Say Anything Blog

New Phase

“We’re clearly in a new phase, characterised by this increasing sectarian violence that requires us obviously to adapt to that new phase and these two leaders need to be talking about how to do that,” White House National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley told reporters accompanying Bush to the Estonian capital, Tallinn.
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“He (Maliki) has some strong views on that subject. As you know the Iraqis have been talking to the Syrians. The Iraqis have been talking to the Iranians. Their view is that the future of Iraq, if it is a subject of conversation with Syria and Iran, ought to be a conversation by Iraqis,” he said.
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“We’re not at the point where the president is going to be able to lay out a comprehensive plan,” he said.

Sounds like Maliki is quickly becoming the fallguy.  Not surprising.  However what seems to be surprising is the idea that Syria and Iran should have a role at all.

Hadley also said Bush had telephoned Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and discussed the importance of supporting the Lebanese government and of “sending a firm message to Syria that it needs to stop destabilizing that government”.

Many Lebanese blamed Damascus for the assassination last week of Lebanese cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel, the latest in a series of murders of anti-Syrian politicians since Syria was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon last year.

So on one hand Syria is to be involved in Iraq, on the other they need to get out of Lebanon.

If we approve Syria and Iran’s involvement in Iraq we also approve of their involvement everwhere else.