"Rice Awkward as She Meets Iraq PM" -- on surprise visit to Baghdad

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/Reuters: Rice Awkward as She Meets Iraq PM
By REUTERS
Published: April 2, 2006

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began talks on Sunday with Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, who is under pressure from the United States and sections of his own Shi'ite Alliance to step down.

Rice smiled frostily and appeared awkward as she and Jaafari exchanged pleasantries before photographers at the start of their talks, chatting about the rare rain falling on Baghdad.

"It is a good sign," Jaafari said. "I am sure you can notice the difference because you come frequently to Iraq."

Rice and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw had arrived on an unannounced visit to push for the formation of a new government of national unity, which has been blocked by Jaafari's refusal to heed calls to step aside.

The prime minister is facing growing calls to step down to assist the formation of a government, not only from Kurdish and Sunni Arab groups but also increasingly from inside his own Shi'ite Alliance....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-iraq-rice-jaafari.html

[saltpoint]

1. Condi was afraid he might ask her a Beatles trivia question. -- n/t

[patdem]

2. I don't know how good or bad for Iraq Jaafari is, but he sure is a joker

"It is a good sign," Jaafari said. "I am sure you can notice the difference because you come frequently to Iraq." :rofl:

[kenny blankenship]

9. "And I hope to make many more such visits to your country...Minister Diem"

Ooops did I call you "Diem"? How embarrassing!

[leftchick]

3. whoa! that is the actual headline!

:rofl:

[babylonsister]

4. After that last memo surfaced, I trust Jack Straw even less.

He needs to be scrutinized under a microscope, DUers.

[Neil Lisst]

5. She and Bush believe in Democracy, until someone they don't like

is picked by that process. They've been trying to bounce Jaafari for months now. I wonder how long it will be until they lose patience and give him the Diem treatment.

[acmejack]

8. Their actions belie their words

They don't believe in democracy, far from it. Democracy to them is nothing more than a convenient excuse for what they really believe in, oligarchical control by the elite (them) of all the worlds assets and workers (us). What a wonderful system, as long as you are them!

[Neil Lisst]

11. Ain't that the truth?! They don't even believe in democracy HERE!

[peacetalksforall]

6. Did she make visits to any near by country in the days before our

invasion of Iraq. The Iran talk is mounting.

I don't know how we got so unlucky to get her. She is despicable. I can feel her evil. I would like someone to convince me otherwise. She brings death. I want to apologize for my bluntness, but I must be blunt. You can hardly dismiss her by saying she is misguided. She has her own will.

[gratuitous]

7. More foreign policy by "surprise" visit

The bandits running our country are so hated all over the world they have to slip in and out of countries without prior notice or warning because they are so unpopular.

[donsu]

10. I love Jaafari's snideness "because you come frequently to Iraq"

nt