Iraqi PM supports Obama's withdrawal plan

[tiger88 934]

I hope you guys are watching as our national news media refuses to state that the Iraqi P.M. endorsed the Obama 16-month withdrawal time frame even though that's exactly what happened.

What should be the death knell for the crumbling McCain candidacy remains propped up by our broken media's refusal to report factually.

Facts:

Obama -- We should set a 16 month time frame to withdraw troops from Iraq

McCain -- No time frame as you can "walk through the streets of Baghdad freely"

Iraq P.M. Maliki -- American troops should withdraw by 2010 (16 month timeframe from January)

News Media -- *crickets*

Anyone want to guess the lead story blaring everywhere if the Iraqi P.M. endorsed John McCain's position? I realize Brad and Angelina had a kid and that a new Batman movie is out, though...

They're terrified the Hannity brigade will call them LIBRULS so they refuse to report basic facts. Unreal. If they weren't propping up McCain, Obama would win 40 states.

Perhaps the media isn't covering it more because your representation as you present it here is pitifully innacurate. The iraqi pm rebuffed immediate reports because they didn't portray what he was trying to say accurately.

The press, like you, want to skew things for obama, but they know to try and do so here would not work.

"O'bama's" plan is only remotely possible becaue the surge is working. Had he gotten his way and there was no surge he wouldn't have a leg to stand on afa his 16 month plan. So for you to make this argument as you have here is beyond pathetic.

Troops will be in Iraq longer than 16 months from now (combat troops that is), everyone knows it, including obama. He's just playing politics.

It's hard to "skew it" when they have an audio tape.

Either way the initial reporting of the comments were rebutted by the iraqui pm because they were misinterpreted. Language barrier and such. When introduced obamas plan was idiotic to say the least based on circumstances at the time. Now, it is much more feasible due to measures that have taken effect which he opposed. I'd say that would would qualify as a hollow victory if it qualified as a victory at all. Maybe thats why the press isn't playing it up???????????? They know it will over expose the fact that obama wasn't knowledgable enough to vote for the surge which has benefitted him.

[SouthLink02 8]

Either way the initial reporting of the comments were rebutted by the iraqui pm because they were misinterpreted. Language barrier and such.

• The New York Times -- But the translation of Maliki's words appears to have accurately captured his meaning: While the prime minister's office later said he had been misinterpreted, "the interpreter for the interview works for Mr. Maliki's office, not the magazine. And in an audio recording of Mr. Maliki's interview that Der Spiegel provided to The New York Times, Mr. Maliki seemed to state a clear affinity for Mr. Obama's position, bringing it up on his own in an answer to a general question on troop presence. The following is a direct translation from the Arabic of Mr. Maliki's comments by The Times: 'Obama's remarks that -- if he takes office -- in 16 months he would withdraw the forces, we think that this period could increase or decrease a little, but that it could be suitable to end the presence of the forces in Iraq.' He continued: 'Who wants to exit in a quicker way has a better assessment of the situation in Iraq.' " CNN also says the original translation captured Maliki's words accurately.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2008/...ats-new-13.html

[Tigermike 3,063]

Interesting.

Chalabi's Revenge

22 Jul 2008 05:53 pm

Two sources, one in Iraq, the other in Washington, told me that Ahmed Chalabi was key in Maliki's decision to rather ostentatiously endorse Barack Obama's Iraq withdrawal time-line. Chalabi, of course, has been in and out -- mostly out -- of favor with the Bush Administration, but it's not merely revenge that motivated his advice to Maliki. "Chalabi knows American politics better than nearly every other Iraqi politician, and he knows it's time to line up with the candidate who has the better-than-even shot of becoming President," one source told me.

