Tug of War

Following the news can be a task. Specifically, on May 11 two articles came out on the Iraq occupation/civil war. The articles appear to contradict one another, and must be read within a slightly broader context.

Both articles are from May 11, one from AP, one from the Buffalo News

From the AP: Iraqi Officials Discourage U.S. Pullout

excerpt: "Worried Congress' support for Iraq is deteriorating rapidly, Baghdad dispatched senior officials to Capitol Hill this week to warn members one-on-one that pulling out U.S. troops would have disastrous consequences."

"Saleh - a Kurdish politician highly regarded by U.S. officials and who speaks impeccable English - said he came to Capitol Hill to convey the "imperative of success" in Iraq."

Presenting a contradictory sentiment and demand:

Buffalo News: Iraq parliament seeks U.S. exit

excerpt: "A majority of Iraq’s parliament has signed a proposed bill that would require a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. soldiers from Iraq and freeze current troop levels."

In fairness this article, unlike the first, does point to the segment of the Iraq government that came to lobby Washington.

It is interesting to note that "Saleh" is a Kurdish politician. The Kurdish section of Iraq is relatively stable compared to Baghdad and is frequently cited by Bush as one of the "we are seeing progress in Iraq" sources.

On the other hand the parliament that wants the pullout is primarily aligned with Muqtada al-Sadr, the Shiite cleric. It also represents a majority in the Parliament.

There is an interesting parallel occurring. The Iraq parliament like our Congress wants a withdrawal date. The Iraq government higher ups just like our executive branch want more of a troop commitment. The Iraqi government was chosen by Bush.

Both articles are also quite capable of being used as an example supporting either side of the respective issue. However it is important to note that there is a difference between a few individuals pushing an agenda versus a majority of representatives of the people.