Maliki Endorses Bush Plan, Not Obama Plan for Withdrawal
Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 01:58AM The press is misreporting comments from Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel saying he endorses Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s plan for Iraq.
Fox News: Maliki: I Support Obama’s Withdrawal Timetable:
“Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told a German magazine that he supports Barack Obama’s plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months of taking office.”
The New York Times: Maliki Backs Obama’s Troop Withdrawal Plan:
“Mr. Maliki essentially endorsed Senator Barack Obama’s plan for withdrawing troops from Iraq in an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel.”
Iraqi Spokesman: Al-Maliki’s remarks “were misunderstood, mistranslated and not conveyed accurately”:
Ali al-Dabbagh, a spokesman for the Iraqi government, issued a statement saying Mr. Maliki’s statement had been “as not conveyed accurately regarding the vision of Senator Barack Obama, U.S. presidential candidate, on the timeframe for U.S. forces withdrawal from Iraq.” Mr. Al-Dabbagh continued:
Al-Dabbagh explained that Mr. al-Maliki confirmed the existence of an Iraqi vision stems from the reality with regard to Iraq security needs, as the positive developments of the security situation and the improvement witnessed in Iraqi cities makes the subject of U.S. forces’ withdrawal within prospects, horizons and timetables agreed upon and in the light of the continuing positive developments on the ground, and security that came within the Strategic Plan for Cooperation which was laid and developed by Mr. Maliki and President George Bush. The Iraqi government appreciates and values the efforts of all the friends who continue to support and supporting Iraqi security forces.
Al-Dabbagh underscored that the statements made by the head of the ministerial council (Prime Minister al-Maliki) or any of the members of the Iraqi government should not be understood as support to any U.S. presidential candidates.
SPIEGEL: Would you hazard a prediction as to when most of the US troops will finally leave Iraq?
MALIKI: As soon as possible, as far as we’re concerned. US presidential candidate Barack Obama is right when he talks about 16 months. Assuming that positive developments continue, this is about the same time period that corresponds to our wishes.
Pres. Bush and Al-Maliki are already negotiating “a general time horizon for meeting aspirational goals” that will lead to the eventual withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. The plan is contingent on continued security and improving Iraqi capabilities. It is not a date for withdrawal as Obama outlines.
Let’s be clear about one thing; it doesn’t matter if Maliki endorses Obama’s “timetable” for withdrawal or not. The facts are that Barack Obama opposed this “disastrous war” from the beginning, voted against funding the troops in combat and called for immediate withdrawal years ago. Obama may want to hitch his little wagon to the success of the democratic state called Iraq, but he forfeited his right to do so when he cast his vote to defund the troops and called Operation Iraqi Freedom a mistake.
Let’s not forget Obama’s ‘Iraq War De-escalation Act of 2007’, which called for a goal of all U.S. troops to leave Iraq by March 31, 2008, or that he opposed the surge. There’s judgment you can believe in.
If Obama had his way, there would be no Maliki government (recall Democrats demanding the removal of Maliki in 2007), there would be no secure Iraq, Saddam and his evil heirs would still be dictators in Iraq, Saddam would have reconstituted his WMD program and those Iraqis who think Obama is so dang handsome and smart would be fearing for their wives and daughters every time Uday Hussein came rolling down the streets of Baghdad.
Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of this war is the hope of everyone who has invested themselves in this war effort one way or another, but Obama wanted to close the tunnel when seeing through to the other side required some commitment and hope.
While Obama seems to be on the political untouchable list now, he will fall from grace eventually when people pay attention to his policies and not his smile. Bill Clinton used to confound Republicans with his “Teflon Bill”, “Slick Willy” persona and now the Clintons are second fiddle to the Obamas. Ouch.
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Amy Proctor
Fox backtracks on previous story.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has not endorsed any specific timeframe for possible U.S. troops withdrawals, a government spokesman said Sunday.
Go figure.
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Reader Comments (7)
I thought a Timetable for withdrawal was a timetable for defeat! I guess defeat in Iraq is now on the "Horizon".
I hear that "W" is also meeting unconditionally' with Iran. Funny .... with concerns about a legacy, "W" is adopting (D) policies.
Snerd
MALIKI: As soon as possible, as far as we’re concerned. US presidential candidate Barack Obama is right when he talks about 16 months.
SG: Sounds like an endorsement to me. I mean, he didn't say "Wz" plan sounds about right. He said Baracks plan sounds about right. He coulda said "W" but he didn't. He said Barack's Plan!
Sner(D)
What part of "as far as we’re concerned. US presidential candidate Barack Obama is right when he talks about 16 months." don't you understand?
People, your talking to a dead horse.
"What part of "as far as we’re concerned. US presidential candidate Barack Obama is right when he talks about 16 months." don't you understand?"
"As soon as possible, as far as we’re concerned. US presidential candidate Barack Obama is right when he talks about 16 months. Assuming that positive developments continue,"
and what part of "assuming positive developments continue"don't you understand?
Obama very clearly made his statement an unconditional statement of withdrawal. Maliki's statement was a very conditional statement of withdrawal.
so, yes, Maliki's statement was misrepresented and misleading by the msm and clearly taken out of context.
Snerd, a timetable for withdrawal is only a timetable for defeat when al-Qaeda is winning, which is when Obama advocated the withdrawal. His "plan" is for concrete dates; Maliki's and Bush's plan is contingent on the situation on the ground. All bets are off if someone Al-Qaeda were to make a comeback, which won't happen while we're there.
The quote in question was mistranslated from German to English. Maliki said; Assuming that positive developments continue, this is about the same time period that corresponds to our wishes.
The difference that libs won't understand is the difference between, "hell yeah we're leaving no matter what" and "as long as conditions on the ground continue to be favorable".
Why, Rand, I didn't realize you were a horse.
Amy: Maliki's and Bush's plan is contingent on the situation on the ground. ... and an ever receding ho(R)izon, until the no-bid oil contracts are signed. Then it'll be "Mission Accomplished" for Operation Iraqi Liberation (OIL)
vs.
al Maliki and Obama's Plan
"As soon as possible, as far as we’re concerned. US presidential candidate Barack Obama is right when he talks about 16 months ...
We have to be more careful getting out of Iraq than we were going in.
Snerd