Thread: Iraq/Dinar News. 09/05 to 01/14/07

Bush gives no hint of new Iraq direction By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
33 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - President Bush knows the general direction he wants to move U.S. policy on Iraq but won't announce it until next month, the White House said Tuesday. Military commanders were recommending more U.S. advisers and equipment for Iraqi forces, said a defense specialist.



Bush, under intense pressure to overhaul his Iraq policy, gave no hints of a change in direction after a meeting with Iraq's Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, one of several Iraqi power brokers he has recently hosted in the Oval Office. He said, however, that the U.S. is holding fast to its objectives and commitments.

"Our objective is to help the Iraqi government deal with the extremists and the killers and support the vast majority of Iraqis who are reasonable, who want peace," Bush said.

"We want to help your government be effective," he said. "We want your government to live up to its words and ideals."

While planning to recommend more advisers, commanders who met with Bush on Tuesday were not suggesting more U.S. combat troops in Iraq, the defense specialist said. He said they were urging the administration to pour significantly more funding into equipment for the Iraqi Security Forces. The specialist spoke on condition of anonymity because Bush's discussions with his commanders were private.

He said Gen. John Abizaid, top U.S. commander in the Middle East, and Gen. George Casey, the top general in Iraq, want more armored vehicles, body armor and other critical equipment for the Iraqis.

The message to Bush, the expert said, is that the U.S. cannot withdraw a substantial number of combat troops by early 2008, as suggested in the recent Iraq Study Group report, because the Iraqis will not be ready to assume control of their country. One reason Bush will not make public his new Iraq policy plan until next year is that officials need time to work out the funding details, he said.

The discussions Tuesday echo comments Abizaid made to the Senate Armed Services Committee that troop levels in Iraq need to stay fairly stable and the use of military advisers must be expanded.

There are about 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and about 5,000 advisers. Combat troops make up less than half of U.S. forces in Iraq.

Bush met for 25 minutes with al-Hashemi, who has been linked to a behind-the-scenes effort to form a new ruling bloc that could topple the fragile Iraqi government led by Nouri al-Maliki.

The White House would not say whether Bush and al-Hashemi talked about the movement afoot to form a new ruling coalition that would exclude anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and radical Sunni Arabs. Bush has called al-Maliki the "right guy" for Iraq, but al-Maliki is dependent on al-Sadr for political support.

White House press secretary Tony Snow said the president had expected to make a speech before Christmas to announce his new strategy for Iraq but still had questions and was not yet ready to make all the decisions he needed to make.

"The president generally knows what direction he wants to move in, but there are very practical things that need to be dealt with," Snow said. "This is not a sign of trouble. This is a sign of determination on the part of the president."

Democrats didn't see it that way.

"It has been six weeks since the American people demanded change in Iraq," said Harry Reid, who will become Senate majority leader. "In that time, Iraq has descended further toward all-out civil war and all the president has done is fire Donald Rumsfeld and conduct a listening tour."

"Talking to the same people he should have talked to four years ago does not relieve the president of the need to demonstrate leadership and change his policy now," said Reid, of Nevada.

Bush began his day by having breakfast with his new defense secretary, Robert Gates, who plans to travel to the region to talk with military commanders shortly after he is sworn in next Monday.

Gates also joined Bush in a secure video conference with Rumsfeld; the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace, and Gen. John Abizaid, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East. Participating from Iraq was Gen. George Casey, the chief U.S. commander in Iraq.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Bush had decided to take more time partly to give Gates time to settle into his new job at the Pentagon and help develop the new policy. She said the president was still considering advice from administration officials and commanders in Iraq and was studying the report issued last week by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group.

The report rejected calls for a quick withdrawal of troops but suggested that most U.S. combat forces might be withdrawn by early 2008 — and that the U.S. mission should be changed from combat to training and support of Iraqi units. It also called for an energetic effort to seek a diplomatic solution to Iraq's violence by engaging its neighbors, including Iran and Syria.

Bush has opposed direct talks with Iran until it halts uranium enrichment, preferring to let the Iraqis have direct talks with Tehran.

Most Americans who are familiar with the Iraq Study Group report support major recommendations by the bipartisan panel, according to a Pew Research Center poll, out Tuesday. But they also doubt Bush will follow the group's advice.

As for Bush's delayed speech, Snow was asked whether there were still active internal debates under way.

"People are going to have disagreements, and there may be some areas on which there are still going to be debates, but most have kind of been ironed out," the spokesman said.

Al-Hashemi was the second Iraqi politician Bush has met with in two weeks who has expressed discontent over al-Maliki's failure to quell raging violence. Last week, Bush spoke in the Oval Office with Shiite power broker Abdul-Ariz al-Hakim, who is among the Iraqi politicians talking about forming a new governing alliance.

