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Undermining McCain Campaign Attack, Republicans Back Obama‘s Version of Meeting With Iraqi Leaders
September 19, 2008 1:06 PM
Earlier this week, the campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., seized upon a column in the New York Post that described Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as having urged Iraqi leaders in a private meeting to delay coming to an agreement with the Bush administration on the status of U.S. troops.
"Obama has tried in private to persuade Iraqi leaders to delay an agreement on a drawdown of the American military presence," Post columnist Amir Taheri wrote, quoting Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, who told the Post that Obama, during his meeting with Iraqi leaders in July, "asked why we were not prepared to delay an agreement until after the U.S. elections and the formation of a new administration in Washington."
The charge -- that Obama asked the Iraqis to delay signing off on a "Status of Forces Agreement," thus delaying U.S. troop withdrawal and interfering in U.S. foreign policy -- has been picked up on the Internet, talk radio and by Republicans, including the McCain campaign, which seized on the story as possible evidence of duplicity.
The Obama campaign said that the Post report consisted of "outright distortions."
Lending significant credence to Obama's response is the fact that -- though it's absent from the Post story and other retellings -- in addition to Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, this July meeting was also attended by Bush administration officials, such as U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and the Baghdad embassy's legislative affairs advisor Rich Haughton, as well as a Republican senator, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.
Attendees of the meeting back Obama's account, including not just Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., but Hagel, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffers from both parties. Officials of the Bush administration who were briefed on the meeting by the U.S. embassy in Baghdad also support Obama's account and dispute the Post story and McCain attack.
The Post story is "absolutely not true," Hagel spokesman Mike Buttry told ABC News.
"Barack Obama has never urged a delay in negotiations," said Obama campaign national security spokesperson Wendy Morigi, "nor has he urged a delay in immediately beginning a responsible drawdown of our combat brigades."
Buttry said that Hagel agrees with Obama's account of the meeting: Obama began the meeting with al-Maliki by asserting that the United States speaks with one foreign policy voice, and that voice belongs to the Bush administration.
A Bush administration official with knowledge of the meeting says that, during the meeting, Obama stressed to al-Maliki that he would not interfere with President Bush's negotiations concerning the U.S. troop presence in Iraq, and that he supports the Bush administration's position on the need to negotiate, as soon as possible, the Status of Forces Agreement, which deals with, among other matters, U.S. troops having immunity from local prosecution.
Obama did assert at the meeting with the Iraqis that he agrees with those -– including Hagel and Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee -- who advocate congressional review of the Strategic Framework Agreement being worked out between the Bush administration and the Iraqi government, including the Iraqi parliament.
The Strategic Framework Agreement is a document that generally describes what the relationship between the two countries should look like over time.
According to one person present at the meeting, Obama told al-Maliki that the American people wouldn't understand why the Iraqi parliament would get to have a say on the Strategic Framework Agreement, but the U.S. Congress would not, especially since Bush is only months from leaving the White House, regardless of whether Obama or McCain succeeds him.
Morigi said in a statement that "Barack Obama has consistently called for any Strategic Framework Agreement to be submitted to the U.S. Congress so that the American people have the same opportunity for review as the Iraqi parliament."
It’s possible, Obama advisers believe, that either Zebari or Taheri confused the Strategic Framework Agreement -- which Obama feels should be reviewed by Congress -- with the Status of Forces Agreement, which Obama says the Bush administration should negotiate with the Iraqis as soon as possible.
Two officials of the Bush administration say that if Obama had done what the Post story asserted –- which they believe to be untrue -– Crocker and embassy officials attending the meeting would have ensured that the Bush administration heard about it immediately. If such an incident occurred in front of officials of the Bush administration, it would have constituted a foreign policy breach and would have been front-page huge news; it would not have leaked out two months later in an op-ed column.
Nonetheless, based on nothing more than the Post report, McCain senior foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann issued a statement earlier this week, expressing outrage.
“It should be concerning to all that (Obama) reportedly urged that the democratically-elected Iraqi government listen to him rather than the U.S. administration in power,” Scheunemann said, apparently not having talked to anyone with knowledge about the meeting in the Bush administration, the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Hagel, or any Republican staffers on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“If news reports are accurate, this is an egregious act of political interference by a presidential candidate seeking political advantage overseas,” Scheunemann continued. “Sen. Obama needs to reveal what he said to Iraq's foreign minister during their closed door meeting. The charge that he sought to delay the withdrawal of Americans from Iraq raises serious questions about Sen. Obama's judgment, and it demands an explanation.”
What actually demands an explanation is why the McCain campaign was so willing to give credence to such a questionable story with such tremendous international implications without first talking to Republicans present at Obama’s meeting with al-Maliki, who back Obama’s version of the meeting and completely dismiss the Post column as untrue.
-- Jake Tapper and Kirit Radia
September 19, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (307)
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Zebari's quote: "He asked why we were not prepared to delay an agreement until after the US elections and the formation of a new administration in Washington."
