Rice says U.S. must give Maliki "breathing space"

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N11389368.htm

Rice says U.S. must give Maliki "breathing space"


WASHINGTON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday the Bush administration would give Iraq's government some "breathing space" after the president's "tough" words in his Iraq speech.

In comments picked up on an open microphone between morning television interviews, Rice indicated she did not want to put too much pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, with whom the Bush administration has become increasingly irritated.

"I don't want to descend on the Maliki government and look like we, you know, just sort of beat their brains out," said Rice in comments monitored by Reuters from a television feed.

"The president was pretty tough last night and we'll be pretty tough today. Give them a little time to now do something, a little breathing space," she added.

[Nimrod2005]

1. Funny, Carl Levin said we need to do exact opposite, we need to apply pressure

Heard him on NPR few minutes ago...

[DixieBlue]

12. Yeah, I heard that this morning too ...

And what he said made sense.

It would seem like, if you were really worried about stabilizing Iraq, there's no way you'd give anyone any breathing space.

What a mess it all is. And now * is going to send 20-thousand more troops over there. This is bad.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Why don't we just get the fuck out of Iraq

and he can have all the breathing space in the world.

And while we're at it, let's take that billion+ a week and spend it on America.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. sure condi. by moving our troops out of baghdad and into Iran.

nice idea, you stupid little person, you.

[bdamomma]

17. this was the plan along we have been saying it and saying it

and now this maniac is going to do it. The axis of evil, Iraq, Iran, Syria and North Korea, he is just going along with the neo cons PNAC agenda. He must be stopped for all of our sakes.

[maddezmom]

4. CNNI is carrying her speech live now

[maddezmom]

6. Rice: need to get the embassy officials out of the Green Zone

and on the ground in Iraq.

[Avalux]

5. Whatever.

Or we could do this - we could immediately send a top level official to Iraq to LIVE there and work closely with Maliki. In fact, why don't you pack your bags and catch the next flight? Why don't you actually try to fulfill your duties as Sec. of State, instead of following Bush around like a puppy dog, massaging his ego?

[Javaman]

7. More rhetoric buzz phrases, by our SOS or Same Old Shit. nt

[Binka]

8. you know, just sort of beat their brains out, WTF?

This is how the U.S. Secretary of State talks? I feel like the country has been hijacked by the ugliest, vilest, nastiest, most disgusting group of 13 year olds in the history of mankind.

you know, just sort of beat their brains out :wtf:

[tinfoilinfor2005]

9. Good point, Binka. Spoiled and dangerous little boy/men who

put other people's children in danger without a grain of conscience.

By the way, how is your son doing? And what does he think about this?

[Binka]

11. He's Part Of The SURGE Going Back To Iraq In March

I'm quite sick over this. When he got sent last time I just knew it was gonna be really bad for him, I actually had dreams of him dying. I feel like I am going insane. If anything happens to Ben I will immolate myself on the WH lawn. :cry:

[tinfoilinfor2005]

13. Oh no!

I wasn't aware of that. I remember seeing the pictures of him in the hospital. He was really badly wounded, to my recollection. You are not insane...they are the insane ones. My continued prayers...:cry: :hug:

[Binka]

14. I Healed Him Up Too Well I'm Afraid

I should have compound fractured both of his legs at Bethesda. I am serious. I had no idea he would go back. He has survivors guilt especially after his best buddy V was killed in Feb 2006 a week before the 3/7 was set to return to 29 Palms.

Here he is in June 2006. My beautiful son. I have been crying for two solid months now.

[hang a left]

18. He is absolutely gorgeous

Sending prayers to whoever guards this earth to protect him.

[Binka]

20. Thank You

He is my first born and I have always been so in love with him. Your prayers are very much welcomed. :hug:

[bdamomma]

19. oh binka, this whole thing is all so wrong.

:(

[Fresh_Start]

10. I agree give him breathing space, like all of Iraq for instance

removing all the Americans should provide him lots of room to stretch out.

[Az_lefty]

15. too much pressure on PM Maliki???????

we need to turn up the pressure and make the little puppet get control of his fu@king country. NO MORE US TROOPS!!!!!!!!!!

[bdamomma]

16. Maliki is going to do nothing he wanted out a few weeks ago

bush is playing him and bush does not give a shit about our troops whatsoever. Sending those troops out there without the equipment. this is all about bush, and how can he play out the last two years. Fuck him. Geez, I have never been so pissed.

[Doctor_J]

21. Who?

Is she still cashing paychecks?

[GeorgeGist]

22. Beat their brains out...

or give them just enough rope to hang themselves with George's noose around their neck. Heck of a job, Condi.

[Az_lefty]

23. does this mean Maliki told them to take their plan and shove it?

Now their giving him time to think about it? Sounds like Maliki didn't get a heads up on chimpys tough talk going into last night.

[maddezmom]

24. Iraqi government is on 'borrowed time,' Rice says

WASHINGTON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice suggested on Thursday that the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was running out of time to restore security in Iraq but repeated her confidence in him.

"I have met Prime Minister Maliki. ... I saw his resolve. "I think he knows that his government is, in a sense, on borrowed time, not just in terms of the American people but in terms of the Iraqi people," Rice told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Her remarks came at a hearing where she testified about President George W. Bush's plan to send 21,500 more U.S. troops to Iraq. The plan was sharply criticized by many Democrats and Republicans at the hearing.

Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel said the plan, unveiled in a speech on Wednesday night, was a major mistake.
more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N11414862.htm