Boot: Maliki’s Timeline Endorsement Was ‘Ambiguous,’ Iraqi Government Isn’t Asking U.S. To Leave
Boot: Maliki’s Timeline Endorsement Was ‘Ambiguous,’ Iraqi Government Isn’t Asking U.S. To Leave
When news that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had endorsed a 16-month timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq, the right wing fell over itself to claim Maliki hadn’t meant what he said. Leading the charge was neoconservative writer Max Boot, who declared Monday that Maliki “is not really trying to push U.S. troops out by mid-2010.” Rather, Boot dismissively claimed, “he is playing politics — Iraqi politics.”
Today, in a Washington Post op-ed, Boot insists that the U.S. shouldn’t listen to Maliki, because his statements were “ambiguous.” Besides, Boot claims, no one in Iraq wants the American forces to leave:
Of course, if the Iraqi government tells us to leave, we will have to leave. But, the prime minister’s ambiguous comments notwithstanding, the Iraqi government is saying no such thing, because most Iraqis realize that the gains of the surge are fragile and could be undone by a too-rapid departure of U.S. forces.
In fact, there was nothing “ambiguous” about Maliki’s statement. Though the U.S. military tried to claim Maliki had been “mistranslated,” a New York Times review of the quotation made it clear Maliki was specifically endorsing the person who “wants to exit in a quicker way.” In fact, on Monday, Iraqi government spokesman Ali Al-Dabbagh stated — in English and on camera — that the government wanted a withdrawal by 2010.
Considering Boot argues that Maliki is “playing politics,” he should recognize that the Iraqi people — along with the govenrment — also favor withdrawal, and have for years:
March 2008: Just four percent of Iraqis said they had “a great deal of confidence” in U.S. occupation forces, compared to 46 percent who said they had no confidence at all. 72 percent strongly or somewhat oppose the presence of Coalition forces in Iraq.
September 2007: Nearly three-quarters of Baghdad residents polled said they would feel safer if U.S. and other foreign forces left Iraq, with 65 percent of those asked favoring an immediate pullout, according to State Department polling. 71 percent wanted the Iraqi government to ask the U.S. to leave within a year.
January 2006: “Asked what they would like the newly elected Iraqi government to ask the US-led forces to do, 70% of Iraqis favor setting a timeline for the withdrawal of US forces.”
Boot’s insistence that neither the Iraqi government nor the Iraqi people really want the U.S. to leave is another example of conservatives claiming to know more about what Iraqis want than Iraqis do. The Corner’s John Derbyshire seemed to sum up this perspective when he wrote yesterday that the U.S. should think about Iraq “with regard only to U.S. interests,” and that if Maliki “doesn’t like that, he can go to hell.”
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"...because most Iraqis realize that the gains of the surge are fragile and could be undone by a too-rapid departure of U.S. forces."
Exactly how does this dude know what most Iraqis think?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:08 pmMax Boot: Who you gonna believe - me, or those stupid brown people???
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:10 pmIt is NOT our country! We should come home ASAP. I know it will take some time, but frankly, I do not blame the Iraqis one bit for wanting an occupying force out of their homeland.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:10 pmHow would we feel if the positions were reversed?
Dear Max, the Iraqis are giving us "the boot." It's real simple, even a right-wing neo-con Republican can figure it out... Stop playing Republican...
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:11 pmWhat democracy? Ours? not so much for the last seven plus years. Theirs? Just a sham. When they stand up, we'll just ignore the shit out of that while we get our oil contracts...
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:12 pmEven McCain has admitted that most Iraqis want us out. Regarding Maliki, a McCain campaign official stated, "His domestic politics require him to be for us getting out." In other words, the majority of Iraqi voters want us out.
There is nothing "ambiguous" about this. The Iraqi National Security Adviser has asked for specific dates.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:12 pmMax personally interviewed 3,475 Iraqis, so he kno...What? He didn't? Oh.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:13 pmI'm not sure, but I think it's a process similar to the one which allows David Brooks to know for sure that what the American people think just happens to align very closely with what David Brooks thinks.
It's mysterious. No sense trying to explain it.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:14 pmThe Corner’s John Derbyshire seemed to sum up this perspective when he wrote yesterday that the U.S. should think about Iraq “with regard only to U.S. interests,” and that if Maliki “doesn’t like that, he can go to hell.”
'Cause John's already gotten complimentary tickets to Six Flags Over Baghdad, and he's promised the kids, and everything.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:14 pmDon't they have a more recent picture of Boot than his 1930's college yearbook photo?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:16 pmBoot flavored Kool-aid
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:20 pmvinylspear Says:
Boot flavored Kool-aid
I just got done eating quail eye noodle soup at the local noodle shop here - and that statement still managed to disgust me. congrats :)
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:22 pmCaption:
"Sieg Heil" !!
¶ AIO
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pmWhat is ambiguous about this?
"WASHINGTON, June 4 (Reuters) - A majority of the Iraqi parliament has written to Congress rejecting a long-term security deal with Washington if it is not linked to a requirement that U.S. forces leave, a U.S. lawmaker said on Wednesday."
