Iraqi PM Making The Rounds In Washington....

Howard Dean, the Chairman of the Democratic party, labeled the elected leader of the Iraqi people as an anti-Semite for his comments on Israel's attacks on Lebanon without also denouncing Hezbollah. Kofi Annan has also accused Israel...

ISRAEL'S UN ambassador said he was "shocked" by accusations from UN chief Kofi Annan that the Jewish state may have deliberately targeted an observation post in Lebanon in an air raid that killed as many as four UN observers.

Kofi thinks that Israel deliberately attacked a UN post? Really? And Israel would have what benefit from attacking a UN post? What constituency is he playing to? And also, are Annan's comments also anti-Semitic Howard? But apparently, as it is now coming out, Hezbollah fighters may have been using UN positions as cover.


Maliki did have this to say in a speech before Congress...

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told a joint session of Congress yesterday that the raging conflict in Iraq was at the forefront of the global war on terror and called on the United States to stay and fight or risk losing the larger battle.

"I know that some of you here question whether Iraq is part of the war on terror. Let me be very clear -- this is a battle between true Islam, for which a person's liberty and rights constitute essential cornerstones, and terrorism, which wraps itself in a fake Islamic cloak," he said to applause.

I suppose that Howard Dean expects Maliki's commentary to perfectly scripted to meet every need during his US tour. Even elected leaders in Dean's world aren't allowed to have their own opinions but to play the PC role perfectly. Did anyone really expect all Arab leaders beyond Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt to denounce Hezbollah's adventurism in Lebanon? Generally, elected leaders and politicians feel compelled to say what plays well back home and not necessary what pleases the host or other third parties.

But more importantly, Maliki has also acknowledged that Iraq is a battle in the global war on terror and this is one that he is hoping that the US sees through to the end.