Political Skullduggery

The Democrats are proving here that they don't understand Iraq much better than does their Republican counterparts in Congress.

Congressional Democrats say Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki should condemn the Hezbollah attacks on Israel if he wants to deliver an address to a joint session of Congress today.

Some members are considering skipping the planned speech, saying Mr. al-Maliki's July 19 remarks urging the world "to take quick stands to stop the Israeli aggression" are "troubling" because Iraq is supposed to be a U.S. ally.

"No matter how politically expedient he thinks it may be: To stand with America, you have to stand against terrorism," said Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat. "Before he speaks in front of the Congress and the American people, there is a very simple question we are asking the prime minister today: Which side is he on when it comes to the war on terror?"

Schumer wouldn't like the answer he would receive if he were to personally ask Maliki to choose between his Shiite brethren and the USA.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and at least 20 other Democrats expressed similar worries. (...)

Mrs. Pelosi said the Iraqi leader's comments are "unacceptable," adding, "Unless Mr. Maliki disavows his critical comments of Israel and condemns terrorism, it is inappropriate to honor him with a joint meeting of Congress."

Sounds like Ms. Pelosi and the other 20 Dems have been drinking from President Bush's "let's spread democracy to the Middle East" kool-aid.

"It is clear that their foreign policy goals are at odds with those of the United States," read the letter , signed by 20 Democrats (sent to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert urging him to cancel Maliki's address to Congress unless he retracts his stated opinion).

What do these fools think? The democratically elected government in Iraq is Shiite-led, and close to the Iranians. It is dangerously wishful thinking to imagine that the Iraqi foreign policy goals would not be at odds with the United States.

The Democrats are way overestimating in this case the traditional capability of the U.S. to install compliant governments in countries that are important to our national interest.