Iraqi deputy prime minister says tone of debate in US has surprised him

[ECH1969]

Iraq's deputy prime minister says he's been keeping tabs on US public opinion over the war in Iraq while at home in Baghdad.

But Barham Salih says he "did not imagine" the level or tone of the debate the way he's seen it the past few days while visiting Washington.

Salih spoke after meeting with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon, saying he didn't ask for more U-S troops to help handle rising violence. He says the situation can't ultimately be decided through military means, but rather by Iraqis making political deals and compromises.

Salih says militias are striking at the government's credibility, with the key question for Iraqi leaders being how they can prove they're the ones to rely on for services and protection.

http://www.klastv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5408412&nav=168Y

[Robbien]

1. What debate? There is no debate in corporate media

And what does this "tone" mean that the Iraqi PM is so surprised about?

This article sounds like a puff piece.

[cyberpj]

2. You are too right. And, re: 'puff piece'... aren't they all? nt.

[rusty charly]

3. Iraqi Official Testifies to Links Between Saddam and Al Qaeda

By ELI LAKE - Staff Reporter of the Sun
September 14, 2006

A deputy prime minister of Iraq yesterday offered a sharp contradiction of the conventional wisdom here that Saddam Hussein's Iraq and Al Qaeda had no connection before the 2003 war, flatly contradicting a recent report from the Senate's intelligence committee.

In a speech in which he challenged the belief of war critics that Iraqis' lives are now worse than under Saddam Hussein, Barham Salih said, "The alliance between the Baathists and jihadists which sustains Al Qaeda in Iraq is not new, contrary to what you may have been told." He went on to say, "I know this at first hand. Some of my friends were murdered by jihadists, by Al Qaeda-affiliated operatives who had been sheltered and assisted by Saddam's regime."

http://www.nysun.com/article/39631

[Jack Rabbit]

4. The New York Sun?

Who but the right wing choir takes that fishwrap seriously?

[rusty charly]

5. i know- but,

who is this guy?

[Jack Rabbit]

6. The Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq

Now, being that he's a member of the Iraqi government, you shouldn't be surprised that he tries to paint a sunny face on present conditions in Iraq. I mean, if he did otherwise, it would be like a US administration (pick any one of them, Republican or Democratic) saying, "Man, the economy is dreadful and the country is going down the wrong path; we have really fucked up." You don't ever expect to hear that, do you?

Where he gets these fables about Saddam and al Qaida, I don't know. Maybe he's been talking to Laurie Mylroie.

[Az_lefty]

7. IS this going to be the October surprise???

Iraqi boot lickers claiming a link between Al Qaeda and Saddam? You can just see this crap coming...