‘Power broker’ Cheney gets Iraqi pledge for long-term agreement.
‘Power broker’ Cheney gets Iraqi pledge for long-term agreement.
The AP reports that “Vice President Dick Cheney played the part of backroom power broker” during his visit to Iraq and “came away” with “pledges from Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds to firm up a new blueprint for U.S.-Iraq relations that will stretch beyond the Bush presidency” and keep U.S. troops in Iraq beyond the U.N. mandate:
Topics ranged from security in Iraq to Iran’s rising influence in Mideast, but a key item was about crafting a long-term agreement between the U.S. and Iraq, plus a narrower deal to define the legal basis for continued U.S. troop presence.
The deal would take the place of a U.N. Security Council resolution that expires in December, the same time Bush will be packing up to leave office.
The Bush administration contends that it has “constitutional authority” to “continue combat operations” in Iraq past December without Congress’s authorization.
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Ok, it’s time for Congress to step up to the plate and let them know that they do not have the constitutional authority to do this. They are in effect making a treaty and that is not within their power. If Congress lets this one slide, I’ll be very surprised. It may be that they have found their backbone after all this time.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:05 pmLet’s get one thing straight. By Long Term, he means until Jan 20, 2009.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:10 pmNot content to screw things up for your term-limited eight years, huh? Just have to figure out a way to extend it past then…….
March 18th, 2008 at 8:14 pmthe same time Bush will be packing up to leave office.
Unless of course we have a “national emergency” and bush/co decides to stay.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:15 pmplus a narrower deal to define the legal basis for continued U.S. troop presence.
what is puzzling is why they ever bother with the pretense of legality. Everyone knows that they do whatever the “F” they want regardless of the lawlessness of the action, so why put on the show? Who are they trying to convince that what they do is legal and above board - themselves? Because that’s the only people left believing anything they say or do.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:15 pm.
Its official, its not a war. Will the pundits stop calling it one and clamoring for victory?
March 18th, 2008 at 8:16 pmIf Dick Cheney was truly a power broker it seems that there would be more than a 24-hour grace period between when Cheney departed Iraq and the reconcilliation talks broke up in complete disarray.
The problem is that Cheney was preaching the stay the course line and nothing good will happen until there is a new policy in place that can move things off of dead center. Accordingly, it was fully expected that Cheney’s trip was a waste of time and taxpayer dollars.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:17 pmHe, and the boys at KBR should be breaking out the champagne tonight.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:21 pmnot on my dime.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:23 pmTime for Rep. Gary Ackerman to step up again. He pressed them once on this but apprantly not hard enough.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:24 pmExcuse Me? Don’t they have to have the approval of Congress before they can do this?
March 18th, 2008 at 8:24 pmFan of Man Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
not on my dime.
And not with my pennies either.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:25 pmI thought it read “Bathroom broker”…
March 18th, 2008 at 8:26 pmHe and the others in what’s left of those in the WhiteHouse bunker are so full of shit that that’s where they need to be, in the bathroom.
They’ve used the Constitution as ass paper for so long… I’m just going to vomit on all of them…
Jeannie See Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Excuse Me? Don’t they have to have the approval of Congress before they can do this?
Surely you jest. You must be because I’m laughing.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:26 pmJFC what in the hell is this administration trying to do to everyone?
March 18th, 2008 at 8:26 pmNamtillaku Says:
He, and the boys at KBR should be breaking out the champagne tonight.
And this is exactly right. The administration should be forced to explain why this is so important that Cheney went all the way to Iraq to twist arms to make it happen. Why on earth is it so critical that we have a permanent presence in their country? And, please, none of this horsepuckey about “Islamofascism”. Cheney isn’t doing this because of “Islamofascism”; it’s about money. Period. So, Dick, where is the advantage to Americans in a permanent presence? Not just you and your fat cat buddies in the oil bidness and Haliburton and KBR. What about everyone else?
March 18th, 2008 at 8:28 pmBush and Putin seem to be on parallel courses. They both appear to be willing to step back but but want to retain control.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:29 pmMarch 18th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I’m gonna link to a vid that I just saw at C&L. Hope no one minds.
Bastards.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:30 pmThe Bush administration contends that it has “constitutional authority” to “continue combat operations” in Iraq past December without Congress’s authorization.
