Negroponte visits Baghdad amid U.S.-Iraqi tensions

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PAR341927.htm

Negroponte visits Baghdad amid U.S.-Iraqi tensions

BAGHDAD, Nov 3 (Reuters) - U.S. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte met Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on a previously unannounced visit to Baghdad on Friday, Maliki's office said.

An official said they met for half an hour and a statement was expected to be issued later. Negroponte is a former ambassador to Iraq.

The visit comes after a period of friction between the United States and Maliki, who was angered last week by perceived U.S. pressure to meet "timelines" for progress towards stability and security to allow U.S. troops to eventually withdraw.

[Rose Siding]

1. No good will come of this

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Wow. A whole half-hour visit. Not much to discuss in paradise, eh?

What a joke.

[Algorem]

3. he just loves to travel the world, meet interesting people and have some-

body else kill them

[bemildred]

4. Some things you just have to do in person. nt

[Jawja]

5. Yes.

Like make him an offer he cannot refuse, hunh?

That conversation wouldn't take very long.

[bemildred]

6. "You wanna walk, or you wanna be carried?" nt

[Jawja]

8. Exactly.

:rofl:

[bemildred]

7. US spy chief on secret Iraq mission

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"This visit is in the framework of a continuing series of meetings between the Iraqi government and the US administration," Majid said without further elaboration.

The Negroponte visit comes five days after National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley paid an unannounced visit as tensions in the US-Iraqi relations came to the surface after a series of critical statements by al-Maliki.

Hadley met with al-Maliki and his security chief, Mouwafak al-Rubaie, telling them he "wanted to reinforce some of the things you have heard from our president."

Al-Rubaie told the AP that Hadley had discussed the work of a five-man committee that al-Maliki and Bush had agreed to establish last week to deal with security issues and speeding the transition to Iraqi control over the country.

Negroponte just had a short meeting with Olmert in Israel, too.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/AD3F126B-7C78-48BD-BB5C-C8B99461FF5C.htm

[Javaman]

9. he's there to, you know, check up on his death squads. nt

[0007]

10. The Death Squad Master will speakth