"I can assure you there is a great and real chance to get out of this present dilemma," al-Hashemi said as he and Bush met briefly with reporters. "It is a hard time that the Iraqis face in time being, but there is a light in the corridor. There is a chance, but we need a good will and a strong determination."

In Baghdad, the embattled prime minister said there was no alternative to his "national unity" government. Al-Maliki said moves to set up a new government should not be viewed as an attempt to topple his coalition, although he appeared to suggest that was the aim.

"We are opposed to anyone who moves in that framework," al-Maliki said.

Maybe Whe Should Start A My Son Thread ! And Lieve This One For News .... Thanks ...

Sorry...

Originally Posted by jessemac

Maybe Whe Should Start A My Son Thread ! And Lieve This One For News .... Thanks ...

Too Funny ......

Originally Posted by pipshurricane

Austrian Airlines has started operating flights to Iraq, the carrier said Tuesday. An Airbus A 319 landed as scheduled at the airport in Irbil, a city in Kurdish controlled northern Iraq, on Monday, the airline said in a statement.

Noozz.com | IRAQ

Full article:
First Austrian Airlines flight lands in Erbil
Erbil, Kurdistan-Iraq, 12 December 2006 (KRG)

The first Austrian Airlines flight number 829 landed in Erbil International Airport today at 2.45pm from Vienna. The flight marks a milestone for the Kurdistan Region as the airline became the first Western regular scheduled carrier to operate there.

The flight landing was followed by a ceremony in which Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, the Director of the Office of Foreign Relations, thanked Austrian Airlines for its efforts. He said that the initiative will result in the Kurdistan Region becoming “next-door neighbours with Austria, and through them, with Europe and the world”.

This connection provides greater opportunities for foreign investors wanting to start businesses in the Kurdistan Region. “European businesses and political officials are now just hours away from seeing for themselves the peace, security and stability of the Kurdistan Region”, Mr Bakir said in his speech.

Later in a joint press conference, Mr. Johannes Davoras, Austrian Airlines Executive Vice-President for Corporate Communications, acknowledged the importance of bringing their flights to the Kurdistan Region and said that the Region “is a modern area, with a government doing good work for economic development”.

Such developments have been a vital part of economic progress in the Kurdistan Region, which is the Northern Gateway for the rest of Iraq.

The airline operates two scheduled flights a week between Vienna and Erbil, and tickets can be booked at any Austrian Airlines office around the world or in Erbil, or through an IATA (International Air Transport Association) member travel agent.

First Austrian Airlines flight lands in Erbil | Iraq Updates

Originally Posted by lndmn_01

Quit being so self important, we have this thread for news AND discussion. It won't hurt you to scroll past 2 or 3 posts.

DISCUSSIONN ABOUT NEWS ! . iT WONT HURT YOU TO SCROLL DOWN 2 OR 3 EITHER RIGHT ! FOLLOW YOUR OWN ADVICE !

Originally Posted by jessemac

Maybe Whe Should Start A My Son Thread ! And Lieve This One For News .... Thanks ...

and a My Daughter Thread, to be politically correct, for all those dinar mommies out there...

Originally Posted by garthstar

EXACTLY!!! SO SHUT UP THEN!!! MAN I HATE BORING CONSERVATIVE NEGATIVES!!!

anyone see that futurama episode where santa is a violence crazed robot that sleighs around killing and maiming kids by throwing high velocity toys at them?

blaudy hillarious....!

rest assured KarenC, it WILL HAPPEN b4 christmas. this bubble is just about to burst. HCL is finished, waiting for ratification. we are waiting only for "red tape". these politicians have to get it done b4 they get their holiday. theyll get it done. they want a happy time too. we all do, dont we (so piss off trolls, or else...)

for me, its christmas, and the July b'day i havent yet had, whatever day this dinar baby happens, for the rest of this lifetime!!!

im already looking over holiday rentals in the Caymans, and thinking what recording studio im gona book and boat to charter, plane maybe....!

yeeehah!!!

I like the way that you think man. After 3 years about all I can do is hope. I am so dang tired of struggling to keep my head above water. The next month or so is looking very good IMO. Keep your head up Garth. I dig it!!


Some of you need to relax a bit. Dang try a valium or something. It's not like someone spray painted it on your garage. Chill out!

Originally Posted by jessemac

DISCUSSIONN ABOUT NEWS ! . iT WONT HURT YOU TO SCROLL DOWN 2 OR 3 EITHER RIGHT ! FOLLOW YOUR OWN ADVICE !

Originally Posted by lndmn_01

Quit being so self important, we have this thread for news AND discussion. It won't hurt you to scroll past 2 or 3 posts.

I will dictate this. Members are just braggin on their Kids. Heck, I got two Sons too, with a million apiece. I personally think that it is Great to see these Kids learning. Please fell free to start a Thread if any of you like. And I would appreciate it if all would appreciate each other. Most do, the rest need too.

mike brown,

My daughter actually has 'dinars'

see