Bush Sr. Claimed the same thing, that his authority came from the UN resolution and a congressional resolution was unecessary and that he would proceed regardless.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:30 pmThese ducks are so lame they need wheelchairs to get around. Congress should fight this tooth and nail, there’s no political capital left in the BushitCo account.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:31 pmMarie, with all due respect, I don’t care at this point if Nader gets the nod, something has to be done.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:32 pmI’d like to hear from the blithering W brigade just how W’s successor would be legally bound to follow this mandate not approved by Congress
Seems if W can blow off Congress in this case, his successor can blow this unratified treaty off as well
March 18th, 2008 at 8:40 pmMarie and Jeannie,
March 18th, 2008 at 8:41 pmThere’s going to be quite a task cleaning up this mess. The first challenge the next president has is enlisting the American people to take up the challenge and turn this thing back on track. Enormous sacrifice will be needed to curb our consumption of oil, get us into green technology, fix our schools, etc.
Let’s work to make sure we get the right person.
KingCranky ~ Seeing as how the only thing the W~Worshippers seem capable of is ‘Clinton did it’, don’t hold your breath waiting to hear from them. I’d guess you don’t look good in purple.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:42 pmA backroom pledge is worthless.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:46 pmYou can bet that even the boot licking Republicans in Congress will never relinquish the power to make treaties. There’s definitely a show down coming on this one. Plus, I would like to know who the hell Cheney is brokering with, since most Iraqi citizens want us out of there.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:49 pmRUCerious Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Marie and Jeannie,
There’s going to be quite a task cleaning up this mess. The first challenge the next president has is enlisting the American people to take up the challenge and turn this thing back on track. Enormous sacrifice will be needed to curb our consumption of oil, get us into green technology, fix our schools, etc.
Let’s work to make sure we get the right person.
I agree.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:52 pmRoket Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
You can bet that even the boot licking Republicans in Congress will never relinquish the power to make treaties. There’s definitely a show down coming on this one. Plus, I would like to know who the hell Cheney is brokering with, since most Iraqi citizens want us out of there
I hope you are right but I’m not holding my breath. They have proven time and time again that it’s party over country.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:55 pmlol good luck with all that
March 18th, 2008 at 9:03 pmRUCerious Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Marie and Jeannie,
There’s going to be quite a task cleaning up this mess. The first challenge the next president has is enlisting the American people to take up the challenge and turn this thing back on track. Enormous sacrifice will be needed to curb our consumption of oil, get us into green technology, fix our schools, etc.
Let’s work to make sure we get the right person.
I’m agreed on the huge “task”, but, it’s up to us, We The People, to restore accountability to our government. It’s up to us to enlist our “leaders”. Not the other way round. I’ve had it with “leaders”.I fear that another “leader”, regardless of ideology, will ring the death knell of our experiment in democracy.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:05 pmMarie Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I am of the hope that an Obama presidency will restore equal powers to all branches of government, will restore haneas corpus, and will in general return us back to where we were B.R. (before RayGun)
I corrected you thought (my apologies)
March 18th, 2008 at 9:13 pmCheney is selling those magic beans again. Any promise that he means that isn’t approved for the Congress is worthless. Now Cheney is trying to keep the Iraq Government thinking he has the power to control the US after he gets out of office. Now if McCain gets in as President, Cheney will still be running things. If Hillary or Obama get in Office it’s all over and Cheney knows it.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:19 pmThe Bush administration contends that it has “constitutional authority” to “continue combat operations” in Iraq past December without Congress’s authorization.
Sure it does ………… If it re-worded/rewrote it , anyway ………………
March 18th, 2008 at 9:24 pmCheney has used his office to enrich himself and “friends” too long - it will be a cold day in hell if they beleive any “agreement” between Bushco and the installed KBR Government in Iraq lasts longer than January 20 . . .
This Failed Administration has done more damage to freedom and democracy than any Terry Ista would fantasize . . . this is one man that I wish “modern” medicine had failed . . .
March 18th, 2008 at 9:27 pmI hope you are right but I’m not holding my breath. They have proven time and time again that it’s party over country. -Jeannie See
I would say they put money over country AND party. Never have I seen such greedy, uncompassionate, sociopathic behavior.
Here is a list of ways to identify a sociopath. This list is from “Profile of a Sociopath”. Is is a pretty good list of sociopathic indicators.
