Green Energy
What do you know?
From the BBC and Hot Air:
Barack Obama based his editorial on Iraq in large part on the assertion by Nouri al-Maliki wants timetables for American withdrawal. Unfortunately, as the BBC notes, Maliki didn’t actually say that — although the fault really does not lie with Obama. In fact, the Maliki government doesn’t want date-certain withdrawal dates, and may not want a withdrawal at all:
The prime minister was widely quoted as saying that in the negotiations with the Americans on a Status of Forces Agreement to regulate the US troop presence from next year, “the direction is towards either a memorandum of understanding on their evacuation, or a memorandum of understanding on a timetable for their withdrawal”.
That was the version of Mr Maliki’s remarks put out in writing by his office in Baghdad.
It was widely circulated by the news media, and caught much attention, including that of Mr Obama.
There is only one problem. It is not what Mr Maliki actually said. … What he actually said was: “The direction is towards either a memorandum of understanding on their evacuation, or a memorandum of understanding on programming their presence.”
Maliki’s own office misquoted him, and the press picked it up and broadcast it around the world. However, the Iraqi government has tried to clarify it for at least a day now. Their national-security adviser, Muwaffaq al-Rubaie, emphasized that the Iraqi government wants broad, general “timeline horizons” — and that the withdrawal of American combat troops should be contingent on the readiness of Iraqi Army units that would take their place.
Hmmm … now where have we heard that before? Oh, that’s right — from John McCain.
The BBC concludes its report:
Iraqi leaders will no doubt continue to make ambiguous statements. And US presidential contenders will no doubt continue to construe them to their own advantage. But when Mr Obama visits Baghdad, as he is expected to later this month, he is unlikely to find that the Iraqi government is quite as set on demanding deadlines for US withdrawal as he would like to think.
- "we Care For Our People And Our Constitution And Can Find Friends Elsewhere"
Whatever you say, moron. DO IT. PLEEEEEEEEZE ! DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Iraq's prime minister lashed out at American criticism, saying Wednesday that no one has a right to put timetables on his elected government. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki blamed...
- Maliki To Mahdi Army: Disarm Or Face American Onslaught
One of the contingencies involved in the Bush Aministrations decision to commit more troops to Iraq was that Iranian Prime Minister Maliki must lay down the gauntlet on the Mahdi army. I'm not too sure if this is what we were hoping for or not: BAGHDAD...
- Al-sadr Tells Maliki: "don't Meet Bush" - Meeting Is Cancelled
And, I think the White House is spinning it now. You be the judge. This morning the report came out that al-Sadr had threatened to pull his members out of Maliki's Parliamentary coalition (via Washington Post): AMMAN (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister...
- If We Are Not Capitulating The Only Positive Purpose Is To Hang The Inevitable Failure On Them
Panel to Weigh Overture by U.S. to Iran and Syria NYT: WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 — A draft report on strategies for Iraq, which will be debated here by a bipartisan commission beginning Monday, urges an aggressive regional diplomatic initiative that includes...
- So You Think The Increased Usa Presence In Baghdad Is To Decrease Violence? Not According To The Dia
DIA warns of Iran-backed coup in Iraq WASHINGTON — The Bush administration has increased U.S. troop levels in Baghdad to help protect the new government of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki. U.S. officials said the addition of at least 12,000 U.S. troops...
Green Energy
Maliki's Remarks On Iraq Withdrawal Were MISREPORTED
What do you know?
From the BBC and Hot Air:
Barack Obama based his editorial on Iraq in large part on the assertion by Nouri al-Maliki wants timetables for American withdrawal. Unfortunately, as the BBC notes, Maliki didn’t actually say that — although the fault really does not lie with Obama. In fact, the Maliki government doesn’t want date-certain withdrawal dates, and may not want a withdrawal at all:
The prime minister was widely quoted as saying that in the negotiations with the Americans on a Status of Forces Agreement to regulate the US troop presence from next year, “the direction is towards either a memorandum of understanding on their evacuation, or a memorandum of understanding on a timetable for their withdrawal”.
That was the version of Mr Maliki’s remarks put out in writing by his office in Baghdad.
It was widely circulated by the news media, and caught much attention, including that of Mr Obama.
There is only one problem. It is not what Mr Maliki actually said. … What he actually said was: “The direction is towards either a memorandum of understanding on their evacuation, or a memorandum of understanding on programming their presence.”
Maliki’s own office misquoted him, and the press picked it up and broadcast it around the world. However, the Iraqi government has tried to clarify it for at least a day now. Their national-security adviser, Muwaffaq al-Rubaie, emphasized that the Iraqi government wants broad, general “timeline horizons” — and that the withdrawal of American combat troops should be contingent on the readiness of Iraqi Army units that would take their place.
Hmmm … now where have we heard that before? Oh, that’s right — from John McCain.
The BBC concludes its report:
Iraqi leaders will no doubt continue to make ambiguous statements. And US presidential contenders will no doubt continue to construe them to their own advantage. But when Mr Obama visits Baghdad, as he is expected to later this month, he is unlikely to find that the Iraqi government is quite as set on demanding deadlines for US withdrawal as he would like to think.
- "we Care For Our People And Our Constitution And Can Find Friends Elsewhere"
Whatever you say, moron. DO IT. PLEEEEEEEEZE ! DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Iraq's prime minister lashed out at American criticism, saying Wednesday that no one has a right to put timetables on his elected government. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki blamed...
- Maliki To Mahdi Army: Disarm Or Face American Onslaught
One of the contingencies involved in the Bush Aministrations decision to commit more troops to Iraq was that Iranian Prime Minister Maliki must lay down the gauntlet on the Mahdi army. I'm not too sure if this is what we were hoping for or not: BAGHDAD...
- Al-sadr Tells Maliki: "don't Meet Bush" - Meeting Is Cancelled
And, I think the White House is spinning it now. You be the judge. This morning the report came out that al-Sadr had threatened to pull his members out of Maliki's Parliamentary coalition (via Washington Post): AMMAN (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister...
- If We Are Not Capitulating The Only Positive Purpose Is To Hang The Inevitable Failure On Them
Panel to Weigh Overture by U.S. to Iran and Syria NYT: WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 — A draft report on strategies for Iraq, which will be debated here by a bipartisan commission beginning Monday, urges an aggressive regional diplomatic initiative that includes...
- So You Think The Increased Usa Presence In Baghdad Is To Decrease Violence? Not According To The Dia
DIA warns of Iran-backed coup in Iraq WASHINGTON — The Bush administration has increased U.S. troop levels in Baghdad to help protect the new government of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki. U.S. officials said the addition of at least 12,000 U.S. troops...