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The Note: Obama Gets Iraq Boost from Prime Minister
July 21, 2008 8:49 AM
ABC News' Rick Klein Reports in Monday's Note: Someone remember to write down the address, so Sen. Barack Obama can send that thank-you note.
Whatever his motivations, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki did Obama a huge favor with the magazine interview where he seemed to back Obama’s plans for Iraq -- offering him a better welcome than if he had been greeted with flowers as a liberator.
One little interview changed the storyline for this portion of the trip -- and boosted Obama’s credibility on the subject at hand. Now, it’s McCain on the defensive -- needing to explain why he differs from Obama, Maliki -- and maybe even the Bush administration, backers of a “time horizon” (no frames, there) for troop withdrawal.
“In Iraq, controversy continued to reverberate between the United States and Iraqi governments over a weekend news report that Mr. Maliki had expressed support for Mr. Obama’s proposal to withdraw American combat troops within 16 months of January,” Sabrina Tavernise and Jeff Zeleny write in The New York Times. “The reported comments came after Mr. Bush agreed on Friday to a ‘general time horizon’ for pulling out troops from Iraq without a specific timeline.”
This is hard to walk back: “The following is a direct translation from the Arabic of Mr. Maliki’s comments by The Times: ‘Obama’s remarks that -- if he takes office -- in 16 months he would withdraw the forces, we think that this period could increase or decrease a little, but that it could be suitable to end the presence of the forces in Iraq.’ He continued: ‘Who wants to exit in a quicker way has a better assessment of the situation in Iraq.’ ”
Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.
This gets the trip off on the right foot: “Senator Obama meets with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad. The two apparently have a lot in common,” ABC’s Terry Moran reported Monday on “Good Morning America.” “Over the weekend, Maliki shocked the Bush White House.”
While in Iraq, Obama will be interviewed by Terry Moran for a special edition of “Nightline” Monday -- with portions to be broadcast on “World News” and “Good Morning America” as well.
Maliki’s comments may not have been an accident: “Confusion over the Iraqi prime minister's seeming endorsement of Barack Obama's troop withdrawal plan is part of Baghdad's strategy to play U.S. politics for the best deal possible over America's military mission,” the AP’s Robert H. Reid writes. One goal: To “exploit Obama's position on the war to force the Bush administration into accepting concessions considered unthinkable a few months ago,” Reid reports.
Suddenly, Obama’s Iraq trip has a much bigger upside: “Washington-Baghdad move to a ‘general time horizon’ and Maliki’s comments have plainly focused the Iraq debate on terms preferred by Obama, just as he is poised to touch down on Iraqi soil,” Politico’s Jonathan Martin reports.
Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.
ABC News' Rachel Humphries and Alexa Ainsworth contributed to this report.
July 21, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (275)
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Mcain wants to stay 100 years remember what he said at a town hall meeting quote I WILL NEVER SURRENDER IN IRAQ MY FRIENDS NEVER!!!!!
Posted by: angie | Jul 21, 2008 9:08:42 AM
This is the kind of change we need. In the past, presidents would wait until they were sworn in to get to work. Obama is laying the groundwork to hit the ground running come January.
Posted by: Deep Release | Jul 21, 2008 9:28:21 AM
Maliki's staement gave a huge boost to Obama. Itwas such a clear endorsement of Obama's proposals. However we got to this point, Maliki was saying that Obama's exit strategy is the workable one. It reinforces Obama's argument that though he may not have the experience he has superior judgment and understanding. Even Bush is now talking to the Iranians and talking about "troop horizons" in Iraq - Obama's framework is becoming the accepted model.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | Jul 21, 2008 9:29:53 AM
The latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking report for July 17-19 shows Barack Obama maintaining a slight advantage over John McCain, 45% to 42%. Percentage of people who are undecided 6%
This means that McCain will win. The undecided people that I have met are Hillary supporters who said they will most likely vote for McCain.
Posted by: Samantha | Jul 21, 2008 9:38:01 AM
Bush is no political ally of McCains. Rove/Bush "swift boated" McCain in the 2000 election cycle and now again Bush hangs McCain out to dry with the "Iraqi withdraw" agreement of Friday and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's published magazine article. John finds himself alone having been thrown under his Straight Talk Express bus by his President.
Posted by: Lou R | Jul 21, 2008 9:38:34 AM
Deepwork,
Although he threw his work as the Senator of Illinois under the bus to do so. The problem is that Obama never "got to work" in anything, if he had done so this trip would not be a big deal at all because he would have the experience in foreign relations just like Hillary, McCain and all the others. Many of the others have been working on such issues all along regardless of whether or not you agree with their tactics.
Posted by: Samantha | Jul 21, 2008 9:42:16 AM
Bush is laughing stock #1 to the rest of the world and McCain would be laughing stock #2. These two guys are two of the biggest jokers in world politics. Vote McCain so I could laugh myself to sleep every night after listening to David Letterman and Leno. McCain would be fodder for the comedians. I know America will vote McCain..it will be the biggest upset in American politics..If Americans can give a joker like George Bush two terms you know McCain has an excellent chance to win in November. Please Disappoint me and vote Obama so we can have a president that we all can be proud of..Articulate, charismatic, bright, balanced and overall just plain better than McCain. Obama would be the president for all Americans..black,white,hispanic,asian,jew, gentile,Catholic, protestant, old,young,women,children,college students,the dispossessed,Republicans, Independant..EVERYONE! Vote Dems 08!
