Iraqi PM Supports Obama's Withdrawal Plan

Al-Maliki Approves Of Candidate's Timetable For Removing U.S. Troops From Iraq Within 16 Months

(CBS/AP)  In an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel, Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said he supported a plan proposed by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months.

When asked when he thinks U.S. troops should leave Iraq, al-Maliki told the magazine, "As soon as possible, as far as we are concerned."

He added, "U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama is right when he talks about 16 months."

Al-Maliki deferred, however, from offering outright support for Obama's candidacy. "Of course, this is by no means an election endorsement," he said. "Who they choose as their president is the Americans' business."

The prime minister, who has spoken of setting a timetable for U.S. withdrawal - an option that has been anathema to the White House - discounted the Bush adminstration's concerns.

"So far the Americans have had trouble agreeing to a concrete timetable for withdrawal, because they feel it would appear tantamount to an admission of defeat," al-Maliki told Der Spiegel. "But that isn't the case at all. If we come to an agreement, it is not evidence of a defeat, but of a victory, of a severe blow we have inflicted on al Qaeda and the militias."

The Obama campaign's national security adviser said the Illinois Democrat welcomes al-Maliki's support.

In a statement, Susan Rice said al-Maliki's position "presents an important opportunity to transition to Iraqi responsibility."

"Unless al-Maliki reverses course on this reported remark, his statements should be a major boon for Obama," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "His seeming endorsement of Obama's troop withdrawal timetable - especially when the candidate is on the ground in the Middle East - could undercut one of John McCain's main rationales for his candidacy - that is, winning the war in Iraq and exiting when events on the ground warrent.

"If the Iraqis are pushing the U.S. to leave, it will be hard for McCain to argue we should stay for an indefinate period of time."

The story of al-Maliki's backing of Obama's 16-month withdrawal plan is also embarrassing to the White House, which has curdled at talk of a timetable. But news of the interview was made even more pronounced when a White House staffer accidentally e-mailed a Reuters article about al-Maliki's comments to reporters, thereby giving it even more exposure than the German interview might have generated.

A White House spokesman said, "It was a mistake," claiming it was intended to be part of an internal distribution of news clips.

As to the substance of the prime minister's comments, CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports that the Bush administration is taking al-Maliki's approval of a timetable (or, perhaps, an "aspirational time horizon") as a sign of success on the part of the U.S. government.

"It is because of the President's bold surge strategy that we've been able to achieve the gains we're seeing today - be it security, economic or political progress (evidenced today by the Sunni bloc coming back into the government)," White House Spokesman Scott Stanzel said.

"It is our shared view that should the recent security gains continue, we will be able to meet our joint aspirational time horizons," Stanzel said.


Petraeus: Al Qaeda May Be Diverting Fighters From Iraq To Pakistan-Afghan Border

Senior leaders of al Qaeda may be diverting fighters from the war in Iraq to the Afghan frontier area, the top American commander in Iraq told The Associated Press on Saturday.

Gen. David Petraeus also said al Qaeda may be reconsidering Iraq as its highest priority war front.

"There is some intelligence that has picked this up," he said in the interview in his office at the U.S. Embassy along the Tigris River. "It's not solid gold intelligence," he added, stressing that the reliability of the information has not been confirmed.

Petraeus said the information was based on human intelligence, meaning informants.

"There are unsubstantiated rumors and reflections that perhaps some foreign fighters originally intended for Iraq may have gone to the FATA," he said, referring to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, where militants have a secure staging ground for movements into neighboring Afghanistan.

Petraeus said that until now, al Qaeda communications have made clear that Iraq is its highest priority for battle. "That could be under review."


Brown: No Artificial Timetable

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Saturday that plans are being made to scale back troops in Iraq, but refused to consider an "artificial timetable" for withdrawing Britain's remaining 4,000 soldiers.

Brown's comments - following meetings with Iraqi leaders - come in advance of next week's scheduled address to British lawmakers on Iraq, when he is expected to give more details on troop reduction plans as insurgent attacks and militia violence drops sharply around Iraq.

No specific troop withdrawal figures have been made public, but a senior British military officer has predicted substantial troop cuts in Iraq next year.

"It is certainly our intention that we reduce troop numbers, but I am not going to give an artificial timetable at the moment," Brown said following talks with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani.

A departure of more British forces will have little bearing on the battlefield. The troops, mostly based outside the southern city of Basra, no longer have a combat role and are involved mostly with training Iraqi security units.

