Just pressure the prime minister? That's all we had to do? Just tell him to get on the stick and "stop the violence," "just say 'No!'," etc., etc! So saith the AP today. I had no idea the real crux of the problem in the upsurge in violence was a recalcitrant and slacking primer minister.
WASHINGTON — Republicans and Democrats urged the White House on Sunday to step up the pressure on Iraq's prime minister to crush the militias that are inciting sectarian violence and undermining a fragile democracy.
By the by, if you're looking for the "Republicans" who are urging stepped up pressure on the Iraq prime minister, you'll look in vain. Here's senator John Warner's quote:
Sen. John Warner, the committee chairman, said setting a withdrawal timetable would be disastrous because it could leave a security vacuum that terrorists would fill. But Warner, R-Va., has said a change in course may be necessary if the security situation does not improve soon.
"I think we have no other course but to give him our confidence and our support," Warner said.
Warner also expressed concern that even al-Maliki's recent talks with sectarian leaders had not lead to a cessation of hostilities. He said al-Maliki must give more authority to the Iraqi army. "It is their job, not the U.S. coalition forces' to subdue and get rid of these private militias," he said.
And then here's senator Lugar:
The committee chairman, Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., said pressuring al-Maliki may not work because he does not have much clout. "We keep saying, `Go to your Shiites and get them straightened out, or the Sunnis, or divide the oil. And al-Maliki is saying, `There isn't any group here that wants to talk about those things,"' Lugar said.
Still Lugar said of the Iraqi prime minister, "I think he's probably the best horse to ride on in the situation."
Maybe it's just me, but I don't see any request for pressuring from the 2 Republican senators, do you? Contrast that with the very real advocacy for pressuring Maliki by senator Kerry:
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said the president should take a harder line in dealing with Iraqi leaders: "I think you have to be more blunt. I think you have to say, no young American is going to die and give their life or limb for Iraqi politicians who refuse to compromise. They have to want democracy for themselves as much as we want it for them."
But the title of the article leads one to believe that the senators are speaking with one voice. No media bias here, folks!
Riiiight.
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