Iraqi PM says he refused U.S. request to delay execution

[sabra]

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/01/09/maliki.hussein/

Iraqi PM says he refused U.S. request to delay execution

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's prime minister said Tuesday that he turned down a U.S. request to delay Saddam Hussein's hanging because he wanted to send a message to Iraqis that no deal was under consideration to let the former dictator escape punishment.

"The situation in the country was shaky with many rumors about possible deals between Saddam and the government," Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told reporters.

"These rumors, which were started by Saddam's defense lawyers, created tension among the people, and we felt the necessity of terminating this man who was troublesome in his life and troublesome in his death."

...

Al-Maliki acknowledged that Zalmay Khalizad, U.S. ambassador to Iraq, asked him to postpone the execution by 10 days to two weeks.

"We refused because of what I described earlier: The tension in the country was high," al-Maliki said. "We didn't want to leave the door open for trouble, and we didn't want the victims' families to take to the streets in protest."

[CatWoman]

1. they really, really need to get their tories straight

just the other day a story came out saying that Condi and Hadley made that determination

:eyes:

[Kagemusha]

2. Khalilzad DID make such a request, and it was turned down.

And then he went to Condi and Hadley, and they made the determination you mention. (I believe with his saying, convincing the Iraqis has failed, so going along was the only feasible action now.)

The story's straight, if you dig enough to figure out who did what.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

3. Tin Foil Hat Time

I had read an article that not only said we tried to delay the execution, but we were also negotiating a deal which would delay it even further, while allowing Saddam to help us quell the violence in Iraq, and possibly even let him escape to Jordan.

Is it possible we got buyer's remorse, and wanted to suddenly negotiate with Saddam, but we had gone too far, and the Iraqi's said...."Too bad, he's our bitch now."

[daleo]

4. This could be disinformation

There is a suspicion that Saddam's hanging was hurried, due to the Democrats taking over congress early in January, with the possibility that embarrassing Poppy-Saddam secrets could eventually be revealed. Bush may want to dampen that suspicion, so Al-Maliki may be providing cover.

[Spazito]

5. LOL, and we should believe either the puppet Iraq PM

or the US puppeteers, I don't think so. It is laughable that either are capable of telling the truth, imo.

[bpeale]

6. this from a bush puppet? i don't believe it.

[Eugene]

7. Khalilzad apparently has Pres. Talabani dancing to his tune instead.

Story: Iraq urges delay Saddam case executions - AP

The Bushies as still working on getting their puppet show to perform right.