Although Britain maintains the second-largest foreign military force in Iraq, it is dwarfed by the approximately 150,000 U.S. soldiers currently in the country.

[mcvet]

Bush should just resign and let Obama take over from here. It would save us all a LOT of needless expense and time. Sieg Heil Bush

[zoopster1]

Well if the Iraqi PM thinks they can handle it, then by all means let''s go with Obama''s plan. If he gets elected that is. I suspect McCain would also go along, assuming that our military commanders agree with the al-Maliki''s assessment. In any case, we will probably still be keeping US troops at small bases in Iraq''s open desert, for training and for rapid reaction to local terrorist incidents. But they will keep a low profile of course. We can then send the rest to Afghanistan, since there are plenty of terrorists to kill over there now it seems. Then hopefully, once that region has been cleansed, we can finally bring our kids home and address the larger force readiness issues that became apparent after 9/11.

[tawpdawg11]

Obama is ALREADY doing a better job of governing and leading than the GOP in charge.

[hungry1968]

Even your own hand picked lackey disagrees with GWB!!!


LOL!!!


And that''s a BIG SLAP in the puss to McClone too!!

[dnsallday]

Bush should just resign and let Obama take over from here. It would save us all a LOT of needless expense and time.

Posted by MCVet at 10:40 AM : Jul 19, 2008
********************************************************** Now you know better than that MCVet, Bush''s style is to follow Obama''s lead and pretend it was his idea to begin with. Integrity isn''t exactly a strong suit for Bush.

Bush agrees to "time horizon" for leaving Iraq.

Remember when Bush didn''t do nuance.

[oneamerican-]

Barack Obama trots off to the Middle East, with giggling liberal press groupies in tow, including Laura Logan, Foreign Affairs Mistress - and they all believe they can ride Obama''s magical unicorn and spread golden pixie dust and messianic wisdom wherever they go.

Not really - but the lunatic fringe liberals think it''s true.

Liberalism really is a disease.

And the liberals hang out here so they can sing the praises of their holy change-master.

You libs must keep in mind that you are in for an enormous let-down when tip-toes into the political land-mine field of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.

He just won''t be capable of making competent statements about the subject, and pleasing his swooning fans at the same time.

Get ready for him to really start sounding like George Bush''s third term...

[ponco seno]

McBUSH should retire

good point oneamerican

What other possible course of action can a great country take against a few hundred fanatics but spend over $ trillion and thousands of Americans lives making them stronger than before.

[downtowner97]

This might actually convince the Iraqis Maliki isn''t a Bush puppet. They might now listen to him when he tells them to put away their bomb making tools and fix the country.

[alohaone1]

We have shed our blood and now , when it is time to reap the fruits of the Iraq conflict ( Stability , American BAses to check on Iran , Oil ,yes OIL ) the Dems and Obama want us to leave . What a stupid thinking . Obama must NOT win this election or our sacrifice is thrown out of the window , He and the rest of his Dems clan just want to keep their face and do not care about the country. They wanted the Surge to fail, it DID NOT . NOw they want us to give up and fight in Afganishtan instead , this is stupid . We are not fighting for FREE. WE fight for FREEDOM , that is freedom to do business in the MIddle East , just like the ARabs and Muslims want freedom to stay in the US ( in the MIllions) , WE fight for FREEdom from the terrorists , for freedom from energy crises , We fight for benefit to ourselves and others , WE DO NOT FIGHT FOR FREE!!!!

[randynason]

The withdrawal plan sounds like a reasonable one and anyone with a degree of intellect and humanity can see that to be the case. It''s the fascist Repubs and their little lapdog, bootlicking bloggers who scream and whine against all common sense.

[chrisl45]

The United States can not withdraw completely from Iraq. Iraq would fall into disarray and die if we were to go along with that. We have to be the wise parent and say to our offspring, no not YET! With the proper guidance, Iraq will slowely gain complete control of their surroundings, but for now we have to say no. Just like any parent wishing the best for their children would say. But, if we were to turn our backs on Iraq we would also seriously hurt ourselves. What I''m getting at is the terrorsts would thrive and come after our interests. So, if we stay not only would we be preventing genocide in Iraq, but we would bring stability to the rest of the world. It''s a no win situation if we leave. It turns into a global win if we stay. God bless senator John McCain, our troops, and the rest of America.

