Iraq angrily rejects US sectarian warning

[cal04]

Iraq's Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari angrily dismissed on Tuesday U.S. warnings to shun sectarianism in the country's new government, saying Iraqis would not accept interference in their affairs. Speaking after talks with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who echoed the U.S. call for a government of national unity in Iraq, the normally calm and diplomatic Jaafari said Iraq knew its own best interests.

"When someone asks us whether we want a sectarian government the answer is 'no we do not want a sectarian government' -- not because the U.S. ambassador says so or issues a warning," he told a news conference. "...We do not need anybody to remind us, thank you." U.S. ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said on Monday the United States, which led the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, was investing billions of dollars in Iraq and did not want to see that money go to support sectarian politics.

His comments were echoed less bluntly on Tuesday by Straw, who said after a meeting with President Jalal Talabani that Iraq's parliamentary elections in December showed that no single group can dominate Iraq's new political landscape. "This is a crucial moment today for the people of Iraq. We had the elections on December 15th. We've now had the final accredited results. What they show is that no party, no ethnic or religious grouping can dominate government in Iraq," Straw said.

"This therefore gives further impetus to what Iraqis tell us they want, which is a government of national unity bringing together all the different elements of Iraqi society."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060221/ts_nm/iraq_dc

[gratuitous]

1. I don't understand the Iraqis' anger . . .

After all, the Bush administration is the very soul of discretion when it comes to soliciting and accepting outside advice, so why isn't the Iraqi government they installed similarly open to foreign meddling?

[Javaman]

6. I believe what we are now watching is the ground plans for moron**

and his room full of dopes, are preparing for the future, to side with the Sunni's. They know as right as rain, that if they launch on Iran, the Iraqi shi-ites will become friendly with the Iranian shi-ites. Even though the Iraqi gov't says they won't. Don't hold your breath on that one.

"All things are mysterious"
-Iraqi Engineer at the start of the war.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I wish the Iraqis luck

The fact that this month, Sufis in the Iranian town of Qom have been arrested, their place of worship torn down, and they were forced to sign a statement that they would not practice their faith in Qom, makes me wonder if the Iranian influence will make the Iraqi Shia majority decide to copy the intolerant practices of their neighbor.

[ixion]

3. seems the only place the US openly supports sectarian politics

is right here in Jesusland. :grr:

[murray hill farm]

4. Jesusland, the book!

If you have not read it, i highly recommend it.

[ixion]

5. thanks!

I'll put it on my reading list. :hi:

[Supersedeas]

7. nothing to see here -- the Corporate Media does not hear this