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Saturday, October 28, 2006

Best friends, again

By Ken Herman | Saturday, October 28, 2006, 10:27 AM

After a week when, at times, it looked like President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Miliki were not always on the same page concerning benchmarks and strategy, the two leaders issued this statement Saturday morning.

The White House sent it out shortly after The Associated Press reported that the Iraqi leader, in a Friday conversation with U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, said he was Washington’s friend but “not America’s man in Iraq.�

JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF IRAQ

We were pleased to continue our consultations today. Via secure video, we discussed a range of issues of great importance to our common mission in Iraq, including the development of Iraqi security forces, efforts to promote reconciliation among all Iraqis, and the International Compact for Iraq and the economic reforms associated with it. As leaders of two great countries, we are committed to the security and prosperity of a democratic Iraq and the global fight against terrorism which affects all our citizens.

We have three common goals: accelerating the pace of training the Iraqi Security Force, Iraqi assumption of command and control over Iraqi forces, and transferring responsibility for security to the Government of Iraq. We have formed a high-level working group including the Iraqi National Security Advisor, Minister of Defense, Minister of Interior, General Casey, and Ambassador Khalilzad to make recommendations on how these goals can be best achieved. This working group will supplement existing mechanisms to better define our security partnership and enhance our coordination.

We are committed to the partnership our two countries and two governments have formed and will work in every way possible for a stable, democratic Iraq and for victory in the war on terror.

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Veep speaks

By Ken Herman | Saturday, October 28, 2006, 10:21 AM

For the record, here’s what Vice President Cheney said Friday evening about his comment earlier in the week that some interpreted as an endorsement of water boarding to get terrorist suspects to answer questions.

These comments came in a brief chat with reporters aboard Air Force 2 as Cheney headed back to Washington from a campaign swing:

Q: Well, listen, we appreciate you taking a couple of minutes. I guess, just as an initial matter we’d like to ask you to clarify those comments that have now been in the news today concerning …

Cheney: I was being interviewed by a talk show host. I don’t talk about techniques and I wouldn’t. I have said that the interrogation program for a select number of detainees is very important. It has been I think one of the most valuable intelligence programs we have. And I believe it has allowed us to prevent terrorist attacks against the United States. I did not talk about specific techniques involved.

Q: So it was not about water boarding, even though he asked you about dunking in the water?

Cheney: I didn’t say anything about water boarding. Those were all his comments. He didn’t even use that phrase.

Q: He said dunking in the water.

Cheney: I didn’t say anything, he did.

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