Via Reuters: Iraqi PM backs Obama troop exit plan: report
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.
[...]
“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.”
This strikes me a boon for Obama, as it enhances his credence in terms of the Iraq question.
Consider: the basic public sentiment within the majority of the US electorate is to withdraw. There is clear fatigue with the war and there are real concerns over the ongoing cost thereof. For Maliki to essentially endorse the notion that a phased withdrawal in line with what Obama has suggested is to give Obama enhanced credence. It certainly gives him a useful talking point.
In terms of pure politics, it stands in stark contrast with McCain’s statement about potentially being in Iraq for 100 years. ((And yes, I know he meant in a peaceful capacity, a la South Korea, but the bottom line is that leaving in 16 months. I even understand that a phased withdrawal of combat troops over 16 months will not mean the utter cessation of a US presence. However, I am speaking here in terms of political perception.) Beyond that, when it comes to basic policy direction, Maliki’s statement bolsters Obama’s position, not McCain’s.
Andrew Sullivan notes some other reactions here.
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July 19th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
[...] of opinion and reaction. I encourage you to read them in their entirety. Dr. Steven Taylor at Poliblog: This strikes me a boon for Obama, as it enhances his credence in terms of the Iraq [...]
July 19th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
[...] Ace, and Steven Taylor have [...]
July 19th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
[...] PoliBlog™ (Fellow Alabama blogger, Dr. Steven Taylor): “… when it comes to basic policy direction, Maliki’s statement bolsters Obama’s position, not McCain’s. …” Bookmark: Tags: 4th Amendment, American Politics, Barack Obama, Blogging, Bush, Civil Liberties, Conservatism, Constitution, Current Events, Data-Mining, Democrats, Eavesdropping, Election 2008, Elections, Foreign Policy, G.O.P., Headline News, Headlines, Iraq, Jake Tapper, John McCain, Mainstream Media, Marc Ambinder, Media, MemeOrandum, Military, News, News And Politics, Nuri al-Maliki, Plamegate, Politics, President Bush, Spiegel, Ted Stevens, The Gun Toting Liberal, Think, Time Horizon, Timetable, War, Wiretapping [...]
July 19th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
But one problem with the sixteen months timeline is that we’d have to leave a lot of equipment behind. Even so, there are a few details that don’t favor Obama ( http://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/19/maliki-obamas-16-month-timetable-sounds-good/ ).
July 19th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
[...] Ace, and Steven Taylor have [...]
July 20th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
[...] he at least presented a succinct version of my post yesterday about Maliki’s semi-endorsement of Obama’s withdrawal timetable on today’s MTP: [...]
July 21st, 2008 at 10:13 am
[...] claims by Iraqi PM Maliki that statements about a troops withdrawal timetable were mistranslated by Der Spiegel, the Iraqi government has reiterated its general support for a [...]
July 21st, 2008 at 10:13 am
[...] claims by Iraqi PM Maliki that statements about a troops withdrawal timetable were mistranslated by Der Spiegel, the Iraqi government has reiterated its general support for a [...]