Limbaugh's representation of Zebari's quote: "He asked why we were not prepared to delay an agreement on US troop withdrawal until after the US elections and the formation of a new administration in Washington."
Aren't you tired of being spun? See my earlier entry about why those few words matter.
Posted by: reveral | Sep 20, 2008 5:53:29 PM
Don't vote someone who can turn America into thirdworld.
Posted by: Jenn | Sep 20, 2008 5:08:39 PM
1. Chuck Hegel is not a source to anything. He is a treator.
2The whole argument is simply disgusting. Everybody is talking about a meeting with Maliki, Hegel and many toher persons. The NT Post article IS NOT ABOUT THAT MEETING AN dthat foreig minster gave the info to the NY Post journalist. Who has absolutely no reason toimagine a discussion described.
I have no doubt that the article is correct, and that Obama is committed a criminal act by saying what he sayd.
It is as simple as that. The rest is just misinformation, falsification and cover-up a criminal act.
Posted by: Thomas keri | Sep 20, 2008 3:45:32 PM
My goodness..... McCain and his unbelievable lies.
Posted by: SARAH-LIE | Sep 20, 2008 3:26:34 PM
Dont you guys feel sick when you see McCain?
Posted by: HAHA | Sep 20, 2008 3:24:37 PM
oops.. my earliet comment cheering redgirl was a mistake, my cheer was actually for ...alanmary.....sorry. , even though i misread the name of poster, my thoughts are the same...agree with alanmary
Posted by: why is it | Sep 20, 2008 3:15:31 PM
no excuse for mccain not having enough intelligence to learn computer. ...i know a man in his later 40's who is totally blind, does not type, uses verbal clues and instructions, and with windows vista, can talk into microphone, dictate, etc, he even has his own website, ...he is not exceptional, ..he just has a functioning brain, like most of us....i was 60 something before i started learning, and i know how to install operating systems, sound, etc, because of having all operating systems from win,95,98,98Se , windows xp, windows millenium, windows vista, and other, and i am just a retired grandma, who did not want her grandchildren, who learn in grade school how to use computer, to be smarter and more proficient than their grandma, and i wanted to be able to talk to them when they told me which site to go to in order to learn something or a new game to play,.....so the only reason mcvain has in not knowing how to do the computer is...laziness,inability to concentrate,...or cannot remember things long enough to learn. sorry, but that is the truth, and in this day and age computer knowledge is paramount to research and keeping up with what is happening all over the world.
Posted by: why is it | Sep 20, 2008 3:05:17 PM
Hey someone, if you don't vote, then don't complain. It's obvious you are a Republican and you have no African-American friends. 85% of African- Americans support Obama the others are Republican or undecided. Anyone with African-American friends would not refer to their “FRIENDS" as” the blacks"! And by the way all the issues you say you are concerned about are the issues Obama focuses on. His plan is to cut taxes for the middle class not raise them.
Unless you make around $5 million in McCain’s world you aren’t anywhere near the middle class! This race issue you speak of is an issue because some Caucasians will vote for McCain just because he’s “a white” damage the country or not, too old or not, Palin: no experience, so what, knowledge of foreign policy, who cares, she can see “Russia from her house”! At the age of 20, you might consider going back to school and getting more education it’s clear you either dropped out of high school or have a G.E.D. Most educated “people” under the age of 45 are going with Obama (Fact; check it out)
Posted by: Sandy | Sep 20, 2008 2:54:39 PM
The republicans in the room have to side with Obama's version of the story or they would be in hot water. Zebari has no reason to create this story. If Obama is telling the truth (lol) then why when he released his statement did it sound a lot like a smoke and glass version of Zebari. I agree let Obama call Zebari a liar to his face. Regardless of all facts Obama should not have had any discussions in Iraq while running for President. His agenda is a conflict of interest with that of our President. This will send the wrong message to leaders of all nations.
Posted by: danielle | Sep 20, 2008 2:51:46 PM
Hagel is a true maverick. Why didn't McCain simply ask Hagel before believing the lies of Taheri, who has a track record of being a lying neocon shill? Maybe McCain has had one of his uncontrollable temper episodes with Hagel and they're not talking.
Posted by: Jeremy | Sep 20, 2008 2:05:23 PM
When the truth is discovered and you choose to believe the lie, that’s called stupid. When you choose to vote for McCain/Palin, both liars (and she is highly unqualified) and you know that chose will more than likely cause further damage to your future, in southern terms, that's called cutting off your nose to spite your face!
Posted by: Sandy | Sep 20, 2008 2:02:34 PM
if you dont Vote you are an insult to those who died (like my two Uncles) fighting facism and communism
Posted by: nick | Sep 20, 2008 1:52:52 PM
Yaaaaay.......redgirl..i pray that your comments wake millions up for the sake of all of us, not just are grown children and grandchildren, but to preserve what is left of america and our rights as americans, i am for obama and biden as they at least represent some hope.
