President of Iraq Jalal Talabani, left, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, right, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, center, speak during the 23rd congress of the Socialist International at the Lagonissi Grand Resort, about 40 kilometers (25miles) south of Athens on Tuesday, July 1, 2008. (Yahoo-AP)
Iraqi President Talabani's handshake with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has captured the attention of the Arab press.
Aswat Al-Iraq reported:
Arab newspapers gave prominence in their Thursday issues to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's handshake with Israeli Labor Party Leader Ehud Barak last Monday on the sidelines of Socialist International conference held in the Greek capital, Athens.And, just think- A little over five years ago Saddam was actively funding the Palestinian terrorists.
The impendent Kuwaiti Awan newspaper published an article by Adnan Hussein, an Iraqi writer, in which he said: "Had I been an adviser to Iraqi President Jalal al-Talabani, I would not have recommended issuing a statement to justify his handshake with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak."
In an article entitled, 'Talabani-Barak handshake,' the author said that Arab presidents' handshakes with Israeli leaders is no longer an issue.
"Arab presidents and kings hold talks, sign agreements and pacts, and entertain Israeli leaders in the countries...Nearly 10 former and current Arab presidents and kings, shook hands with current and former Israeli leaders. Some of them have even done so at times of war with Israel...," the author wrote.
Hussein believes that there is "nothing wrong" with the Iraqi president's behavior. "Iraq is not at war with Israel. Therefore, there is no reason that prevents handshake," he added.
On Tuesday, the Iraqi president said that his handshake with Barak was in his capacity as leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party and vice president of Socialist International.
Today Iraq is an open democracy.
Now, that's change.
Great on both Talabani recognition of normal etiquete with Israel and the article as well.
ReplyDeleteYes, it should not be a big deal. We all agree, welcome to the free world where Islamic radicals don't cut your head off for shaking the hand of a Jew. Welcome to the world free of Saddam Hussein. True Change indeed. Where new opinions are allowed into the marketplace of ideas.
Iraq is not at war with Israel. Brilliant realization on the part of an Iraqi free to use his mind again without threat of a tyrant to slice it off from his body.
Though, I bet the Iraqi writer will still get hate mail and threats on his life. It is nice to see refreshing opinions now being formed.
This is what happends when true change takes place and liberty is advanced over tyranny. A change that Obama would never had made in his lifetime.
He would allow the Iraqis to live in the stench and oppression of a murdering thug tyrant and Saddam to keep murdering Jews in Israel, with payoffs to Hamas terrorist families for each suicide bomber.
But then, if you're a Marxist supporting Democrat, who cares, vote Obama.
Slightly offtopic, but Iraqi Freedom of ideas related...
ReplyDeleteIraqis are deckin out their cars with swag and pumpin up the power.
Hattip, SeeDub @ MichelleMalkin.
LA Times article on Car Aficionados in Iraq...
Car Trippin
Good for Iraqis! Liberty is taking hold!
Meanwhile, this just in from the Socialist Workers Party Press...
"Komrades, komrades! We must stop this western advance of decadence and capitalist pigs into Iraq! Today they shake hands and make fast cars to impress women! Tomorrow Peace! Komrades! Call Pelosi and Reid now! Tell them to pull out of Iraq before this disaster is complete!"
"socialist international"????
ReplyDeleteOK, why the heck is the Iraqi president there? It is bad enough that the Israelis are such socialists, but we liberated Iraq so they can march hand in hand with the 5th columnists to hell?
Barak was such a boon for the Pali Terrorists, I am suprised that he didn't get kisses all around.
That whole article made me sick.
Mr. SmarterThanyou,
ReplyDeleteyeah, makes your skin crawl a bit, one step at a time, we have our own Marxist supporting Obamatrons to deal with as well.
But it is still a large change from the Saddam oppression. One step at a time.
Free and Independent thinking is unusual for those parts, check out the car tripping link. Iraqis are slowly coming out of 35 years of tyranny by a Stalinist lover in Saddam.
"OK, why the heck is the Iraqi president there?"
ReplyDeletetalabani and his comrades are all socialists.
this is a primary reason why hitchens agreed the war was right.
arafat and peres used to meet at this shindig all the time.
saddam was also a socialist - as baathism is a strain of both jihadism/arab nationalism and socialism.
this is another reason we have to defeat socialists.
especially at home.
That is great news and your point is well taken, but flip a few pictures to the right and here's Talibani hugging Mahmoud Abbasand kissing Abbas.
ReplyDeleteNow Arab culture includes hugging and kissing, so that is insignificant in and of itself, and it is good news that Iraqi officials publicaly meet and greet Israeli and Palestinian officials. I think it shows that both have the potential to be friends with each other. I hope.
It must be frustrating to anyone who wants to put a bad spin on something this good. It's only natural that two countries who cherish democractic ideals, respect human rights and encourage individual freedom should want to be friends. Embrace success; long live a FREE Iraq!
ReplyDelete