Posted by: Earl | Jul 21, 2008 9:42:44 AM
Samantha, if HillLovers like you do not have enough of 8 years of disgrace in American history, then they can betray Hillary and vote for McSame. God bless America and God bless Obama.OBAMA08.
Posted by: BKMC | Jul 21, 2008 9:43:05 AM
BKMC, Never said I was a Hillary lover you idiot. Just like all the Obamabots there you go stereotyping.
God Bless Everyone. Even YOU
Posted by: Samantha | Jul 21, 2008 9:48:05 AM
The latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking report for July 17-19 shows Barack Obama maintaining a slight advantage over John McCain, 45% to 42%. Percentage of people who are undecided 6%
This means that McCain will win. The undecided people that I have met are Hillary supporters who said they will most likely vote for McCain.
Posted by: Samantha | Jul 21, 2008 9:38:01 AM
********************************
Sam you're dreaming, read it and weep.
Dr. Larry Hunter: Lifelong conservative republican economist and former reagan official supports Senator Obama.
Posted by: Edward R. Murrow | Jul 21, 2008 9:48:46 AM
Obama gets HIS TRAINING WHEELS, and the American taxpayers are being raked for this jaunt. In this ONE week jaunt, he hopes to get some semblance of foreign policy/national security experience. Hopefully, one week is not enough to cause serious damage to the progress achieved. Oh Hillary, you would have been magnanimous as our First Woman President of the United States of America. This all seems like a sad joke from what we now see evolving.
Posted by: benvictor | Jul 21, 2008 9:49:21 AM
Obamabots should not be jumping to conclusions. Let's wait and see what happens in November. Still a long time left to go.
Posted by: JULIE | Jul 21, 2008 9:52:49 AM
RE:
The Note: Obama Gets Iraq Boost from Prime Minister
July 21, 2008 8:49 AM
---------------------
-
Thank you for wecloming me
And allow me to congratulate you for your present article
--------------------
LETTER TO SENATOR BARACK OBAMA
Montreal, February 20, 2008
SENATOR OBAMA ,
The whole world has its eyes on you, on The United States Of America and its people.
Everyone expects you to be democratically elected and see that something happen in America.
In March 1983, one of humanity's most famous spokesmen, Pope John Paul II, came to our country - 'Haîti' - and loudly proclaimed what each and every one of us had been whispering:
'Something must change here.'
Today, more than ever, a lot of people of The United States of America stand up, longing for something and working to make something happen.
And, like in March 9, 1983, beloved Haiti, History - (which from then and now on rests in thy hands) - tells thee: "it is now time to let people speak to thee of love!', let's say today': 'Go thou America ahead and show us thy true countenance in a positive light.' It is up to everyone to play his or her part in order to let thee regain thy mark of excellence !"
With this letter, I am communicating with You, Senator Obama, and with the whole people of The United States of America.
You offer this country what it takes to be a 'Wonderfull Land.' Yes, let us say 'with a great people living together.'
Go thou, America, go ahead, following in the footsteps of one of thy sons who is now becoming one of thy statesmen.
With this in mind, Mr.Obama, to whom else could I entrust this letter sent to his Holiness Pope John Paul II when he set foot on Haitian soil for the first time, as well as its acknowledgment by the Vatican?
That letter to Pope John Paul II is intended to draw attention to the problem posed by anti-Black discrimination and its negative repercussions on the advancement of scientific progress in the West, and more precisely in the realm of Optics.
In the Western world, according to Newton's widely accepted theory, white is considered to be the synthesis of all colors. Actually, the opposite is true. White constitutes the analysis or 'visible' decoding of light or color, whereas black is its synthesis or 'invisible' composition.
In other words, darkness or blackness and, we might add, "Black Holes'"- a scientific misnomer designating invisible stars or 'Black Suns' - are a source of energy and light.
That basic raw material of light energy culminates, in its most radiant form, in the neutralization of all the colors of the spectrum in the form of so-called "white light."
Therefore "absolute blackness", the absorption of all the colors, is a divisible component of light. Needless to say, Newton's theory gives only a partial interpretation of the notion of light, by excluding black. Our contribution aims at demonstrating that the black color is not only an integral part of the color process, but its true synthesis. Light is therefore shown to be a divisible whole comprising an intensity or color scale in which black is the invisible or 'absorbed' form of the energy in question.
Allow me, Senator Obama, in order to support my statement concerning Black Holes and radiation, to pose a question asked by Hubert Reeves, Doctor of nuclear astrophysics and Scientific Consultant to NASA:
"What would have become of the Sun, if it were plunged into a high temperature radiance like the one that existed at the beginning of the Universe? [our translation]"
"Instead of emitting light, it would absorb it and, in the end, it would be completely reabsorbed into the cosmic fluid."
