Sunnis, Shi'ites find fault with Iraq peace plan (no US withdrawal date)

[sabra]

http://www.metronews.ca/reuters_international.asp?id=158149


Sunnis, Shi'ites find fault with Iraq peace plan

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Iraqi prime minister's plan for national reconciliation came in for criticism from both sides of the sectarian divide on Monday, a day after parliament accepted a compromise strategy that is short on crucial detail.

Iraq's most senior Sunni Arab politician, Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, complained that the plan set no withdrawal date for U.S. occupying forces.

He also said Shi'ite Islamist Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was wrong to rule out peace negotiations with hardline followers of Sunni former leader Saddam Hussein.

"Leaving the issue of a timetable (for U.S. withdrawal) vague," Hashemi told Reuters, "is telling the resistance: 'continue your fighting to liberate Iraq'."

[wisteria]

1. Chaney, Bush and Rove are running things, they got to Maliki

and he revised his plan. The most damaging thing PM Maliki can do is continue to listen to this current administration who haven't gotten it right yet.

[Teaser]

2. The question is, what is their leverage?

Theoretically, they should have none. The Shi'ah can kick us out of the country with a flex of AsSistani's finger. So how did they get to al-Maliki?

[endarkenment]

3. Maliki's existence depends on our forces.

His burnt corpse would be hanging from a bridge if we weren't there to protect him. The Iraqi Government exists within the confines of the Green Zone. They will do whatever we tell them to do.

[Teaser]

4. Maliki could do nearly as well

or as well with Iranian protection. Which is coming anyway, as Iraq is destined to be a client state for Iran. So why not just cut to the chase?

[endarkenment]

5. He would die in the transition.

I really don't think that the current government could transition to an Iranian supported regime - not while we are in Iraq, and as I said they wouldn't survive one day if we weren't there. So while I accept your thesis that a shiite dominated regime could survive with Iran's backing, I don't think there is any way that this regime could become that regime.

[ChazII]

6. From Shiachat

http://www.shiachat.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=86413

[Supersedeas]

7. Iraqi's want a timetable and so do Americans...but what do oil execs want?