[Enchante]

I certainly agree it needs to be nailed down. My impression is that the author, Amir Taheri (who is well respected, though maybe not by liberals), conducted his own interview with the FM (Taheri says "in an interview" and does not refer to anyone else conducting the interview, so that should normally imply that Taheri conducted the interview himself).

But you are right, it could all degenerate into "he said, he said" if it is not nailed down more firmly. The Obama campaign must be pressed hard immediately to confirm or deny the report.... if they try to deny that Obama said anything like this at all, then a lot will depend upon whether the FM is ready to confirm or not, who else might have been present, etc. Hope that Taheri has his ducks well lined up already, and that the Iraqis are willing to stand by their account.

[nathanbedford]

Let's hope that that "interview" was conducted and printed in a foreign language newspaper and that is the source of this piece.

That would then place the foreign minister on the record elsewhere and make it more likely he would stay with the story which he presumably has not recanted up until now.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

It is important to proceed with caution, but with haste.

If Obama “denies” this, it is still out there and that is not good for him. The key here I believe is not so much to highlight this for even independents, but for the left who would be furious if this were shown to be possible. They will pretend that ‘he never said that”, but the rumblings may begin within the left. Obama has already moved more to the center and the cries for getting out today from Iraq have been quite muffled.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Are there any photos of Obama ( not the interview peice ) by the MSM while he was in Iraq during this time that Obama was there ?
It would give more weight to his story... ok everyone,, let's search fo some photos of Obama with the PM of Iraq.

[rlmorel]

Amir Taheri would be considered a reliable source.