WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) joined Members of Congress in signing a letter to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert condemning recent comments by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki’s and Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament Mahmoud al-Mashhadani.
“We do not ask Prime Minister al-Maliki to agree with every aspect of U.S. policy. But we do expect him to support a most fundamental principle: the condemnation of terrorists and their tactics,” stated Lowey. “The U.S. Congress should not provide a platform for supporters of Hezbollah, and unless Prime Minister al-Maliki formally apologizes for his comments and those of Iraqi Parliament Speaker al-Mashhadani, I will not attend his address to Congress tomorrow and will actively urge others not to attend.”
On Wednesday, July 19th, in reference to the conflict in Lebanon, Prime Minister Maliki said, “I condemn these aggressions and call on the Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Cairo to take quick action to stop these aggressions. We call on the world to take quick stands to stop the Israeli aggression.” Additionally, the Iraqi Parliament voted unanimously to condemn Israel, calling Israel’s actions “criminal aggression.” These comments and actions are in direct conflict with the position of both the President of the United States and the United States House of Representatives which voted 410-8 to support “Israel's right to take appropriate action to defend itself, including to conduct operations both in Israel and in the territory of nations which pose a threat to it, which is in accordance with international law, including Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.”
“Prime Minister al-Maliki, whose country and people have been ravaged by terrorists as well, should know better than to condemn another sovereign nation for defending itself,” added Lowey. “Until the Prime Minister recognizes this, he should not be given a place of honor at a joint session of Congress.”