I can't imagine that Obama will be adding Chalabi anytime soon to his roster of 300 foreign policy advisers, despite the favor Chalabi has apparently done on his behalf.

http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/arc...bis_revenge.php

[RunInRed 16,497]

Either way the initial reporting of the comments were rebutted by the iraqui pm because they were misinterpreted. Language barrier and such. When introduced obamas plan was idiotic to say the least based on circumstances at the time. Now, it is much more feasible due to measures that have taken effect which he opposed. I'd say that would would qualify as a hollow victory if it qualified as a victory at all. Maybe thats why the press isn't playing it up???????????? They know it will over expose the fact that obama wasn't knowledgable enough to vote for the surge which has benefitted him.

If any one was trying to "re-clarify" his comments it was the Administration/White House. Maliki and Dabbagh have both clearly reaffirmed their support of Obama's plan. As a recap:

Over the weekend, Maliki appeared to support Obama's time frame in an interview published by the German newsmagazine Der Spiegel. After the interview began generating headlines Saturday, officials at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad contacted Maliki's office to express concern and seek clarification on the remarks, according to White House spokesman Scott Stanzel.

Later in the day, the U.S. military distributed to media organizations a statement by Dabbagh saying that Maliki's comments, which were translated from Arabic by his own office, had been "misunderstood and mistranslated." It did not cite specific comments.

But by Monday, Maliki's office had posted on its Web site the Arabic version of the Der Spiegal interview. It was clear that Maliki, without prompting, expressed support for Obama's position.

"Obama's remarks that, if he takes office, he would withdraw the forces within 16 months, we think that this period might increase or decrease a little, but that it might be suitable to end the presence of the forces in Iraq," Maliki said, according to a translation by The Washington Post.

"Obama is closer to Iraqi opinion on the issue of withdrawal of U.S. forces," said Ali al-Adeeb, a top official in Maliki's Dawa Party. "We don't know him personally, but we like his opinion and his calls to set a timetable to withdraw forces."

[autigeremt 6,719]

At the end of the night in November, I'm either going to be worried about the future of this country, or terrified. Unreal that our own american citizens would put so much into the comments of a foreign leader, who on all accounts, has his own political agenda with a faction within his own cabinet.

I guess the America I love is dying by the day. So much for the will of the people.

[arnaldoabru 11]

Interesting.

Chalabi's Revenge

22 Jul 2008 05:53 pm

Two sources, one in Iraq, the other in Washington, told me that Ahmed Chalabi was key in Maliki's decision to rather ostentatiously endorse Barack Obama's Iraq withdrawal time-line. Chalabi, of course, has been in and out -- mostly out -- of favor with the Bush Administration, but it's not merely revenge that motivated his advice to Maliki. "Chalabi knows American politics better than nearly every other Iraqi politician, and he knows it's time to line up with the candidate who has the better-than-even shot of becoming President," one source told me.

I can't imagine that Obama will be adding Chalabi anytime soon to his roster of 300 foreign policy advisers, despite the favor Chalabi has apparently done on his behalf.

http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/arc...bis_revenge.php

But I thought Chalabi was "Shrubs" and Cheney's Golden Boy?

[arnaldoabru 11]

At the end of the night in November, I'm either going to be worried about the future of this country, or terrified. Unreal that our own american citizens would put so much into the comments of a foreign leader, who on all accounts, has his own political agenda with a faction within his own cabinet.

I guess the America I love is dying by the day. So much for the will of the people.

But I thought the "will of the people" was the one that got the most votes.That's kind of like,why it is a Democracy.... unless it is in Florida and your brother happens to be governor.

[tiger88 934]

Either way the initial reporting of the comments were rebutted by the iraqui pm because they were misinterpreted. Language barrier and such.

