Rice says US still confident in Iraq moves toward democracy

[sabra]

http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=050815220856.pvzn7fi4.php

Rice says US still confident in Iraq moves toward democracy

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday that Iraqis have "generated considerable momentum" toward making a new constitution despite the delay in finishing a document.

Rice told a press conference she was confident that Iraq's political process would stick to a timetable that would see elections for a permanent government held at the end of the year.

Speaking after Iraqi lawmakers sought an extra week to draw up a draft constitution, Rice said the different groups "are making substantial progress on their constitution including on many of the most difficult issues before them.

"They have achieved a lot and they have generated considerable momentum toward the completion of a constitution."

[Roland99]

1. I thought they didn't like timetables?

[stepnw1f]

2. How About a "Timetable" to Pull Out of Iraq?

And how about telling us what that timetable really is for.

[goforit]

3. Bla Bla bla bla bla....

[saigon68]

28. A delusional angry person "--KINDASLEZZY RICE"

[MichiganVote]

4. Wow. Where's all that 'quiet political progress' Rice?

[VegasWolf]

5. Just not for Iraqi WOMEN! They're fucked under the new constitution! nt

[Cocoa]

Condoleezza Rice takes Iraq constitution delay in stride

http://www.wkyt.com/Global/story.asp?S=3725050

STATE DEPARTMENT Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is taking a delay in completion of an Iraqi constitution in stride.

She says the Iraqis "needed a little more time" to work out compromises.

Rice told reporters at the State Department that the process is working in an orderly fashion and that there's been "substantial progress."

Even before Iraqi politicians extended the deadline to complete a draft constitution, the Bush administration was trying to lower expectations. Said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack: "You don't always get it right the first time around."

[swag]

6. Same in Iraq as in the US: Constitution Schmonstitution

http://www.juancole.com/2005/08/now-theyre-moving-goalpost-every.html

"Every indication is that a final text of Iraq's permanent constitution just won't be reported out of the drafting committee in time to have parliament vote on it on Monday. Now Iraqi politicians are talking about having parliament amend the interim constitution to allow a delay of say, two weeks. In fact, according to the Transitional Administrative Law, if the committee did not ask for an extension by August 1 (which it was pressured not to do by the Bush administration); and if the parliament did not approve the new constitution by August 15; then parliament should be dissolved."

[Jacobin]

7. When was Condi ever worried about anyone's constitution?

She obviously doesn't care about ours

[bribri16]

8. What else can she do? n/t

[ironman202]

9. This just in: Rice Throws in the Towel

says Iraq is hopelessly overwelmed by insurgency; Recalls ambassador.

[despairing optimist]

10. "It's my country and I'll laugh if I want to, laugh if I want to . . ."

You would laugh too if it happened to you. And you could get off scot-free for violating international laws with wild abandon as long as your luck holds out. Hmmm.

[BeyondGeography]

11. Condi is all about shopping for clothes

This whole Iraq thing is not going to get in the way of how good she feels about that outfit she's wearing.

[Cocoa]

14. she's getting on with her life

finding "balance."

[A Brand New World]

12. Her voice is always so quivery it's like she's about to burst into

tears all the time. Drives me nuts. But I guess when you're telling nothing but lies it has to wear on you.

[liveoaktx]

13. Aren't they a FECKING SOVEREIGNTY? How arrogant

that it is even written about as if Iraq deciding on their own government could somehow put off Condi or not.

It would be far more appropriate for them to interview someone from the Iraqi government that was, however it happened, at least nominally elected.

[GoBlue]

15. I laughed, I cried.

Condoleeza Rice and Company Present

You don't always get it right the first time around

[stanwyck]

16. Talking point of the week

I've already heard it over a dozen times today...well, America's Constitution took a long time to write and implement, so...we just need to be patient.
Expect to hear this continually.
We must be patient.
If Rummy says we may have to be in Iraq six weeks (he actually said that)...or even SIX MONTHS (yes, he said that...). well, you just have to be patient.
Maybe six years.
Maybe six decades.
You just have to be patient.

[TankLV]

17. Well at least Iraq's constitution has originated just like the US one.

It was created and enacted by AMERICANS!

[Olney Blue]

23. Just not smart ones....

[stanwyck]

30. Ha!

Good point. And, of course, plenty of Americans will die for this constitution, also.

[pimpbot]

18. What a butt ugly outfit

YIKES. What is she thinking?

[adigal]

19. Anchors aweigh, Condi!!!

Yes, Condi, they need a little more time to determine just how many rights they are going to take away from women and how many Islamic rules will run the lives of the Shiites. Also, they need that extra time to figure out how to screw the Sunnis into the ground.

Ahoy!!!

[Roland99]

20. What happened to the Dom boots?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

21. But is was supposed to be so easy

So said the Neo-cons

[leesa]

22. Another lie from Condi, big deal.

[Kitsune]

24. Why doesn't she emigrate there, if she thinks it's so awesome?

I'd love to see what she thinks about the position of women in the new Iraq.

[Roy]

25. There seems to be a pattern of confidence.....

that follows each colossal failure.

[Rex]

26. Speak for yourself

The U.S. has no confidence in Kinda Sleazy Rice.

[The_Casual_Observer]

27. Licey looked a little upset being push out on that stage by the chimp

Ya see, the chimp was too chicken to make the announcement, ya see, in other words he is hiding from cindy ya see.

[dutchdoctor]

29. what else was she going to say? n/t