In Break With Bush, Iraqi Leader Assails Israel

By EDWARD WONG and MICHAEL SLACKMAN
Published: July 19, 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 19 — Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki on Wednesday forcefully denounced the Israeli attacks on Lebanon, marking a sharp break with President Bush’s position and highlighting the gathering power of a Shiite Muslim identity across the Middle East.

“The Israeli attacks and airstrikes are completely destroying Lebanon’s infrastructure,” Mr. Maliki said at a news conference inside the fortified Green Zone, which houses the American embassy and the seat of the Iraqi government. “I condemn these aggressions and call on the Arab League foreign ministers’ meeting in Cairo to take quick action to stop these aggressions. We call on the world to take quick stands to stop the Israeli aggression.”

The comments by Mr. Maliki, a Shiite Arab whose party has close ties to Iran, were noticeably stronger than those made by Sunni Arab governments in recent days. Those governments have refused to take a strong stand on Lebanon, reflecting their concern about the growing influence of Iran, which has a Shiite majority and has been accused by Israel of providing weapons to Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group. Their stance has angered many Sunni Muslims in those countries, despite the centuries of enmity between the Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam.

Like many other people around the region, Ahmed Mekky, 40, an Egyptian lawyer and a Sunni Muslim, says he supports Hezbollah because it is doing what he said the Arab leadership has been frightened to do for too long — standing up to Israel and the United States.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/19/world/middleeast/19cnd-shiites.html?hp&ex=1153368000&en=891d1e5d8571a98c&ei=5094&partner=homepage

condemning israel?

hmmm -- imagine that?

and isn't this the second anti-israeli administration we've supported in iraq?


hmm -- imagine that?

... they can start funding Hezbollah.

Ahh... now THAT'S the definition of irony for YOU, Mr. Bush.

King george thinks he is the only one allowed to be two-faced. The only one to "stand his ground." The only one who knows what's right for EVERYONE else. Put here by God himself, to make the world a better place.

Yet, EVERYONE else has their own agenda too. Sometimes, especially with his 23%+ Followers, they agree with Everything he does. Just lead, and they will FOLLOW. But sometimes, the other 77% develop a belief which is different from his. Sometimes, they are even "friends" of his.

But there are no friends in politics. And while King george is establishing "democracies" in Iraq and Lebanon, they might not be "democracies" that he's comfortable with. Hence, perhaps not his first choice for leader in Iraq, and that person is not in so much agreement with King george. After all, he is Arab, and Arabs were taught to hate the Jews, and to Hate Israel. That is what they do, and King george and his myopic backers won't change it.