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Iraq Blog V  (1 comment)

Posted by: Michael Leavitt
Thursday, November 6th, 2008

Meeting Prime Minister Maliki

On my second day in Iraq I had a 30-minute meeting with His Excellency Nouri Kamel al-Maliki, Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq. I had not met him before.

His office is inside the protected Green Zone, in a rather remarkable building I understood to be the home of one of Saddam’s sons at one time. I’m not sure of that, but, by any account, it was ornate and tastefully done. I was joined in the meeting by the Ambassador from the United States, Ryan Crocker, with whom I had met the previous day, and the senior members of my delegation. Minister of Health Salih also attended, sitting on Prime Minister Maliki’s left.

Prime Minister Maliki went into exile in 1980, after Saddam Hussein’s regime sentenced him to death for his leadership role in an opposing party. He spent his time away in Iran and Syria. He was elected as Prime Minister in May of 2006.

Visits with a Head of State or Prime Minister have a rhythm about them. There is a formal greeting, and a few pictures. Generally, one sits on the right of the host. The media is invited in for a picture; when the media is cleared out, a more formal part of the conversation can begin.

Typically, the Head of State speaks first, and offers a greeting, maybe laying out some things he or she is interested in talking about. Then the visitor responds with similar expressions.

I told the Prime Minister why I was there by relating the experience I had in talking with the American health community about receiving Iraqi physicians for short-term exposure to current medical practice. I referenced the unqualified generosity and willingness uniformly expressed by everyone I spoke with.

The Prime Minister said he was not surprised to hear of the positive way people had responded to my request. “This matches what we have come to know about the American people and their desire to help others,”

One Response to “Iraq Blog V”

1. Allen says:

   November 7, 2008 at 11:12 am

   Secretary Leavitt,

   I’ve enjoyed your blogs a great deal.

   I believe there is a great deal both countries can learn from each other. The pandemic flu blogs are full of ideas from other people on how they use everyday items to warm food, clean water, take care of themselves.

   Self reliance and resiliance is something I do not find here. When disaster strikes people call on FEMA even though it is local churches and groups who respond first. FEMA is not bad but after seeing what the Iraq has been through there is much I could learn.

   Regards,
   Allen