JOE WHO?:

With Swipe at U.S., Iraq Builds Ties to French (MARC SANTORA and ALAN COWELL, 2/11/09, NY Times)

Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq signaled a desire to gradually diminish American power over Iraqi politics and increase ties to other Western powers, during a visit on Tuesday by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France.

In a rare news conference with a Western leader who is not from the United States or Britain, Mr. Maliki gave Mr. Sarkozy a warm welcome and rebuffed a recent statement by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. that the United States would have to be “more aggressive” in forcing the Iraqis to reach political reconciliation.

At least he didn't laugh at the VP, which shows him more respect than Mr. Obama does.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 11, 2009 7:08 PM