Looks like Maliki is not so subtly endorsing Obama.
"Iraqi PM backs Obama troop exit plan
BERLIN (Reuters) - 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.
In an interview with Der Spiegel released on Saturday, Maliki said he wanted U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq as soon as possible.
"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."[..]"
It sounds like Maliki is receptive to Obama's plan...and he wants to take the next step: drawing down US troops in order to placate public opinion and allow political reconciliation to move forward too.
This is good for Obama...who will look like the president elect, working out the fine points.
And there came Bush, beginning to talk drawdown too...and he's taking steps that could be the beginning of a beginning of normalization with Iran.
See how Bush is endorsing Obama's policies over McCain's. Maybe this is also Bush seeing what's going to happen once he's gone...and trying to create a scrap of a legacy by putting his name on all the changes.
I say if Maliki and the Iraqis say it’s time for the US to leave, then it’s time. Period.
The neocons, led by McCain, had been going around describing a pullout as “defeat”...or “leaving when we owe the Iraqis so much.”
Translation--“leaving before we have nailed down long-term oil contracts and gotten assurances for oil field security.”
BTW--it tickles me that a while back McCain was chiding Obama for not having been overseas, especially to combat zones.
And now that Obama is doing just that, typically, McCain and the GOP are critizing him for going to the Middle East...desperately trying to reduce Obama's trip as a mere "campaign stunt."
One thing I'll bet on--you will not see Obama cautiously bumbling through a swept clean Iraqi market wearing body armor up the wazoo, surrounded by 100 armed soldiers and five attack helicopters circling overhead...telling everybody that it's just like a flea market in Muncie.
Hopefully, there will be closed-door meetings where Obama will seriously discuss ground conditions with local politicians as well as our ground commanders.
If everything goes well, it WOULD be a huge boost to Obama's campaign and standing as a statesman-in-waiting.
Be careful what you bitch about McCain.
