Sunday, October 05, 2008

Just A Gaffe


Senator Joseph Biden, who visited Iraq frequently, then took the
podium to issue a blunt warning. "The American people can't want peace more than
the Iraqi people", he said. "It's encouraging to see central government
assisting you in Anbar. In America we are waiting to see how extensive that
cooperation will be. If it is [extensive], you can count on America to stay. If
it is not, you can say goodbye now."

After the meeting, the sheiks mingled, nibbling on chicken and pita bread.
Several were puzzled by Biden's lecture. They had expected to be congratulated
for having thrown out al Qaeda. When I chatted with [Iraq's] Deputy Prime
Minister Salh, he was annoyed. "It took your country thirteen years," he said,
"to get a constitution and a set of laws. Why are you talking defeatist?"

Probably just a "gaffe", I'm sure.
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