Maliki backs Obama timeline

[TeamJordan23]

Maliki backs Obama timeline

This, along with Bush's shift to support a general time "horizon," seems to shift the Iraq debate a bit:

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki supports US presidential candidate Barack Obama's plan to withdraw US troops from Iraq within 16 months. When asked in and interview with SPIEGEL when he thinks US troops should leave Iraq, Maliki responded "as soon as possible, as far as we are concerned." He then continued: "US presidential candidate Barack Obama is right when he talks about 16 months."

He demurred when asked if he prefers Obama in general to McCain.

One element of this question I haven't seen explored: Maliki and other Iraqi leaders must be aware of their ability to affect the U.S. election, particularly this fall.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0708/Maliki_backs_Obama_timeline.html

[jenmito]

1. I couldn't believe when I heard that reported on MSNBC this morning!

If THAT doesn't clarify who's right on Iraq, I don't know what WILL, unless Bush/McCain think MALIKI wants a "timetable for surrender."

[bunnies]

2. Holy Freaking Shit!!

Spectacular!!! How is McAsshat going to weasel his way out of this one? :bounce:

[jenmito]

3. He can't unless he totally forgets that video exists of him saying ANY timeline is dangerous

because the terrorists will just wait 'til we leave (which both he and Bush have said). They can TRY to spin it by saying we're able to have a timeline NOW because we're "WINNING," but a timeline is a timeline, and even if we ARE "winning," "the terrorists" can STILL "wait us out." This is horrible news for McBush.

[bunnies]

6. I agree.

This is a MAJOR kick in the dink to McLame. What's he gonna do? Go around saying Maliki is naive like Obama?!

And check this out - from a Reuters article I was just reading:

Asked if he supported Obama's ideas more than those of John McCain, Republican presidential hopeful, Maliki said he did not want to recommend who people should vote for.

"Whoever is thinking about the shorter term is closer to reality. Artificially extending the stay of U.S. troops would cause problems."

http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSL1980090

Wasnt McCain just recently saying that Obama was out of touch with reality in Iraq? :rofl:

[caledesi]

7. Well said! NT

[jenmito]

8. Yup. He'll TRY to spin it, but the fact is Maliki, like Obama, wants a timetable-OBAMA'S timetable!

Can't spin THAT!

[bunnies]

9. I cant WAIT to here his reaction to this.

I cant wait I cant wait I cant wait!!! :bounce:

[jenmito]

10. Well, Brad Blakeman just said (on MSNBC) that if it were up to Obama, there wouldn't

have been any surge, and a withdrawal never would've been able to happen. But NOW the troops will be "returning on success" which was their goal all along. :eyes:

[bunnies]

12. Then by his logic...

If it had been up to Obama there never would have BEEN a war in Iraq in the first place. :banghead:

[jenmito]

13. Of course you're right, but his logic apparently begins at "the surge."

Anything earlier than that is "the past" and doesn't count.

[bunnies]

14. Ah yes...

the classic "Your point is invalid because I say so" defense. I shoulda seen that one coming. My head hurts.

[jenmito]

17. Yup. The McCain campaign is saying this is just further proof that the surge worked.

Whatever-if it WORKED, and we have a TIMELINE as Obama and Maliki want, can't "the enemy" STILL "wait us out" and cause trouble once we leave? The Repubs. are spinning like crazy. "Time horizon," "proof the surge succeeded," blah blah blah.

[bunnies]

24. They're blabbing about the "surge" to take the attention off the real issue.

Bush and McSame have been against a timeline the whole entire time we've been there. Now, SUDDENLY, it doesnt seem like such a bad idea. Not only have they flip-flopped (in a major way) but now they are embracing Obamas plans for Iraq (more or less). THATs the story we'd be hearing if the shoe was on the other foot and THATs is the story I want to hear now. Dammit!

I hate the M$M. I really, really do.

[jenmito]

27. Exactly...

I think the majority of people will see this as an OBAMA victory. They just announced it on Faux-that Maliki is supporting Obama's plan for troop withdrawal!

[bunnies]

28. On FAUX?!?!

Did I just slip into an alternate universe? :shrug:

[jenmito]

29. They just said it AGAIN! They're calling it an "alert" and quoting Maliki!

MSNBC plays their prison stuff or whatever all weekend, so I switch between Faux and CNN just to see what's being reported.

[bunnies]

31. Are they spinning it in McCains favor? nt

[jenmito]

32. Surprisingly, no! They were mostly just quoting what Maliki said, stating what Obama's position is,

and moving on.

[ErinBerin84]

15. I wish the "Dem strategists" were more capable of combating the SURGE! myth

Though Chris is not the worst....I just wish it could be all Rachel, all the time.

[jenmito]

19. So do I. I wish the same thing. She (and Olbermann) are the ONLY people who say

exactly what NEEDS to be said.

[jenmito]

4. K&R by the way.

:hi:

[Fleshdancer]

5. HAHAHAHA!!!!

I almost feel sorry for McCain. Almost.

:rofl:

[npincus]

11. OK, Gramps, it'syour ball.

:rofl:

[npincus]

16. this is BIG BIG BIG BIG news- where the f*ck is the MSM

they are so CAREFUL not to advantage Obama in any way, they can't report the f*cking news.

[jenmito]

21. They're busy posing the question of how this helps MCCAIN since it's "proof the surge worked"

as McCain keeps saying. :eyes:

[high density]

18. This brought a huge smile to my face

Bush has been telling us that we need to listen to Iraqis. A Democratic presidential nominee brings a plan to the table, and the Iraqi Prime Minister endorses it. Perfect.

[kentuck]

20. Obama will have a nice long chat with Mr Maliki today or tomorrow..

And will get a better understanding of just where he stands on the withdrawal of troops. He understands there is an election scheduled for October and Mr Maliki is most likely, like all politicians, playing to the crowd. Getting the American troops out of Iraq is probably a more popular position in Iraq than keeping them in Iraq.

Mr Maliki understands the reins of leadership are about to change in America. George W Bush will be gone in January. (Hallelujah!) And there will be a new person in charge, very possibly Barack Obama. Maliki understands that part of the equation. He also understands how much they need the $200 billion per year from the American stooges to bribe all the tribal leaders and their security forces, Sunni and Shia alike.

Their meeting should be quite historic and important. Maliki needs Obama. More properly, he needs Obama's position of pulling out the troops, in order for him to win his own election in October. At the present time, he is not well-liked by most Iraqis. He would like to get some of that Obama magic to rub off on him and maybe give him a chance to win in October. Obama needs to understand that Maliki may not be in charge in January.

[jenmito]

23. Good post...

The problem is that McCain (and Bush) are already claiming that it's ok to withdraw NOW that "the surge succeeded." Do they forget that they kept saying that any timetable would be "surrender" since "the enemy" can wait us out and THEN cause more trouble? I hope Obama and the Dem. strategists remind everyone of that!

[vaberella]

36. Probably in two days. He's staying over night in Afghanistan today.

[quantass]

22. Dont worry..the MSM will NOT cover this at all...

only expect to hear ti from KO and Abrams and Caferty...and that's about it....you can count on it!

[ShadowLiberal]

25. The sad truth, lets hope Obama talks about this endorsement in ads

[TeamJordan23]

26. I havn't heard a mention of it on TV this morning. nm

[vaberella]

35. I thought someone said they heard it on MSNBC?

[DLnyc]

30. Cutting past the spin and bullshit, BushCo wanted the oil and permanent

bases. The Iraqis wouldn't buy it, BushCo knows US troops can't hold their positions if both SCIRI and Sadr's brigades rise up against them, plus the American people have for some time turned decidedly against our 'adventure' in Iraq. Thus BushCo will declare victory and then, basically, cut and run.

It would be great if some people would stop repeating the meme that we are protecting the Iraqis from each other. We are simply trying to steal their oil and establish permanent bases. Of course, a time-honored technique for justifying strong-arm dictatorship and occupation is to sow inter-tribal violence, perhaps by setting off a lot of spectacular bombs. Once we stop setting off those bombs, we can say "the surge is working."

Suggested reading: "Inside the Company: CIA Diary" by Phillip Agee, wherein CIA sets bombs in front of churches in Ecuador (p. 218, e.g.) to bolster their anti-communist puppet government there.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

33. Yesterday, General Petraeus said the enemy gets a vote, too

Andrea Mitchell interviewed Petraeus on MSNBC and asked him about Al-Maliki's request for a withdrawal of U.S. troops. Petraeus suggested that Al-Maliki's request isn't the only factor; that the "enemy" gets a vote on when to withdraw in that depending on enemy activity, the U.S. would make the decision on when to leave.

"...It depends on the conditions, depends on the missions set, depends on the enemy. The enemy does get a vote and is sometimes an independent variable. Lots of different factors I think that would be tied up in that. ..."

[SoFlaJet]

37. fortunately for us Petraeus will be gone gone gone

the minute Barack Obama is sworn in

[vaberella]

34. I'm lovin' it.

[TheDonkey]

38. FUCK YEAH!!!

[alwysdrunk]

39. Daaaaaaaaamn!!!!!!

Saw this and had to come straight to DU. Is it as big as I think? Is this the biggest bombshell event to come in this election or in any recent election.?

This will be fun to watch. Realistically though, McCain is not the only one affected, Al-Maliki is really the one on the spot now when you think about it.

[zulchzulu]

40. I'm not sure if al-Maliki is a socialist or not...

Isn't Maliki a Muslim? And he likes Obama?