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We do know in Obama's own words, reported in the media in June 2008, that he was advocating a postponement of any "Status of Forces" agreement until the new admin. So he was already publicly interfering in ongoing negotiations of the Bush admin. to conclude the SOF agreement and get things on a better path.

Big question: did Obama's remarks in June both in public and to the Iraqi FM help to block/delay SOF negotiations this past summer, which the Bush admin. had sought to conclude before the political conventions and the run-up to the elections? Maybe (it seems that) Obama is ALREADY on record blocking/interfering with highly sensitive and critical negotiations....??

Obama also advocated extending UN mandate which expires at end of this year. So real question is whether he used his visit to personally "lobby" Iraqi officials and General Petraeus to do what he is already on the record wanting.......

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NY Times blog reported on Obama's remarks of June 16, 2008

"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.”

MSNBC also carried it:June 16, 2008

Obama also told Zebari, he said, that Congress should be involved in any negotiations regarding a Status of Forces agreement with Iraq. He suggested it may be better to wait until the next administration to negotiate such an agreement.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/16/1146192.aspx

So today's bit looks TRUE, but is simply a re-hash of an earlier report?

Big question: did Obama's remarks in June both in public and to the Iraqi FM help to block/delay SOF negotiations this past summer, which the Bush admin. had sought to conclude before the political conventions and the run-up to the elections? Maybe (it seems that) Obama is ALREADY on record blocking/interfering with highly sensitive and critical negotiations....??

That appears to be the big question right now. Should force the Obama camp to go on defense again, during another news cycle.