Posted by: why is it | Sep 20, 2008 1:45:26 PM
GOP cant stand the truth when they lie so much
BUSH appointees were also there
you hagel moron!
Posted by: nick | Sep 20, 2008 1:44:48 PM
i'm 20 and i don't plan on voting now or ever. there is no point in voting when in the end everyone gets screwed no matter who gets picked as the president. politics are shady, down right dirty, and has no truth behind anything. all i see is news about barack obama and how great he is. why not hear more about the shady past? considering the media feels the need to put mcain/palin under a bus every day. what happened to unbiased media? oh wait there never was unbiased media. all i hear is obama this obama that. you hardly hear about mcain/palin unless it's negative. you never hear the real negatives about obama. why? people want to paint him as this saint who will change america. he promises change but seems like we hear that every election and there is still NO change so why should obama be any different? i'm tired about hearing how he will be the 1st blck president if elected. i have nothing against blacks... but my black friends hate him because he's being painted as a full black when he isn't. one friend told me that she doesn't understand why he's considered black when he's half white. she said if obama looked whiter and didn't look as black as he does people wouldn't be making a big thing about him being black. race is being an issue in this presidential election when it really shouldn't just like age shouldn't be a huge factor either. so what if mcain is 72? so what if obama is half black? these things don't matter. the facts matter, the issues matter. i don't hear anyone talking issues. i don't hear anyone talking about russia and venezuala. i don't hear anything substantial coming from anyone except mcain. he wants to help the economy, obama wants to raise taxes in a time of crisis. tell me how is that going to help anything? at the end of the day what would he accomplish? people work hard in this country, why should we be taxed heavily for giving back to our country? why give government more of our money we worked for? why should health care be so expensive average americans can't afford? i went to several health care providers and was quoted $300.00 per month. i can barely afford the bills, food, and gas that there is no money for health care. gas is still $4 a gallon and the price per barrel is going down. us americans will not see a drop in prices for months! by the time prices begin to change the price per barrel will be on the rise all over again and we will be stuck paying $5 per gallon. we need off shore drilling, solar, wind, bio fuels, electric cars, natural gas. we need cheaper alternatives to oil. we need an economic boot, we need cheaper health care, and more money for our schools so our children of tomorrow can learn and be successful. we need a president who knows what they're doing, someone who will change america for the better and ot for the worse, someone who is experienced, someone who knows forgeign policies, who know what to do if america was attacked. obama wouldn't know what to do if the answer was staring at him in the face. he can have all of his stupid advisors, and political garbage. if i was voting i can say i'm leaning towards mccain/palin.
Posted by: someone | Sep 20, 2008 1:44:28 PM
all the republican are whining and whining because they know if palin has to do anything besides a set script, she knows nothing about real life or good morals at all, she is the one that said the whining comment about hillary, and now repubs are whining their butts off about how unfair it is to prove what liars ad immoral they are....evidently they cannot take the heat, so they should have stayed out of the kitchen, so to speak, truth always wins eventually, even if it takes years, i am just afraid if palin and mccain,as she billed herself one time, gets in , the world may not have time to prove what liars and what their motivations truly are, as i believe the world will see our country is in the hands of ignoramouses....once again or still!
Posted by: why is it | Sep 20, 2008 1:37:12 PM
why and how is it that dishonest, corrupt people with not even the slightest moral values and common sense, who live in the past, can even run for high offices, mcvain and mcvain terrify us all because if their worthless values are the role model all young people in this country follow, you might as well kiss america goodby for good. Good heavens, sen. obama's running mates wife, Jill Biden is more educated and moral and honest than either mccain and palin. I vote obama/biden 08, but even if i did not believe i them, i would NEVER vote for the total destruction of america which affects my grown children and their children and their children, and if i voted for mcvain and mcvain, that is exactly what i believe will happen. They are both liars and they do not even respect laws made for the protection of this country.
Posted by: why is it | Sep 20, 2008 1:23:39 PM
Live in the Midwest, as I do, and Chuck Hagel's name doesn't inspire confidence OR trust. Don't count on him being around much longer. His political days are numbered, JMHO.
Back to the reason for this post, anything that goes on , involving this country's dealings with Iran should be thoroughly but fairly investigated.
To suggest Mc Cain should have been above the frey, by wanting the facts of a report that could possibly have led to a charge of violation of the Logan Act, is , ummm, PHONY OUTRAGE, perhaps ?
Posted by: Nancy | Sep 20, 2008 12:23:52 PM
McCain is a liar, is VP pick is a liar and his campaign is replete with liars. Why in the world would they bother to find out the truth?? I mean, the truth really doesn't help the lying, does it?
Posted by: Jackie | Sep 20, 2008 12:22:21 PM
Jake, Jake...just because some choose to believe the lies spread by Obama and the rest of the MSM, including yourself, it just wash. Obama is for Obama period, end of story. Perhaps you still believe the Rosenbergs were innocent?
Posted by: Sue | Sep 20, 2008 11:36:50 AM
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