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Obama: Iraqi Prime Minister Wants Withdrawal Timetable
Take a look at Obama on MSNBC this morning, pushing back on the Iraq flip-flop narrative...
Obama didn't quite answer when asked directly whether he would listen to the commanders on the ground if they urged him to keep combat troops in Iraq, but in some ways that's as it should be: No need to answer a hypothetical beyond saying that he, not the commanders, establishes military policy in consultation with them.
Separately, also note that Obama has begun to cite Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki's call for a troop withdrawal timetable as a way of pushing back against McCain's efforts to box him in on the issue.
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Hey Greg:
Here's an interesting article at Feministing about how Carly Fiora, the McCain surrogate, talked about how health insurance plans should cover prescription birth control.
The problem is that McCain VOTED AGAINST an amendment in 2003 that would've required health insurance plans to cover prescription birth control. I don't know if you want to highlight that article or not here on TPM, but it presents a chance to box McCain in on women's issues, as women make up a huge part of the voting block this year.
July 9, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
How long has Maliki been calling for a troop reduction and a timetable? Two years maybe? I cannot recall ever hearing Commander Coocoo Bananas or any of his shills acknowledging what it is the Iraqis want. Good for Obama - let the Iraqis have a voice instead of standing telling the world what you are going to do with them and their country.
Gee, wouldn't that be refreshing?
July 9, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the "let's care about what the Iraqis think" ship sailed a long time ago in this country.
July 9, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's a big statement.
Americans are against this war by a huge majority now, so unless you know exactly why a majority are against the war, it's a bit presumptuous to attempt to read their minds and say they don't care about Iraqis.
July 9, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
The lack of support for the Iraqi War in the US has much more to do with our distaste for the Bush administration's handling of the war, the financial cost, and the human casualties. It's an exaggeration to say we don't care at all about Iraqi suffering or self-determination but if we were spending less money and not losing any American lives, there would be a huge difference in support in this country.
July 9, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the operative word in your post is "now". NOW Americans care. It wasn't very long ago (Bush's reelection) when most folks thought it was just fine to kill Iraqis. That is the "ship has sailed" comment.
The numbers of dead Iraqis since our foolish invasion is staggering. Most everyone looks back and just gives them a good ole Texan, "bless their hearts" because they had that evil leader who led them astray.
We also had an evil leader who lead our nation astray. Wouldn't it be nice, as you say, if our onw leaders were held accountable for the misery they have inflicted on another nation?
Bless their hearts. They just believe in a different God.
July 9, 2008 10:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bush has been deaf to Maliki...he prefers Chalabi's Iraqi "dialect" of Bullshit.
good for Obama. He should "stay the course" on his message, then of course, deliver once elected.
As for Carly Fiorino, it's really comical that anyone has taken her seriously in her advisory role. She did such a bang-up job at HP we should only hope that she lends her critically poor insights to McCain.
July 9, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Someone get the Today Show a new dictionary. If commanders on the ground said that they wanted to stay the course (i.e., continue the existing strategy), if Obama adopted that he would not be REFINING his position. He would be CHANGING his position. There's a difference.
Teh stupid, it burns!!!!
July 9, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
How dare Obama say he didn't say what the MSM says he said!
PS Who's this Maliki guy, and what's he doing in our Iraq?
July 9, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
It should, of course, be noted that McCain has not been alone in trying to box Obama in on Iraq with this drummed up storyline.
Even someone as supposedly reasonable as Marc Ambinder is obsessed with Obama's "flip-flop" in "emphasis" on Iraq, despite the fact that there is little or no evidence to support this view.
July 9, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, he answered quite succinctly that he would listen to the commanders, but, as president, he would decide the strategy.
The generals should advise the president on how the strategic policies can and should be implemented, then their job is to salute and execute.
Obama has not changed his position on Iraq. The media, prompted by the McCainiacs, have changed the way it is reported.
July 9, 2008 10:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm happy to see him bringing the conversation in this direction. This is not about the U.S. setting the agenda. It's about Iraq taking responsibility for leading their own country.
July 9, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
They were taking control of their own country before we invaded...
I hope Obama doesn't pursue that specious "they have not met their political achievement benchmards" argument. The measure will be whether Obama, as the next president, doesn't hold on to the 4 permanent bases that we've spent billions of taxpayer dollars on so that we could control the flow of oil from that country.
To buy in to this idea that the Iraqi's are not holding up to their end of the bargain is nonsense. They didn't have a bargaining position to being with. I'm really sick of that baseless talking point, yet everyone parrots it as gospel now.
