Iraqi PM disputes report on withdrawal plan

[Quixote1818]

He must have got a call from Cheney threatening something. However, if you read the whole article, he still sounds more in line with Obama and most news articles seem to be sticking with what was said in the German article. Hopefully that will hold.


Snip>>But a spokesman for al-Maliki said his remarks "were misunderstood, mistranslated and not conveyed accurately."

Snip>> "Who they choose as their president is the Americans' business. But it's the business of Iraqis to say what they want. And that's where the people and the government are in general agreement: The tenure of the coalition troops in Iraq should be limited," he said.

"Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic," al-Maliki said.

More: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/19/almaliki.obama/

[jefferson_dem]

1. BS Alert. We knew the "powers that be" would lean on them.

Now they offer a non-specific non-clarification of what Maliki actually said. This is an obvious effort to confuse the public. That is all.

Here's the NYT update --

Update II: Dr. 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,” but it did not address a specific error. It did soften his support for Mr. Obama’s plan and implied a more tentative approach to withdrawing troops. More of the statement, which came from the U.S. military’s Central Command press office:

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.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/maliki-backs-obamas-troop-withdrawal-plan/

[4themind]

2. Yeah like I said on some other threads, the mag should release the audio

tape,(assuming they have it) of course

[Quixote1818]

3. That would be great if they do. nt

[jefferson_dem]

4. From what I gather...

this is a distinction without much of a difference.

The point was to "clarify" that Maliki supports a swifter withdrawal plan such as offered by Obama. But he was not endorsing "Obama's plan". Capiche?

[Quixote1818]

6. Well put. I think that is why yahoo and Huffington, Drudge etc. are still sticking

with the original headline that he supports Obama's plan.

[4themind]

8. Yeah I agree on the general principle but

if the mag can actually release audio with Malaki saying "U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months,...."That, we think, would be the right time frame for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes,"

It's just one of the things that leave even LESS room for Repubs to squirm, or to claim as the PM spokesperson also said that Maliki's remarks were "were misunderstood, mistranslated and not conveyed accurately." It adds further clarity/distinction from the "time horizon" that the WH seems to be doing to obfusficate the matter (which most people can see through I'd hope but this new statement if true leaves even less wiggle room for the repubs or McCain.

[Quixote1818]

9. I agree. It's like the difference of saying Rev. Wright said "God Dam America"

and showing video of it. The video has a lot more punch!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

5. So far, I don't hear al-Maliki using the words "time horizon"

The Chimp desperately contacted al-Maliki by closed circuit TV and is telling us that the Iraqis are in favor of a "time horizon". White House spokesman Scott Stanzel used the words "time horizon", Condi Rice in her interview to be aired tomorrow on CNN used the word "horizon", the White House is talking about a "time horizon", and yesterday, General David Petraeus in his interview with Andrea Mitchell used the word "time horizon" instead of "timetable".

But I haven't heard those words spoken by al-Maliki. What I do read from his interviews are the words "sixteen months".

[Quixote1818]

7. The term "time horizon" doesn't seem to be on al-Maliki's "horizon"

Nowhere to be heard! LOL!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

10. Amazing though how that word "horizon" is suddenly on the lips of every Chimp Fluffer

From General Petraeus, to Condi, to the Chimp, to every White House spokesman overnight. It reminds me of how the Chimp, Condi and the rest of the gang suddenly overnight went from talking about weapons of mass destruction to weapons "programs", once they couldn't find the goods in Iraq. They're worthless.