Administration Rebuffs Maliki’s Timetable As ‘Artificial,’ Questions Whether Media Made Transcription Error
Administration Rebuffs Maliki’s Timetable As ‘Artificial,’ Questions Whether Media Made Transcription Error
President Bush has long maintained that if the Iraqi government wants the U.S. to leave Iraq, then the U.S. would do just that, as he said in May 2007:
We are there at the invitation of the Iraqi government. This is a sovereign nation. Twelve million people went to the polls to approve a constitution. It’s their government’s choice. If they were to say, leave, we would leave.
Today, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki suggested having a timetable for the withdrawal of coalition troops. “The direction we are taking is to have a memorandum of understanding either for the departure of the forces or to have a timetable for their withdrawal,” Maliki’s office quoted him as saying.
But the administration has rebuffed Maliki’s request for a timeline. Asked about the prime minister’s comments today, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman hedged on whether the administration would follow the Iraqi government’s request, criticizing timelines as “artificial“:
WHITMAN: [I]t is dependent on conditions on the ground. … But timelines tend to be artificial in nature. In a situation where things are as dynamic as they are in Iraq, I would just tell you, it’s usually best to look at these things based on conditions on the ground.
The State Department also hedged on whether the Bush administration would listen to Maliki. In a briefing today, spokesperson Sean McCormack said the remark may have been a transcription error:
McCORMACK: Well, that’s really the part — the point at which I would seek greater clarification in terms of remarks. I’ve seen the same press reports that you have, but I haven’t yet had an opportunity to get greater clarify as to exactly to what Mr. Maliki was referring or if, in fact, that’s an accurate reporting of what he said.
As multiple press accounts – as well as Maliki’s office — have indicated, Maliki did indeed suggest a timeline for withdrawal in negotiating a security agreement with the United States.
“I’ve got confidence in him,” Bush said in 2007 about Maliki’s leadership. But despite its rhetoric, it seems the Bush administration could care less what the Iraqi people or the Iraqi government want.
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80 Responses to “Administration Rebuffs Maliki’s Timetable As ‘Artificial,’ Questions Whether Media Made Transcription Error”
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That's right, nuke the goalposts, so no one can tell they were ever there...
July 7th, 2008 at 8:38 pmWell, to be fair, there are three different ways to say "timetable" in Arabic. That must be the source of the confusion. Yeah, that's it.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:44 pmArtificial? What's Bush waiting for, Mother Nature to wade in on the withdrawal?
You know it's not nice to fool Mother Nature.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:45 pmQuestions Whether Media Made Transcription Error
- - Oh, The White House will only believe it if they hear it on Fox News? I'm sure they aren't holding their breath then.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:50 pmBush Administration is made up of liars and criminals.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:51 pmThey can't be trusted by anybody.
Does it strike anyone else as odd that we are quite sure of the translation of the quote from Iran's president about the place in history of the corrupt regime in Jerusalem, but can't seem to ever get a good translation of anything the Iraqi leglislature passes?
July 7th, 2008 at 9:01 pmSounds like someone went off message. Looks like it's time for Dick Cheney to put on his Elmer Fudd outfit and take a "hunting trip" to visit Mr. Maliki.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:01 pmIt's so frustrating when you can't make your puppet dance.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:04 pmBut timelines tend to be artificial in nature
Indeed. Like the timetable to invade Iraq.
And ultimately: It. does. not. matter.
It's their country. They can set whatever timelines they very well bloody please, thank you. Artificial or not.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:06 pmI agree with Gregor Samsa - it is their bloody country and what the hell does the United States have to do with any decision made by Iraq's 'elected' government?
July 7th, 2008 at 9:15 pmNo timetables until Iraq has signed on the dotted line: we're not leaving until we own the oil.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:27 pmSo much for the 'sovereignty' of the Iraqi government.
"If they were to say, leave, we would leave".
"As they stand up, we'll stand down"
If thew surge is such a goddamn "success" why isn't Bush ordering the drawn-down of troops to at least BELOW 'pre-surge' levels?
Oh yeah I forgot. Even Maliki doesn't want to hand over control of the Iraqi oil supply to US companies and Bush doesn't want to sign the order to leave Iraq because he thinls it will 'look bad' on his resume'.
The average of US deaths over the last five years is 66 per month, per year, or 800 a year (for Iraqis, who knows?) and that includes the "surge". The first two-thirds of the 18- month "surge" yielded an average of 55 deaths per month.
