From The Road
July 21, 2008 8:06 AM

Iraqi Prime Minister Lost in Translation?

By
John Bentley
Topics
John McCain
(CBS)
From CBS News' John Bentley:

(PORTLAND, MAINE) – After taking heat over the weekend for Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki seemingly endorsing Barack Obama's plan for a timeline of withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, the Iraqi P.M. is now backing off of those statements.

Al-Maliki was "misunderstood and mistranslated" and his comments were not "conveyed accurately," according to an Iraqi government spokesman.

Al-Maliki was quoted by German magazine der Spiegel saying that American troops should leave Iraq "as soon as possible, as far as we're concerned."

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

The magazine is standing by its story, but the Iraqi government is backing away from the endorsement of any U.S. presidential candidate, saying al-Maliki's comments "should not be understood as support to any U.S. presidential candidate." President Bush and al-Maliki recently agreed to a "general time horizon" for pulling troops out of Iraq, and McCain has argued that his support for the surge is one of the main reasons troops are able to be drawn down.

"This trip that he's on would have been vastly different if we had done what Sen. Obama wanted to do, and that is he wanted to withdraw," McCain said. "He opposed the surge, he said the surge wouldn't work and fails to acknowledge that it's working today."

McCain will be speaking with President Bush this morning, but not the current White House occupant. George H.W. Bush is holding a fundraiser for McCain at the family's compound in Kennebunkport this morning, and later today McCain will attend a picnic at the Maine Military Museum here.

Add a Comment
by assemblyofso July 21, 2008 5:21 PM EDT
Why not give him the same courtesy you do to Obama. Maybe he was quoted out of context or did not mean it to be interpreted the way it was.

How many times has Obama had to say
"I know this is what I said,but this is really what I meant."

What the voters of this country need is unbiased and truthful political reporting.

I would suggest CBS give this suggestion some thought.
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 July 21, 2008 3:13 PM EDT
There''''s nothing dishonorable in a person rethinking his or her positions, especially in a constantly changing political context.

That was determined to be %u201Cflip-flopping%u201D by the Republicans during the 2004 Presidential Election between George Bush and John Kerry.

%u201CIt%u2019s the horizon of contradictions my friendz%u201D
Reply to this comment
by ariel133 July 21, 2008 2:45 PM EDT
There''s nothing dishonorable in a person rethinking his or her positions, especially in a constantly changing political context. Barack Obama contradicts and threatens everything I believe about the institution of the family and what is best for the nation. Obama''s radical positions on life, marriage and national security leaves only one choice: John McCain
Reply to this comment
by besscannon-2009 July 21, 2008 2:41 PM EDT
Most of our government is based on deception and fraud, so, what will be new with Obama? WHERE is the CHANGE he so fervently espoused? He is a stuck on himself, overblown politican and I don''t see any change coming with him as our president. In fact, he is so easily manipulated, one of the cagey terrorist leaders will see this, and use it to their advantage. Will will be drawn into something tragic just because of Obama''s vanity. If they play up to him and treat him like something special, they will be able to lead him by the nose (or should I say "ears") anywhere they want him to go or do. Then, where will WE be? Right where the terrorists want us, that is where!!!
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 July 21, 2008 1:31 PM EDT
There were no Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq.

Saddam Hussein had no involvement with the WTC911 Attack.

Bush%u2019s unwarranted invasion and occupation of a sovereign Islamic country caused disruption, hardships, and deaths of over 100,000 Iraqi citizens.

Bush has spent/barrowed almost $1Trillion Dollars and diverted without oversight to Private Contractors with little or no results. (and, Soldiers killed by incompetent work).

John McCain has completely supported all the policy decisions made by the Bush Administration, and has stated that the Iraq occupation would be sustained indefinitely for possibly 100 years.

McCain just like his twin brother George Bush also desires to extend their War Mongering Policies into Iran.

McCain equals Bush in every way because, all Republicans follow to the same drum beat.

Reply to this comment
by ariel133 July 21, 2008 12:21 PM EDT
Iraq was indirectly involved with Terrorism, including the fact that we captured Sudam Hussein. For those who continue to think that McCain is another Bush you are under a very false assumption and must read more facts. Obama is a joke, and the press will look incredible stupid when they spent endless hours on someone who is nothing but a liar and fraud. Hasn''t anyone learned yet what that is?
Reply to this comment
.

Follow From The Road

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...