Maliki refuses to support Israel and condem Hezbollah

What was your position? Are you supporting Hezbollah in this war with Israel?

MALIKI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): George Bush support us as well. All this has to do with the will of the people. One of these things that has to do with the people as far as their traditions and, in our days, we feel the freedom of expression and the freedom of designation of these things.

BLITZER: Because as you know, there was great anticipation when Saddam Hussein's regime fell and a new Iraq emerged, especially among those advocates of this policy known as the neoconservatives here in the United States, who were hoping that shortly after your new democracy emerged, your new government emerged, Iraq would join Egypt and Jordan in establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. Is that in the cards? Is that on your agenda, to open up a relationship with Israel?

MALIKI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): What's in Iraq in terms of the problems and challenges and needs and efforts to rebuilding and to work to bypass the ordeal and the problems in the country are not with these causes at this point.

BLITZER: So, at this point, that's not an issue on your agenda, to consider establishing relations with Israel?

MALIKI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): This issue is not on the table at this point. If it was put on the table, it has to be with the parliament, who expresses the will of the people. It's not our concern at this point.

BLITZER: Do you personally believe, Mr. Prime Minister, that Israel has a right to exist?

MALIKI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): To be committed to international law, as with the Security Council, it has to do with the positions; and not to be committed to these laws, it opens the doors to different things.

If we want to reach solutions, we should go back to the Security Council and its resolutions.

BLITZER: So what does that mean? Does Israel have a right to exist or not?

MALIKI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): That means that the international resolution gives it the right, but the international resolutions and the rights and the interest of these and not having solutions, it will give this issue some sort of confusion. Therefore, we should go back again to what comes out of this international agency as far as Iraq.

BLITZER: No, I'm talking about Israel. What about Israel? Should it exist, or should it not exist?

MALIKI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): As I said to you, and again, this issue has to do and should be dealt with as per the international laws. And not to implement the international laws doesn't give anybody a right to do these things. And it would not help us to reach our conclusion. That what's we want.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0608/27/le.01.html
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How can the US support a regime that doesn't reconize Israel's right to self defense?

You reap what you sow.

I am not saying its right or wrong.

But lets give an exampel perhaps of how you would feel...

There is an International decisions made. They have just decided to give a piece of land to N. Korea. This land that they deam N. Korean is your literaly your backyard. N. Korea comes in, removes you from your property (without payment I might add), and you are forced into a tent city. Now, you are pissed off as all hell. That's bad enough (right).. but now N. Korea doesn't stay within its given borders.. it starts creeping into areas that weren't given to them by the International Treaty.

Now, are you happy? What are you going to do? If you fight, you are a terrorist? You are against N. Korea. And I am not even going to get started with the religious aspect of declaring your whole nation one religion and anyone agaisnt it now becomes a racist. But what do you do? I've heard so many say, I'd fight for my country. I'd fight for my liberty... How are you going to do this now that you are a terrorist?

I hate this fight over if you aren't with Israel, you are anti-semetic. Bullshit. I am against violence. I am for real democracy where no one has to be terrified to believe in what they do, but willingly practices their faith because their is free will.

When all sides have done some pretty bad things.

I also hate the hypocricy of "I haven't chosen a side - it's clear that Israel is the agressor and has done a lot of really really bad things over hte years, but i haven't chosen a side - i'm on the side of peace."

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

Peace is somthing that is attainable. It takes time. It takes forgiveness on both side. I hate people who can't see that there are 2 sides. The people who can't understand that its the beginning of peace. To recognize that each person, no matter where they live, have inalienable rights to live freely without constant strife. It is the people who are caught, once again, as pawns in this horrible game. It is time to be able to speak honestly and openly about both sides. Both have undertaken horrible atrocities to one another. But in order to have peace you need to lay it all on the table and not hide. I am just tired of the back and forth. Recognize. By posing the question: Do they have a right to exist? You play into the hands of taking sides, thereby eliminating the path to real peace.