Rice: Bush would oppose Iraq benchmarks

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - President Bush will not support a war spending bill that punishes the Iraqi government for failing to meet benchmarks for progress, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday.

Rice's comments cast fresh doubt on a potential compromise between the Democratic-led Congress and the White House in getting money to U.S. troops.

Also, with a regional conference on Iraq set to begin Thursday in Egypt, Rice raised the possibility of a rare direct encounter between high-level U.S. and Iranian officials. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is expected to lead his country's delegation.

"I will not rule out that we may encounter one another," Rice said. "But what do we need to do? It's quite obvious. Stop the flow of arms to foreign fighters. Stop the flow of foreign fighters across the borders."

In Washington this week, Bush plans to


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070429/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/rice;_ylt=AgY.z4_Rroln9Rcx62bLHaKs0NUE

[Faygo Kid]

1. Yes, sitting on the bench during Vietnam while cheering for war did leave marks.

Aren't there some more non-rich, non-connected kids he can sent to be blown up somewhere? He must miss gleefully signing off on all those execution warrants he had as governor, too.

Oh, I missed it. We need to "stop the flow" of arms and fighters. Iran and Syria, here we come!

[ForPeace]

2. Yet, he is all for punishing schools if they don't meet their benchmarks - NCLB

[ryanmuegge]

11. Impossible benchmarks, I might add!

[cliss]

3. Reading between the lines:

Desperation. Pure and simple.

It's ironic, that the way Bush handled things, IRAN is now the major power in the region.

[maddezmom]

4. well they know the Oil Law as it stands doesn't have a chance

although they will continue to tell the US public they passed it.

[rodeodance]

8. and US not using this chance to talk directly WITH IraN (just lecture AT them)

[lyonn]

5. Rice is irrelevant. No one believes or cares what she says.

Only george, Cheney, Negroponte, etc. They are also irrelevant.

Attacking Iran is Relevant. Don't do it george. The citizens of this country don't like you. You will be punished.

[LizW]

6. Blank check or nothing.

Preferably payable to Halliburton and Blackwater.

:eyes:

[Gentleman Jack]

7. Condoleeza Who ?!?

As my granny used to say, "Talk about being worthless as teats on a boar hog!"

Who even gives Condi the time of day anymore?

[rodeodance]

9. Waxman issure gets a few paragraphs at the bottom:

Meanwhile, Rice said will not appear in person before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to answer questions about the Bush administration's prewar intelligence. Rice said she already has addressed claims that Iraq had sought uranium from the African nation of Niger.

The committee voted 21-10 last week to issue a subpoena to compel her testimony.

Asked about the possibility of being held in contempt by the committee chairman, Rep. Henry Waxman (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., Rice said, "That's the chairman's prerogative. I respect the oversight — the oversight responsibilities of Congress — but I frankly think this one has been looked at and looked at and looked at."

Rice and Murtha appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation." Rice was also on "This Week" on ABC.

[cliss]

16. Wow. Thankx for posting this.

Things are heating up, as they say.

this coming week should be an interesting one. Bad for the Neo CON's though because they're being singled out. The sands of the hourglass are running low...

[IndianaGreen]

18. The next step is for Rice to be found in contempt of Congress

for ignoring a Congressional subpoena. Let's bring this war criminal to justice!

[yurbud]

10. There is a problem with benchmarks, but not the one Bush & Rice see

The benchmarks essentially mean establishing an effective puppet government, most obviously in the shameful support for the big oil drafted and Bush forced on Iraqis Hydrocarbon Law.

Likewise, the troop and police training stuff is meant to serve our interests not theirs. If Iraqis perceived that the troops and cops were acting in Iraqis best interests, there would be no stigma for joining, and no hesitation for doing their job correctly. Instead, off-duty cops & troops are in danger of being killed, and constantly wondering if this arrest or this firefight is really helping their family and country or helping the occupiers.

Bush doesn't like the benchmarks because he doesn't like any adult supervision.

I don't like them because they perpetuate the lie that we are there to help the Iraqis.

If we had any benchmarks at all, they should be for restoring running water and sewer service, turning over rebuilding contracts to Iraqis, defunding and withdrawal of mercenaries, and returning control of Iraq's oil to Iraqi sovereignty with no discussion with American government officials about how to organize their oil industry and terms of oil laws or deals, and no American government officials involved in negotiation oil contracts.

[ryanmuegge]

12. "Foreign fighters" HAHAHAHAHAHA...they're still perpetrating that lie?!

[sakabatou]

13. No plan whatsoever.

[maddezmom]

14. if your inclilned you can watch the video here

http://abcnews.go.com/politics

[ClintonTyree]

15. We wouldn't want to "punish" the Iraqi government.....

now, would we? No, let's give them as much time as they want to quit screwing around and get their shit together. Let's sacrifice as many U.S. lives as it takes so we don't inconvenience them in any way. Let's spend as much money as we can so the precious purple-fingered Iraqi government can take their sweet-assed time arguing and butting heads while Americans go without health insurance. By all means, let's not rush the Iraqi elite that are stuffing their pockets full of American cash. And above all, let's not rush the Iraqi government until after Bush's second term is over. Otherwise Bush's war profiteer pals will not have open access to the U.S. treasury and wouldn't have vacuumed every last penny they can from it.

No, don't put any benchmarks on the Iraqi government. That wouldn't fit into Bush's plan of sloughing this entire cluster-fuck off onto the next REAL President in 2009. We must protect the "Bush legacy" at all costs. Withdrawal wouldn't fit his tough guy, no prisoners, faux cowboy image. How many more young Americans will die because of this man's fragile ego? :grr:

[Vidar]

17. Simple rule: Bush opposes the rule of law.