Obama Praises Selection of Iraqi PM-designate

[Omaha Steve]

Source: VOA News

U.S. President Barack Obama praised Monday’s selection of Iraqi lawmaker Haider al-Abadi as the next prime minister, calling it "a promising step in this critical effort" to build an inclusive new government and to battle insurgents of the Islamic State that threaten the country’s stability.

Iraqi President Fouad Massoum picked Abadi, the deputy speaker of parliament, on Monday to lead the Baghdad government as it faces the onslaught of militants who have overrun much of its northern and western parts.

Obama, speaking from Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, said he and Vice President Joe Biden both had phoned Abadi to pledge U.S. support.

"This new Iraqi leadership has a difficult task," Obama said, citing the challenge of regaining the confidence of Iraqis and the international community.

FULL story and more at link.



President Barack Obama speaks about Iraq developments while vacationing in Chilmark, Massachusetts, Aug. 11, 2014.


Read more: http://www.voanews.com/content/iraqi-pm-to-sue-president-as-he-seeks-to-keep-post/2409331.html

[Baclava]

1. He just signed Maliki's death warrant

The only question is how the bloody the coup gets now.

[ballyhoo]

2. Yep. If he was smart he would take what

he can and head to what Iran? He's Shia isn't he? I don't remember.

[Baclava]

3. yes - he's Shia, and he refuses to leave

Power struggle on Baghdad streets as Maliki replaced but refuses to go


(Reuters) - Iraq's president named a new prime minister to end Nuri al-Maliki's eight year rule on Monday, but the veteran leader refused to go after deploying militias and special forces on the streets, creating a dangerous political showdown in Baghdad.

A Shi'ite Muslim Islamist, Maliki is blamed by his erstwhile allies in Washington and Tehran for driving the alienated Sunni minority into a revolt that threatens to destroy the country. Leaders of Iraq's Sunni and Kurdish communities have demanded he go, and many fellow Shi'ites have turned against him.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/11/us-iraq-security-idUSKBN0G808J20140811

[Uncle Joe]

4. Good.

Thanks for the thread, Omaha Steve.

[another_liberal]

5. "This new Iraqi leadership has a difficult task . . ."

I'd say it's more like an impossible task. At least our President, however misadvised he may be, is still an optimist.

[ColesCountyDem]

6. I wouldn't sell al Maliki any life insurance.

Best to get out of Dodge while the getting's good.

[jamzrockz]

7. I wish our president would stop

with trying to tell sovereign countries who to and who not to elect prime minister. This is the reason why every where from Iraq to Syria to Ukraine in on fire. Sorry but this again continues the role of America as bully on the world stage. They have a crisis with hardcore jihadists terrorist in the country and the west are using it as their opportunity to remove a non pliable middle east leader.

He was told to restrict Iran's use of their airspace to supply Assad with weapons to fight the jihadists in his country and he refused. I guess this is how they are going to get back at him.

[ballyhoo]

8. The US is a bully. That's just the way it is.

[truth2power]

9. So we didn't like Saddam, whom we put into power back in the day...

We saw to it that he was hanged for his crimes against humanity. Then we brought democracy to Iraq - saw to it that Maliki was installed.

We were really happy with him - until we weren't. Then our president was saying he had to go (as if the US government should have any say in that what. so. ever.)

Is there anyone here who isn't appalled that Barak Obama thinks he can dictate to other countries as to who is allowed to govern them? What is wrong with this picture? Must be that 'exceptionalism' thing, I guess.

Oh, and that's a truly scary face. Obama used to have a rather pleasant demeanor. What happened?

[Cha]

10. Oh yeah, real "scary".. Maybe he's fucking tired and needs a good rest.. but, he won't get one.

Yeah, bush took out sadam and put in maliki. Who apparently couldn't handle the job. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the President supporting someone who he thinks will do a good job.