Pelosi Now Confident Of Iraq Reconciliation

From a dismayed and confused Associated Press:

US House speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Iraq

By SINAN SALAHEDDIN, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD - U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a top Democratic critic of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, expressed confidence during a visit to Iraq on Saturday that expected provincial elections will promote national reconciliation.

Pelosi, who led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Baghdad, spoke after the group met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Gen. David Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq.

She welcomed Iraq’s progress in passing a budget as well as oil legislation and a bill paving the way for provincial elections in the fall that are expected to more equitably redistribute power among local officials.

She said the visit was to “pay our respects to our troops and at the same time learn more about what the situation is on the ground here.”

Pelosi was hopeful about the upcoming elections after meeting with Iraq’s Sunni parliamentary speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani.

“We’re assured sure the elections will happen here, they will be transparent, they will be inclusive and they will take Iraq closer to the reconcilation we all want it to have,” she said.

Pelosi’s visit comes a day after she led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Israel to mark the 60th anniversary of Israel’s founding…

This is quite a shock, coming as it does from “surrender at any price” Pelosi. Quite a change in tune.

It seems like only three months ago this same Solon was calling Iraq “a failure, a disaster” on CNN.

As we noted at the time, via the Politico:

Pelosi calls Iraq a ‘failure’

By Mike Allen

Feb 10, 2008

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said twice Sunday that Iraq “is a failure,” adding that President Bush’s troop surge has “not produced the desired effect.”

“The purpose of the surge was to create a secure time for the government of Iraq to make the political change to bring reconciliation to Iraq,” Pelosi said on CNN’s “Late Edition.” “They have not done that.” …

Pelosi’s comment came during a discussion of her call for “the redeployment of our troops out of Iraq.”

Anchor Wolf Blitzer asked: “Are you not worried, though, that all the gains that have been achieved over the past year might be lost?”

“There haven’t been gains, Wolf,” the speaker replied. “The gains have not produced the desired effect, which is the reconciliation of Iraq. This is a failure. This is a failur…

Cindy Sheehan must not be polling well.

Too bad Ms. Pelosi will now be far to the right of her party’s standard bearer.

Related Articles:

• Cindy Sheehan Still Hasn't Gotten On Ballot
• Newsweek's Latest Paean To Cindy Sheehan
• Pelosi Bill Benefits Husband's Pharma Stock
• Iraq Parliament Passes 3 Reconciliation Laws
• Nancy Pelosi: "Iraq Is A Failure, A Disaster"
• Pelosi Spent $18.5K On Flowers And Makeup
• Nancy Pelosi On Waterboarding - 10/8/07
• Pelosi Was Briefed On Waterboarding In '02
• How Nancy Pelosi Is Protecting The Children
• The Dangerous Demagoguery Of Nancy Pelosi
• Cindy Sheehan Announces Her Run - Photos
• Dems Demand "Monumental" Iraq Progress
• Code Pink, VFP Are Now Stalking Nancy Pelosi
• Pelosi: Saving Iraq Sends The Wrong Signal