Iraqi lawmakers' vacation draws fire

[JODO 2]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070503/ap_on_...TCFZoD4FgJX6GMA

Iraq lawmakers' vacation plans draw fire

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer 8 minutes ago

Lawmakers divided over whether to keep U.S. troops in Iraq are finding common ground on at least one topic: They are furious that Iraqi politicians are considering a lengthy break this summer.

"If they go off on vacation for two months while our troops fight — that would be the outrage of outrages," said Rep. Chris Shays, R-Conn.

The Iraq parliament's recess, starting this July, would likely come without Baghdad politicians reaching agreements considered key to easing sectarian tensions. Examples include regulating distribution of the country's oil wealth and reversing measures that have excluded many Sunnis from jobs and government positions because of Baath party membership.

Iraqi politicians said Thursday the break might not happen or may be less than two months, but said it should be of no concern to U.S. lawmakers.

Talk of the adjournment in Iraq comes amid a heated debate in Congress on the pullout of U.S. troops in Iraq.

The only area of agreement between the two sides is that the Iraqis are testing their patience.

"That is not acceptable," Sen. John Warner (news, bio, voting record), R-Va., said of a two-month recess. "An action of that consequence would send a very bad signal to the world that they don't have the resolve that matches the resolve of the brave troops that are fighting in the battle today."

Added Sen. Ben Nelson (news, bio, voting record), D-Neb: "I certainly hope they're not going to take any sort of recess when the question is whether they're going to make any progress."

On Monday — the same day Rep. Ike Skelton (news, bio, voting record), D-Mo., issued a statement urging the Iraqi politicians to reconsider their summer break — the Iraqi parliament called for a ban on U.S. troops near a holy Shiite Muslim shrine. Protests were led by the radical anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's bloc after U.S. and Iraqi troops conducted a raid near the shrine.

Nassar al-Rubaie, from the al-Sadr Shiite bloc in the parliament, said in a phone interview that there is a possibility that the recess could be put off or limited to 15 days. "We support abolishing this vacation whether the (U.S.) Congress demands it or not," said al-Rubaie. "However, Iraqi issues are the concern of Iraqis only."

Edited May 3, 2007 by JODO

[almaty 19]

what? they are already acting like american politicans...McCain is right, they are turning the corner

[Ban Hammer 14,302]

what? they are already acting like american politicans...McCain is right, they are turning the corner

i wonder how many will apply for asylum in the usa or elsewhere during this vacation

[almaty 19]

what? they are already acting like american politicans...McCain is right, they are turning the corner

i wonder how many will apply for asylum in the usa or elsewhere during this vacation

i would if i was them