Iraq's President Talabani Expresses Support for Biden-Brownback Federalism Amendment

[Steve_in_California]

Source: United States Senate, Office of Senator Joe Biden

October 3, 2007
Press Release

Iraq's President Talabani Expresses Support for Biden-Brownback Federalism Amendment


Washington, DC – Today, Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. President Talabani welcomed the Senate’s approval of the Biden-Brownback amendment last week supporting federalism in Iraq, on a bipartisan vote of 75-23. He expressed his strong belief that the amendment promotes the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq and is not, as some have mischaracterized it, a call for partition. He also emphasized that the amendment is completely consistent with the decision Iraqis have made to adopt a federal form of government in their Constitution.

In addition, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, speaking in Arabic on Tuesday to al-Iraqiyah Television, made the following remarks regarding the Biden-Brownback Federalism Amendment: “They said they welcomed federalism. If federalism is what they really meant, why not? Federalism, after all, is stipulated in the Constitution. We, too, talked about federalism as this is a constitutional issue.”

Senator Biden said, “I welcome President Talabani's support for the Biden-Brownback amendment, and also Prime Minster Maliki's comments. Some – both in the United States and Iraq – have tried to mischaracterize our amendment as calling for the partition of Iraq. It is nothing of the sort. It calls for keeping Iraq together by bringing to life the federal system enshrined in its constitution. A federal Iraq is a united Iraq and the best path to a political settlement that virtually everyone agrees is necessary if we are to leave Iraq without leaving chaos behind.”

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Read more: http://biden.senate.gov/newsroom/details.cfm?id=284876&

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Both Talibani and al-Maliki say they now favor the Biden plan for Iraq, once they were given complete information. This is possible Senator Biden's greatest achievement. We can all cheer this one!

Thanks, Senator Joe. You are the toughest guy in this government.

[babylonsister]

1. I feel better now. nt

[MADem]

2. Well, duh!!!! Of COURSE he'd give it the thumbs up.

The Kurds just signed a bunch of oil exploration deals for the Kirkuk fields--AGAINST the wishes of the Iraqi government.

And Talibani? He's the President, but he's first and foremost...a KURD.

He comes from a long line of Kurdish national heroes, and he know upon which side his naan is buttered.

[Steve_in_California]

3. Try reading the whole press release.

Al-Maliki now accepts Biden's plan, too.

[MADem]

4. Yeah, he wants the SOUTHERN oil! He's a Shi'ite.

The only ones who get fucked are the Sunnis in this picture. There's not much oil where they live.

I read the whole release. I was responding to the subject line.