Iraq's divided parliament stands united over Israel

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL644892.htm

Iraq's divided parliament stands united over Israel


BAGHDAD, July 16 (Reuters) - Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish lawmakers in Iraq's U.S.-backed parliament often fail to see eye to eye, but on Sunday they stood united in their condemnation of Israel's military offensive against Lebanon.

Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has been pleading with fellow Iraqis to put aside deep sectarian and ethnic divisions of the kind that plunged Lebanon into civil war 30 years ago.

His pleas have gone largely unheeded, but Israel's five-day-old assault on Lebanon that has killed more than 116 people, all but four of them civilians, has evoked strong feelings of solidarity among Iraqis, bridging the sectarian divide.

"Support Hassan Nasrallah and stand by his side and you will be closer to the angels in heaven," wrote Hameed Abdullah, a Sunni, in an editorial in al-Mashriq newspaper, referring to the leader of Shi'ite Hizbollah, the target of the Israeli campaign.

[daleo]

1. I hadn't seen these figures

"Israel's five-day-old assault on Lebanon that has killed more than 116 people, all but four of them civilians".

That's pretty damning, assuming it is accurate.

[adigal]

Uh-oh, GW is going to have to give them a

talking to - you know, they must hate democracy in Iraq.

[adigal]

3. Snark aside - my wish for Iraq

That they do put aside their differences, unite, and throw us the hell out.

Good for everyone but the neocons, who want their airspace and oil.

[Poll_Blind]

2. I think the U.S. will leave Iraq for a week, then reinvade. n/t

PB

[VegasWolf]

4. They are really not showing their gratitude to King George. nt

:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:

[rodeodance]

5. First, they are ARAB--so not surprizing at all.

[me b zola]

6. Will bush*co insist Iraq hold new elections?

That way bush* can claim that they have turned a corner...again.

[Bonhomme Richard]

7. Uniter...not a Divider n/t