I haven't researched the injury rate.
I don't doubt that a complete withdrawal will still involve US deaths, and I have no idea what that rate might be but through sheer ego and willful stupidity Bush is guaranteeing that 800 more US soldiers will die for a 'cause' that he's now thoroughly bored with. (I say another 700-800 because he's delaying any draw-down whilst he remains in office and the new president will be hard-pressed to make any rational and informed decision for 2-3 months in office and it will take another 2-3 months before an order can be acted upon--ergo 1 year, ergo 700--800 more US deaths going by the statistics.)
If Bush just declared victory by even his bogus rhetorical terms and ordered a drawn-down now, he could save what, maybe 200 lives? But he won't because he doesn't give a rat's ass about reality or the soldiers, he just cares about his 'legacy'.
N.B. Maybe THIS TIME, those who have served and those families who have a tradition of serving in the US military will understand that serving one's country is not the same as serving the GOP, which 'traditionally' seems to have been tbe the prevailing attitude since WWII--because they all seem only to willing to sign-up, go fight and then blame their losses not on the politicians who screw them over, but on the citizens who protest the need for them to fight and die for no good reason in the first place. And maybe THUS TIME, those who were duped and who died or were damaged will remember WHO IT ACTUALLY WAS he counted on their sense of duty and their sacrifices and profited whilst they screwed the very people they claimed to hold in such high esteem.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:31 pmFor GW Botch a timeline is a STANDARD that must be met...you know...like good grades in school before the year is out.
This bastard Botch can't handle performance goals or standards because his dysfunctional mommy and daddy raised a MORON with MORON siblings as a MATCHING SET!!!
July 7th, 2008 at 9:36 pmdixie blood
now-now dixie! At least George...ummm...that is, he ...er... oh forget it! You are right.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:42 pmWoo Hoo! Time to stand down! Iraqis are standing up!
July 7th, 2008 at 10:00 pmWon't it be nice to have an administration that isn't so friggin LAME? January 2009 can't come soon enough!
July 7th, 2008 at 10:11 pmYou know Iraq will have no say on their future. First we have to line up the oil and the 50 bases and the largest embassy on earth and then NOT reconstruct anything that works, THEN we will be there 100 years.... Oh Yeah, some democracy we created.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:11 pmIraq already accomplished Bush's goal of being re-elected in 2004. The time to leave is now--just ask 70% of Americans.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:12 pmWell, see, ya gotta know that the arabic term for time table actually describes this table, and it's round, like a clock.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:25 pmAnd you can tell time on it, cuz there's like a big hand and a small hand.
And when the big hand and the small hand are both straight up and down, then it's time for the occupation to end.
We can get started around January of next year.
Don't bother talking to the assclowns currently occupying (and sullying by their very presence) the Presidential Palac, er, em White House.
Too bad the trolls drink too much of their name.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:28 pmThe strategy is, and has been since the beginning of the campaign, to end the war and occupation.
If it takes sixteen, eighteen or twenty months to accomplish that, then it will.
Sorry about your permanent bases and dreams of empire, Ginbreath.
well looks like our intelligence will be coming out soon that Maliki is REALLY an Al-Qada secret operative that must be taken out and he to will have WMD'S so nice knowing you Maliki and goodnight to peace around the world :-p
July 7th, 2008 at 10:29 pmMaliki has a stash of yellowcake in the greenishyellow zone.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:34 pmOoops, nevermind, that was just some killer hashish...my bad...
July 7th, 2008 at 10:35 pmTanq. Obama has not changed his policy on Iraq. He said, along with Hillary and John Edwards that an exact timeline would not be possible until they see what the situation is on the ground but that the immediate goal is to end the combat action in Iraq as opposed to McShame who says we need to continue combat actions until hell freezes over. If you don't have facts, make sh!t up like other trolls. Or you can always repeat the lies of the crime family or FAUX NOIZ.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:35 pmWell that’s smart,
Me and Barry(fist-tap)we be bros.
Your punk ass would be lying in the gutter, if you tried to fist-tap Obama, sad little hipster-doofus.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:42 pmNow if McCain had dropped by to buy more rugs and Mali gave HIM a "Timetable" - he would come back praises as a War Hero and champion for winning the war in Iraq . . . . but until we escort the Israeli Planes across Iraq to Iran, all "Iraqi requests" are frozen . . .'cept signing over their oil.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:49 pmsorry tanq,
had to flag you.
racist.
off topic.
