Posted on 09/15/2008 2:03:51 AM PDT by Enchante
WHILE campaigning in public for a speedy withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, Sen. Barack Obama has tried in private to persuade Iraqi leaders to delay an agreement on a draw-down of the American military presence.
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.
"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.
Obama insisted that Congress should be involved in negotiations on the status of US troops - and that it was in the interests of both sides not to have an agreement negotiated by the Bush administration in its "state of weakness and political confusion."
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
He's been acting though as if he already is President and that will be his downfall
One day after Senator John McCain met with Iraq's foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari , Mr. Obama spoke to Mr. Zebari by telephone. Mr. Obama said he was “encouraged” by reductions in violence in Iraq, but added that the United States should withdraw 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.
Among the issues being discussed between Mr. Zebari and the presidential candidates is a long-term security accord between Iraq and the United States. While the Bush administration would like to see an agreement reached by midsummer, Mr. Obama said he opposed such a swift 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,” Mr. Obama said, “whether it's my administration or Senator McCain's administration.”
Mr. Obama , who has not been to Iraq for more than two years, said last month that he would like to visit. After speaking to Mr. Zebari , he sounded more definitive, saying, “I told him that I look forward to seeing him in Baghdad.”
Mr. McCain has invited Mr. Obama to take a joint trip to Iraq, a gesture that Mr. Obama dismissed as a political stunt. Alex Conant, a Republican Party spokesman, said it had been nearly 900 days since Mr. Obama visited, in January 2006.
Mr. Obama did not say Monday when he would be going, but said it would be “before the election.”
JEFF ZELENY
Edition: Late Edition - Final
Section: National Desk
Page: 19
Page Column: 0
Page Subsection: A
Column: TRAVEL PLANS
Record Number: 2008-06-17-320854
LOL...Obama is all over the place on Iraq by ‘design’ or stupidity.
Guess that is what happens when you have over 300 foreign policy advisors because you lack experience as a community organizer!
Obama cannot organize his way out of a paper bag...much else deal with Iraq!!
Seems the only thing the democrats really want is to use Iraq as a political tool and this breaking news today makes that crystal clear.
Oh Boy.........
FOX NEWS NOW HAS IT ON ITS WEBSITE
The idea of Barack Hussein Obama negotiating privately with Iraqi Shi’ites (and Iran?) scares me no end!!!!
Besides that, Obama is neither President nor Secretary of State, nor their appointed agent. He has no authority to negotiate for the United States whatsoever!!!!
The msm will BURY this like the trash bag flag scandal.
Ping to post #302
And aren't the Dems the ones who harp about "it's the seriousness of the accusation that matters"?
What did Obama promise the Iraquis in return for this favor?
Yes, I saw it. I am calling my key people.
This has got to be satire. I know he can’t be THAT stupid.
If this is true, Obama should be tried for treason and hung. Period.
No, idea, but the mainstream media had better report the story.
In a lengthy telephone call last month with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari , Mr. Obama appeared to send a signal that his plan was far less rigid than he earlier suggested. Mr. Zebari said the presumptive Democratic nominee reassured him that he would do nothing to jeopardize Iraqs security gains. He will not take any drastic decisions, or reckless actions, he said.
Confirmation ... whether or not someone will hold 0bama accountable for this, well, I won't hold my breath. As I wrote earlier, I doubt seriously whether the American people would grasp the significance, too busy with the idea that a man who suffers disabling consequences from injuries obtained during service to this nation is "out of touch."
Thank you very much for posting that article, maggief.
The issue is not that Obama met with Zebari (McCain met with him also)...the issue is what Obama was trying to do behind the scenes!
He clearly wanted the Iraq issue on the table at that time for political gain and was secretly trying to scuttle any agreements the Bush Administration was working on with the Iraqi Gov. for withdrawal of our troops.
Obama and the dems did not want a withdrawal because they wanted to claim credit for one after Obama won the election! That is the ‘blue dress stain’ on this scandal.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
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