I want to hear the story about how the Saudis, Egyptians, Jordanians, and other Sunni Muslims are moving in as a security force that could replace our troops. Under the UN or the Arab league. Let our troops leave and allow those who actually speak Arabic and understand the culture help the Iraqis stablize their country.
And give them money to do it instead of American lives.
July 9, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
How the heck do we get the Arab league, the UN or any other international organization in there?
We fucked it up so royally, they wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole.
July 9, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
MSNCB - Hmmm must be a new news channel. Maybe in Canada?
July 9, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Reality Check:
Obama will draw down the Troop levels in Iraq, and move some of them to Afghanistan where they are needed, because the Taliban and bin Laden are getting stronger there, by the day.
John McCain will not do that. He will stay the course, the Moronic Bush way.
Bush is trying to get the Iraqi government to sign off on SOFA(Status of forces agreement) that would give McCain his hundred year occupation. The ruling Shiites do not want to grant a foreign power that much ruling power over their nation. Ayatollah Sistani has indicated that he will not accept it, so that leaves the Iraqi Government no choice but to set a withdrawal time line. It is their country and they get to decide when they want America to get out.
July 9, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is kicking major butt on this issue. He sounds resolute, he sounds in touch with reality, he sounds like he cares about American prosperity first.
McCain sounds like he cares about the surge, and hairsplitting, whiny, gotcha arguments.
July 9, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Greg, Maliki and his Defense minister essentially endorsed Obama with their public call for a timeline. You think you might acknowledge that fact instead of writing weak kneed prose like "pushing back against McCain's efforts to box him in on the issue."
If anybody is boxed in it's McCain and every other Republican who has stated that of course we'll leave if the Iraqis ask us. They're asking and McCain and Bush claim they're not or it's a garbled message. It's not.
July 9, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
i agree with obama on this, we need to do tough diplomacy with these people. Also finally obama referenced the iraqi prime minister i mean this is perfect for him. they want us to leave iraq and obama wants us the leave iraq...mccain camp has to be crying right know
http://sensico.wordpress.com
July 9, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Please stop spamming. Please.
Begging ya'.
Opinion good, spam bad.
July 9, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
i did liked how obama came back with prime Minister want a timetable, this is a winning issue for obama he should continue to push this subject every chance he get...............
July 9, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Abroadabroad, I want to hear the story about how the Saudis, Egyptians, Jordanians, and other Sunni Muslims are moving in as a security force that could replace our troops. Under the UN or the Arab league. Let our troops leave and allow those who actually speak Arabic and understand the culture help the Iraqis stablize their country.
Seeing as 60% of Iraq and the hierarchy of their government is Shiite what you're asking for is a huge regional conflict. Even the Sunnis hate the Wahhabi nutcases - Al Qaeda in Iraq - the Saudis sent to "help" them.
Iraqis don't want to be occupied by anybody especially by those the majority consider heretics. What they want is all foreign troops out so they can get on with cashing in their oil wells to rebuild their country. And yeah they'll hire American oil companies for their expertise, even Sadr says he'd welcome them, but they'll pay them for their work and won't give them the lion's share of the profits.
July 9, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was hinting at this upthread. No international force is coming in to take over the American occupation. Not gonna happen.
Why do they need it anyway? Iraq is slowly stabilizing, Maliki is growing a pair, and there a promising signs from Sadr and other wingnuts. And you are right. The problem is the oil revenue....without it, and a reasonable compromise on sharing it, the Iraqi Gov't cannot afford their payrolls, and they can't keep the restive Sunni's from supporting the insurgency. As we learned after the dibanding of the Iraqi Army and security forces, insurgencies are built on the backs of jobless men.
Now Maliki wants us out, so ok, we get out. We're not Imperialists, are we? As Obama has said, we can always rush some troops back in to contain any flare ups. It's been 5 years now, people, isn't it time we declare that we have acheived some real progress and then get the hell out of there?
July 9, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Remember the Chicken Hawks Neo-Con Iraq mantra? It went something like this: As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down. Remember that everyone?.
Well guess what; the Iraqis just stood up, so demand that the Republicans keep their word and STAND DOWN like they promised they would. Beat those war mongering bastards about their heads with their own words.
The Iraqi Government just Stood Up, and McCain claims the Surge has worked, so it is now time for the Republicans to bring the Troops home. Hold them to their promise.
July 9, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
My feeling is that no troops will be withdrawn from Iraq until after Jan. 2009, when President Obama gives the order, because Bush won't move a single soldier until he's strong armed the Iraqi government into signing an oil revenue sharing deal that lopsidedly favors oil companies.
But I like the swiftness with which Obama is hitting back against McCain's ridiculous accusations.
July 9, 2008 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink