LAT: Iraqi leadership sees links with Democratic congress ("Dem. ideas are more related to reality")

Iraqi leadership sees links with Democratic congress

By Borzou Daragahi, Times Staff Writer
5:47 PM PST, January 27, 2007

BAGHDAD, Iraq --
-snip-

Many pointed out advantages to the Democrats' increased sway over Iraq policy. Officials of the Shiite-led government said they have generally found the Democratic position on handing over security to Iraqi forces sooner rather than later closer to theirs. Almost all agree on Democratic Party initiatives, squashed when Republicans controlled Congress, to prevent the building of permanent U.S. bases here. They note news reports of Democrats acknowledging the suffering of the Iraqi population.

"I see that the Democratic ideas are more related to reality," said Ammar Tu'ma, a Shiite lawmaker who serves in al-Maliki's coalition. "They talk about the real problems that the Iraqis are facing every day."

To date, government officials said, they've also found the Democratic visitors such as Pelosi, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois less parochial, more culturally sensitive and more willing to listen to Iraqi concerns than Republicans.

"Before Bush used to order Iraqi officials to do this and that," said one member of al-Maliki's Dawa Party, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "The Republicans were dictating the political process in Iraq. With the Democrats in control of Congress, the Republicans are now less influential than before. It helps us in a sense to breathe a bit more and to have more freedom."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraqdems28jan28,0,4971850.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Shocking, huh?



No, not at all.

:kick:

agrees, considering the results of the Nov. election. K&R.

Democrat vs republicon. Dems "...talk about the real problems that the Iraqis are facing every day."

"Republicans were dictating the political process in Iraq."

k&r

That's my take on the situation.

I made up the part about film at 11:00. This development lacks blood and gore and isn
t corporate-sanctioned toadiness, so no film for this one.

I'm grateful the LA Times covered it. I hope it has some legs, but I doubt it.

Who needs it when we have The Decision Maker?

...which I take to mean that, unlike *, the first thing they ask isn't "why are you wearing that funny hat?"

toward the greedy and reckless * administration.

After all their grandiose talk about how they were "spreading democracy and freedom" in Iraq, the criminals in the WH have demonstrated anything BUT the pursuit of noble goals in that country. What they've done instead is shatter it to pieces and drench it in blood.

I'll bet every Iraqi leader since the occupation began has learned the hard way just what it is * really wants there.

I am so glad to hear that al-Maliki's people are recognizing things really have changed in OUR government, and that they're determined to establish connections with Democrats now. We can only guess at how refreshing it must have been for them to meet with Speaker Pelosi and Senators Clinton and Obama!

It's also gratifying to think about how pissed off the naked Chimperor must be over this shift in the Iraq government's focus and attitude.

Thanks so much, Pirate Smile, for finding and sharing this article. It could well be a lot more important than it might at first seem!

It's time to take off the training wheels and give the Iraqis their country back.

Iraq no longer recognizes bush as 'the decision-maker'?