Iraqi PM backs Obama troop exit plan: report

[Hope And Change]

Iraqi PM backs Obama troop exit plan: report

Reuters
Saturday, July 19, 2008; 7:36 AM

BERLIN (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told a German magazine he supported prospective U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's proposal that U.S. troops should leave Iraq within 16 months.

In an interview with Der Spiegel released on Saturday, Maliki said he wanted U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq as soon as possible.

"U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes."

It is the first time he has backed the withdrawal timetable put forward by Obama, who is visiting Afghanistan and us set to go to Iraq as part of a tour of Europe and the Middle East.

Obama has called for a shift away from a "single-minded" focus on Iraq and wants to pull out troops within 16 months, instead adding U.S. soldiers to Afghanistan.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/19/AR2008071900745.html">Read the entire article here

[kevinmc]

1. This better be reported on the Sunday Talk Shows ...... why do I doubt it will. .. n/t

[babylonsister]

2. Rec'd. Maybe this is why the wh and McSame are so suddenly

switching their withdrawal plans.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Bush Backs It Too:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3401860&mesg_id=3401860

Looks like Bush has finally has to crawl off in defeat.

Oh, but HAVE YOU SEEN THAT NEW YORKER COVER!!!! WOW, THAT'S *REALLY* BIG NEWS!!!

[Rowdyboy]

4. If nothing else this should seal the deal for Obama.....

We want out of Iraq soon, Iraq wants us out soon, and McCain would stay 100 years.

Now go vote.

[Dawgs]

5. MSNBC just talked about it.

They were very skeptical of the report because it came from a German paper.

[ellacott]

7. Der Spiegel is a well respected paper

They are probably mad he didn't give that interview to an american paper.

[Barack_America]

9. They sent a team...

To my university to cover the youth vote during our primary. Apparently Germans are fascinated not just by Barack, but by the level of youth interest in politics. A lot of the foreign press is, actually. I had Czech and Swedish reporters following me around once while I canvassed.

It was bizarre.

[ellacott]

12. I'm looking forward to seeing him in Germany n/t

[dkf]

6. Maliki says we are still focused on "defeat"

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

"The Americans have found it difficult to agree on a concrete timetable for the exit because it seems like an admission of defeat to them. But it isn't," Maliki told Der Spiegel.

==yup he understands Bush/McCain mentality all right.

[Inuca]

8. This pretty big and I am glad

it started getting into the US media. Though I am very disappointed that Maliki seems to have made no mention of "aspirational goals", such a beautiful phrase!

[Barack_America]

10. Well I'll be damned if this didn't just make my Saturday.

The irony here of the foreign policy "novice" getting it right is delicious.

I too hope this gets some press, I'd love to hear McCain's reaction. :rofl:

[bunnies]

13. And "He hasnt even been to Iraq!"

"Shouldnt someone GO before they make a plan on how to handle it?" (Insert condescending McCain BS here). :rofl: BWAAAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[IndianaGreen]

11. Obama has shown persistent good judgment and has been ahead of the curve

Bush and his clone McFossil are just trying to catch up.