|
The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
|
September 25th,
2007 - Bush Discusses Civilian Deaths in Iraq |
|
Bush Discusses Civilian Deaths
in Iraq By Jennifer Loven Associated Press September 25, 2007 New York - President Bush
pressed Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Tuesday to move on stalled
measures deemed critical to political reconciliation, while al-Maliki made
clear his unhappiness about the killing of Iraqi civilians by private U.S.
security contractors. Meeting face to face for the
second time this month, the two leaders used polite diplomatic language to
talk publicly about tense issues. It was a sign of how little room each has
to maneuver: The Iraqi prime minister owes his still-tenuous political
survival in large part to staunch White House support, and Bush, even if
dissatisfied with al-Maliki's leadership in some areas, recognizes there is
virtually no alternative to replace him. Bush is under tremendous
pressure from congressional Democrats and Republicans alike to show that his
loyalty to al-Maliki is justified, given the Iraqi's slow progress in
bringing rival sects together to lessen fighting and meet benchmarks set by
Washington. So after their hourlong meeting, the president praised al-Maliki
for "your dedication and your commitment" while speaking vaguely -
though pointedly - about the need for unspecified "political parties in
Iraq" to make strides. "Some politicians may
be trying to block the law to gain special advantage," said Bush, who
also met with al-Maliki in Iraq on Labor Day. "And these parties have
got to understand that it's in the interests of Iraq to get good law
passed." Much-delayed action, such as
a national oil law, have stalled in the Iraqi parliament amid factional
bickering and, in some cases, defections. Bush also underscored Iraq's
obligation to beef up security forces. "I assured him we want his
security forces well-trained, mobile and capable of handling Iraqi security
on their own," said Bush, who in January had said Iraq would be able to
handle security in all 18 provinces by November. Al-Maliki defended his
government's performance while saying "the task before us is
gigantic." The prime minister brought
up his own deep frustration about Blackwater USA, a private contractor whose
security guards are blamed for killing 11 Iraqi civilians while escorting a
diplomatic convoy in Baghdad. Blackwater, which protects
State Department personnel in Iraq, said its employees acted appropriately.
While offering sympathy, Bush has said he will withhold judgment during the
ongoing investigation. Al-Maliki did not
specifically mention the situation when he appeared publicly with Bush,
saying only that they "talked about the importance of mutual respect
between our two sides." Later, Bush's national
security adviser, Stephen Hadley, said al-Maliki said behind closed doors
that Iraqi sovereignty must be respected. The two agreed there should be
"better cooperation and coordination in these operations," and
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice followed with a more detailed discussion
with the prime minister, Hadley said. A senior Iraqi official said
Bush asked al-Maliki to provide him with a list of similar suspected
violations and noted that the United States has held accountable those
responsible for the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. Earlier Tuesday, Bush
delivered his annual address to the U.N. General Assembly. The president mentioned Iraq
only in passing, lumping it with Afghanistan and Lebanon and saying that
"every civilized nation has a responsibility to stand with" the
people of those three countries nurturing new democracies. He spoke out in detail
against what he termed repressive regimes in Zimbabwe, Sudan, Cuba -
prompting that country's foreign minister to walk out in protest - and,
especially, Myanmar, a Southeast Asian country also known as Burma that is
ruled by a military dictatorship. Declaring that
"Americans are outraged by the situation in Burma" and accusing the
dictatorship of a "19-year reign of fear," Bush said the United
States would tighten economic sanctions on the leaders of the regime and
their financial backers and impose an expanded travel ban that applies not
only to people responsible for human rights violations but also their family
members. Rice plans to raise the
question of Myanmar on Thursday when she sees her colleagues from the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The president appeared
determined not to give ammunition to those who make the annual international
gathering a debate of sorts between Bush and Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad. Bush brought up Iran only as one of several briefly listed
countries - including Belarus, North Korea and Syria - that deny basic
freedoms. Outside, about a dozen
people were arrested during a peaceful demonstration of about 400 opposed to
the Iraq war and the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Bush's speech had an
internal snafu as well. A draft was publicized on the U.N.'s Web site,
complete with pronunciations for names of foreign leaders and locales.
"I don't know how the draft of the speech - it was not final - was
posted, but it was, and it was taken down," White House press secretary
Dana Perino said. © 2007 The Associated Press External link: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/5163747.html |