Posted on 09/15/2008 2:58:55 PM PDT by johncocktoasten
FLINT, Mich. – Senator Barack Obama said today he intends to visit Iraq and Afghanistan before the November election.
Mr. Obama, who spoke to the Iraqi foreign minister by telephone this morning, said he was “encouraged” by the reductions in violence in Iraq. But he said the United States still must begin gradually withdrawing troops, at a pace of one to two brigades a month, with a goal of removing most combat troops in 16 months.
“We have no interest in permanent bases in Iraq,” Mr. Obama said. “I gave him an assurance that should we be elected, an Obama administration will make sure that we continue with the progress that’s been made in Iraq – that we won’t act precipitously, but that we will move to end U.S. combat forces in Iraq.”
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.”
Mr. Obama, who has not been to Iraq for more than two years, told the New York Times last month that he intended to visit Iraq. His comments today after talking to Mr. Zebari underscored that desire, saying: “I told him that I look forward to seeing him in Baghdad.”
Late last month, Mr. McCain invited Mr. Obama to embark on a joint trip to Iraq, a gesture that Mr. Obama dismissed as a political stunt. The Republican National Committee started a clock, keeping track of the days it has been since Mr. Obama’s visit in January 2006.
“In the nearly 900 days since Barack Obama visited Iraq, the facts on the ground have changed dramatically – but his ideologically-driven position has not,” said Alex Conant, a Republican spokesman. “When Obama visits Iraq, he’ll see that he was wrong to oppose the surge, wrong to continue to ignore our commanders’ advice and wrong to demand premature withdrawal.”
Today, Mr. Obama did not say specifically when he intended to take his foreign trip.
“You know, we’ll make an announcement about that,” he said. “But as I said, I’m interested in visiting Iraq and Afghanistan before the election.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...
There’s really no need for this to actually BE prosecuted, if the goal is destroying Obama’s political chances. The mere air of inappriateness SHOULD be sufficient. Prosecuting at this point in the election would appear political in nature, and would likely backfire, potentially garnering sympathy for The One.
The goal here should be judgement from the court of public opinion, not from the legal system. This would do more damage to the campaign than anything the courts can possibly do.
Exactly... It is too easy to get sidetracked by the whole prosecutorial angle of this, however we aren’t Dims and we are out for victory in the political arena...the goal should be to annihilate him politically in such a way that he never rears his messianic ambitions ever again.
number 18 is a GREAT POST!!
as they are much too busy with their 'feeding frenzy' attacking Gov. Palin,,,
to worry about something as trivial as treasonous comments from their HERO!!!
Because only one person has ever been indicted under the Logan Act, and that was approximately 205 years ago.
As a political matter, prosecution is not required at all -- it is political dynamite simply to point to Obama's actions, his denial of them, and the fact that he's lying in his denial.
Rockefeller, Pelosi, now the anointed one. No one ever seems to be carted off in leg irons to await charges of treason and sedition.
Just charge a towel to the underhills
I was talking about the election. Don’t believe I Mentioned “prosecution” in any way, shape or form!
Since you’re charging it to the Underhill’s, I’ll have a steak sandwich and...a steak sandwich.
Great Find,, GF!!!
The story was true, folks.
That should not have been directed toward you in any form, shape, or fashion. It should have been a reply to the original topic.
My apologies.
FYI: This is gaining more steam. Caught a segment about this first thing this morning from local Dallas radio (570 KLIF).
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/16/did-obama-just-confirm-taheri/In the New York Post, conservative Iranian-born columnist Amir Taheri quoted Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari as saying the Democrat made the demand when he visited Baghdad in July, while publicly demanding an early withdrawal.
“He asked why we were not prepared to delay an agreement until after the US elections and the formation of a new administration in Washington,” Zebari said in an interview, according to Taheri.
“However, as an Iraqi, I prefer to have a security agreement that regulates the activities of foreign troops, rather than keeping the matter open,” Zebari reportedly said. …
Obama’s national security spokeswoman Wendy Morigi said Taheri’s article bore “as much resemblance to the truth as a McCain campaign commercial.” In fact, Obama had told the Iraqis that they should not rush through a “Strategic Framework Agreement” governing the future of US forces until after President George W. Bush leaves office, she said.
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