Oh Drat. All That Posturing For Nothing.
Early reports of an amnesty offer in Iraq included some speculation that the plan might pardon terrorists who had killed Americans. This allowed a lot of Democratic politicians to suddenly demonstrate their support for the troops by making stern pronouncements against such a thing. (While still trying to undermine support and endangering the troops by espousing cut and run policies). I even had a few links and comments here that criticized my calling Harry Reid's comments posturing at the time.
But it turn out all that posturing was for nothing anyway.
BAGHDAD, June 27 — Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki vowed Tuesday that no one who has killed Americans or Iraqis would be pardoned under his government's national reconciliation plan.
"The fighter who did not kill anyone will be included in the amnesty, but the fighter who killed someone will not be," Maliki said in his first interview with Western print reporters since he became prime minister last month. "This is an international commitment, an ethical commitment: Whoever kills is not included in amnesty."
Sitting at the head of a polished wood conference table, beneath a framed Koranic verse — "Consult with others and when you reach a decision, trust in God" — Maliki spoke for nearly an hour about the need to build up the Iraqi army before U.S. and other foreign forces could withdraw, his desire to disband violent militias and the terms of his two-day-old reconciliation plan.
They'll have to find some other thing to posture about, I guess.
By Sarge, June 29, 2006 @ 3:27 am
Part of me thinks this whole plan of reconciliation is on a par with negotiating with terrorists, but I have to say, I’ve been very impressed with the Iraqi PM in the past few weeks. The Iraqis may have finally found a leader who’s more interested in their well-being than lining his pockets with oil divedends.