government, hamas, than it is any government we would want them to have. the main political heavyweight in iraq is a shia cleric “moderate” who thinks killing gays is a good thing….aint democracy grand?..oh well.. back to studying for me..
November 29th, 2007 at 7:58 amBut but but the invasion of Iraq WAS the Bush administration’s Israel/Palestine strategy since 2000. What do they need to be there for – they’ve already done their part for peace in the Middle East
November 29th, 2007 at 8:05 amDreamCrusher
Been in a coma for the last few years DreamCrusher.
How do you know that Amanda?
Well, lets see, over the last few years since the fall of Iraq.
Hamas is now the duly elected government of Palestine.
Turkey’s military rebelled at the thought of having a less secular government in charge. That government was elected by the people.
Pakistan recently declared a state of emergency which more or less abolished any hopes of Democracy there.
Saudi Arabia recently showed precisely how highly it regarded women’s rights.
Iran’s president is holding onto power mainly by opposing America and everything it stands for.
Lebanon had a war with Israel, which neatly demonstrated how little power the democratically elected Lebanese government really has.
November 29th, 2007 at 8:37 amSounds reasonable, if not entirely expected.
What exactly is the complaint / surprise here supposed to be ?
Comment by Kilo — November 29, 2007 @ 4:55 am
I give you a perfect 10 on your kkkool-aid carrying form!
November 29th, 2007 at 8:48 amthe “surge” failed too. who’s surprised?
November 29th, 2007 at 8:50 amWhy does anyone, even our lapdog stenographers in the “press” bother to ask anyone in this administration their opinion on any matter? All you get is 100% spin and propaganda.
November 29th, 2007 at 8:50 am“Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
Didn’t turn to cr*p overnight, either, but the signs of decay are nonetheless familar.
November 29th, 2007 at 9:06 amDidn’t turn to cr*p overnight, either, but the signs of decay are nonetheless familar.
Comment by bernard quatermass — November 29, 2007 @ 9:06 am
Point, click, and SHIP!
November 29th, 2007 at 9:15 amRome wasn’t built in a day.
Comment by DreamCrusher
Really, really idiotic comparison.
Maybe you need to research what led to the fall of Rome, dipsh*t.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:00 amHow do you know that Amanda? You been to the Middle East? Spoken with ordinary people living in the region? So in other words, Al Gore hasn’t inspired anyone in the United States to do more for the environment, simply because the Bush administration hasn’t signed the Kyoto protocol?
Come on Amanda, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Comment by DreamCrusher — November 29, 2007 @ 8:03 am
Beautifully played, DC. I didn’t think that you could do such a superb job of clarifying the similarites between the Bush administration and the radical Islamist menace, but you have shown us all that they are two sides of the same coin. Excellent work! Now even you know that Bush is as evil and ignorant as Bin Laden. Way to wake up, boy!
November 29th, 2007 at 10:08 amBush and the Israeli PrimeMinister talking about PEACE! Bush and the Israeli PrimeMinister talking about PEACE! Bush and the Israeli PrimeMinister talking about PEACE! I keep repeating it and the more I do the more SURREAL it sounds! They may be two most Hiddeous WAR CRIMINALS in History, and they sound soooooooo sincere… What a hoop!
November 29th, 2007 at 11:53 amIf they were serious and sincere about peace, the US/Israel should’ve engaged the political leader of the Palestinians that acctually won their free, transparent and democratic election, the leader of Hamas. Yes Hamas! Engaging him in the political arena would reduce violence and would take the situation towards the correct direction. Instead, Israel and US, who have no intentions to leaving the occupied territories, have no intention of ending the Apartheid imposed on the Palestinian people, have no intention in remove the ilegal wall, have no intention of real peace, engage the ilegitimate former palestinian representative, and the talk in this latest pantomima doesn’t even approach these important issues. The Media doesn’t mention the Palestinian elections that took place, they don’t mention how Israel and the US punished the Palestinian people after the result of these elections. One more tipical example how the USA hates democracy!
November 29th, 2007 at 12:02 pmThis is one woman how should be seen and not heard. I love women but man, there is nothing worst than a lying woman, especially a cute one
November 29th, 2007 at 12:05 pmThey had to wash their hair, just too much to do.
Bush/Cheney
Hague Trials ‘09
Buck Fush
November 29th, 2007 at 12:38 pmI’ll have to give the Iraqis a pass on this one. One part of management is deciding what things you can deal with at the present time. They’ve got a whopper on their plate already.
November 29th, 2007 at 6:07 pm