• The New York Times -- But the translation of Maliki's words appears to have accurately captured his meaning: While the prime minister's office later said he had been misinterpreted, "the interpreter for the interview works for Mr. Maliki's office, not the magazine. And in an audio recording of Mr. Maliki's interview that Der Spiegel provided to The New York Times, Mr. Maliki seemed to state a clear affinity for Mr. Obama's position, bringing it up on his own in an answer to a general question on troop presence. The following is a direct translation from the Arabic of Mr. Maliki's comments by The Times: 'Obama's remarks that -- if he takes office -- in 16 months he would withdraw the forces, we think that this period could increase or decrease a little, but that it could be suitable to end the presence of the forces in Iraq.' He continued: 'Who wants to exit in a quicker way has a better assessment of the situation in Iraq.' " CNN also says the original translation captured Maliki's words accurately.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2008/...ats-new-13.html

Like I said, the prime minister said they were misinterpreted based on the way the information was reported immediately after the remarks. The press tried to make it look like an endorsement of sorts for obama. You take the ny times word for it that he wan't misinterpreted. I'll take his that he was.

Also, HE DOES NOT ENDORSE the 16 month resolution. He says, in effect, that its not a bad target but could increase or decrease a little based on events and states, in effect, that anyone that thinks it is going to happen quicker than 16 months is being overly optimistic. He says that it COULD (Hello, could, not is) be acceptable, not that it is.

He doesn't directly endorse obama or his plan, which is what was being portrayed. Obama's plan is 16 months. I'll say it again that if obama had his way there would have been no surge, things would still be bad in iraq, and his position would have laready been flip flopped on like all the rest of his positions.

That is why the press isn't reporting the sunbject like win, some misguided people, and various other drooling liberals would like. They want to get it right and they also know that trying to overexpose this idea draws attention to obamas ignorance that led to his voting against the surge.

[Tigermike 3,063]

Interesting.

Chalabi's Revenge

22 Jul 2008 05:53 pm

Two sources, one in Iraq, the other in Washington, told me that Ahmed Chalabi was key in Maliki's decision to rather ostentatiously endorse Barack Obama's Iraq withdrawal time-line. Chalabi, of course, has been in and out -- mostly out -- of favor with the Bush Administration, but it's not merely revenge that motivated his advice to Maliki. "Chalabi knows American politics better than nearly every other Iraqi politician, and he knows it's time to line up with the candidate who has the better-than-even shot of becoming President," one source told me.

I can't imagine that Obama will be adding Chalabi anytime soon to his roster of 300 foreign policy advisers, despite the favor Chalabi has apparently done on his behalf.

http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/arc...bis_revenge.php

But I thought Chalabi was "Shrubs" and Cheney's Golden Boy?

That's what you get for thinking.

[arnaldoabru 11]

Interesting.

Chalabi's Revenge

22 Jul 2008 05:53 pm

Two sources, one in Iraq, the other in Washington, told me that Ahmed Chalabi was key in Maliki's decision to rather ostentatiously endorse Barack Obama's Iraq withdrawal time-line. Chalabi, of course, has been in and out -- mostly out -- of favor with the Bush Administration, but it's not merely revenge that motivated his advice to Maliki. "Chalabi knows American politics better than nearly every other Iraqi politician, and he knows it's time to line up with the candidate who has the better-than-even shot of becoming President," one source told me.

I can't imagine that Obama will be adding Chalabi anytime soon to his roster of 300 foreign policy advisers, despite the favor Chalabi has apparently done on his behalf.

http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/arc...bis_revenge.php

But I thought Chalabi was "Shrubs" and Cheney's Golden Boy?

That's what you get for thinking.

Let me rephrase- he WAS the Administrations golden child

[autigeremt 6,719]

At the end of the night in November, I'm either going to be worried about the future of this country, or terrified. Unreal that our own american citizens would put so much into the comments of a foreign leader, who on all accounts, has his own political agenda with a faction within his own cabinet.

I guess the America I love is dying by the day. So much for the will of the people.

But I thought the "will of the people" was the one that got the most votes.That's kind of like,why it is a Democracy.... unless it is in Florida and your brother happens to be governor.

Florida????? If you are talking about 2000, then give it a rest. There's no proof that the election was fixed for GWB. He won the election, however small the margin was.

The will of "this" person isn't the way of socialism and soviet style capitalism. And the people will see it for what it is if the next president decides to be Robin Hood.