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 ...
Nice catch.
Makes it a whole lot harder for Obama’s people to make the claim that “they missunderstood” when you have at least two conversations about it. That, and the fact that Obama is on record as saying it.
No one will touch this story and his obvious law breaking. It’s pointless, he will get a free pass for sedition...
bttt
LLS
I’d bet President Bush was not informed of Senator Obama’s “intent” as with McGovern.
The clear intent of this provision [Logan Act] is to prohibit unauthorized persons from intervening in disputes between the United States and foreign governments. Nothing in section 953 [Logan Act], however, would appear to restrict members of the Congress from engaging in discussions with foreign officials in pursuance of their legislative duties under the Constitution. In the case of Senators McGovern and Sparkman the executive branch, although it did not in any way encourage the Senators to go to Cuba , was fully informed of the nature and purpose of their visit, and had validated their passports for travel to that country. Senator McGovern’s report of his discussions with Cuban officials states: “I made it clear that I had no authority to negotiate on behalf of the United States — that I had come to listen and learn....” (Cuban Realities: May 1975, 94th Cong., 1st Sess., August 1975). Senator Sparkman’s contacts with Cuban officials were conducted on a similar basis. The specific issues raised by the Senators (e.g., the Southern Airways case; Luis Tiant’s desire to have his parents visit the United States) would, in any event, appear to fall within the second paragraph of Section 953. Accordingly, the Department does not consider the activities of Senators Sparkman and McGovern to be inconsistent with the stipulations of Section 953.[5]
RIGHT NOW:
Who is this guy???
http://gateway.andohs.net/player/default_noax.aspx?nid=2920&sid=826&customlogo=
I heard Rush Bring it up today,
Who is this guy? follow the link????
What part of “ANY CITIZEN” do you and wiki not understand. A Senator or Congressman is still a Citizen... and the act states “Any Citizen”... period.
Oh let me count the ways...
1) Bush doesn't care about the rule of law. Sorry to say it but its true. There are Senators and members of the press (see Rockefeller, Kennedy, Kerry, Pelosi & Pinch & the NYT) that have committed out and out treason. Bush could care less!
2) He's a Democrap. Constitution is something they do to relave themselves, not follow.
3) He is not a Republican, so he can break laws with unbrideled impunity. Its the Senates Alfred E. Newman version of justice, What Me Worry...unless your a Republican tapping your toes while taking a Constitution, then all bets are off)
4) Just like everything else, the 3 monkeys of the media hear no, See no and speak no evil aren't going to see this nearly as huge as the fact Sarah Palin once spit on spanked her kids in a reckless show of force and abuse!
too many officials looking into serious matters like troopergate....
.. In other words Obama will continue on President Bush's path regarding Iraq becaause what Obama describes is already taking place because of the success of the surge John McCain supported.
I’m not sure this article in June, proves anything that the other article said happened in July. (”According to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Obama made his demand for delay a key theme of his discussions with Iraqi leaders in Baghdad in July.”)
In any case, it will get as much attention as Ayers. In other news, the economic disaster is all John McCain’s fault according to Chuck Schumer and every other politician I saw on tv today. With a little tin foil I could easily suspect the whole thing engineered by Soros.
That is the Great One, Mark Levin.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.