Three senators who have been strong advocates of American support for Iraq — Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut; John McCain, Republican of Arizona; and Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina — also sought to reinforce the administration's case in a closed-door meeting with Mr. Maliki in Baghdad on Tuesday.
The meetings give Obama a chance to thank the health workers but also to visually reinforce his administration's message that they should be treated as heroes, not pariahs.
The meetings give Obama a chance to thank the workers but also an opportunity to visually reinforce his administration's message that they should be treated as heroes, not pariahs.
At center stage, in the White House meetings or on the Sunday television news program circuit, Mr. Cheney was the dutiful No. 2 man, adding quiet ballast to Mr. Bush's headliner act or reinforcing the administration's message without making front-page news himself.
Mr. Kerry's remarks at the State Department reinforced the administration's toughening stance on the Syria conflict, which is now well into its third year, and indicated that the White House was moving closer to a military response in consultation with America's allies.
Such an approach also reinforces the administration's surprising radicalism on the environmental front.
And Wednesday's move, if it proves true, reinforces the administration's apparent focus on Islam as a means to defeat terrorists. .
For example, the U.S. statement regarding demand reduction reinforced this administration's support of needle exchange as well as every intervention that appears in the UNODC, WHO, UNAIDS Technical Guide for countries to set targets for universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care for injecting drug users.
As part of the overall effort, Dr. Kouchner is sending 100 United Nations administrative staff members to reinforce the fledgling administration in the north.
For one, visiting the Maghreb would reinforce the Obama administration's commitment to an improved relationship with Muslim communities.