:)
good luck.
*
July 7th, 2008 at 10:54 pmtanq,
sorry dude.
i forget sometimes.
maybe if you had a brain
instead of a bucket of
potato salad you'd be
responsible for your
hershey squirts.
*
good luck.
+
July 7th, 2008 at 10:57 pmtanq,
c'mon,
don't be pouty.
+
July 7th, 2008 at 10:58 pmI sincerely hope Mr. al-Maliki isn't depending on security provided by Blackwater or the US State Department. He might want to hire a bomb squad to do his laundry too.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:02 pmThe story is not about what Obama thinks is best. The story is what the Iraqi people want. Are they sovereign or are they not? Can their government make decisions, or are they just the puppets of the US? If they tell us to get out, do we get out? That is the story!
And they are not saying "combat troops". They are saying "troops". Big difference.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:03 pmIt will be fun watching GOP turds spin this into a "win - win" for Republicans. But doesn't Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki know McCain wants to make Bush's tax cuts permanent?
July 7th, 2008 at 11:03 pmCan't wait to see how McCain/Lieberman explain this to us. Maybe Malicki needs to come to the UN and make a speech on the subject. Who's kidding who? 80%+ of the Iraqis don't want us there.
Obviously, the oil lease end game is underway. Malicki has stalled and filibustered the initiative pretty well. If he had done this a couple of years ago, he'd have had an accident and replaced by Curveball.
Now, that gambit won't work, it'd probably respark the 3-way war....and the 'slamdunk' hostile takeover of Iraqi National Oil that Cheney worked so hard for in his secret energy meetings appears to be a trillion dollar miscalculation....amazing how many people somehow thought Cheney actually was the "brains" behind this administration. Turns out the Supreme Court selected 2 Republican business flunkies.
So all's left is to watch that master rhetorician, John McCain explain how "leave" means "stay". Should be fascinating.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:07 pm...The story is not about what Obama thinks is best. The story is what the Iraqi people want!
July 7th, 2008 at 11:08 pmThis is not the first time the head of the Iraq government has asked us to leave. Last year he said he didn't care if we left or not. Now he is being more forceful. But it never was his decision to make. We are occupiers. Clear and simple.
It was never about 9/11 as Bush himself admitted. And many of the our military over there still believe it was. It is about oil. Just oil. The war has long since been won. Bush said it himself. So why haven't we declared victory and gone home? Oil. We said when Saddam is captured. He was and executed. We said when they have a constitution. They do. It is not worth much but they have it. The last poll of the Iraq people themselves show more than 80% want us gone. So why are we still there? Oil.
These people have no say over their own country. We have invited into Iraq, western oil interests. They are taking the oil and giving them nothing. We have established permanent bases to occupy. I remember when Bush claimed there would be no permanent bases. We have been asked to leave several times before last week. Bush is trying to force a deal on that country that gives oil companies the final say and the money for Iraq's oil.
We are occupiers. We are not there to help. We should have been gone when the war was won. Remember Bush saying that military operations were over. And America and it's coalition were victorious? So why are we still there? Why are our military being killed in the middle of their civil war?
OIL. Let's at least admit what America has become. An immoral, corrupt occupier of another country. All this is done in our name. And more to come.
I am so totally fed up with this criminal administration and the congress and senate that rubber stamp all the criminal behavior. Corruption truly does breed corruption. I want all of our legislators voted out. There are not more than a handful who deserve office.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:09 pm"If they were to say, leave, we would leave."
Iraq: "Leave."
July 7th, 2008 at 11:11 pmBush: (smiles, shrugs, points to ear) "What? What did you say?"
Iraq: "Leave out country! Go home!"
Bush (smiling): "Sorry, no habla Iraqi."
curious says: It was never about 9/11 as Bush himself admitted. And many of the our military over there still believe it was.
Two 1/2 years ago, a Zogby poll of our troops there said 70% thought Iraq had a part in 9/11. Still, 70% thought they should be completely out in 12 months.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:14 pmWhy does Tanqy keep forgetting the official wingnut lexicon?
It's "Terrorist Fist-Jab™", numbnuts.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:17 pmThey never fail to make the jaw drop do they?