The cosmic fluid is what, due to an "optical mistake", is called "darkness" or the "blackness of space". We are talking about the electromagnetic flux, that immeasurable ocean in which the planets and stars are bathed, like the sea which links all the continents together. Darkness is thus "The Sea of Space."
"What would have happened if, instead of an ordinary star like the "White Sun", a Black Hole or "Black Sun" were injected into that primordial radiation?
"According to Einsteinian Physics, a Black Hole is a place where gravity is so formidably intense that nothing can escape it, not even visible light. Such a hole should suck in and absorb radiation and increase its own mass: E=MC2, always."
"But after Einstein came Bohr, Heisenberg, and Quantum Physic. From then on, nothing was the same as before.
"The Einsteinian version of the Black Hole is equivalent to a statement that the matter inside the Black Hole is definitely there to stay, in that volume of space. Let us quote Hubert Reeves: "Such an absolute statement is thus contrary to the "Quantum spirit", affirming that nothing is definitely localized in one place. There is always a probability of escape. If the enclosing wall is too high, a tunnel will be dug; if the prisoners are patient, they will escape. One has only to wait. [our translation]"
"According to that principle, Black Holes "evaporate." Matter constantly escapes as radiation. Black Holes "shine!" Their surfaces behave like those of any body heated to a certain temperature and that radiation endlessly feeds that marvelous "Cosmic Fluid" which, wrongly and in bad faith, people keep calling "Darkness."
Nigra sum "sed" formosa.
Yes, but should we not say instead, I am black "and" comely?
Darkness, which is both source and vehicle of light, does not have to defend itself for being the beautiful and infinitely discreet raw material of the Universe. Darkness is the "Mother of the Universe."
Also, beautiful and discreet art thou, Haiti. Discreet, yes, but never outshone! Just like the Black Virgin who inspires and sheds her love on thee from the hilltop and even beyond Cité Soleil (Sun City).
Our purpose was to offer a more constructive approach aiming at correcting the abusive traditional, so-called scientific, theories of Optics. That is why, we wrote to that authentic witness to the signs of this age, His Holiness Pope John Paul II, the prophet of the new era.
Congratulations to You, Sir, and congratulations to the people of The United States Of America, for having made it possible for this day to mark the beginning of a "New Era of Hope !"
Lucien Bonnet
PLease, SEE :
LETTER TO POPE JOHN-PAUL II
in 'BILL A RI AND THERE WAS LIGHT !
http://www.contact-canadahaiti.ca
LINKS (JANUARY 12, 2008)
UBC astronomer makes first map of dark matter
CTV.ca - 11 Jan 2008
For the first time, a team of UBC scientists have mapped the elusive "dark matter" in a supercluster of stars in the night sky.
New map lets scientists 'see' dark matter CBC News
Astronomers get best look yet at dark matter surrounding galaxies The Canadian Press
Ars Technica - Kazinform - InTheNews.co.uk - Daily Mail
all 26 news articles »
Posted by: Lucien BONNET | Jul 21, 2008 9:53:27 AM
Can't imagine Obama's trip starting off any better. This forces McCain to re-tool or else be accused of ignoring the facts on the ground. Sound familiar?
Posted by: matt | Jul 21, 2008 9:56:09 AM
Sorry Murrow,
Don't bet your stimulus check on Obama. If he were such a shoe in, he would be blowing McCain out of the water.
So how do you suppose he gets the 6% undecided which by the ARE leaning towards McCain.
Posted by: Samantha | Jul 21, 2008 9:56:17 AM
Lucien letter really makes me want to go out and support Obama now geeze.
Posted by: Samantha | Jul 21, 2008 9:58:46 AM
obama is toast. what REALLY makes me angry is that obama criticized hillary for her froeign travels to over 84 countries!!!
he said it was just for show. now he is doing the same on his world wind 24 hr in each country tour. that a liar .
Posted by: kurt | Jul 21, 2008 10:08:03 AM
If anyone reported with enough research they would know that al quaeda wanted the civil war to go away...
they want a unified Iraq...
Reports say they were worried about Iraq's civil war being blamed on them.
and this goes way beyond al-quaeda. The russian spy who was poisoned had claimed before he died that it was his reponsibility to bring al-zawarihi into russia to train him.
al-qaeda wants the war to settle down so they can sweep back in.
that is why mccain is stuck in a very bad place...and so are we...
they thought they would go in and get a stronghold and it has backfired tremendously...because we can't afford to occupy Iraq forever and we ignored and strengthened the al-qaeda cause with this one stupid war.
Posted by: dl | Jul 21, 2008 10:10:29 AM
Samantha, polls change daily and mean nothing. I don't know why people even bother with them.
Posted by: erin | Jul 21, 2008 10:10:43 AM
Samantha,
Gore and Kerry were both UP hugely in the polls at this same point in the election. And they lost. The fact that the polls are close is a good thing. After the Nomination Obama will get a bounce and keep it.
Posted by: Jane Hussein | Jul 21, 2008 10:11:47 AM
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