Once again, the Iraqi government backs the Obama timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops (no sidebars with crowbar wielding Bush adminstration officials this time...)
Barack Obama's campaign for the US presidency received another boost today when the Iraqi government welcomed him to Baghdad by again appearing to back his timetable for withdrawing troops from the country. The Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh expressed hopes that combat forces could leave by 2010 – in line with Obama's pledge to withdraw troops within 16 months of the US election. "We are hoping that in 2010 that combat troops will withdraw from Iraq," Dabbagh told reporters, noting that any withdrawal plan was subject to change if the level of violence rises again. The statement comes after talks between Obama and the prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, and a weekend when the Iraqi government unconvincingly tried to clarify its position on troop withdrawals.
Which brings us to a lovely British turn of phrase: the scupper.
Oh, and guess who emailed the original Maliki backs timetables story around to the press? Yep. The Bush B-Team.
| Labels: Barack Obama, Iraq, John McCain, Nouri al-Maliki, presidential candidates, timetable for withdrawal |
