Maliki’s Obama Endorsement

The Nation: Iraq’s Prime Minister Supports Democratic Candidate’s Withdrawal Timeline

(The Nation)  This column was written by Tom Hayden.

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In a stunning diplomatic breakthrough for Barack Obama, Iraq's Prime Minister has endorsed the Democratic candidate's sixteen-month timeline for withdrawing combat troops for Iraq.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki endorsed the Obama approach in a July 19 interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel, just as President Bush and Senator John McCain were touting a vague new commitment to an unspecified "horizon" for withdrawal. The New York Times did not report the Maliki statement in its July 19 edition.

Uncertainty about Maliki's surprise statement persists since his top political spokesman told the Times only one week ago that troop withdrawals would take three to five years, if not longer. The two men's positions also allow thousands of counter-terrorism units, trainers and advisers to remain in Iraq as 140,000 US combat troops depart.

But as Obama's plane touched down in Afghanistan, Maliki's comments were having a far-reaching effect on the war and presidential politics, with the Maliki government withdrawing from George Bush and making McCain appear foolish.

This could be the "Philippine option" predicted in “Ending the War in Iraq”, in which the United States arranged behind the scenes for the Manila government to request the departure of the American fleet.

While the sequencing may be accidental, it appears that the Obama forces could reap a windfall. Obama will seem more successful than Bush in managing the last stages of the war, depriving McCain of the claim to superior foreign policy experience. Obama's imminent arrival in Baghdad could seem victorious.

Why would Maliki break so sharply with his long-time US partner in the White House? Are the Iraqis more adept at playing American politics than the White House is?

As noted before on this site, Iraqi public opinion -- Shi'a and Sunni -- strongly favors a deadline for American troop withdrawal. The provincial elections to be held later this year (at the insistence of the United States) will produce victories for candidates who strongly favor ending the occupation, both in Sunni areas like Anbar and Mahdi areas like Sadr City. Maliki's coalition must appear to stand for Iraqi sovereignty.

Somewhere in the background is Iran, with its strong ties to the entire Shi'a community in Iraq. The Iranian interest is in keeping Shi'a factions unified in a demand that the US troops and bases are folding up and returning home. Iran believes that a retreating United States will be less able to strike from positions of strength on the ground if a US-Iran conflict takes place.

Besides Iran and the Shi'a bloc, the big winners in this scenario would be the multinational oil companies now subtly assuring themselves access to Iraq's oilfields after thirty years of absence.

The Bush Administration could mask defeat in claims of "mission accomplished," perhaps with garlands of flowers provided by Maliki at a joint ceremony.

Though genuine peace would a blessing, the real losers stand to be the Sunni minority which is the backbone of the insurgency, and the long-suffering Shi'a poor in Sadr City whose social-economic needs are little recognized by the dominant Shi'a party. In the region's geo-politics, Saudi Arabia would be angered at the rise of greater Shi'a and Iranian power in potentially competitive oil fields. And despite their alarm about Iran's nuclear plans, Israel would welcome an Iraq shorn of its power in the Sunni world.

As for Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, it could claim a victory in helping drive the American forces out of Iraq, but its narrow public support would shrink further if Iraqis recover sovereignty. A loophole in the Obama plan, certainly endorsed by Maliki, would allow American counter-terrorism units to go after alleged Al Qaeda units operating in Iraq as US combat forces draw down.

The huge "if" hovering over this sudden development is simply whether the Bush Administration can force Maliki to back down from his statement, or at least retreat from going further.

Here is Maliki's statement, delivered as Obama's visit to the region was beginning:

"Whoever is thinking about the shorter term [for withdrawal] is closer to reality. Artificially extending the stay of U.S. troops would cause problems.... As soon as possible, as far as we're concerned... Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic.... Artificially prolonging the tenure of US troops in Iraq would cause problems. 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."

[lklinnus]

To Veteran188: Let me begin by saying that I respect all US vets - 6 members of my family have served in the military, AND 2 have made the military their lifelong careers. I am a Conservative Christian myself so my question to you who proclaims to be the same is : What Christian do you know of who would agree with Abortion? Like I said before "STOP DRINKING THE OBAMA KOOL-AID"...

[lklinnus]

Like I just said:

Americans who want to vote for Obama because of his EMPTY promises of "Change" better wake up. Stop drinking the Kool-aid people and look back in history - Hitler promised "Change" as well and look where that took Germany...The only promise I can see Mr. Junior Senator Obama keeping so far is the ability to consistantly "Change his mind" on the major issues.

[veteran188]

Obama is the only hope for the United States

the conservative christians , McBush and the bush crime family have ruined out country,

lets all pray that the conservatives become human beings

[veteran188]

Obama has done more in one day to help solve the Iraq debacle then

bush and McSame have done in eight years

these conservatives have ruined america, they should be voted out of office forever

[lklinnus]

Americans who want to vote for Obama because of his EMPTY promises of "Change" better wake up. Stop drinking the Kool-aid people and look back in history - Hitler promised "Change" as well and look where that took Germany...The only promise I can see Mr. Junior Senator Obama keeping so far is the ability to consistantly "Change his mind" on the major issues.

[tonyd_31]

The writing is on the wall. I hope the Dems sweep the GOP into minority status forever.

[magnetrack]

There was this guy back in the early 21st century who pretended to be president during the campaign. At first, a lot of people fell for it, but it the end, the American people figured it out like they always do. Sometimes, though they''re really slow, as they were with Bush.

