Huge Blow for McCain, Bush

Posted July 19, 2008 | 07:12 PM (EST)

In a stunning diplomatic breakthrough for Barack Obama, Iraq's prime minister yesterday endorsed the Democratic candidate's 16-month timeline for withdrawing combat troops from Iraq.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki endorsed the Obama approach in a July 18 interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel, just as President Bush and Sen. John McCain were touting a vague new commitment to a "horizon" for withdrawal. The New York Times did not report the Maliki statement in its July 19 edition.

Uncertainty about Maliki's surprise statement persists since his top political spokesman told the Times only one week ago that troop withdrawals would take three to five years, if not longer. [NYT, July 11]. The number of American troops he would request as counter-terrrorism units, trainers and advisers could be tens of thousands.

But as Obama's plane touched down in Afghanistan, Maliki's comments were having a far-reaching effect on the war and presidential politics, with the Maliki government withdrawing from George Bush and making McCain appear foolish.

This could be the "Philippine option" predicted in Ending the War in Iraq, in which the US arranged behind the scenes for the Manila government to request the departure of the American fleet.
While the sequencing may be accidental, it appears that the Obama forces could reap a windfall. Obama will seem more successful than Bush in managing the last stages of the war, depriving McCain of the claim to superior foreign policy experience. Obama's imminent arrival in Baghdad could seem like a victory lap in the foreign policy "primary."

Senator Obama can be Voted out of the United States Senate..... or be Impeached before then to stand trial for Treason against the United States for actively working against the President of the United States with a Foreign Government within the realm of the United States Military in time of War.

Nope he didn't pull a Reagan by double dealing and stabbing his country in the back so he could make Carter look bad. This is Maliki stating his preference for Obama's plan as opposed to bush and McCain attempts to occupy his country forever.

Face it Obama doesn't even have to lift finger to make those two look like foriegn policy amatuers.

by and large do not agree with you.

And like I Posted.... Maliki can be replaced, as a matter of fact, a lot can happen to PM Maliki.

You think maybe bush should order the troops overthrow or even murder Maliki ?

Pretty disgusting to see you so desire that bush and McCain have their way. You'd have us emulate dictator and his thugs and throw away the sacifices made by the troops to build a independent Democracy.

And as such is the enemy of the United States of America.

I for one do not understand why he has lived as long as he has.

That Senator Obama is working with PM Maliki and against the President of the United States of America is no great shock.

anything cooked by the bHO campaign is worthy in the eyes of the blind...

If the blind leads the blind... they all fall into the ditch... huh?

So the guy who gained power through election that was basically been held by the bush administration is the enemy of the US. Then I guess that make bush an enemy of the US for making it possible. And that makes McCain an enemy of the US for supporting the policy that kept his govt in power. And you support McCain so what does that make you ?

partizan:

You think maybe bush should order the troops overthrow or even murder Maliki ?

Pretty disgusting to see you so desire that bush and McCain have their way. You'd have us emulate dictator and his thugs and throw away the sacifices made by the troops to build a independent Democracy.

and now

partizan:

So the guy who gained power through election that was basically been held by the bush administration is the enemy of the US. Then I guess that make bush an enemy of the US for making it possible. And that makes McCain an enemy of the US for supporting the policy that kept his govt in power. And you support McCain so what does that make you ?

So, was the PM freely elected or not?

You seem confused.

Boy it must bother you guys everytime Obama makes the bush\ McCain regime look like fools.

He's a PM which means he was chosen to lead Iraq's parliament by other members. So he wasn't elected by the people if that's what you mean. But the election that gave his party the majority of the seat was orchestrated and overseen by the bush admin.

To have him murdered would be throwing away the potential democracy those troops are sacrificing for. You'd be telling them it all BS and at the whim of emperor bush.

or not?

And the PM of Iraq working with Iran and against the United States Military in Iraq means its not murder.