CLICK TO READ: TomPaine.com - The Path To Peace by Robert Dreyfuss
Overlooked, as usual, by the mainstream news media, a historic meeting, sponsored by the League of Arab States, took place last week in Cairo, "in which virtually all of Iraq’s political factions sat down to talk at a reconciliation conference." This initiative was supported not only by the Arab League but by Iran, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia.
What took place is significant:
1) A nearly unanimous call for a timetable for U.S. to leave Iraq as soon as possible--initiated by the Sunni's.
2) Agreement that “'resistance is a legitimate right of all peoples,' thus conferring near-recognition to the armed Iraqi opposition inside Iraq."
3) Agreement to reconvene in February for a second, much larger, conference that could help settle the war in Iraq
diplomatically.
Now, if this President was really interested in 'helping" Iraq, ending the violence, and stabilizing the country, his opportunity has arisen. All he has to do is step up to the plate. Negotiations are beginning to take place and specific terms for an end to the insurgency are being discussed--with or without Mr. Bush or his counterparts.
I don't recall hearing anything about any of this in his speech this morning.
Unfortunately, I don't think we will ever hear about it from this administration. Mr. Bush is not interested in what the Iraqis want. He never has been. He is interested in his own ability to maintain control and power over this oil rich region--and beyond. He has no intentions of ever leaving Iraq completely. Otherwise, why is he spending millions to build mammoth military bases in that country instead of rebuilding Iraqi schools and hospitals? Because, the Project for a New American Century, his manifesto, calls for more wars in the region, more power grabs, more destruction, and more death.
This, my fellow Americans, is what we have to look forward to -- as long as we allow them to rule our country without consequences for their lies and illegal actions.
RELATED ARTICLES:
Iraqi Conference Separates 'Resistance' from Terrorism by Challiss McDonough - Voice of America News
Iraqi Conference Resumes After Walk-Out - By Salah Nasrawi - Yahoo! News
Iraq conference sees signs of compromise - Sydney Morning Herald
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