U.S.-Iraq Talks on Security Delayed a Day

Read the Full Transcript

• JIM LEHRER:

  The now-delayed Iraq-American summit. Ray Suarez has our story.

• RAY SUAREZ:

  News cameras captured President Bush's arrival in Jordan today and his meeting with King Abdullah and caught the moment when Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met with the king, as well.

  But missing was the most anticipated moment of the day: a face-to-face between the president and the prime minister. It was cancelled hours after the New York Times printed a classified memo written by National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley that cites doubts about the Iraqi leader, but White House officials have denied a link between the story and the postponed meeting.

  For Maliki, the memo was one more vivid reminder that he's a leader under heavy pressure at home and abroad. At home, by threats against his entourage, as he toured Sadr City in Baghdad on Sunday, offering support and condolences to his fellow Shiite Muslims. Two hundred and fifty of them were killed there Thursday in a string of suicide bombings, and dozens of Sunnis were killed in retaliatory attacks.

• NOURI AL-MALIKI, Prime Minister, Iraq (through translator):

  The crisis is political, and it's the politicians who must try to prevent more violence and bloodletting. The terrorist acts are a reflection of the lack of a political accord.

• RAY SUAREZ:

  That lack of accord was even more apparent today, when the powerful Shiite bloc loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced they were leaving the government, at least temporarily.

• SALIH AL-IGEILI, Shiite Member, Iraqi Parliament (through translator):

  The Sadrist bloc in the parliament and the ministers of the Sadr bloc have suspended their participation in the parliament and the government, protesting this visit, which is considered as provocation to the feelings of the Iraqi people and a violation of their constitutional rights.

• RAY SUAREZ:

  Sadr's political bloc controls at least 30 seats at parliament and six cabinet ministers.

  Sadr's support was crucial to the prime minister's election in April. It followed months of failed negotiations to create a unity government after the December elections. The Bush administration has fervently defended Maliki, especially when he visited the White House in July.

  GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States: The prime minister has laid out a comprehensive plan. That's what leaders do. They see problems; they address problems; and they lay out a plan to solve the problems. The prime minister understands he's got challenges, and he's identified priorities.

• RAY SUAREZ:

  But the president more recently has taken a different tone.

• GEORGE W. BUSH:

  We're making it clear that America's patience is not unlimited; yet, we also understand the difficult challenges Iraq's leaders face, and we will not put more pressure on the Iraqi government than it can bear.

• RAY SUAREZ:

  A week after that comment, National Security Adviser Hadley met with Maliki in Baghdad. That conversation spawned the leaked memo.

  Hadley wrote, "The reality on the streets of Baghdad suggests Maliki is either ignorant of what is going on, misrepresenting his intentions, or that his capabilities are not yet sufficient to turn his good intentions into action."

  The document also recommended steps for Maliki to take control of Iraq. Among them, bring his political strategy with Muqtada al-Sadr to closure, and bring to justice any members of the Mahdi Army that do not eschew violence; shake up his cabinet by appointing non-sectarian, capable technocrats in key service and security ministries; and to announce plans to expand the Iraqi army over the next nine months.

  Maliki and President Bush are expected to meet tomorrow.