Iraq's Al-Maliki supports Obama's position on US troop withdrawal

Last night, CNN aired an exclusive interview with Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Maliki.  Most of the publicity generated by this interview has centered on Al-Maliki's get-tough pronouncements toward the Al-Sadr Mehdi Militia, with some mention also of his opposition to the State Department's renewal of Blackwater's contract.  

While these are both important issues in themselves, another aspect of Al-Maliki's CNN interview has gone unnoticed and unreported in any headlines that I can find.  Quite simply, Maliki directly asserted that he is perfectly fine with Barack Obama's call to quickly draw down U.S. troops in Iraq, flatly contradicting the doomsday scenarios put forth by McCain, Bush, and the Republicans.  

I've transcribed the relevant segment of the interview on Page 2, below:

CNN's Nic Robertson:

Presidential candidate Barack Obama has indicated if he becomes President, he might draw down U.S. troops here very quickly.  Do you have concerns about that?

Prime Minister Al-Maliki:

No. I'm not concerned at all. I believe our troops are very strong, and God willing, this year we will have the rest of our capability: power with the arrival of new weaponry, from FMS, from military purchases or direct imports, and the purchases of our troops. I am not at all concerned, and this is a decision of the next American President.  He assesses the interests of America and the forces on Iraqi soil.

As General Petraeus prepares to tell Congress how horrendous it would be to Iraqi security and the lives of Iraqi citizens for U.S. troops to pull back now, even to continue to draw down the "Surge", it is enlightening to learn how the very Iraqi leader that Bush and his apologists so firmly support actually feels about the same issue.  No need to listen to, you know, the Government of the country we are supposedly "helping", when it comes to deciding how much "help" they need?

•  This view should be widely publicized

  It is the proper response to every pro-Surge, anti-withdrawal argument that the Republicans will make, and to any attack on Obama's policies on Iraq.

  by dnta on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 10:26:48 AM PDT

•  You're taking Al Maliki's word on it?

  When we leave the oil's goona hit the fan in Iraq; maybe even worse than pre-surge. Not saying we should stay, but lets not fool ourselves: We created a world of hurt over there.  How can we get out while minimizing the damage? is the question. Anyone got any good answears?

  by zerzan on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 10:32:09 AM PDT

  •  UN and Arab League Peacekeepers

    for starters.  It's the U.S. troops' presence, more than anything, that fans the flames of hate.  If they are replaced by international peacekeeping troops that are not U.S. based, that will go a long way toward helping to reconcile and calm the conflict.  It is sheer arrogance to believe that our troops are the only things preventing a full-scale genocide: on the contrary, we're the main source of fuel igniting the flames.

    by dnta on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 10:40:03 AM PDT

  •  actually, I believe Obama does

    Didn't Obama say he would get the UN and NGOs and Iraq's neighbors more involved?  With a good group of people from these sectors whose interests lie with a stable Iraq, and with the Iraqis themselves working toward reconstruction, I believe it to be a good plan.

    Reparations on our part should also be part of the plan.

    I am an Edwards Democrat!

    by Scubaval on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 10:50:02 AM PDT

•  worse and worse or worse and worse, etc

  are the choices we have.  Maliki has a right to his point of view; after all he is the elected leader of Iraq, which we currently occupy, btw.

  by bigforkgirl on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 10:36:53 AM PDT

•  Maliki won't beg for the troops to stay

  in 2009.

  He'll just use more brutal methods to consolidate his control against his political opponents. But it may backfire and he'll be forced into making tough political compromises and reconciliations.

  by duha on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 10:42:00 AM PDT

  •  maliki lacks a solid military

    ..to exercise much in the way of control after our forces withdraw.  

    I picture Maliki waiting for a helicopter ride out of the country the day we declare victory and withdraw.

    by Quicksilver2723 on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 12:44:58 PM PDT

•  I wouldn't give Maliki to much credit

  he says a lot of things.

  by hfiend on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 11:00:41 AM PDT

  •  That's not the point

    It doesn't really matter if he's even truthful or worth listening to.  The fact is that he is the US-supported head of Iraq's Government, and he's now on record as saying he has no concerns about Obama drawing down U.S. troops.  That leaves no room for McCain or anyone else to shoot down Obama's position on this issue.

    by dnta on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 11:08:34 AM PDT

    •  but what happens

      when he goes on the record saying something opposite?

      by hfiend on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 11:45:05 AM PDT

•  Of course Malaki doesn't care if we leave

  He'll just call in his buddies from Iran to support him.

  by Mickey Thunder on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 12:36:42 PM PDT