June 15, 2004
WINNING THE WoT:
Iraq's neighbors welcome new interim government (SAM F. GHATTAS, 6/15/04, ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Iraq's interim government received a boost Tuesday when its neighbors welcomed the transfer of sovereignty in that country at the end of June and wished the new administration success.Meeting on the sidelines of the Organization of the Islamic Conference session, Iraq's neighbors plus Egypt also stressed support for Iraqis "in their progress on the path toward building fully legitimate and representative national institutions."
The meeting on Iraq came as delegates to the OIC, the world's largest Islamic organization, debated a resolution that would give the interim government the key support of the Islamic world and call for help in rebuilding the war-shattered nation.
The meeting on Iraq comprised foreign ministers and representatives from Iraq and its neighbors-- Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria-- plus regional power Egypt. U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi also attended the meeting.
Pakistan nabs militant leader, ends operation (MATTHEW PENNINGTON, 6/15/04, Chicago Sun-Times)
Pakistan claimed successes Monday on two fronts in its war on terrorism, ending an assault against al-Qaida hideouts near the Afghan border and announcing the arrest of the alleged mastermind of attacks on Shiites.Posted by Orrin Judd at June 15, 2004 11:49 AMThe arrested man, Daud Badini, leads an al-Qaida-linked militant group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and police say he is a brother-in-law of Ramzi Yousef, who is serving a life term in the United States for the 1993 World Trade Center bombings.
Badini was among 11 terrorist suspects -- also including a nephew of former al-Qaida No. 3, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed -- captured over the weekend in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city.
Recognition by Iraq by the OIC sounds good but some of the members of the OIC (Iran, Syria, Saudia Arabia) should still be on the U.S.' watch list.
Posted by: AWW at June 15, 2004 1:07 PMWell, of course most of those governments, not elected themselves, don't really mean it, and would like to corrupt or cause the downfall of the Iraqi government post haste. However, they can't just say that.
Which is progress of a sort. The hypocrisy itself is the tribute that vice is paying to virtue here, a sign that only democracy has legitimacy in this world.
Posted by: John Thacker at June 15, 2004 9:40 PMJohn, that is exactly true, especially in the case of Iran and its Syrian ally.
Though I wouldn't say it marks either progress or a departure. Especially if the message successfully assuages those its meant to pacify.
Posted by: Barry Meislin at June 16, 2004 3:28 AM