Posted on 07/22/2008 10:09:28 PM PDT by flyfree
There is some irony in the fact that Democrats, after years of deriding Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as a hopeless bungler and conniving Shiite sectarian, are now treating as sacrosanct his suggestion that Iraq will be ready to assume responsibility for its own security by 2010. Naturally this is because his position seems to support that of Barack Obama.
A little skepticism is in order here. The prime minister has political motives for what he's saying -- whatever that is. An anonymous Iraqi official told the state-owned Al-Sabah newspaper, "Maliki thinks that Obama is most likely to win in the presidential election" and that "he's got to take preemptive steps before Obama gets to the White House." By smoothing Obama's maiden voyage abroad as the Democratic nominee, Maliki may figure that he will collect chits that he can call in later.
Giving the Iraqi prime minister an added motive to posture about troop withdrawals, even while he explicitly eschews binding timelines, is that he is engaged in contentious status-of-forces negotiations with the United States. He may figure that threatening to boot us out gives him more leverage over our troops. Beyond the negotiations, there is the imperative of Iraq's provincial elections, supposed to take place this year. Maliki no doubt expects that his Dawa party will reap political benefits from appearing to stand up to the Americans.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I’m astonished - a good review of the background of Malaki’s many twists and turns, the rationale behind them, and why they can’t be taken at face value - from the WAPO!! But I note the writer is Max Boot - isn’t he with McCain’s campaign? If so, I’m even more astonished by the WaPo.
WaPo has undergone a seeming epiphany about the GWOT. They are greatly responsible for cajoling the haloed one into this 12,000 mile foto op. And they have been consistent in seeing events n Iraq in an objective manner. I'm sure they want the haloed one to win, but they're trying to keep their eye on the fact that one bad day in the GWOT and all the haloed one's plans for everything from healthcare to his mandatory voluntary service become unimportant.
What Maliki does not want is for either us or the Israelis to bounce Iran, at least in the near future. I think this is mostly that. And, too, there is the element of Der Spiegel taking one more gratuitous but irresistible poke at Bush.
We knew going in that if it worked we'd end up with an independent, not a dependent, Iraqi government, and that lends the bitter with the sweet. Bush will take most of this johnny-come-lately jockeying for credit with the same aplomb he has all the rest and his deserved praise will have to wait for a future day.
The MSM will say anything but the true reason for Maliki’s support of obama. He, as well as all Muslims the world over, consider Obama as one of them and he’ll do whatever is necessary to help him get elected. That’s it, and I promise, as much as leftist weasel media try to mislead, MOST Americans get this basic fact about Obama.
Maliki is pandering to Obambi and the Demagogues, to his own domestic ‘nationalist’ audience, and to the Arab/Muslim region.
Of course he does not acknowledge everything (or anything) that he and his country owe to our tremendous military personnel, because he is a typical b.s. ‘nationalist’ socialistic twit. He’s all we could get out of that place, but we should not expect much from him. Certainly no appreciation or recognition of the real facts. HE opposed the surge like Obambi, and then he reluctantly acquiesced as we basically forced it upon him. Now that it is a huge success he is happy to take the increased security without showing any debts of gratitude toward those who made it all possible.
I never expect anything much out of Muslim politicians anywhere, so I am not surprised. It was still worth doing the surge, and still worth booting Saddam’s regime in the first place, but we should not expect any gratitude, just a curt “ok, good bye, please leave.”
Obambi is happy to try to drive a wedge deeper between Maliki’s govt. and the Bush WH b/c Obambi is a dishonest, disloyal, opportunistic scumbag who puts his own interests ahead of the nation’s interest.
you’re leaving out krauthammer and sowell
Maliki follows the ridiculous course of Middle Eastern Muslims for whom pride is more important than accomplishment. He is a liar.
Further the US made a big mistake when they said we will leave when they want us to. The correct answer is and has always been we will leave when the job is done.
I'm sure Maliki has to look like he's not complying with the Americans TOO much. Not good for internal politics.
Your set of points should be well observed by all.
An anonymous Iraqi official told the state-owned Al-Sabah newspaper, "Maliki thinks that Obama is most likely to win in the presidential election" and that "he's got to take preemptive steps before Obama gets to the White House." By smoothing Obama's maiden voyage abroad as the Democratic nominee, Maliki may figure that he will collect chits that he can call in later.Maliki hasn't had too many diplomatic, military, or administrative triumphs, and isn't likely to gain one out of this move, even if this is what is really going on. Thanks Ernest.
Good point. Obi from Nairobi most likely looks down upon him anyway. And has no plans of letting any two bit Iraqi leader get in his way of withdrawing our troops.
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