Iraqi Militias Biggest Obstacle, Bush Says

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060512/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Friday that militias are the biggest roadblock to Iraq's effort to getting a unity government up and running, a goal that would help bolster the president's sagging approval ratings over its handling of the war.


Bush spoke at the White House where he met with 10 former secretaries of state and defense from both Republican and Democratic administrations to discuss Iraq and the broader Middle East.

"Perhaps the main challenge is the militia that tend to take the law into their own hands and it's going to be up to the government to step up and take care of that militia so that the Iraqi people are confident in the security of their country," Bush said.

Iraqi officials plan to restructure police forces in the capital under the newly formed National Police force to rein in militias and death squads.

"It's important to have a secure Iraq in order for people to go about their daily lives," Bush said.



President Bush, center, speaks with the members of media after participating in a meeting, Friday, May 12, 2006. Left to right are Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Vice President Dick Cheney, Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

centuries.
I wouldn't even define most of these places as countries.

...such an assemblage of incompetent, mendacious slime in one meeting? The mind boggles...
:crazy:

keeping the fear up? did they give up on PHEAR?

This group is pretty subdued, but if you look closely you can feel the fear, emanating from their pores. The scent of adrenaline wafts out....it's unmistakable. The accelerated thought process, the 'racing brain', trying to escape unscathed.

They know it's not going to work. That much is decided: Iraq is not going to work out. They're beyond trying to salvage it. Now, they're just trying to save their own asses before November.

Bush here is the most expressive. Look at his forehead, the deep grooves. His face betrays worry, fear. The right half of his face hangs, and gives a Freudian glimpse into what was discussed in all those meetings.

It has caused the greatest damage to Iraq.

to consult with Saddam about how to deal with the Sunni/Shiite battle that has been raging for so many years. He was fully aware of the problem, whether he did the right thing or not. Big mistake to let the right wing Shiites get the upper hand in the first place.