Obama Tried To Stall Gis' Iraq Withdrawal

[stephanie]

wtf??

Comments: 488Read Comments Leave a Comment LONG VIEW: Barack Obama tours Iraq with Gen. David Petraeus in July, when he sought to stall any agreement for US troop withdrawal until President Bush left office.

Last updated: 4:10 am
September 15, 2008
Posted: 4:02 am
September 15, 2008

WHILE campaigning in public for a speedy withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, Sen. Barack Obama has tried in private to persuade Iraqi leaders to delay an agreement on a draw-down of the American military presence.

According to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Obama made his demand for delay a key theme of his discussions with Iraqi leaders in Baghdad in July.

"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," Zebari said in an interview.

Obama insisted that Congress should be involved in negotiations on the status of US troops - and that it was in the interests of both sides not to have an agreement negotiated by the Bush administration in its "state of weakness and political confusion."

"However, as an Iraqi, I prefer to have a security agreement that regulates the activities of foreign troops, rather than keeping the matter open." Zebari says.

Though Obama claims the US presence is "illegal," he suddenly remembered that Americans troops were in Iraq within the legal framework of a UN mandate. His advice was that, rather than reach an accord with the "weakened Bush administration," Iraq should seek an extension of the UN mandate.

While in Iraq, Obama also tried to persuade the US commanders, including Gen. David Petraeus, to suggest a "realistic withdrawal date." They declined.

read the rest and comments
http://www.nypost.com/seven/09152008...150.htm?page=0

[stephanie]

WTF?

1 hour ago

PUEBLO, Colorado (AFP) — Barack Obama's White House campaign angrily denied Monday a report that he had secretly urged the Iraqis to postpone a deal to withdraw US troops until after November's election.

In the New York Post, conservative Iranian-born columnist Amir Taheri quoted Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari as saying the Democrat made the demand when he visited Baghdad in July, while publicly demanding an early withdrawal.

"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," Zebari said in an interview, according to Taheri.

"However, as an Iraqi, I prefer to have a security agreement that regulates the activities of foreign troops, rather than keeping the matter open," Zebari reportedly said.

The Republican campaign of John McCain seized on the report to accuse Obama of double-speak on Iraq, calling it an "egregious act of political interference by a presidential candidate seeking political advantage overseas."

But Obama's national security spokeswoman Wendy Morigi said Taheri's article bore "as much resemblance to the truth as a McCain campaign commercial."

In fact, Obama had told the Iraqis that they should not rush through a "Strategic Framework Agreement" governing the future of US forces until after President George W. Bush leaves office, she said.

read it all here..
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...O8ZbiFYsnbIl3A

[Kathianne]

WTF?

1 hour ago

PUEBLO, Colorado (AFP) — Barack Obama's White House campaign angrily denied Monday a report that he had secretly urged the Iraqis to postpone a deal to withdraw US troops until after November's election.

In the New York Post, conservative Iranian-born columnist Amir Taheri quoted Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari as saying the Democrat made the demand when he visited Baghdad in July, while publicly demanding an early withdrawal.

"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," Zebari said in an interview, according to Taheri.

"However, as an Iraqi, I prefer to have a security agreement that regulates the activities of foreign troops, rather than keeping the matter open," Zebari reportedly said.

The Republican campaign of John McCain seized on the report to accuse Obama of double-speak on Iraq, calling it an "egregious act of political interference by a presidential candidate seeking political advantage overseas."

But Obama's national security spokeswoman Wendy Morigi said Taheri's article bore "as much resemblance to the truth as a McCain campaign commercial."

In fact, Obama had told the Iraqis that they should not rush through a "Strategic Framework Agreement" governing the future of US forces until after President George W. Bush leaves office, she said.

read it all here..
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...O8ZbiFYsnbIl3A

So considering the red letters, wasn't Obama saying in effect, "No reduction of troops until I TAKE OFFICE?"

[red states rule]

Was Obama playing politics with the lives of our troops?

If this story has legs, his Presidental bid will be DOA. I wonder if Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann will discusss this story tinight?




OBAMA TRIED TO STALL GIS' IRAQ WITHDRAWAL

WHILE campaigning in public for a speedy withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, Sen. Barack Obama has tried in private to persuade Iraqi leaders to delay an agreement on a draw-down of the American military presence.

According to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Obama made his demand for delay a key theme of his discussions with Iraqi leaders in Baghdad in July.

