Reconciliation Despite Democrats’ Promise Surge Wouldn’t Bring It: Sunnis Rejoin Government
“Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, hailed the political pact as “a very important step forward.”
And let’s not forget that the Great Visionary, Mr. Judgement Himself, Hussein, was right at the front of the pack of naysayers.
BAGHDAD - Iraq’s largest Sunni Arab political bloc returned to the government fold Saturday after calling off a nearly one-year boycott of the Shiite-dominated leadership—another critical stride toward healing sectarian rifts.
The return of the National Accordance Front does more than politically reunite some of Iraq’s main centers of power.
It was seen as a deeply significant advance toward reconciliation and efforts to cement security cooperation between Shiite-led forces and armed Sunni groups that rose up against al-Qaida in Iraq.
The United States has pressured Iraq’s government to work toward settling the sectarian feuds, which brought daily bloodshed until recent months. The hope is that more parties staked in the future of Iraq could mean a quicker exit for U.S. and other foreign forces.
Iraq’s sharply improved security situation is already bringing plans for a pared-down British force.
On a visit to Baghdad, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said plans are being made to scale back troops in Iraq, but refused to consider an “artificial timetable” for withdrawing Britain’s remaining 4,000 soldiers.
Britain’s moves come about four months after Iraqi opened a major offensive in Basra to root out Shiite militias with suspected links to Iran.
The campaign reclaimed wide control over Iraq’s second-largest city and key oil center.
Brown’s visit came on the eve of an expected stop by presidential candidate Barack Obama on the second leg of a tour of the Pentagon’s war zones. Obama spent Saturday in Afghanistan and is later expected to hold talks around the Middle East and Europe.
The break in the Iraqi political impasse came after parliament unanimously backed Sunni candidates to fill the post of deputy prime minister and head five midlevel ministries, including higher education and communications. Four other Cabinet posts were filled by Shiites.
The Front pulled its members from the 39-member Cabinet last August, complaining it was sidelined in important decisions. The political rift left al-Maliki’s government without partners in bids to find common ground with Sunni leaders.
Sunni Arabs, who represent about 20 percent of the country, were highly favored under Saddam Hussein but the tables turned after his ouster when Iraq’s majority Shiites held sway. The rivalries spilled over into a wave of sectarian killings and al-Qaida bombings apparently aimed at triggering civil war.
But Sunni sheiks last year began to organize militias—which came to be known as Awakening Councils—against insurgents. Their role has been considered key in undercutting al-Qaida and helping reduce violence to its lowest levels in four years.
“What happened today is a national step forward to boost the government’s role and take the national reconciliation ahead,” said the bloc’s spokesman, Saleem Abdullah.
Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, hailed the political pact as “a very important step forward.”
(AP)
(AP)
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the Libs are going to have a field Day, with that pic
God Bless GWB
Cheers 
July 19th, 2008 at 12:49 pmIt could be O’dules!!!
July 19th, 2008 at 12:50 pmIs he drinking a beer!?
July 19th, 2008 at 12:53 pmHah! I didn’t even notice. Thought it was ice-t.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:54 pmIf anyone has an excuse to drink, it’s President Bush…more power to him since he has stayed dry!
July 19th, 2008 at 12:59 pmIf anyone deserves one it’s W.
Thanks again W for keeping the faith and for protecting America’s families.
July 19th, 2008 at 1:07 pmWe shall not do so well if the Dems take over.
I don’t see any ice.
July 19th, 2008 at 1:08 pmO’Doul’s, I am sure of it.
July 19th, 2008 at 1:09 pmhaha! funny photoshop job - a bit obvious though, the left arm is fake, but
July 19th, 2008 at 1:10 pmFirst clue.
July 19th, 2008 at 1:22 pmWhen time has passed a number of years, historians and military experts will look back at the War in Iraq and laud the efforts of the U.S. military in winning this war. It will be viewed as nothing short of brilliance. When you combine the undeniably gutsy call of the Surge with the valor of American Marines and soldiers, air force and Navy it should have been the kind of story splashed across every newspaper and tv news broadcast on a daily basis.
It is a shame that in one of the finest military efforts in the history of the U.S., the Leftist MSM controlled the airwaves and print media and the traitorist Democrats controlled Congress.
When the U.S. troops do come home in sizeable numbers, this country should shut down for a week in order to give those troops the deserved recognition they should have. I cannot remember a group of troops who have weathered such odds and fought such an irrational enemy with such efficiency and bravery.
Sidenote: As for the photo - “one is too many and a thousand isn’t enough” I truly hope that is a photoshopped picture. Not for the sake of liberals “heyday” but for the sake of one man’s recovery.
July 19th, 2008 at 2:10 pmWhen time has passed a number of years, historians and military experts will look back at the War in Iraq and laud the efforts of the U.S. military in winning this war. It will be viewed as nothing short of brilliance. When you combine the undeniably gutsy call of the Surge with the valor of American Marines and soldiers, air force and Navy it should have been the kind of story splashed across every newspaper and tv news broadcast on a daily basis.
It is a shame that in one of the finest military efforts in the history of the U.S., the Leftist MSM controlled the airwaves and print media and the traitorist Democrats controlled Congress.
When the U.S. troops do come home in sizeable numbers, this country should shut down for a week in order to give those troops the deserved recognition they should have. I cannot remember a group of troops who have weathered such odds and fought such an irrational enemy with such efficiency and bravery.
Sidenote: I can only hope that the photo is photoshopped and not because of the “heyday” the liberals would have with it but for the sake of one man’s recovery. “One is too many, a thousand never enough”
July 19th, 2008 at 2:12 pmDespite the leftist smear merchants appraisal of the Iraq War, and their wholesale sell-out to our enemy, the war has been won. So put that in your pipe and smoke it leftist bitches. Now go back home lefties your mommy is calling you. But don’t worry, your security is being assured by men and women of valor. You know the folks who have the balls that you lack?
July 19th, 2008 at 2:34 pmPhotoshop or not,
looks to me like the POTUS is toasting the troops.
A toast to the troops:
To a job well done ladies and gents.
If you’re half as proud of the job you’ve done as we are of you,
there’ll be no living with you when you get home.
And to the President of the United States of America, George Walker Bush.
July 19th, 2008 at 3:38 pmPelosi’s daughter made a film about the 2000 campaign and in it W celebrated his birthday (soon to be a National Holiday if I have anything to say about it) with Bucklers, an alcohol free beer made by Becks. I think that’s his brand.
July 19th, 2008 at 3:54 pmGO GWB!!
I’m so sick of Hussein acting like he’s already the president. He’s not good enough to fill GWB’s shoes.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:08 pm