Posted on 09/15/2008 2:58:55 PM PDT by johncocktoasten
FLINT, Mich. – Senator Barack Obama said today he intends to visit Iraq and Afghanistan before the November election.
Mr. Obama, who spoke to the Iraqi foreign minister by telephone this morning, said he was “encouraged” by the reductions in violence in Iraq. But he said the United States still must begin gradually withdrawing troops, at a pace of one to two brigades a month, with a goal of removing most combat troops in 16 months.
“We have no interest in permanent bases in Iraq,” Mr. Obama said. “I gave him an assurance that should we be elected, an Obama administration will make sure that we continue with the progress that’s been made in Iraq – that we won’t act precipitously, but that we will move to end U.S. combat forces in Iraq.”
As Mr. Obama arrived in Michigan for a campaign stop on the economy, he shared details of his morning telephone call with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. On Sunday, Mr. Zebari had a face-to-face meeting with Senator John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican nominee.
Among the issues being discussed with the two presidential candidates is the long-term security accord between Iraq and the United States. While the Bush administration would like to see an agreement reached before the summer’s political conventions, Mr. Obama said today that he opposed such a timetable.
“My concern is that the Bush administration, in a weakened state politically, ends up trying to rush an agreement that in some ways might be binding to the next administration, whether it’s my administration or Senator McCain’s administration,” Mr. Obama said. “The foreign minister agreed that the next administration should not be bound by an agreement that’s currently made.”
Mr. Obama, who has not been to Iraq for more than two years, told the New York Times last month that he intended to visit Iraq. His comments today after talking to Mr. Zebari underscored that desire, saying: “I told him that I look forward to seeing him in Baghdad.”
Late last month, Mr. McCain invited Mr. Obama to embark on a joint trip to Iraq, a gesture that Mr. Obama dismissed as a political stunt. The Republican National Committee started a clock, keeping track of the days it has been since Mr. Obama’s visit in January 2006.
“In the nearly 900 days since Barack Obama visited Iraq, the facts on the ground have changed dramatically – but his ideologically-driven position has not,” said Alex Conant, a Republican spokesman. “When Obama visits Iraq, he’ll see that he was wrong to oppose the surge, wrong to continue to ignore our commanders’ advice and wrong to demand premature withdrawal.”
Today, Mr. Obama did not say specifically when he intended to take his foreign trip.
“You know, we’ll make an announcement about that,” he said. “But as I said, I’m interested in visiting Iraq and Afghanistan before the election.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...
BTTT!!!
Defecation, meet the Ventilation!
His comments were taken out of context. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along now.
This is a flat out admission that he broke the law.
Why is he not being prosecuted?
I’m sure this was written by Jason Blair < /Big Ass Sarcasm >
Not the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebarith that I knew by phone....
Obama can't keep track of his own lies. This would be a devastating ad.
Great catch.
"Why is he not being prosecuted?"
Probably because the federal prosecutors are way to busy looking the other way. I am sure they don't want to offend any of the democrats.
LOL!
ping
Self-ping.
Bookmarked.......
What's binding is not which administration is in office, but what policies and laws has been put into place by the countries elected representatives. American foreign policy is not made in a vacuum or by fiat.
Why would countries enter into any agreements with the U.S. if they had no validity beyond the end of a politician's term?
from what I understand, Hoshar Zebraith in Iraq is just like John Smith here, there are a ton of them. He probably just had a wrong number or something...
Heh.
This HOGWASH of words regarding his talks and intentions with Iraq IS BULLSHIT.
HE ABSOLUTELY undermined the current ADMINISTRATION, ATTEMPTING TO DIMINISH IT IN FROMT OF A FOREIGN LEADER BY ATTEMPTING TO THWART CURRENT POLICY ......
this is AGAINST THE LAW!!!
He is NOT our PRESIDENT and does NOT have the AUTHORITY ( only the arrogance ) to do this dispicable crap!!!
He is a disgrace!
What obmaboy meant to say was this “My concern is that the Bush administration will make an agreement that will work and I will not get credit for it.”
This guy is one pile of dog crap with ears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oopsie. BTT.
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