"We will do our best not to allow a permanent (foreign) military base on our land," al-Hakim told hundreds of supporters gathered outside the party's headquarters in Baghdad's Jadriyah district. In the sermon, al-Hakim also urged the region's Arab countries to support the political process in Iraq by opening diplomatic missions here and he appealed on "other nearby Islamic countries" -- a reference to Iran -- to support Iraq and its people.

Seems helpful.Partly.
Also interesting how 'pops' came to an American hospital for his own medical. Would he be attracted to a govt. run system?

merrie--
Smilie is colon: dash- R.parenth.)
Not the words- just the symbols
It will form when you hit Post.
Use semi-colon for wink.
After that I don't know. I'm sure some know the whole slew of them.

:-R)

I guess I don't have the knack!

Sorry. Not "R"
I meant right parenthase

That is a great article. Thanks.

Bush and Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim Meeting:A Signal to Iran? Dec 4, 2006

On the surface, the message seems clear enough. As leader of one of the most powerful blocs in Iraq's parliament, Hakim is one of the few Iraqi politicians positioned to rescue the foundering government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. As sectarian violence has exploded over the past several weeks, Maliki's hold on power appears more tenuous than ever.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16042190/site/newsweek/

I wonder what type of health and medical system
the Iraqi's had under Saddam and horrible U.N
"Oil-for-Food" scheme. What on earth is the
"Useless Nations" good for, anyway?