Bush Must Set Iraqi Self-Rule to Get Foreign Aid, Diplomats Say

[ze_dscherman]

Sept. 23 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. President George W. Bush won't get more foreign money and troops for Iraq unless he sets a timetable for establishing Iraqi self-government, diplomats from Mexico, Angola, Chile and other countries said.

They joined France and Germany in pushing for self-rule in Iraq on the eve of a Bush speech today to the United Nations seeking international support for the country's reconstruction. Bush will follow his address with private lobbying for a Security Council resolution calling for a multinational security force and broader UN role, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice told reporters yesterday.

Demands that the U.S. commit to a schedule for turning the government over to Iraqis make it less likely that Bush will come away with widespread UN support for the resolution as it now stands. He has asked Congress for $87 billion for military operations and reconstruction and may need financial aid from others to keep a record budget deficit from mounting.

``We expect a blueprint for sovereignty and reconstruction if he wants a collective effort,'' Mexico's ambassador, Adolfo Zinser, said in an interview. ``This is a critical time and an opportunity for the president to clarify the steps to be taken to restore sovereignty to Iraq.''

SNIP

Much more: http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aX84YKi.jOxU&refer=us

[Gman]

1. How does Bush plan to pull off

conning other countries to send troops and money yet leave Iraq as an American colony?

[displacedtexan]

2. does anyone else have a weird feeling about this UN speech?

why would the neocons send * into the lion's den?

it's like a bad metaphor in the making: is * being set up by his biz partners?

i just don't get it. why now? and why this 'stay the course' crap, which can only fail at this point?

a i misunderestimating karl rove?