Until now, some Iraqis questioned how well Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki's Shiite-led government represented the nation's Sunnis, who were part of the ruling class under Saddam Hussein. Only two of the 38 ministries were given to Sunnis even though they make up 20 percent of Iraq's population. Many hope that new posts will symbolize that the government is committed to much-needed reconciliation.
Reconciliation could lead the Iraqi government to find the economic and political means to maintain the recent security gains. While Iraqis nationwide celebrate the improvements, they believe their government is too divided to compromise across sectarian lines.
The largest Sunni bloc, the Iraqi National Accord, said they rejoined the government because the schism between the party and Maliki had diminished and that many of their demands had been met.
The above is from Nancy A. Youssef's "Sunnis rejoin Iraqi government, raising reconciliation hopes" (McClatchy Newspapers) and, golly, let the good times roll. She filed that on Sturady and, of course, the day before she offered "Sadr backers seethe over Iraqi army but avoid violence" which noted:
The Friday sermon is the key to keeping the peace. After prayers, hundreds of young men began demonstrating Friday in front of nearby government forces. Some men began lunging at the Iraqi troops; most held them back.
"Go on! Go on! Keep walking. Head home to your families," a woman told the men, who sheepishly followed her orders.
"There is anger inside our people. There is a volcano that wants to erupt. But we are obedient to Sayed Muqtada," said Nadhil al Sudani, a Sadr City resident and the chief of security for the women's section of Friday prayers, referring to Sadr with an honorific.
"We respect the army if they respect themselves. Many don't. They push the doors and enter homes without due respect to our privacy. Through these confrontations, they try to trigger some violent reaction from the Sadrist trend."
Sadr's order not to fight fellow Iraqis, no matter what, has prevailed so far over hotheaded youths seeking revenge. But residents said they were always fighting the urge to lash out at what they describe as abusive soldiers.
"It is only Muqtada's orders that are stopping us. The Iraqi army knows that they would become hostages within hours," one worshipper told a McClatchy reporter after Friday's sermon.
At stake is not just the future of Sadr City but also security nationwide.
Meanwhile in the New York Times this morning, Sabrina Tavernise and Jeff Zeleny report on puppet of the occupation Nouria al-Maliki attempting to play a 'do-over' as he "tried to step back Sunday from comments in an interview" with Der Spiegel published on Saturday where al-Maliki appeared to voice support for Barack Obama's limited non-promise that he might withdraw US combat troops (only combat troops -- leaving behind an estimated 50,000 other US troops) in 16 months were he to be elected president. Tavernise and Zeleny tell you that al-Maliki's surrogates insist he was misquoted; however "the interpreter for the interview works for Mr. Maliki's office, not the magazine."
Der Spiegel's interview is here and from the interview:
SPIEGEL: Would you hazard a prediction as to when most of the US troops will finally leave Iraq?
Maliki: As soon as possible, as far as we're concerned. U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes.
SPIEGEL: Is this an endorsement for the US presidential election in November? Does Obama, who has no military background, ultimately have a better understanding of Iraq than war hero John McCain?
Maliki: Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic. Artificially prolonging the tenure of US troops in Iraq would cause problems. Of course, this is by no means an election endorsement. Who they choose as their president is the Americans' business. But it's the business of Iraqis to say what they want. And that's where the people and the government are in general agreement: The tenure of the coalition troops in Iraq should be limited.
"Talks of" is the right phrase to use (Barack revealed on CNN June 5th that it wasn't a promise -- something Samantha Power had revealed to the BBC back in March). It is also not withdrawal.
The New York Times listened to tape of the interview and had it translated:
Nouri al-Maliki: Obama's remarks that -- if he takes office -- in 16 months he would withdraw the forces, we think that this period could increase or decrease a little, but that it could be suitable to end the presence of the forces in Iraq. . . . Who wants to exit in a quicker way has a better assessment of the situation in Iraq.
Here, Der Spiegel notes the controversy over the story and that "SPIEGEL stands by its version of the conversation."
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
Jim adding for C.I.
Nader to Campaign in Mississippi, Sat., July 26
Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 12:00:00 AM 
News Advisory FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chris Driscoll, 202-360-3273, chris@votenader.org (national); Susan Stonecypher, 601-842-6769 (local).
NADER TO CAMPAIGN IN MISSISSIPPI, SAT., JULY 26
Who: Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader
What: Nader/Gonzalez News Conference and Book Signing/Speech
When: Sat., July 26, 5:30 p.m. News Conference and 6 p.m. Book Signing/ Speech
Where: Lemuria Bookstore, 202 Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North, Jackson, MS 39206
Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader will campaign in Mississippi, Sat. July 26, hosting a news conference and book signing/speech at the Lemuria Bookstore, 202 Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North, Jackson. The News Conference starts at 5:30 p.m. and the speech and book signing is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Mr. Nader will address issues major party candidates have taken "off the table" that the Nader/Gonzalez campaign has put on the table, including:
- a comprehensive, negotiated military and corporate withdrawal date from Iraq;
- a single-payer, Canadian-style, private delivery, free-choice public health insurance system for all;
- a living wage and repeal of the anti-union Taft-Hartley Act;
- a no-nuke, solar-based energy policy supported by renewable, sustainable, energy-efficient sources;
- a carbon tax to deter global warming;
- an end to the corporate welfare and corporate crime that has resulted in millions losing pensions, savings and jobs and squandered tax dollars; and,
- more direct democracy reflecting the preamble to our constitution which starts with "we the people," and not "we the corporations."
For more "on the table" topics see: VoteNader.org
From Team Nader:Nader to Campaign in Mississippi, Sat., July 26
Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 12:00:00 AM
News Advisory FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chris Driscoll, 202-360-3273, chris@votenader.org (national); Susan Stonecypher, 601-842-6769 (local).
NADER TO CAMPAIGN IN MISSISSIPPI, SAT., JULY 26
Who: Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader
What: Nader/Gonzalez News Conference and Book Signing/Speech
When: Sat., July 26, 5:30 p.m. News Conference and 6 p.m. Book Signing/ Speech
Where: Lemuria Bookstore, 202 Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North, Jackson, MS 39206
Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader will campaign in Mississippi, Sat. July 26, hosting a news conference and book signing/speech at the Lemuria Bookstore, 202 Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North, Jackson. The News Conference starts at 5:30 p.m. and the speech and book signing is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Mr. Nader will address issues major party candidates have taken "off the table" that the Nader/Gonzalez campaign has put on the table, including:
- a comprehensive, negotiated military and corporate withdrawal date from Iraq;
- a single-payer, Canadian-style, private delivery, free-choice public health insurance system for all;
- a living wage and repeal of the anti-union Taft-Hartley Act;
- a no-nuke, solar-based energy policy supported by renewable, sustainable, energy-efficient sources;
- a carbon tax to deter global warming;
- an end to the corporate welfare and corporate crime that has resulted in millions losing pensions, savings and jobs and squandered tax dollars; and,
- more direct democracy reflecting the preamble to our constitution which starts with "we the people," and not "we the corporations."
For more "on the table" topics see: VoteNader.org
iraq
nancy a. youssef
the new york times
sabrina tavernise