[nolalou]

Lets get this straight, we went to Iraq because of non-existent weapons of mass destruction, but hey, it was still worth it to get rid of a brutal dictator, and give the Iraqi people a democratic government. So now the head of the democratic government says that we should get out as soon as possible, and he said "U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama is right when he talks about 16 months."

So, what right have we got to keep our troops in a country when it''s leader want us out, a leader we helped put in power in the first place? If we truly consider Iraq to now be a democratic country, what gives us the right to dictate to their leader that we will pull our troops out when we''re ready, not when he wants?

[speets-2009]

I know the world, especially Europe, is looking forward to Obama''s presidency.

[mr2258]

MCVet... Your an IDIOT.

[mr2258]

Thanks to the leadership of president Bush.We have won the war.Now Obama would like to take credit for it.

[jgg000]

I can''t believe he hasn''t even gotten off the plane yet, and people are giving him credit for ending the war.

[jgg000]

yes, and McVet is truly an idiot. I wouldn''t want him on my side in anything.

[ddaryl1]

LMAO

Bush looks more and more like a complete moron... and nobody is saying Obama ended the war... he just has a plan that is being respected. Iraq is bankrupting this ocuntry and the loner we stay the more the middle and lower classes are going to suffer.

We already know the wealthy completely refuse to do their part in rebuilding America and making it a great nation again, because if they can''t make more money/profits they don''t care.

[ddaryl1]

quote from alohaone1

"""""We are not fighting for FREE. WE fight for FREEDOM , that is freedom to do business in the MIddle East , just like the ARabs and Muslims want freedom to stay in the US ( in the MIllions) , WE fight for FREEdom from the terrorists , for freedom from energy crises , We fight for benefit to ourselves and others , WE DO NOT FIGHT FOR FREE!!!! """"


If we are turly fighting for freedom from the oil crisis then why are we in Iraq ???

Us being in Iraq does nothing but keep us in the energy crisis and stuck with oil...

If we truly want energy independence then fighting a war in Iraq and WASTING BILLION THERE was never the right answer. The war in Iraq was for one reason and one reason only... and that was to keep America addicited to oil so the oil industry could continue to prosper. We could have esily spent the 500 billion completely wasted in Iraq on a alternative energy infrastrucutres and we could be well on our way to energy independence.

8 years of Bush has set us back. However I give Bush credit though, he drove up oil so much that alternative enrgy is the hot topic again and I do thank him for that.

[ioweign]

Thanks to the leadership of president Bush.We have won the war.Now Obama would like to take credit for it.

Posted by mr2258 at 12:42 PM : Jul 19, 2008


What war ?

[ioweign]

McBUSH should retire

Posted by RealityToday at 12:18 PM : Jul 19, 2008

Why retire ?

Retire and do nothing.

Or stay in politics, do nothing and paid for it...

[nolalou]

hanks to the leadership of president Bush.We have won the war.Now Obama would like to take credit for it.
Posted by mr2258 at 12:42 PM : Jul 19, 2008

I don''t think I''ve ever read a more idiotic statement! if we''ve "won the war", why are we still there? If the ''surge worked'', shouldn''t most of our troops be home by now? The surge stoped some of the voilence, in some areas, but rival factions are still fighting each other, and the Iraqi goverment does not have it''s act together, and has not shared power with the Sunni minority, which was what the point of the surge was supposed to be! So guess what, I don''t care what Bush & McCain say, the SURGE DID NOT WORK! WE Didn''t WIN ANY D-AMN WAR! AND mr2258 and people who think like you have their heads up their behinds!

[mcvet]

Thanks to the leadership of president Bush.We have won the war.Now Obama would like to take credit for it.

Posted by mr2258 at 12:42 PM : Jul 19, 2008

OH PLEASE!! Tell me there aren''t people THIS stupid still out there. Where have you been? Now lets review. Iraq HAD NO WEAPONS and NO CONNECTION to the Attack on this nation. This was a very feeble attempt to turn Iraq into some sort of US Puppet to offset Iran and EVERYONE knows it. IT''s also a very failed situation... it was and will always be a FRAUD!! Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

MCVet... Your an IDIOT.

Posted by mr2258 at 12:40 PM : Jul 19, 20

ROFLMAO Let me guess! YOU think that Iraq is the "Front" in the War on Terror and YOU believe Sir Lies-A-Lot when he told us the "Mission was Accomplished"?? ROFLMAO I''ll also bet you believe EVERYONE of the 935 LIES told by that piece of Human Trash a few still call a President when he was starting this USELESS WAR? ROFLMAO YOUI should look in the mirror for that IDIOT swastika breath. Now let''s let Shooter and the Fuhrer hear ya... sing it out LOUD. SIEG HEIL BUSH! Come on! Tonight is Cross Burning Night you know... there could be a Confederate Flag Pin in this for you if you do it right!! READY?? SIEG HEIL BUSH!! Thatta boy!!

