As reported today on Rachel Maddow's radio show and in the International Herald Tribune, http://www.iht.com/...
Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki declared that "There can be no treaty or agreement except on the basis of Iraq's full sovereignty," al-Maliki told a gathering of Shiite tribal sheiks. He said any agreement must be based on the principle that "no foreign soldier remains in Iraq after a specific deadline, not an open time frame."
Bush had to immediately dispute Al-Maliki's clear and definitive timetable for full withdrawal, leaving the Bush administration sputtering and bewildered. The real question that needs to be asked of McCain is, will you demand that American troops stay in Iraq against the wishes of the Iraqi government? Intl Herald Trib
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The first time al-Maliki said that he agreed with Barack Obama on a timetable for withdrawal, Bush and his apologists were all over the MSM with claims that he was mis-interpreted. John McCain had the presumptuous audacity to claim that he knows al-Maliki and that al-Maliki did not really say what he said and if he said it, basically he didn't mean it. McCain got away with this BS because he was never called on it. How is McBush going to dispute this:
Al-Maliki said the U.S. and Iraq had already agreed on a full withdrawal of all foreign troops by the end of 2011 — an interpretation that the White House challenged. Until then, the U.S. could not conduct military operations "without the approval" of the Iraqi government, al-Maliki said.
While current spokesliar Tony Frotto insists that there is no agreement unless we tell the Iraqi's what we want, how is McCain going to spin al-Maliki's clear position that all foreign troops must be out by 2011; no immunity for our troops; and that troops means all supporting personnel. This is as clear a renunciation of McCain and Bush's policy as any domestic critic. What will McCain say about the Iraqi's position now? Will McBush say that we will be in Iraq as long as we want even though they have said they would honor Iraq's sovereignty? Will they say that we are now in Iraq to grab their oil?
This should be included in any new foreign policy ads that the show McBush out of touch on Iraq, Afghanistan and Georgia.
How do you think McCain will spin, lie and contort his way out of the clear and unequivocal position of the sovereign Iraqi government?
Peace