Iraqis unite against Biden plan

[cyberpj]

Iraqis unite against Biden plan
By NED PARKER and RAHEEM SALMAN, Los Angeles Times
Posted Monday, October 1, 2007

Sen. Joe Biden's "federal" plan for Iraq was backed by 75 senators.

BAGHDAD -- Iraq's divided political leadership, in a rare show of unity, skewered a nonbinding U.S. Senate resolution approved in Washington last week that endorses the decentralization of Iraq through the establishment of semi-autonomous regions.

The measure's advocacy of a relatively weak central government and strong Sunni Arab, Shiite and Kurdish regions has touched a nerve in the Iraqi political arena, stoking fears that the United States is planning to partition Iraq.

"The Congress adopted this proposal based on an incorrect reading and unrealistic estimations of the history, present and future of Iraq," said Izzat al-Shahbandar , a member of secular ex-prime minister Ayad Allawi's parliament bloc.

He was reading from a statement also signed by Iraq's preeminent religious Shiite Muslim parties and the main Sunni Arab bloc.

More:
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071001/NEWS/710010328/0/NEWS

[cyberpj]

1. Biden’s Response To Iraq Prime Minister al-Maliki (says Embassy is doing White House's bidding)

Biden’s Response To Iraq Prime Minister al-Maliki (says Embassy is doing White House's bidding)

Biden to Iraqi pols: 'I Don't Know Who the Hell They Think They Are"
October 01, 2007 7:13 PM

ABC News' Brian Wheeler Reports: Joe Biden today responded to criticism of a resolution passed by the Senate last week that called for federalism in Iraq. During a conference call with reporters, Biden steadfastly denied that the resolution was aimed at breaking up Iraq, and said, "It is not partition, it is not foreign imposition, and it will not produce bloodshed and suffering in Iraq. It’s hard to imagine how more bloodshed and suffering in Iraq could exist."

Biden’s amendment, introduced with Sen. Sam Brownback R-KS, was passed by the Senate last week by a vote of 75-23. It was immediately criticized by a wide spectrum of Iraqi politicians as an attempt to split up the country, and on Friday Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told the AP: "It is an Iraqi affair dealing with Iraqis. Iraqis are eager for Iraq's unity. ... Dividing Iraq is a problem, and a decision like that would be a catastrophe."

Today Biden was heated about Maliki’s contention that the U.S. Senate should mind its own business: "For Maliki and Iraqi leaders to suggest we don’t have a right to express our opinion, I don’t know who the hell they think they are. We have a right. We’ve expended our blood and treasure in order to back their commitment to their constitution. That’s the deal."

On Saturday the U.S. embassy in Iraq issued a statement denouncing the resolution, saying "attempts to partition or divide Iraq by intimidation, force or other means into three separate states would produce extraordinary suffering and bloodshed. The United States has made clear our strong opposition to such attempts."

Biden said the embassy was doing the bidding of the White House, and of Ambassador Ryan Crocker Biden said, "He has no legitimate basis to say this is partition. He knows better."

More:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/10/biden-to-iraqi-.html