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Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
I haven't heard anyone else indicate they have family there. Please correct me if I am wrong.
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I do too.
The Iraqis who oppose Allawi and/or his rule don't need any statements by Kerry or other Democrats to make them think he's a U.S. puppet. Yet, Bush has used him shamelessly.
If the Bush Administration did not want to create the impression that Allawi was being used for political purposes (leaving the window for "puppetry" accusations wide open), it could have done at least three things very differently:
(a) Not bring him to the U.S. and have him address Congress about six-seven weeks before the Presidential elections and thank the U.S. for the invasion and aftermath. Why do this? It surely did not help Allawi at home.
(b) Not have the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad think that Negroponte could meddle in his appearance schedule, and in fact do so -- ordering the State Department liason to cancel a previously scheduled TV appearance -- before reversing course when the decision came under scrutiny.
To answer a question Slave asked a while back -- all foreign dignitaries have State Department liasons who help handle the press and schedule appearances, etc. I'm sure most coordinate their public appearances with the U.S. government, and try to avoid giving offense. However, I'd garauntee you that most (e.g. Blair, Putin, Howard, etc.) don't have the U.S ambassador to their country giving the thumbs up or thumbs down.
(c) Not have a liason from the Bush-Cheney reelection campaign help write Allawi's f-cking speech to Congress (to be sure that numerous key phrases from the campaign trial appeared therein). JFC!!
For Bush-Cheney to do (a) - (c) and expect the Democrats to shut up and take it is hypocritical and irresponsible.
To respond to Ty's question -- Allawi is well aware of the extent to which Bush's hand is up his ass (or not), and no doubt tries to ignore the prostate exam while looking towards the future. People trying to ignore shit like that take offense when it is pointed out. Nonetheless, I suspect Allawi would work just as well with Kerry as Bush (although he may be unhappy with Kerry's larger hands).
S_A_M
P.S. We'll see how all of this works out. To me, the handling of the current process -- particularly the rumored plans by both parties to have the U.S. out of Iraq next year no matter what -- brings disturbing historial echoes. No one is using the term "Iraqi-ization" yet -- but are we sure Allawi isn't really named Dinh?
To avoid a similarly bad result, we need much more money delivered and spent for reconstruction (recall Sen. Lugar's comments on the adminsitration's "incompetence" in that regard) -- which we may provide -- as well as (probably) more troops that we will never provide.
