Maliki Aide's Statement Came After U.S. Call

[kskiska]

Source: WP

By Dan Eggen

The statement by an aide to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki calling his remarks in Der Spiegel "misinterpreted and mistranslated" followed a call to the prime minister's office from U.S. government officials in Iraq.

Maliki had expressed support for a withdrawal plan similar to that of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in an interview with Der Speigel.…

But after the Spiegel interview was published and 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, a Maliki aide released a statement saying the remarks had been misinterpreted, though without citing specific comments.

Read more: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/07/20/maliki_aides_statement_came_af.html

[polichick]

1. The Bush admin. called and said, "WTF, you're blowing our gig!"

[Pirate Smile]

2. Surprise, surprise!

:sarcasm:

[SpiralHawk]

3. "Bend over, and be a good little puppet oil regime." - Republicon Homelanders

[hvn_nbr_2]

9. "And while you're bent over, look at these pictures of...

our former puppets or adversaries who crossed us--Allende, Noriega, Diem, Saddam,...--and consider what good relations we could have if you obey, er submit, er if we see eye to eye."

[Canuckistanian]

12. It's a good thing they have the oil n/t

[NBachers]

15. The Thrust of this Penetrating Article

was re-positioned for deeper anal-ysis from the bowels of the White Houselanders. Maliki regrets the insertion of truth into Bush's finely constructed tale. Admits he dropped balls.

[boomerbust]

4. Bush to Maliki

We must wait until the ink is dry on the no bid oil contracts. Then you can say whatever the fuck you want.

[jimshoes]

5. This aide to Maliki, does he work for

the Pentagon by chance?:eyes:

[Ian David]

6. Bob Newhart should do a routine about that phonecall.

[Cha]

7. Too bad..the genie is already outta the bottle.

"Der Spiegel Stands By Maliki Interview"
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/20/iraq/main4275953.shtml

[pinto]

8. Yeah, right.

And I'm buying into the horizon thingie..

Catapult another propaganda line, Bushco.

[Rex]

10. Freedom at work! SO are they going to shoot him for stepping out of line?

It wouldn't surprise me, being that Bush loves fascism and hates democracy. I'm sure Dickless Cheney is foaming at the mouth, ready to shoot Maliki on a 'hunting' trip.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. I thought as much

For now, I will assume Maliki was quated correctly and the spinmeisters in the White house are hard at work managing our perception.

[11 Bravo]

13. Bush to Maliki: I'll tell you what to think.

[creeksneakers2]

14. It may go beyond the US Embassy calling

In a statement issued Friday after a conversation between Bush and al-Maliki by closed-circuit television, the White House said that conditions in Iraq would dictate the pace of the negotiations and not "an arbitrary date for withdrawal."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/19/almaliki.obama/index.html?iref=24hours

The White House denies that the phone call took place. But in sequence the story all makes sense.

Previously, Maliki wanted the US out of Iraq and Bush tried to bully Maliki into signing a status of forces agreement. Could Maliki have decided to endorse Obama's plan as a way to pressure Bush back?

I believe Obama's interview with Der Spiegel took place on Thursday. Suppose the White House got wind of it before the interview was published, possibly from a Der Spiegel call to the White House for reaction. Then it would make sense that Bush would call Maliki on Friday. On Friday the White House suddenly and mysteriously conceded that it would accept a "horizon" for withdrawal from Iraq. Its likely that after Maliki threatened Bush caved and made a deal. Hushing Maliki in the future was part of it.

Der Spiegel couldn't be hushed and published on Saturday. By that time, the US Embassy could contact an Iraqi spokesman and get a retraction because Bush and Maliki's phone call had already sealed that deal.

The White House denies that any call between Bush and Maliki took place. I think they are lying and what I suggest is what really happened.