Posted by Mark Silva at 1:50 am CST (and 8:50 pm Jordan time)
AMMAN, Jordan – The meeting that President Bush was supposed to have with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki tonight is off. So is the dinner that they were to share with King Abdullah II of Jordan.
Bush did dine with the king – but al-Maliki was dining "with someone else,'' the White House says, insisting that this last-minute change of plans had nothing to do with today's revelation of a once-secret White House memo that questioned al-Maliki's competence to lead his government. The memo posed the question of whether al-Maliki is not up to the task, deceiving the United States or simply "ignorant'' of what's going on in the streets of Baghdad – where members of his government are protesting his meeting with the U.S. president.
"No one should read too much into this,'' Dan Bartlett, counselor to the president, said this evening at Raghadan Palace. Bartlett insisted that the change-up had nothing to do with the embarrassing memo from National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley that was published today. "Absolutely not.''
After his arrival here, Bush was to have a meeting with the king of Jordan and prime minister of Iraq, and then dine with the king. Bush and al-Maliki still have a meeting planned Thursday morning at the palace, as well as a brief press conference for the two. The White House says that's on.
The Iraqi leader also faces political problems at home as a result of this now abbreviated summit. Thirty members of Iraq's parliament and five Cabinet members loyal to the anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said they were boycotting participating in Parliament and the government to protest al-Maliki's meeting with Bush.
Al-Maliki and King Abdullah had met here prior to Bush's arrival this evening, according to Barlett, and this "negated the purpose for the three of them to meet tonight, together.''
Bartlett called the original meetings planned tonight social, and promised that tomorrow's meeting between Bush and al-Maliki will be "robust.''
Bush headed to his hotel after dinner with the king.
But the White House couldn't speak for al-Maliki's dinner plans tonight.
"I assume he's at his hotel,'' Bartlett said of al-Maliki. "He's having dinner with somebody
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Comments
It figures.
Iraq is going up in flames,and our Idiot in Chief blows off his first chance to speak with Al Malaki.
I bet uncle KKKarl ties little W.'s shoe laces for him every morning,and then grandpa Cheney tucks him in at night while reading My Pet Goat over and over.
Posted by: John E. | November 29, 2006 2:15 PM
The Truth of this is if Al-Malaki would of met with Bush he would of lost the support of the Iraqi people
Posted by: Dale Peters | November 29, 2006 2:37 PM
Sounds like the even the dinner arrangements are screwy. Let's hope someone had the good sense to bring along Soogiplats from Estonia. ♨
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | November 29, 2006 2:40 PM
The two kings are having dinner together. al-Maliki is not a king therefore he didn't "make the cut" just like Bartlett didn't.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | November 29, 2006 4:21 PM
As much as I hate to say it because my son is over there right now,but I think we need to flood Sadr City with troops,and then sit on al Sadr for awhile,and see what happens.
If that doesn't change things,then we need to redeploy,let the Iraqi's have it out,and then deal with the new dictator.
Posted by: John E. | November 29, 2006 5:05 PM
GW Bush's legacy..
The Middle East left in shambles & Americas prestige and reputation torn and shattered.
http://www.icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx
HECK OF A JOB jr!!!
Posted by: mrJJ | November 29, 2006 6:26 PM
JOhn E...I agree, we should have dealt with
Maqtada Al-Saladbar 2 years ago. He has American blood on his hands and it's a joke he has been allowed to continue.
Posted by: bill r. | November 29, 2006 6:48 PM