No Ringing Endorsement Of Obama’s Plan During Today’s Visit:

Asked specifically if Obama, who has proposed a withdrawal of U.S. combat troops within 16 months, raised the question during the talks, Iraqi spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told reporters: “This issue, we do not discuss …”

In the topic of a withdrawal timetable, al-Dabbagh told reporters, “We are hoping that in 2010 that combat troops will withdraw from Iraq.” But he added that the government did not endorse a fixed date. He also said any withdrawal plan was subject to change if there is a rise in the level of violence.

That is the McCain plan which has not changed since Day One.

We stopped counting the changes to Obama’s plan, but expect another one at any moment.

(i) Forming a Constitutional Review Committee and then completing the constitutional review. NO

(ii) Enacting and implementing legislation on de-Ba’athification reform. NO

(iii) Enacting and implementing Oil legislation (i.e., share the wealth). NO

(iv) Enacting and implementing legislation on procedures to form semi-autonomous regions. ON HOLD TILL AFTER 2008

(v) Enacting and implementing legislation establishing an Independent High Electoral Commission, provincial elections law, provincial council authorities, and a date for provincial elections. NO

(vi) Enacting and implementing legislation addressing amnesty. NO

(vii) Enacting and implementing legislation establishing a strong militia disarmament program to ensure that such security forces are accountable only to the central government and loyal to the constitution of Iraq. YES – but the US is doing this with no help from Iraq

(viii) Establishing supporting political, media, economic, and services committees in support of the Baghdad Security Plan. YES

(ix) Providing three trained and ready Iraqi brigades to support Baghdad operations. YES

(x) Providing Iraqi commanders with all authorities to execute this plan and to make tactical and operational decisions in consultation with U.S. Commanders without political intervention to include the authority to pursue all extremists including Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias. YES – but it’s still a US ballgame

(xi) Ensuring that Iraqi Security Forces are providing even-handed enforcement of the law. YES

(xii) Ensuring that, as Prime Minister Maliki was quoted by President Bush as saying, “the Baghdad Security Plan will not provide a safe haven for any outlaws, regardless of [their] sectarian or political affiliation.” YES

(xiii) Reducing the level of sectarian violence in Iraq and eliminating militia control of local security. YES – the surge is working. Congrats to John McCain.

(xiv) Establishing all of the planned joint security stations in neighborhoods across Baghdad. YES – provided benchmarks continue to be met.

(xv) Increasing the number of Iraqi security forces units capable of operating independently. YES

(xvi) Ensuring that the rights of minority political parties in the Iraqi legislature are protected. NO

(xvii) Allocating and spending $10 billion in Iraqi revenues for reconstruction projects, including delivery of essential services, on an equitable basis. YES – money is being sent. NO – it is not making it to the civilian population.

(xviii) Ensuring that Iraq’s political authorities are not undermining or making false accusations against members of the ISF. NO – despite the good intentions of some Iraqis, government corruption still poses a challenge.

So, after his initial statement, which was never an explicit endorsement, he “refined hi position” when he got a call from the White House. He and Bush had a nice talk and stuck to improved ground conditions v. an arbitrary date for withdrawal.

One, Iraq wants to establish a LONG TERM Strategic Treaty with the US, AND continue the EXISTING Security Agreement with the US.

Two, MOST of the coalition troops should be removed sooner rather than later, but that depends on circumstances on the ground.

Maliki says that although the 16 month timeframe proposed by Obama would be right, it is possible that it could change, and “Of course, this is by no means an election endorsement.”

In this interview Maliki shows that Iraq is committed to the proposals expressed by McCain. Troops will be withdrawn as the security situation improves, which has improved during the surge. And, there will be a long term presence by the US for security.

McCain and even Bush along with everyone else on the planet want MOST of the troops removed as soon as possible. But, even the Iraqis do not want the US to retreat from Iraq entirely. Obama on the other hand proposes a complete withdrawal.

As to be expected,, the left wing Press at Der Spiegel, and the US Press that pick up the story, run with “MALIKI ENDORSES OBAMA’S PLAN”, and “MALIKI BACKS OBAMA TROOP PULLOUT PLAN” even though Maliki himself emphasizes he is not endorsing Obama, nor Obama’s plan.

Since the left wing press published Maliki’s supposed endorsement of the Obama plan, Maliki has tried to correct the false and misleading interpretation of what he said. A spokesman for al-Maliki said his remarks “were misunderstood, mistranslated and not conveyed accurately.”

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the possibility of troop withdrawal was based on the continuance of security improvements, echoing statements that the White House made Friday after a meeting between al-Maliki and U.S. President Bush.

Don’t take my word for it. Read the original Der Spiegel transcript below. Maliki clearly says he wants to continue the US Security Agreement, and Troop withdrawal plans are subject to change depending on security circumstances.

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

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

SPIEGEL: Would you hazard a prediction as to when most of the US troops will finally leave Iraq?

Maliki: As soon as possible, as far as we’re concerned. 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.

And the stupid Obama-Media ran with the story, of course, without even double checking with the IRAQI PRIME MINISTER’S people.
Horrendous.

Well it looks like Obambi will have to toss Maliki under that HUGE Obambi bus now too. Unbelievable , Obambi’s narcissistic abilities know no bounds, lol.