Iraqi PM backs Obama troop exit plan: magazine

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

BERLIN - 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 is the first time he has backed the withdrawal timetable put forward by Obama, who is visiting Afghanistan and us set to go to Iraq as part of a tour of Europe and the Middle East.

Obama has called for a shift away from a "single-minded" focus on Iraq and wants to pull out troops within 16 months, instead adding U.S. soldiers to Afghanistan.



Read more: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=§ion=middleeast&xfile=data/middleeast/2008/July/middleeast_July494.xml

[roesch]

1. Historic quote!

If this quote is accurate, and it seems to be, it is a historic turning point in our discussion of our occupation of Iraq. While credit must be given to the the surge, while not over-looking the complete recklessness and corruption that has accompanied it, the Obama timetable has become the guideline more than McCain's one hundred necessity. It must be pointed out that in some sense the Bush administration seems to be adopting the Obama platform: talking to Iran, more troops to Afghanistan. I hope the general electorate can see this as well.

[ohio2007]

2. Sunni bloc rejoins Iraqi cabinet

The main Sunni Muslim bloc in Iraq has rejoined the Shia-led government, in what correspondents called an important step for national reconciliation.

The return of six ministers from the Accordance Front to the cabinet was approved by lawmakers.

The Sunni bloc withdrew almost a year ago following a row over power-sharing.

A spokesman for the Accord Front said its return was "a real step forward for political reform" in the predominantly Shia country.



snip

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7515277.stm

Thats news everyone but the ex baathists will enjoy. Civil war seems to be over but the Sunni block better not let their security guard down anytime soon.

[bronxiteforever]

3. Kick & R

[ohio2007]

4. 'The Tenure of Coalition Troops in Iraq Should Be Limited' ( German MSM spin)

The situation in Iraq seems to be improving. SPIEGEL spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki about his approval of Barack Obama's withdrawal plans and what he hopes from US President Bush in his last months in office.


snip
SPIEGEL: Germany was opposed to the war. German Economics Minister Michael Glos was in Baghdad the week before last, Daimler AG plans to build trucks in Iraq, and you will travel to Berlin this week. Has everything been smoothed out between Germany and Iraq?

Maliki: We want closer relations, and it is my impression that the Germans -- the government, the people and German companies -- want the same thing. Our task is to rebuild a country, and the Germans are famous for effective and efficient work. We have great confidence in them and want to involve them in the development of our country.



SPIEGEL: Three weeks ago, your government filed a civil lawsuit in New York against companies that allegedly paid bribes to officials in the Saddam regime. The defendants include three German companies: Daimler and Braun Melsungen and a number of Siemens affiliates. How is this compatible with your overtures to German industry?

Maliki: We are in negotiations with Siemens for the construction of power plants, which shows just how serious we are. Whether the suit you mention succeeds will be for the courts to decide. Under no circumstances will the consequence be that we no longer wish to work with the companies in question.


SPIEGEL: Germany, after World War II, was also liberated from a tyrant by a US-led coalition. That was 63 years ago, and today there are still American military bases and soldiers in Germany. How do you feel about this model?

Maliki: Iraq can learn from Germany's experiences, but the situation is not truly comparable. Back then Germany waged a war that changed the world. Today, we in Iraq want to establish a timeframe for the withdrawal of international troops -- and it should be short. At the same time, we would like to see the establishment of a long-term strategic treaty with the United States, which would govern the basic aspects of our economic and cultural relations. However, I wish to re-emphasize that our security agreement should remain in effect in the short term.

SPIEGEL: How short-term? Are you hoping for a new agreement before the end of the Bush administration?

Maliki: So far the Americans have had trouble agreeing to a concrete timetable for withdrawal, because they feel it would appear tantamount to an admission of defeat. But that isn't the case at all. If we come to an agreement, it is not evidence of a defeat, but of a victory, of a severe blow we have inflicted on al-Qaida and the militias. The American lead negotiators realize this now, and that's why I expect to see an agreement taking shape even before the end of President Bush's term in office. With these negotiations, we will start the whole thing over again, on a clearer, better basis, because the first proposals were unacceptable to us.



SPIEGEL: Large parts of Iraq's assets abroad remain frozen -- and inaccessible to creditors. Now, victims of the Saddam dictatorship want that money to go towards reparations. What will happen to this money when the UN Security Council mandate for Iraq expires at the end of this year?




snip
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,566852,00.html

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. Sounds like Maliki isn't saying what he has been saying recently as some favor to Bush

He also seems to put the lie to Bush-McCain's claims that withdrawal would appear as a failure to the rest of the world (which it shouldn't if the "success" that Bush-McCain constantly tout is actually true). It's both inspiring and a bit depressing to know that our "leaders" are taking their cues from somebody who they have previously attacked as "green" and "inexperienced". I don't think that we can AFFORD to have anybody BUT Obama as President for the next 4 years. Will somebody please wake me up after the election and tell me that he won?! I'm not sure that I can handle the suspense!!!!

[Winston.]

6. Obama has already been selected.

or should I say, that while the agenda is the same, the strategy is being readjusted with Bush and Cheney still in office ! so what does that tell us ?

Bill Clinton once said about his presidency that all of the important decisions had already been made by other people and his influence on policy was minimal, or something around those lines, I don't remember the exact quote.

[Cha]

7. Bullshit.

Bullshit.

[Winston.]

9. Very thoughtful reply !

2 stolen elections and you still don't get it...
Do you seriously believe that George Bush is really in charge ?

[fla nocount]

10. Welcome, O clear-headed, plain-spoken citizen.

Now if you can just convince the DLC trolls that BO has it in the bag, maybe they'll go away. Be careful though, that would leave us short on moderators.

[madrchsod]

8. 16 months is the best plan i`ve read so far.

i`m sure our military are pleased as punch that they will have a commander who actually knows what to do.

refreshing is`t it?