"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," Zebari said in an interview.

Obama insisted that Congress should be involved in negotiations on the status of US troops - and that it was in the interests of both sides not to have an agreement negotiated by the Bush administration in its "state of weakness and political confusion."

"However, as an Iraqi, I prefer to have a security agreement that regulates the activities of foreign troops, rather than keeping the matter open." Zebari says.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/09152008...wal_129150.htm

[Trigg]

Interresting.......Obama acusing people of nasty politics......and he's doing this.


I'll have to watch Fox tonight, I doubt MSNBC will run the story unless they're forced to.

[Yurt]

not only is he a liar, but he should be tried for treason.

[Yurt]

Though Obama claims the US presence is "illegal," he suddenly remembered that Americans troops were in Iraq within the legal framework of a UN mandate. His advice was that, rather than reach an accord with the "weakened Bush administration," Iraq should seek an extension of the UN mandate.

he is slime

[Abbey Marie]

Ah, so now we have "Troopgate". So much more potentially damaging than "Troopergate".

[midcan5]

Let's see if I have this correct, you and your cohorts believe an Iraqi whose trustworthiness is unknown and whose motive is unclear.

You believe that Obama who voted against the war and wanted the troops home would change his position based on an Iraqi's word. And ask this Iraqi that?

If America elects dumb and dumber, Americans such as yourselves deserve, war, death, deficits, and stupidity as it fits you all to a tee.

I wonder if you fools would buy a car from the same Iraqi!




America for Dummies: A vote for McCain/Palin is a vote to further marginalize science and progress in America by supporting creationism (religion) as science.

[Immanuel]

Even if this is true, the title of the thread is a little misleading. He is not trying to delay troop withdrawal, simply delay the agreement (which must come first) for withdrawal of troops. Delaying the agreement would not necessarily delay troop withdrawal as that wasn't going to happen before the election anyway.

If this is true what he was hoping to avoid was the bounce such an agreement would likely give John McCain as if John McCain orchestrated the agreement in the first place.

If this is true, it doesn't say much good about Senator Obama in my books. The withdrawal of troops is not something I want him playing politics with.

Notice 3 (actually 4) "if's" in those paragraphs.

I'll wait and see where this one falls.

Immie

[Yurt]

Let's see if I have this correct, you and your cohorts believe an Iraqi whose trustworthiness is unknown and whose motive is unclear.

You believe that Obama who voted against the war and wanted the troops home would change his position based on an Iraqi's word. And ask this Iraqi that?

If America elects dumb and dumber, Americans such as yourselves deserve, war, death, deficits, and stupidity as it fits you all to a tee.

I wonder if you fools would buy a car from the same Iraqi!




America for Dummies: A vote for McCain/Palin is a vote to further marginalize science and progress in America by supporting creationism (religion) as science.

so you have proof the iraqi is lying? i can clearly imagine obama playing politics with this.

[retiredman]

so you have proof the iraqi is lying? i can clearly imagine obama playing politics with this.

proof? You apparently don't need any proof that he is telling the truth.

I can understand how any presidential candidate would be uncomfortable with his lame duck predecessor signing some agreement in the waning months of his presidency that would end up tying the hands of the incoming president.

[Yurt]

proof? You apparently don't need any proof that he is telling the truth.

I can understand how any presidential candidate would be uncomfortable with his lame duck predecessor signing some agreement in the waning months of his presidency that would end up tying the hands of the incoming president.

i don't bear the burden of his truth. he is presumed truthful, but you know that already.

it is not surprising you would play politics with soldiers. i guess the president should just completely ignore and do nothing regarding iraq because a new president is coming to office. how sad.

[red states rule]

i don't bear the burden of his truth. he is presumed truthful, but you know that already.

it is not surprising you would play politics with soldiers. i guess the president should just completely ignore and do nothing regarding iraq because a new president is coming to office. how sad.

To MFM they are not soliders - they are infidels

MFM, Durbin, Kerry, Kennedy, Michael Moore, and his fellow band of Merry Men have desired total and complete defeat for our troops in Iraq - now Obama screws them over so he can grab the "credit" for pulling them out

[Yurt]

To MFM they are not soliders - they are infidels

MFM, Durbin, Kerry, Kennedy, Michael Moore, and his fellow band of Merry Men have desired total and complete defeat for our troops in Iraq - now Obama screws them over so he can grab the "credit" for pulling them out

right