[noloyalisti]

Here is a puppet hand picked by the neo con men who started a needless invasion and occupation to steal oil for the fat Americans. Here is a guy who actually came to realize what a nightmare McSame and his fellow Grand Oil Party wackos are.

Yet there are still people here who don''t get it. They must be the clueless macho and narrow minded consumerists or Christian wackos like McSame. Wow.

[platteman]

My niece, Katelyn, stationed at Baluud , Iraq was assigned, with others of her detachment, to be escort/guard/ watcher for Martha Raddatz of ABC News as she covered John McCain''s recent trip to Iraq . Katelyn and her Captain stood directly behind Raddatz as she queried GI''s walking past. They kept count of the GI''s and you should remember these numbers. She asked 60 GI''s who they planned to vote for in November. 54 said John McCain, 4 for Obama and 2 for Hillary. Katelyn called home and told her Mom and Dad to watch ABC news the next night because she was standing directly behind Raddatz and maybe they''d see her on TV. Mom and Dad of course, called and emailed all the kinfolk to watch the newscast and maybe see Katelyn. Well, of course, we all watched and what we saw wasn''! t a glimpse of Katelyn, but got a hell''uva view of skewed news. After a dissertation on McCain''s trip and speech, ABC showed 5 GI''s being asked by Raddatz how they were going to vote in November; 3 for Obama and 2 for Clinton . No mention of the 54 for McCain.

[platteman]

Maliki will go which ever way the wind is blowing. He has no guts, he just wants to keep his job. He went with Pope Obama because it makes the pope look go and he wants to influence the election. Better get used to Obama as POTUS because when he becomes both pope and potus, we will all lose everything. He is a socialist and no one wants to question him ever. You can''t make fun of him, All the major networks are in the tank for him including the NYT and even Chris Mathewes is in love with him.

I am voting for the old man, at least he has some values and stands for something. Not like the wind blown pope obama who is just a post turtle.

[bmadeline-2009]

George Bush is a nut-bird and has proven this every day of his presidency. The whole world is desperate for anything that might be better than our want-a-be cowboy.

[oneamerican-]

It''s ironic, to say the least, that the same liberals who have barked their Bush-bashing dogma for eight years about his supposed lack of understanding, etc. etc. - now sing the holy praises of their self-proclaimed Messiah, who has no expertise in the private or public sector, who constantly says the most atrocious gaffs exposing his extreme incompetence on both foreign and domestic subjects, and who unashamedly lies to everyone around him.

Obama is not the answer - rather, Obama is the question.

[jntlw-2009]

Obama''s foreign policy is by far superior to McCains''s despite McCain claiming vast superiority in foreign affiars. McCain is McLame in foreogn affairs and domestic affairs too and he is riding the corrupt and dispicable coat tails of the infamous GW Bush and cabal. Down withthe neocon cabal forever!

[hsinco-2009]

America''s Conservative Press is Short on Facts

New York-- A Pepperdine University study, funded by the FCC, has found that only 10% of facts espoused on Fox News and other conseervative outlets are valid. The studay went on to say.......

[hsinco-2009]

I saw Obama with the troops.

The troops LOVE Obama

Hooting and hollaring and clapping and screaming!

The troops love Obama. They will be voting for him!

[oneamerican-]

Barack Obama views, before the surge:

%u201CI am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence there. In fact, I think it will do the reverse.%u201D

Barack Obama
January 10, 2007

Obama was dead wrong.

[paris1969]

Let''s not forget that Maliki is pals with the president of Iran!! ... and a year ago people were calling for his ouster!

[it_oldtimer]

Senator Obama is obviously "golden". Most of America, and the world in general, simply loves him. The reason is that Senator Obama is everything that George Bush and the GOP wasn''t.

Everything that McCain says and does just seems to totally backfire on him in the end. That''s because McCain is stuck preaching the same old wrong-headed garbage that all GOP politicians have to attempt to peddle, and nobody with any sense believes it any more, after observing 8 long years of Bush-GOP lies, secrecy and dishonesty in action.

You can only pass off lies for so long before people finally wise-up to it.

The truth always has a much wider appeal, and a much longer shelf-life.

[jimfinster]

............WHY are America''''''''s news outlets filled with EX-DEMOCRAT political personnel ????

Posted by perceptions5

Why is the Republican party filled with idiots and whiners?

[notopennshut]

The Iraqis are just as keen as everyone else, other than GW, Cheney, McSame, Lieberman, Rove etc.., to see real changes and that is why they are supporting Obama''s suggestions outright!! They know that american troops in Iraq is part of the problem and will never bring them peace as long as they are there. Why would anyone be surprised by this??? The invasion has been a failure and will remain one unless we change it, and that means withdrawal. This is not a defeat as claimed by Lieberman. Defeat by whom, Joe?? Only those who advocated the pre-emptive invasion are the defeated. We would have an orderly withdrawal and leave the Iraqis to find their own solution as they have done for centuries. We can only help them, not force them. If they collapse, so be it. Many other nations have collapsed through the years, and we should leave them to find their own way out. There is no way we can prop them up for another hundred years. Look at places like Somalia, former Yugoslavia and others - such countries need to do what they need to do, with help from others, but never through force and imposition of the will of others. We are all sovereign nations and should be kept as such, regardless of what anyone else thinks. So let us get out of Iraq while we can and concentrate on the failing economy and other failures in our own country.