Posted on 07/19/2008 5:12:50 PM PDT by markomalley
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told a German magazine that he supports Barack Obama’s plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months of taking office.
The apparent endorsement of a cornerstone of Obama’s foreign policy drew swift praise from the Obama camp. But the White House stressed that any timelines are contingent on “security gains” in the region.
“U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes,” al-Maliki told the magazine Der Spiegel. He said he wants U.S. troops to leave “as soon as possible.”
The comments come ahead of Obama’s scheduled meeting with al-Maliki. Obama, who is touring both Afghanistan and Iraq for the first time since becoming a presidential candidate, arrived Saturday in Afghanistan, where he is meeting with U.S. troops.
“Senator Obama welcomes Prime Minister Maliki’s support for a 16 month timeline for the redeployment of U.S combat brigades,” Obama foreign policy adviser Susan Rice said in a statement Saturday. “This presents an important opportunity to transition to Iraqi responsibility, while restoring our military and increasing our commitment to finish the fight in Afghanistan.”
Al-Maliki said for the first time earlier this month that the U.S. military should work toward a timetable for withdrawal — something President Bush and Obama’s rival John McCain oppose. The White House also reported Friday that Iraq and the United States are discussing a “general time horizon” for reductions in troop levels.
Both developments gave Obama fuel in his argument that U.S. involvement in Iraq soon must draw to a close. But al-Maliki’s comments to Der Spiegel seemingly were the deepest the foreign leader has waded into the tense foreign policy debate between the two major presidential candidates.
(Excerpt) Read more at elections.foxnews.com ...
If this story is accurate (and that is a big if), then I truly mourn for the troops' sacrifice over there.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2048159/posts?page=38
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/19/maliki-obamas-16-month-timetable-sounds-good
Getting played by the media. There’s no time table. Maliki agrees only in principle that at some point a withdrawal should happen...when the conditions are right.
Somebody is doing way too many recreational drugs. When did "as soon as possible" become 16 months?
gotta link?
The Germans are doing everything they can to get Obama elected. I hope no one attacks them while he is in office, because Obama won’t be much help I’m afraid.
This is nonsense, although Obama is busy about jumping to the head of the parade, trying to say that Bush’s plan had been his plan all along.
He wants a weak President so he can get away with anything he wants IMO.
You are right..this is ridiculous.
Of course Malaki is going to say that!! His country doesn’t want us there longer than we need to be..and he has to be political about not being a puppet of the US,
America would like to be out of Iraq in 16 months, too. I would like to be out in 16 months. I’m sure the troops would love to be done with Iraq in 16 months.
All of the above is true.
Maliki will reassess with everyone else if his government is not yet secure. He left that open-ended.
“As soon as possible” does not mean “immediately.” The trouble with translating such a line is that the words don’t literally mean what the phrase has come to mean.
Fellow muslims supporting each other.
And now Drudge is running the Headline that some WH staffer hit the wrong button on his keyboard and sent this story in email form to the Press Corp by mistake?
Ya, Ok ~ http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/07/white-house-acc.html
Here’s my take ~ The Bush Administration, by way of making their little “mistake”, which you state Maliki has already denied, now forces Maliki into clarification on this while BO has the world audience and their attention. (Unless they are watching American Idol reruns or something).
I refuse to believe that GWB will hang his soldiers out to dry like that. He honors their sacrifice, and will Complete the Mission.
JMHO
(Would be a nice plan, if that’s the case.)
al-Maliki’s statement that 16 months seems about right is as close to an endorsement of Obama as any foreign leader is going to go. The political impact of al-Maliki’s statement will be huge.
It is serious political capital for the Obama campaign.
Doesn't matter, the fascist have spoken. The correction will get next to no notice. Dems know how to play this manipulative game all too well. 60% of Americans are idiots.
Too much to hope Americans will realize Obama is running for the AMERICAN presidency and getting the other side in negotiations to agree with him is not an accomplishment?
Ran across Fox News Ticker.
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