RUSH: On Summer Trip to Iraq, Obama Tried to Delay US Troop Pullout
Posted on 09/15/2008 2:27:43 PM PDT by Plutarch
The New York Post is no friend of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Any knock of Obama by its editorial writers and op-ed columnists should be taken with the whole bag of salt. That´s likely the case with this stunning allegation that´s making its way around the internet courtesy of Post Columnist Amir Taheri. He alleges that in a private talk with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari during his visit to Iraq in July, Obama allegedly tried to talk Zebari and other Iraqi leaders into stalling the phased withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.
The alleged reason for the Obama request for a foot drag on troop withdrawal says Taheri was to give him an election boost. The Post´s Taheri allegedly says that Zebari says Obama put it this way, "He asked why we were not prepared to delay an agreement until after the U.S. elections and the formation of a new administration in Washington." If true, this would be politically duplicitous and cynical election tact. It would be a huge body blow to Obama in light of his oft repeated mantra that he wants the troops out of Iraq as quickly as militarily possible.
Obama has at times shaded the mantra and said that he´d rely on the commanders on the ground to determine the pace of the withdrawal. But even that wouldn´t make the charge any less damaging to his credibility on Iraq—again if the charge is true.
The Iranian-born Taheri who reports the alleged "private" conversation between Obama and Zebari has been roundly and repeatedly slammed as a rabid, political ax grinding neo-con shill. He may well be that and more. Still, the charge is out there, so Team Obama please say that it´s nonsense.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His new book is How the GOP Can Keep the White House, How the Democrats Can Take it Back (Middle Passage Press, August 2008).
>“We have no interest in permanent bases in Iraq,” Mr. Obama said.
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Is not Iraq the “strategic high ground” of the Middle East?
Yes, and I believe it did happen since it is just like Obama to have done it to make himself the hero in bringing home the troops as President (God Forbid!).
Time for the reporter to show the proof with video/audio or with new statements from the parties involved as to the validity of the claims. Since the Obama campaign has denied it so quickly, it makes me think the claims must be true!
“Under that line of reasoning, Bill Clinton never got a Lewinsky.”
Stained dress was as good as tape.
June 16, 2008
He said he told Zebari that negotiations for a Status of Forces agreement or strategic framework agreement between the two countries should be done in the open and with Congress’s authorization and that it was important that that there be strong bipartisan support for any agreement so that it can be sustained through a future administration. He argued it would make sense to hold off on such negotiations until the next administration.
“My concern is that the Bush administration—in a weakened state politically—ends up trying to rush an agreement that in some ways might be binding to the next administration, whether it was my administration or Sen. McCain’s administration,” Obama said. “The foreign minister agreed that the next administration should not be bound by an agreement that’s currently made.”
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/16/1146329.aspx
...this oughta eat up three more news cycles...real or contrived.
This afternoon, after being away from all media most of the day, I find out the story does indeed have legs and that the Obama campaign has already commented on it.
You're correct, if this was a nothing story, Obama would just ignore it, yet to make a statements this quickly, IMO, gives this report more credibility.
Excuse me?? Where does this manque President get off putting forth American policy before the November election?? His arrogance is only superseded by his immaturity. I hope the whole thing blows up in his face. Like now.
I’ll never be accused of stating Obama wants what is best for the US and our interests abroad.
Remember Obama’s NAFTA flap with the Canadian government during the primaries?
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