[mh4cbs1]

This is FRONT PAGE NEWS folks!

What will Bush/McCain have to say about it? The NeoCon intention was NEVER for an Iraqi democracy. It was for a puppet government that would allow us to build the BILLION dollar "Embassy" fortress, keep permanent US military bases for 100 years, and Steal the Oil!

Why do you think the NeoCons LIED us into IRaq at the expense of Afghanistan and Osama anyway.

Sometimes the TOTAL IGNORANCE of the Bush/McCain supporters is simply amazing.

So Bushes long range "agreement" with Iraq has failed. Guess what, Iraqis want their country back, their Oil back and the US OUT OUT OUT.

JAIL BUSH and CHENEY for their War Crimes, and lets hope that McCain does down to a landslide defeat that the GOP deserves

END THE NEOCON NIGHTMARE !!

[mcvet]

yes, and McVet is truly an idiot. I wouldn''''t want him on my side in anything.

Posted by jgg000 at 12:47 PM : Jul 19, 2008
+ report abus

Yet ANOTHER Nazi and the Idiot bit! Have you folks EVER noticed they NEVER contradict anything said...it''s ALWAYS this "He''s an Idiot because he won''t go along with the "Party" garbage as they try to appear Superior!! SO let''s all help these Nazi''s out here... EVERYONE together now!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!!

[getrealnow2]

HEY MCVET SAY IT LOUD OSAMA FOR OBAMA 2008

[bagdadshere2]

"Iraqi PM Supports Obama''s Withdrawal Plan"

Of course he does. Al-Maliki wants us to leave so he can start a religious clean-up. He wants to kill all sunnis.

[jgg000]

EVERYONE together now!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!!

Posted by MCVet

No, you''re an idiot because if this were true you''d be shot.

[deacon20081]

McVet...

You are wasting your time trying to argue with some of these die hard Bush fans. Some people are simply...simple minded..like the failure in chief.
Republican''s I fear are doomed to loose every elected seat they are running for, the people have had enough.

[brianbwb-2009]

"When asked when he thinks U.S. troops should leave Iraq, al-Maliki told the magazine, "As soon as possible, as far as we are concerned."

He said that a year ago also.

It is possible for us to leave within the next two months tops, if we make it a priority.

[jgg000]

I am by no means a bush fan. But if you think living in America is living in a facist state, you really should travel more.

[nextgenman]

Well this has got to make the republitards mad.

[ramos937]

When asked when he thinks U.S. troops should leave Iraq, al-Maliki told the magazine, "As soon as possible, as far as we are concerned."He added, "U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama is right when he talks about 16 months."
----------------------------------
McCain now wishes he and his folks had kept their mouths shut. Cindy is probably looking for giant sized mouth zippers.

[mcvet]

I am by no means a bush fan. But if you think living in America is living in a facist state, you really should travel more.

Posted by jgg000 at 02:25 PM : Jul 19, 2008

I defy you to find me ONE independent Political Scientist who DOES NOT believe George Bush and the Present Day Republican Party are NOT fascist. A recent poll in Germany found that over 80% of the citizens there thought so. Yes we are living in a Fascist state and it will continue to be that way until the Real Republican''s step up and take back control of their party. Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

Of course he does. Al-Maliki wants us to leave so he can start a religious clean-up. He wants to kill all sunnis.

Posted by BagdadsHere2 at 02:02 PM : Jul 19, 2008

Now Swastika Breath THAT is most certainly NOT what you have said in the past. YOU fascist can''t keep all the lies straight now can ya!! The PEOPLE of Iraq want us OUT of their Country and THAT is their right! Now let''s stand...after all THIS is your Cross Burning Night isn''t it?? SIEG HEIL BUSH... Oh! I''d also, say that your "We''ll have troops in Iraq for 50 years" promise kinda a non starter wouldn''t it?? ROFLMAO

[mcvet]

When asked when he thinks U.S. troops should leave Iraq, al-Maliki told the magazine, "As soon as possible, as far as we are concerned."He added, "U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama is right when he talks about 16 months."
------------------------------
----
McCain now wishes he and his folks had kept their mouths shut. Cindy is probably looking for giant sized mouth zippers.