This is from May 2007:
"BAGHDAD, May 10 -- A majority of members of Iraq's parliament have signed a draft bill that would require a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. soldiers from Iraq and freeze current troop levels. The development was a sign of a growing division between Iraq's legislators and prime minister that mirrors the widening gulf between the Bush administration and its critics in Congress.
The draft bill proposes a timeline for a gradual departure, much like what some U.S. Democratic lawmakers have demanded, and would require the Iraqi government to secure parliament's approval before any further extensions of the U.N. mandate for foreign troops in Iraq, which expires at the end of 2007."
They have been wanting us to leave for some time now.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:24 pmI think I'll go break into Boot's house, take whatever I want, trash the place and pop in a movie on the plasma and relax... and then insist to the police that he didn't want me to leave.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:25 pmWhat is the basis for all these Americans who claim to know whats best for Iraqis and, less understandably, what Iraqis want? Most of those people that I've seen or heard talking about what Iraqis want haven't even been to the place. Alot of those same people have been proven not to know what Americans want, so why would anyone give any credibility to what they say about Iraq?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:27 pmScaryBrownHusseinChick (ThinkOutsideTheBush) Says:
I think I’ll go break into Boot’s house, take whatever I want, trash the place and pop in a movie on the plasma and relax… and then insist to the police that he didn’t want me to leave.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
______
A quite ironic scenario, considering the number of squatters who are currently doing just this in the homes of refugees and IDPs in the ethnically-cleansed neighborhoods of Iraq's cities.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:31 pmHey everybody. Check out what Tracy just said in another thread in response to my criticism of John McCain's plan to continue the Iraq War for 100, 10,000, or 1,000,000 years!
Tracy5 Says:
Obama has that SAME plan!
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:31 pmBoot is one of the worst of the neocons up there with Lieberman, Cheney, and Bolton. He is never to be trusted or believed, period.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:31 pmSorry there Maxwell (not particularly Smart) Boot --
You missed it by that much.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:32 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don’t they have a more recent picture of Boot than his 1930’s college yearbook photo?
No. He's been hiding out in Argentina since 1945.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:35 pmMax Boot, your name is sorta..you know...village people like...and there was no miss understanding about what Maliki said, it's just not what you NeoCon-artists wanted to hear...they don't want us there, we should not have ever been there, we should leave very soon so they can get on with their totally messed up lives that we fixed for them.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:35 pmChris L says:
What is ambiguous about this?
“WASHINGTON, June 4 (Reuters) - A majority of the Iraqi parliament has written to Congress rejecting a long-term security deal with Washington if it is not linked to a requirement that U.S. forces leave, a U.S. lawmaker said on Wednesday.”
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
_______
Awww, how cute - they wrote to Congress. Those Iraqis still think that our legislative branch has power over the unitary executive. Isn't that adorable?
I mean, I know we were bringing them democracy and all, but I didn't expect them to actually believe it!
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:39 pmAnother NeoCon spewing about how he knows better what the Iraqi people want and what is good for them. Who'da thunk?
And, of course, we need to spread the American form of government around the world, no matter the cost. I guess being born in Russia can have that effect on you, huh?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:41 pmI find it rather funny that all of these conservatives seem to know what the majority of Iraqi Citizens what when they can't be concerned to know what the majority of American Citizens want.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:41 pmYikes. Wasn't he Chief of Staff to Hitler?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:45 pmThe Corner’s John Derbyshire seemed to sum up this perspective when he wrote yesterday that the U.S. should think about Iraq “with regard only to U.S. interests,” and that if Maliki “doesn’t like that, he can go to hell.”
And just how is this plan different from Bush's policy of the past 5 years?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:48 pmI believe the easiest argument is 'put yourself in their shoes' because no American would want an occupying force in their 'backyard'. However, this idea seems to be the most difficult for the 'cons' to grasp. This is also where they'll argue most strongly that they know best what's best for Iraq.
What ever happened to the Golden Rule?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:51 pmif Maliki “doesn’t like that, he can go to hell.”
_______
Might be a very tempting offer. I wonder if hell has running water and more than six hours of electricity per day...
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:52 pmCaption Contest: "Max Boot, Nazi Youth Training Camp #1, 1938 prom."
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:53 pmRather, Boot dismissively claimed, “he is playing politics — Iraqi politics.”
He's "playing politics" after 1 million Iraqis have already perished from this disaster , which you were a part of , Max D0uche ?
Nice to see your dismissive nature too , Mr Compassionate Conservative................What is with these effeminate losers ............
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:53 pmshoeless Says:
The Corner’s John Derbyshire seemed to sum up this perspective when he wrote yesterday that the U.S. should think about Iraq “with regard only to U.S. interests,” and that if Maliki “doesn’t like that, he can go to hell.”
And just how is this plan different from Bush’s policy of the past 5 years?
They were told to 'go fck themselves' instead.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:54 pmWho is it exactly that wants US to stay in Iraq?
Certainly not We the People... or the Iraqi people.
Iraqis want US out as soon as possible: US commander
Oh I forgot... it is Big Oil, investors and those PNACers.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:55 pmThat's because they don't DO "empathy".