July 7th, 2008 at 11:18 pmYeah, Maliki didn't really say what you think -- you mistranscribed it -- you know, lost in translation.
It really screws up the plans of Bush&Co when Iraq tells us to go home - really - go home.
As some of us suggested back in 2002....wouldn't it just be better to buy the Iraqi oil on the open market? I always thought Republicans were free-marketeers. Instead, this Bush/Cheney Crime team, on behalf of Exxon/Mobil/Enron/Chevron-
* wasted 4500+ American soldiers
* countless, maybe 1MM, innocent Iraqis
* created millions of casualties/refugees
* added a trillion dollars to the deficit (borrowing the money from China and SA)
* ruined our international reputation
* took the price of oil from $30.00 to $150.00 (and climbing)/barrel.
* have structurally eroded our economic health, possibly for decades.
But, hey, we did take out that toothless paper tiger, Saddam Hussein.
Mission Accomplished!
July 7th, 2008 at 11:19 pmInnocent,
July 7th, 2008 at 11:22 pmLike it. But it's more like $3 Trillion---all things considered. Book by Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes.
Why is it so hard to understand that Obama has always said he would begin troop withdrawals of one to two brigades a month, more or less, depending on conditions on theground, with the goal of getting them all out within two years.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:24 pmHe has always said he will call in the military leaders on his first day in the White House and change their mission in Iraq.
He hasn't changed his mind - it's just the rightwing media doing what it does to Democrats again.
And the beauty of this, was, if the oil companies got the contracts for 80% of the profits...they'd be obligated to pay the US nothing*. Sweet. You'd think all of those morons who make up the Republican base (who get none of the benefits) would have figured this out.
* I'm pretty sure that there are no welfare queens driving Cadillacs, though.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:25 pmCan we tell Bush to go home - really - go home now?
July 7th, 2008 at 11:26 pmCan we make it through another 200 days?
Could be.....these fiscal conservative Republicans don't sweat the small details. They've got their money out and invested in foreign markets. They been working hard for 8 years, stealing us blind while working to take down our economy.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:30 pmThe $3 Trillion War:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87801279
July 7th, 2008 at 11:34 pmPentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman hedged on whether the administration would follow the Iraqi government’s request, criticizing timelines as “artificial“:
WHITMAN: [I]t is dependent on conditions on the ground. … But timelines tend to be artificial in nature. In a situation where things are as dynamic as they are in Iraq, I would just tell you, it’s usually best to look at these things based on conditions on the ground.
Who the fu(k is Bryan Whitman? Why isn't the A team, you know the bleached blonde bimbo out in front on this important lie?
July 7th, 2008 at 11:37 pmA "transcription error" on the part of the media? Give me a break.
If anybody in the Whitehouse has been listening or paying attention they would know that what al-Maliki said today is consistent with what he has been saying for months. Iraq only wants a short term agreement and a timeline for withdrawal.
The Bush administration expectations are that they can remain a colonial power in Iraq as long as they choose. In this case that means January 20, 2009.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:50 pmBush-Cheney-Rove-McCain never plan to leave Iraq. It's the oil, stupid.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:19 amThe Iraqi people do not know what is good for them. They really need the US to occupy and destroy their country. Dubya knows what is best. Look at his record as a miserable failure. He knows what they need.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:28 amTanqueray Says:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
kasinca Says:
Tanq. Obama has not changed his policy on Iraq. He said, along with Hillary and John Edwards that an exact timeline would not be possible
Well except for that inconvienent press release in Sept. of 07.
That’s okay tho, he still be my bro(fist-tap)
Gotta like a guy who is all about change(ing).
Changing in the direction of McSame to hear you tell it but since I have followed him all along, I don't get confused with small stuff, and I do not listen to the morons on the right who have nothing in the way of facts, only distraction and bs. McSame wants endless war...Obama wants to end the illegal and immoral occupation that was wrought by the crooks and thugs of the crime family. Get over it, the GOP has failed miserably. There is no difference in McSame and Dubya the dunce.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:33 am" ...could care less what the Iraqi people or the Iraqi government want."
The expression is "could NOT care less" as in "he cares so little that he could not care less than he currently cares".