Posted by ramos937 at 03:03 PM : Jul 19, 2008

Yep kinda puts a real damper on the, "Obama doesn''t know about Policy" tag huh??

[mcvet]

No, you''''re an idiot because if this were true you''''d be shot.

Posted by jgg000 at 02:14 PM : Jul 19, 2008

So YOU think the Nazi''s started out shooting everyone who didn''t agree with them?? What grade did you get to Sparky?? It certainly wasn''t far... especially in the area of HISTORY! When you study the rise of the Third Reich, you will find it remarkable to the way they did it and the way the Fascist in this nation have. THE only real difference?? Like in the days of Joe McCarthy, our last brush with Fascism, the American People refused to buy the, "Your With us or against us" mentality of the Fascist. You do know most high schools have night courses in History. You might also, pick up a copy of the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich... READ and LEARN bootlicker!! SIEG HEIL BUSH

[jgg000]

You do know most high schools have night courses in History. You might also, pick up a copy of the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich... READ and LEARN bootlicker!! SIEG HEIL BUSH

Posted by MCVet

Actually, I have read the rise and fall and it is frightening. And it is nothing like living in the United States. You might want to check into a reading comprehension class,

[bagdadshere2]

Now Swastika Breath THAT is most certainly NOT what you have said in the past. YOU fascist can''''t keep all the lies straight now can ya!! The PEOPLE of Iraq want us OUT of their Country and THAT is their right! Now let''''s stand...after all THIS is your Cross Burning Night isn''''t it?? SIEG HEIL BUSH... Oh! I''''d also, say that your "We''''ll have troops in Iraq for 50 years" promise kinda a non starter wouldn''''t it?? ROFLMAO

Posted by MCVet at 03:07 PM : Jul 19, 2008

Hey MCVet you Swastika lover, If Iraqis want us to give them back their country why didnt they ousted Saddam? Because they are cowards and needed us to do that, now they want us to leave? No,no,no, we should stay there for a 100 years to make sure Iran wont get nukes.

[erichsh]

I see my favorite arswipe Mr. Swastika himself is polluting these posts like raw sewage. Time to move on... McVet, what a friggin lowlife.

[flajoe1]

"Gen. David Petraeus also said al Qaeda may be reconsidering Iraq as its highest priority war front"

McCain will just claim that Al-Maliki and al Qaeda are just being naive like Obama.

[komoncents]

Thanks to the leadership of president Bush.We have won the war.Now Obama would like to take credit for it.

Posted by mr2258 at 12:42 PM : Jul 19, 2008

Ha Ha Ha, snicker, laugh, guffaw, laugh ha ha ha ....

Been living in a cave?

Thanks for laughs tho ... pity the fewl.

[bagdadshere2]

Sen. Obama will have a landslide victory this fall in spite of the apprehension the media (via the current regime) tries to force-feed the America public, and the reason is simple: we all want a better life and he offers it.

Posted by copyat5 at 03:33 PM : Jul 19, 2008

Thats not what the polls show.Look at this:

BARRACK HUSSEIN OSAMA is falling.



A month after emerging victorious from the bruising Democratic nominating contest, some of Barack Obama''''s glow may be fading. In the latest NEWSWEEK Poll, the Illinois senator leads Republican nominee John McCain by just 1 percentage points, 43 percent to 42 percent. The statistical dead heat is a marked change from last month''''s NEWSWEEK Poll, where Osama led McCain by 15 points, 51 percent to 36 percent.

The surge in support is working.

[raoul12-2009]

"When the government of Iraq says they want us to leave, we''ll leave."

George W. Bush June 2007

So let''s leave already!

[raoul12-2009]

Sen. McCain said today: %u201CI am going to campaign in all thirteen colonies. My campaign will employ all the latest technology: the telegraph; the carrier pigeon as well as the pony express. John Adams showed me how to use all this new-fangled stuff - we were best buds.%u201D

[bagdadshere2]

"When the government of Iraq says they want us to leave, we''''ll leave."

George W. Bush June 2007

So let''''s leave already!

Posted by raoul12 at 03:42 PM : Jul 19, 2008

Thats right. Its time to leave. We will have to attack Iran in the next fews months but first we must get our troops out of the range of Iranian missiles.

[sean5002]

CAN IT GET ANYMORE WORSE FOR THE BUSH/MCCAIN TWINS.

GET OUT AND OFF THE PEOPLE LAND.