Iraq appears to share Obama's pullout hope

MSNBC News Services ^ | Mon., July. 21, 2008 | Unidentified

[Bishop_Malachi]

BAGHDAD - Iraq’s government welcomed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday with word that it apparently shares his hope that U.S. combat forces could leave by 2010.

The statement by Iraq’s government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, followed talks between Obama and Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki — who has struggled for days to clarify Iraq’s position on a possible timetable for a U.S. troop pullout.

Al-Dabbagh said the government did not endorse a fixed date, but hoped American combat units could be out of Iraq sometime in 2010. That timeframe falls within the 16-month withdrawal plan proposed by Obama, who arrived in Iraq earlier in the day as part of a congressional fact-finding team.

“We are hoping that in 2010 that combat troops will withdraw from Iraq,” al-Dabbagh told reporters, noting that any withdrawal plan was subject to change if the level of violence kicks up again.

Obama made no public statements following the talks with al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani in Baghdad’s heavily protected Green Zone. Obama also plans meetings with U.S. military commanders who will outline recent progress in the war he has opposed from the start.

This was the third stop on a foreign tour designed to gather information while burnishing the Democratic contender’s foreign policy credentials. National security issues are the one issue area in which Obama trails Republican John McCain in the polls.

The Iraqi government comment on troop withdrawals could be embraced by the Obama campaign, but may irritate White House officials. The Bush administration has refused to set specific troop level targets and only last week offered to discuss a “general time horizon” for a U.S. combat troop exit.

[Bishop_Malachi]

So, will Obama withdraw troops within 16 months (like he promised), will he merely begin withdrawing small portions of troops in 16 months, or will he completely fib by always leaving a substantial number of troops there through his potential presidential term(s)?

[GOP_Party_Animal]

I wonder if the Iraqis share his love of abortion and gay marriage.

[Trueblackman]

So the “Magic Tricycle Tour,” has now arrived in Iraq.

[Para-Ord.45]

Hussein wanted to withdraw all troops since 2005,denied the surge would work, then said the opposite.

If Barry Hussein had had his way in 2005, Iraq would be an Al-Qaeda terrorist state by now.

This neohpyte is extremely dangerous in his ignorance.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The Dalai Obama has so spoken.

[sickoflibs]

MSNBC is the elect Obama channel.

[DeOppressoLiber1776]

For all the blood that men in the Armed Services have spilled upon the sands of Mesopotamia, Iraq should at the very least grant us full military access to that country as we please. If this means a permanent base, so be it.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Iraq appears to share Obama's pullout hope

When B.H. Obama speaks.. MSNBC employees swoon

[RexBeach]

Mr. Obama couldn’t run a Burger King.

He also changes his mind more than a 16-year-old searching for a prom dress.

[jaydubya2]

A little title tweaking to meet their agenda?

[Williams]

This is a negotiation. America is on THIS side. Not helpful that Obama is supporting the other side.

Negotiation 101: We can always pull out more troops if conditions change, but it is in America's interest to have the flexibility to stay longer if that need arises.

Can't someone point out it is inappropriate for Obama to be interfering as part of his campaign?

[Nathan Zachary]

"For all the blood that men in the Armed Services have spilled upon the sands of Mesopotamia, Iraq should at the very least grant us full military access to that country as we please. If this means a permanent base, so be it."

I would think that is the plan, not the RATS of course, but Bush's and the military commanders. At least until Iran is no longer a threat to anyone, and Iran's terrorists groups around Israel Hesbollah and Hamas are no more as well. Russia no doubt has it's own plans for Iran, so permanent bases around it only make sense.

[Ramius]

We all want the combat to stop, and the troops come home. None likely more than our warfighters themselves.

But any idiot can also know that as soon as you set a date, you’ve guaranteed that it will be longer than that. By NOT setting a date, we might even be finished ~sooner~. Really.

[MEGoody]

We can’t trust a thing the fawning mediabots are saying about Obama’s trip to the middle east.

[BatGuano]

“Sharing hope” that troops will be withdrawn is not making plans to do so. It is sad that our soldiers and the Iraqi leadership have to take time out from their mission to engage in what is merely a PHOTO OP for Hussein Obama and the MSM. He should have stayed home!

[HawaiianGecko]

This headline will be the theme all week long on the newscasts.

[FewsOrange]

A country cannot be considered liberated if another country has “full military access to that country as we please”.

If Iraq is sovereign then they can decided what happens in their country.

[DeOppressoLiber1776]

Thus why I said “Iraq should grant us full military access”, I did not say “the United States should force Iraq to give us full military access”. Read the post, thanks.

[Red Steel]

Al-Dabbagh said the government did not endorse a fixed date, but hoped American combat units could be out of Iraq sometime in 2010.

ABC radio news just lied by saying that the pullout will happen in 2010.

[smoketree]

And if they decide to invite al qaeda in and ally with Iran you wouldn’t have a problem with that?