To Help Iraq Vote, Powell Seeks Meeting of Nations

[Eye and Monkey]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/25/international/middleeast/25diplo.html

Published: September 25, 2004

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said Friday that the Bush administration was working with Prime Minister Ayad Allawi of Iraq to press the major Western democracies and several Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, to join with the United States in holding an international conference in October to bolster Iraq's electoral process.

A conference on Iraq, if it occurs, would come at the height of the American presidential election campaign, in which Senator John Kerry, the Democratic candidate, has charged that the administration has failed to enlist international backing for its efforts in Iraq.

"We are planning to have a regional meeting consisting of all the leaders of Iraq and the G-8, we hope some time in October," Mr. Powell said in an interview in New York with editors and reporters of The New York Times. "That's what Prime Minister Allawi wants, and it's going to be his meeting." The term G-8 refers to the world's eight leading industrial countries, which meet periodically to discuss economic and political issues.

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[fearnobush]

1. Don't they get tired of these fake meetings?

If only they were serious. Allawi is CIA, he's no leader, just a Bu$h puppet here to lie and mis-deed the American people.

[sandnsea]

2. Oh, like a summit???

Like Kerry suggested, what, a year ago??? Will the "liberal" media remind America of that little fact?

[daleo]

3. It is just talk I think

I can't imagine much participation from the G8 at that point, even if most countries didn't despise the Bush administration. I think most leaders would want to hedge their bets, and not be seen to be supporting anyone in the election. All the more so, then, since most hate Bush.

[benfranklin1776]

4. John Kerry leads and they scramble to catch up.

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. JFK sets the course and they ape him. Their intellectual bankruptcy highlighted now for all the world to see. Nary an original thought in their addled minds just panicked reaction to minimize the political fallout from Senator Kerry's announcement of his plan, which has completely exposed their utter lack of a plan.

From the article: "Arab and European officials, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the matter, said it was obvious to them that American politics were playing a role, at least in part."

The Mayberry Machiavellis ride again.

[Justice]

5. International Conference AKA summit

gee, think they are listening to Kerry and taking notes?