* Glibness/Superficial Charm [Check]
March 18th, 2008 at 9:29 pm* Manipulative and Conning [Check]
* Grandiose Sense of Self [Check]
* Pathological Lying [Check]
* Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt [Check]
* Shallow Emotions [Check]
* Incapacity for Love [Check]
* Need for Stimulation [Check]
* Callousness/Lack of Empathy
* Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
* Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
* Irresponsibility/Unreliability
* Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
* Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
* Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility [Chck]
* Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them [check]
* Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
* Authoritarian [big check]
* Secretive [double check]
* Paranoid [Watch out for the Jackal. Check]
* Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
* Conventional appearance [check]
* Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)[check]
* Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim’s life
* Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim’s affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
* Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
* Incapable of real human attachment to another
* Unable to feel remorse or guilt
* Narcissism, grandiosity (self-importance not based on achievments)[like looking at a crystal ball]
* May state readily that their goal is to rule the world [hegemony, one world order, check]
We’ll work really hard. We’ll get this mess cleaned up. We’ll restore equal power to the three branches… etc. We’ll be SO BUSY cleaning up the messes that we won’t be able to get to real legislation that really counts, like health care for all or an honest and fair media. And all during this time loud mouths like Rush Limbaugh will super thrive on off-republican years, pushing morons to yet again vote the stupid vote in 2012, when a new republican can step in and completely undo everything accomplished these next four years.
Sounds like a winning plan to me!
March 18th, 2008 at 9:30 pmSuch arrogance. The new president will have the constitutional authority to kill the deal. I don’t know who Cheney thinks he is. He’s not a prince or a king and Bush isn’t a dictator and I’m sad to say they’ve gone way beyond where they should be. And the congress has not gone far enough. The only, and I say again, the only reason they’ve gotten this far is because our cowardly congress didn’t and doesn’t have the courage to stand them back on their heels. They’ll being playing childish games until they’re gone trying to hamstring the new president because they know it will be a democrat and it will be President Obama. Doesn’t that make your little arrogant racist heart just vibrate all over the place dickster?
March 18th, 2008 at 9:30 pm# Merlin Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Marie Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I am of the hope that an Obama presidency will restore equal powers to all branches of government, will restore haneas corpus, and will in general return us back to where we were B.R. (before RayGun)
I corrected you thought (my apologies)
I hope a Hillary presidency does it, so we don’t have to wait 8 years for Obama to do something :)
Sorry, but Obama isn’t ready to restore faith in his own personal judgment. He just bald faced lied about the hate rhetoric of his own church, I’m in no place to trust this man will do what he says. He’s overly religious, he’s highly homophobic, and he’s a racist. All of those make thrilled to see he’s sinking in the polls in Penn.!
March 18th, 2008 at 9:32 pmThe AP reports that “Vice President Dick Cheney played the part of backroom power broker” during his visit to Iraq and “came away” with “pledges from Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds to firm up a new blueprint for U.S.-Iraq relations that will stretch beyond the Bush presidency” and keep U.S. troops in Iraq beyond the U.N. mandate….
Did it involve horse’s heads and bedrooms, or Halliburton-KBR “profit-sharing” (or both)? Jes’ curious….
Cheers,
March 18th, 2008 at 9:42 pmrepublicans hate facts Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
…and he’s a racist. All of those make thrilled to see he’s sinking in the polls in Penn.!
I’m curious…what makes you think he’s a racist?
And please back up your claims with quotes, or actions, or legislation connected with Obama.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:50 pmYes . . . just who’s money is he using ?
March 18th, 2008 at 9:51 pmFollow it . . . direct ties to other 9-11 coordinators.
republicans hate facts Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
just your opinion, which isn’t shared by many here. Hillary is better than Bush, but is no savior.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:52 pmPromises, promises (about Bush and Cheney leaving office that is).
March 18th, 2008 at 9:57 pmI shudder to think of what tactics he used to extract this committment–this is a guy is who not known for being tactful or diplomatic.
We have to call and keep calling our reps. while they are back home in their districts and put them on notice that this will NOT stand–it is long past the time to end this mad folly. Banks are failing, food prices are through the roof, gasoline is near $4 a gallon, etc., etc., we can’t afford this any longer.
Any high school student who has a survey course in economics knows that in a war time, we should be making a ton of money–this mob gamed that system and now only the financial backers of the republicon party are making obscene amounts of money.
No Dick, this will not fly–the american people are fed up with the lies and bullshit.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:07 pmYeah, like this agreement will hold up. They will take whatever bribe he gave up and then do what they were going to do anyway. What leverage is Cheney going to use to enforce it? Invade Iraq and kill a million people?
March 18th, 2008 at 10:46 pm#35
I found many of those definitions under the “psychopath” page over at wiki, in addition to “Malignant Narcissism” there as well
It really is scary how many of those descriptions so properly apply not only to W, but so many of those who led us into the Iraq meat grinder.