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:57 pmhMMM. Does Max Lick Himself?
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:57 pmBob Says:
What ever happened to the Golden Rule?
Republicans prefer to give the Iraqis a Golden Shower. You know, "Trickle Down" foreign policy.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:57 pmWhy does every publicity photo of these losers look as though they're auditioning for a gay porno role ?
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:00 pmI disagree. Jonah "Doughy Pantload" Goldberg clearly doesn't fit that mold.
(I think he's going for the next Judd Apatow movie.)
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:07 pm.
Maxwell Boot(licker) said what...?
Was his tongue stained black?
.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:22 pmI believe that the al-Maliki government would consider Mr. Boot a liar.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/07/23/confirmed-malikis-timetable-endorsement-not-lost-in-translation/
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:38 pmInteresting. So, if you believe Boot's assessment that the Iraqi government (I assume he is referring to Parliament) and the majority of Iraqi people realize the danger of us leaving and want us to stay, then what political advantage is to be gained by Maliki wanting a timeline? Who is he gaining favor with? Am I missing something?
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:46 pmThe Corner’s John Derbyshire seemed to sum up this perspective when he wrote yesterday that the U.S. should think about Iraq “with regard only to U.S. interests,” and that if Maliki “doesn’t like that he can go to hell"
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:17 pmNothing new there . It's been the US attitude since the beginning if they don't like it they can go to hell We'll just give you some good old USA shock and awe
This is simply another version of the trite, "who you gonna believe, me, or your lyin' eyes?"
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:27 pmThey are tripping over themselves in lame attempts to say that the Iraqis did not say what they said.
The Iraqis realize that we went there to depose Saddam not because he was a dictator, but because we wanted their oil.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:31 pmAmericans seem to think that people from other cultures are not as smart as we are -- as if different clothes, religions, foods etc. indicate lesser intelligence on their part, and easiily exploited by us for our interests.
Mad Max Boot is an example.
Confirmed: Maliki’s Timetable Endorsement NOT Lost In Translation
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:43 pmMarie:
I might add that the people of Iraq have maintained their cultural identity since before the invention of writing. They were living in large cities, full of artisans, and engaging in international trade while our European ancestors were were living in huts/shacks/caves and wearing animal skins.
To them?
We are the primitive barbarians and destroying their country merely confirmed this. Barring nuclear war, I am quite sure they will still be living in 5,000 year old cities when we are just a memory.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:45 pmYOu're absolutely right, pete.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:48 pmTheirs was the first civilization, but American arrogance is often equated with patriotism and justified by Americans in that way.
Americans often cannot step back and view themselves as others would view us.
Marie Says:
Americans often cannot step back and view themselves as others would view us.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:48 pm
And we have a nasty habit of trashing anything outside our narrow understanding. I think it was Churchill who said: "Americans are wonderful, but, they have no sense of perspective".
The world sure needs another Churchill.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:15 pmI got just one word for this: Buiishit. This guy must be trying to replace Baghdad Bob as the chief liar for the Republican party. Come on man, the sun isn't green, and the skies aren't yellow. The bull you are trying to peddle just won't sell.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:55 pmWhen the LA Time hired this ass hat and Jonah Goldberg, I cancelled my subscription and have never bought another copy. He is a brown nosed neo-conservative chickenhawk warmonger who has never worn a uniform but loves war. He can go straight to hell.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:04 pmNeo conservatism failed. That is not controversial. How? It created a deception, following in Leo Strauss' footsteps, that became obvious even before the lethal preemption and occupation. There were no WMD and no connection between Saddam and bin Laden. The PNAC was a totalitarian contrivance that attempted to legitimize murder, sort of like a formal rationalization by Hitler before he invaded Poland.
Supporting a criminal ideological enterprise is not a good career move and is very poor for enhancing credibility.
Nope, Max wasn't quite vulgar enough to make it into my picture along with his comrades, even though I read most of his L.A.Times commentary.
http://www.light-to-dark.com/pox_americana.html
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:25 pmBoot is a lot like Kristol. Not only is he wrong about everything, he seems to like calling attention to the fact that he is wrong about everything.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:36 pmMax Boot looks like a spoiled petulant wimp who very well might have a sivler spoon lodged up his anus.
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:27 pmMax why don`t you strap on some gear and go to Iraq and tell us what they really want......
I not having been there know that they want us the HELL out of their country and help rebuild it because you and the SHRUB and the rest of the bushco crime DESTROYED Iraq.And by the way real Americans want us the HELL out of Iraq to.....
F***ing MORON!!!!!!!!!!
July 24th, 2008 at 1:20 amForgive me. Someone should give Boot the boot. He is wrong. The words were not ambiguous. But Boot like McCain is filtering it through Republican ears. Those ears are different from real ears. It is called hearing what you want to hear. Or not wanting to hear the death knoll of an illegal and hateful war.
Perhaps if these misbegotten, ideological, morons could hear as decent human beings with a moral compass, they might hear what the people of Iraq hear. And what the families of our military hear. It is no whisper. It is a shout. GO HOME AND LEAVE US ALONE.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:05 pm