Back on topic: if the Iraqis want the US to leave, it will be a test of the sincerity and honesty of the GWB administration's rolling pretexts for going into Iraq in the first place.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:50 amTanq just gets a little overheated, a little low on oxygen when his hood's on too tight.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:53 amMark, I don't think this will be the one time our commander doesn't flunk a test.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:56 amAn Arty-fish-all Time-Table? Oh, please. The whole Bush regime is artificial.
July 8th, 2008 at 1:06 am“I’ve got confidence in him,” Bush said in 2007 about Maliki’s leadership. But despite its rhetoric, it seems the Bush administration could care less what the Iraqi people or the Iraqi government want.
Bush couldn't care less what anybody thinks. An odd characteristic for the leader of a democracy.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
July 8th, 2008 at 1:18 amMaybe he meant he had confidence Maliki would do what we wanted.
July 8th, 2008 at 1:40 amNo timetable??
The US government is run like a cracked-out McHale's Navy. What a bunch of Keystone Cops. Unbelievable!
chimpy believes one day the Iraqis will look around and notice there isn't any US soldiers in Iraq. Poof! ars and timetables fit like a hand in a glove.
But we know you (sir chimp) you want to steal Iraqis' land and suck the hell out of their oil. Right? In a hundred years will Iraqi oil and land will be worthless? Who says we must have an "embassy" in Iraq?
Ok chimpy here is want you do:
1. Get the hell out of Iraqi like Maliki told you over and over again.
2. Set a timetable (12/31/09, people could start moving way before that date) SHHHHHHhhhhh, it's a secret.
3. Make plans to reduce your "special personal force, blackwater.
4.Don't send our injured soldiers back into hell. There are several secret missions that can occurred to reduce the troop numbers.
5. Stop bombing Iraqi citizens and their infrastructure.
6. The US will be on humanity mission, this way the repugs can get their flowers and candy.
7. Do the opposite of "Shock and Awe" commander-and-chimp
8. The Iraqi people, US citizens and the people of the world should be told chimpy that chimpy invaded, occupied and killed all for oil. That should get a laugh or two.
Get the hell out of Iraq
July 8th, 2008 at 1:57 amThis dialogue escapes me. What the hell am I missing?
July 8th, 2008 at 2:26 am.
Witness the Republicum, George Worst Bush, FIX the FACTS around the POLICY.
.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:42 amOff topic
...or...
Open thread?
What Every American Needs to Know (and Do) About FISA Before Tuesday, July 8th
3. ALERT YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY!
.
July 8th, 2008 at 3:03 amKnucklehead Bush responds:
Look Mr. al-Maliki, if you let us stay as long as we want and do whatever we please, then . . we'll let you keep some of your own money !
July 8th, 2008 at 3:04 amBush is standing there with his fingers in his years yelling at al Maliki "I cant hear you. Until you agree with me, I cant hear you"
July 8th, 2008 at 3:47 amThe Iraqi Government didn't invite the US to be there. The US is there because it invaded Iraq.
Now, the Iraqi Government wants the US to leave. It's not for the US to say what the right conditions on the ground are for it to leave. The Iraqis should know better and they're saying that it's time for the US to make a withdrawal timetable. After all, it's they who will bear the consequences of a US withdrawal.
July 8th, 2008 at 5:15 amIt's good to see that the U.S. government still has no integrity, no resolve, no courage of conviction, no vision, no backbone, no sense of urgency, no guts, etc.
July 8th, 2008 at 6:26 amMugsy Says:
“If they were to say, leave, we would leave.”
Iraq: “Leave.”
Bush: (smiles, shrugs, points to ear) “What? What did you say?”
Iraq: “Leave out country! Go home!”
Bush (smiling): “Sorry, no habla Iraqi.“
Reminds you of the EPA report doesn't it?
July 8th, 2008 at 6:28 amSounds like a familiar scenario about 230 years ago on our soil.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:13 amWhen the Iraqi's are done with their civil war, they will focus their aggression against U.S. forces with the unity and resolve of guerillas, much like we did to another king George from an earlier time period.
Hey George! we want you to leave and we are having an Iraqi tea party in your honor (should be a neck tie party).
jabberjaw Says:
Several of you have requested that other posters point out photos that may appear to be digitally altered. I’m no expert at this, but the photo above appears to have been digitally altered. First cropped, darkedned a tad, and the red and white stripes of the American flag appear to have been made brown. See another picture from the same scene.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:59 am
"Cropped" isn't "altered," you dingbat. Unless you're expecting TP to post uncropped, unresized, 600 dpi print-quality photos on their site, they will have to be cropped and resized to fit on the page. That's not "alteration," however.
