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Politics : Liberalism: Do You Agree We've Had Enough of It? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: puborectalis who wrote (35557)	7/20/2008 10:32:11 AM
From: TideGlider	Respond to of 224722

Iraqi PM denies backing Obama's withdrawal plan www.chinaview.cn 2008-07-20 15:43:01 Print Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq BAGHDAD, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki denied that he has released statements backing a plan of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama which sets a timeframe for possible U.S. troops withdrawal from Iraq, the government's spokesman said on Sunday. Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement that Maliki's statements to German magazine Der Spiegel "have been misunderstood and mistranslated and were not conveyed accurately regarding the vision of Senator Barack Obama on the timeframe for U.S. forces withdrawal from Iraq." Dabbagh explained that Maliki backs an Iraqi vision of pulling U.S. troops based on Iraq's security needs and on talks with Washington, the statement said. On Saturday, Der Spiegel released an article, quoting Maliki as supporting Obama's proposal that U.S. troops should withdraw from 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," the German magazine quoted Maliki as saying. Dabbagh highlighted that statements made by any member of the Iraqi government, including Maliki, should not be understood as showing support to any U.S. presidential candidate. Obama is now visiting Afghanistan and is expected to visit Iraq soon as part of his first overseas tour since securing the democratic nomination. He is scheduled to travel to Europe within next week. news.xinhuanet.com

To: puborectalis who wrote (35557)	7/20/2008 10:35:23 AM
From: TideGlider	Respond to of 224722

Iraq: PM Not Endorsing Obama Timeframe on Troop Withdrawal by FOXNews.com Sunday, July 20, 2008 Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has not endorsed any specific timeframe for possible U.S. troops withdrawals, a government spokesman said Sunday. The statement by Ali al-Dabbagh came after an article was published by Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine which quoted al-Maliki as favoring the 16-month withdrawal window proposed by Barack Obama. The article quoted al-Maliki as saying “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.” Al-Dabbagh said al-Maliki’s views were “misunderstood and mistranslated” by Der Spiegel and that the prime minister backs a general vision of pulling out U.S. combat forces based on talks with Washington “and in the light of the continuing positive developments on the ground.” Al-Dabbagh said statements by al-Maliki or any members of the Iraqi government “should not be understood as support to any U.S. presidential candidates.” The al-Maliki comments that were published came ahead of Obama’s scheduled meeting with the leader. Obama, who is touring both Afghanistan and Iraq for the first time since becoming a presidential candidate, arrived Saturday in Afghanistan, where he is meeting with U.S. troops. The report from the magazine gave Obama fuel in his argument that U.S. involvement in Iraq soon must draw to a close. Al-Maliki had reportedly told the magazine that his comments were “by no means an election endorsement.” McCain went after Obama in his radio address Saturday for announcing his proposed strategies for Afghanistan and Iraq before even departing. “Apparently, he’s confident enough that he won’t find any facts that might change his opinion or alter his strategy. Remarkable,” McCain said, criticizing his rival for initially opposing the troop surge in Iraq. “Today we know that he was wrong,” he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. elections.foxnews.com

To: puborectalis who wrote (35557)	7/20/2008 11:05:42 AM
From: Geoff Altman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 224722

Iraq PM Did Not Back Obama Troop Exit Plan: Government By REUTERS Filed at 1:46 a.m. ET BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki did not back the plan of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq and his comments to a German magazine on the issue were misunderstood, the government's spokesman said on Sunday. Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement that Maliki's remarks to Der Spiegel were translated incorrectly. The German magazine said on Saturday that Maliki supported Obama's proposal that U.S. troops should leave Iraq within 16 months. The interview was released on Saturday. "U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right time frame for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes," Der Spiegel quoted Maliki as saying. Dabbagh said statements by Maliki or any other member of the government should not be seen as support for any U.S. presidential candidate. Obama is visiting Afghanistan and is set to go to Iraq as part of a tour of Europe and the Middle East. Maliki's remarks were published a day after the White House said he and President George W. Bush had agreed that a security agreement currently being negotiated between them should include a "time horizon" for withdrawal of U.S. troops. Bush has long opposed setting a timetable for withdrawal, and the White House said the time horizon agreed by the two leaders was not as specific as a time frame pushed by Democrats and could be adjusted based on conditions on the ground. (Reporting by Dean Yates)