With the exception of Cheney, he’s not a hothead like W, Cheney’s got pure ice water running through his veins. Unlike Bush Jr, Cheney genuinely doesn’t care if anyone likes him, or gets upset with his POV.
Cheney’s the Michael Corleone to Bush Jr’s Sonny
Cheney’s the Qusay Hussein to Bush Jr’s Udai
March 18th, 2008 at 11:30 pm#32 Merlin
I was thinking only short term - but this nation began its downward spiral with the election of Ronnie, that’s for sure.
I will never understand why he was so popular.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:41 pmevil, self centered creep, cheney has made his fortune from the demise of the less fortunate, i hope he rots in hell
March 19th, 2008 at 12:13 am#37 obama is riding high on white guilt, your hysteria is showing -get real
March 19th, 2008 at 12:17 amThe “gravy-train” doesn’t stop, and the “feedbag” doesn’t come off just because it is 2009. Cheney/bu$h intend to plunder and pilfer the U.S. Treasury long after they are term limited from holding office.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:16 ama new blueprint for U.S.-Iraq relations that will stretch beyond the Bush presidency
hmm - wonder if he’ll be walking out of washington and into a halliburton boardroom come feb 2009?
March 19th, 2008 at 2:17 amI am sure this backroom deal was made by darth vader dick handing out wads of your tax money to each of the factions.
March 19th, 2008 at 6:02 amWow, a treaty à la Hong Kong or Gibraltar. Very democratic. And trying to tie the hands of the next presidents.
I find funny how many Republican Presidents (backed by many in their country) bend and break international law and previous treaties in such actions and bilateral treaties (see the International Court of Justice, Kyoto, etc), and they act all disgruntled, groan and moan when they need help and expect for it to be free, and without conditions. Well, if you want a team to back you, you must be a team player. No single player can win a football or baseball match, and the teams that trust in only a star player are in deep doo doo if anything unexpected happens to that star.
An example? The Coalition of the Billing. Bush, in this case, cheered by MANY in his country, bypassed (and almost destroyed completely the UN), because he was unwiling to hear the letter of the law, the treaties signed by the USA, or the allies of his country, forming a coalition of rogue countries (including mine, thanks to the infamous President Aznar, rancid rightist, and yes man of the USA, kicked in the next elections, and his party hasn’t regained the government either in the last elections, held the 9th of this month).
Frankly, this USA government is a disgrace for its own country and the world. A perfect example of how ideology over reality and good will can be very harmful.
March 19th, 2008 at 7:01 amYes why not play into the hands of the Iranian ( Maliki)
costs are going to hurt
March 19th, 2008 at 8:02 amAmong his first actions as the next President, Obama should take a page from the current Administration and freeze all the assets of Dick Cheney, Dianne Feinstein, Halliburton, Blackwater, KBR, Exxon and every other war profiteer. All current “no-bid” corporations contracts should also be nulled ASAP. This war was trumped up soley for corporate profit. All assets should be frozen until which time it can be determined just how much excess profits tax should be witheld and whether any illegal dealings were made. It could take years to dig through and determine how much money these parties actually made during this period and they should have no access to any of these funds until this is resolved. I know, Haliburton has changed it’s official operations to Dubai but this occured after no bid contracts were handed out to them by their fomer boss, Dick Cheney. They should still be beholden to pay taxes on US profits to the US. If you want any kind of justice this is where to hurt these bastards. Hit them in the wallet and drag out court proceedings forever. Play hardball with these MFers and set an example for the future that we are NOT a nation that wages wars for profit ANYMORE!
Bush/Cheney Hague ‘09
A Patriot Acting all Muslimlike and stuff
March 19th, 2008 at 8:41 amLet’s face it - we were conned. Iraq had no WMDs and no links to Al Qaeda. Saddam Hussein never tried to purchase uranium from Niger or steel rods for centrifuges.
There was no threat - and the Bush administration and its allies knew it. They were clever, though. In the months preceding the invasion, we were drenched with drip-drip propaganda from the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon.
They played us like a symphony. They threatened, bribed and browbeat the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) into playing the same tune, accompanied by Number Ten’s dodgy documents and Tony Blair’s convincing boyish grin.
At least former Secretary of State Colin Powell has the decency to be ashamed of his part in the con. Once the most respected member of the administration, he spun an elaborate fairy tale for the UN, antics he would later describe as “a blot” on his record.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:48 am# truthfairy Says:
March 19th, 2008 at 12:17 am
#37 obama is riding high on white guilt, your hysteria is showing -get real
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You need to brush more often
March 19th, 2008 at 8:50 am