And I see no evidence of color-correction. The skin tones on the Maliki and Bush characters looks consistent. The photo in this story just looks like it was taken at a slightly different point in time or from a different angle than the one you linked.
Nice try, though!
July 8th, 2008 at 8:23 am“Victory means exit strategy, and it’s important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is.”
“I think it’s also important for the president to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn.”
"American foreign policy must be more than the management of crisis. It must have a great and guiding goal: to turn this time of American influence into generations of democratic peace."
King George Bushit 1999
the moral of this story:
July 8th, 2008 at 8:39 amDon't ever believe a Republiscum GOPig. Especially when campaigning for the Presidency, my friends!
What do digitally altered pics have to do with the fact that the US in all of its arrogance is basically refusing to leave Iraq at the request of the Iraqi government?
July 8th, 2008 at 8:40 amWhen we are asked to leave and don't, what else could it be called other than an occupation?
July 8th, 2008 at 8:40 amHasn't al-Maliki heard? The US has already a timetable for withdrawal. President Obama has said that he will pull out one or two brigades a month over the next 2 years. Does he still believe McBush will win?
July 8th, 2008 at 8:52 amjabberjaw, you inbred hick, the photo above is cropped you stupid pile of feces.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:44 am*flagged* off-topic and trolling
July 8th, 2008 at 9:45 amI just wish jabberjaw would come out and state clearly that it has a policy against raping children with terrorists.
Faux was wrong for what it did.
jabberjaw? — perhaps we’ll never know.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:47 amWhen you are illegally occupying a country that has never posed a threat, you do not have the luxury of dictating the terms of your withdrawal.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:55 amReality bites his a__ again and he still doesn't get it.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:12 amBush/Cheney have a withdrawal plan, too. It's based on how quick we can withdraw Iraq's oil from their ground. May take 100 years. After that, we'll leave.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:28 pmPaying attention to what Maliki says would be a new untried experience for Bush/Cheney. I would remind the readers that Bush once flew into Baghdad without any advance warning and had the president fetched into his own office for a short discussion. This indicates the level of respect this administration has for the Iraqi government. I am sure that if Putin did the same thing Bush would not object to being fetched in the same manner by a foreign leader who showed up at the White House without an invitation.
Arrogance and ignorance are the hallmarks of this administration. (I am sure that Cheney will now invite Maliki to go yachting in the Arabian sea with him and to try his hand at skeet shooting.)
July 8th, 2008 at 12:43 pmWell, I think it's serious conclusion jumping to think that Bush "could care less" what the Iraqi government wants. Just because Maliki says in a press conference that he wants a specific timetable doesn't mean that we should just automatically agree to something when we haven't even discussed it with them.
But then again, for some, knee jerk loathing and contempt is par for the course.
In fact, we're not going to leave before the next president takes office, so let him address that issue.
Meanwhile, let's stop all this hyperventilating about the evil Bush and spend a moment or two, you know, to understand what was actually said. See:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/08/us.iraq/
The Iraqi government is saying that it's "possible" we could be out by 2011 or 2012. Well, according to my calendar that would be 36 months or so from the time a new administration -- say an Obama administration -- takes office, not the truly artificial "16 months" BO was touting so he could win the primary votes of the far left wing of the party.
Anyway, like two partners should, Iraq and the USA will sit down and talk and negotiate a good agreement with all the wiggle room a 2012 "dealine" gives us.
But if they want us out, we should go. And why not? Saddam and his cutthroat sons are moldering in the ground and no longer are political enemies fed feet first into woodchippers; 500 tons of yellowcake uranium that Saddam WOULD have use to re-start a nuclear weapons program is now in Canada; the Mahdi Militia has had its a$$ kicked; and al Qaeda in Iraq has suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands our our military.
In fact, leaving because the elected Democratic pluralistic federalist Iraqi government asks us to leave can be seen as one aspect of victory. It is certainly not turning tail and ensuring defeat, which is what we would have done had we listened to Obama, Harry Milquetoast Reid, and all the other pessimistic defeatists who claimed that we were in the midst of some unending horrific civil war and that not only was losing inevitable, but that we had already lost.
Then again, it's the erroneous predictions of Bill Kristol that get everyone on here so hot and bothered.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:27 am