Comments on: Maliki: Timetable; Bush: Time Horizon

By: The RNC Foreign Strategy Backfire « In One Ear… Out the Other

The RNC Foreign Strategy Backfire « In One Ear… Out the Other — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:34:14 +0000

[...] Met with Maliki and Talibani - Also could of been done during either’s periodic visits to the states or via a conference call. Biggest accomplishment here was Maliki’s as he was given leverage to push for a timetable in the occupation negotiations with the Bush administration (I’m sorry, time horizon. toe-may-toe, toe-mah-toe). [...]

By: kritter

kritter — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:52:18 +0000

Its true that Maliki is not representative of the Iraqi people. The fact that he is supporting a timetable for withdrawel probably indicates that he is trying to show his independence from the US occupation, which is still unpopular with most Iraqis.

Bush pressured Maliki not to endorse Obama’s plan, because it embarrasses him in front of the rest of the world. Most are not aware that Maliki’s is a puppet government, but that actually makes it more of an embarrassment to the administration.

By: Selin

Selin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:45:16 +0000

Utsu, I think the problem here is your assumption that Maliki IS the president of all Iraqi people but he is NOT. In fact, he exerts very little influence on Iraq and what goes on the ground there.

Maliki does not, in any way or form, answer to the Iraqi people. He is a puppet leader that’s been put at the head of a nation that’s still not a nation. He is a Shiite, and we know there are at least 3 other ethnic groups there who don’t give a damn as to what a Shiite leader has to say.

That’s also why Maliki’s agreement or disagreement with Obama means NOTHING. Nada. Not a damn thing. Only a consensus from various groups on the ground will mean something that’s actually meaningful.

By: utsu

utsu — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:57:55 +0000

"OK I’ll bite utsu. So what does your idealized war look like?"

It follows international agreements and allows the people control of their own utilities and infrastructure, with no sly privatization and contractors. Oh, and the war is justified in the first place.

"Before in 2007 and beginning of 2008 he was saying 16 month withdrawals"

He is saying that now as well.

"now he’s saying that they would leave "teams of counter-terrorist units" sounds like he’s saying the Army will stay."

Are these teams a regular army in any way. Teams are specialized and operate differently. Changing your mind is good in some ways - rather than changing the time for withdrawal he is letting some elements stay to deal with the most probable problem of Iraqi society after withdrawal.

"Face it, Barack Obama is a flip-flopper."

"Before he was saying that the Surge in Iraq was a failure and would never work, and now he’s saying "[The Surge has indeed worked thanks to our troops]""

Point.

Face it, McCain is a worse flip-flopper and much more to boot.

By: Jonathan Wilson

Jonathan Wilson — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:53:20 +0000

Even McCain is flip-flo - I mean straight-talking his way closer to talking about timeframes without leaving such a discussion for later.

I think you’re having delusions.

Maliki knows what the Iraqis want from their leader

Wrong, Maliki knows what the Shiites in Iraq want, he is a Shiite after all. And usually they want America out.

Anyway, I truly love how people now will have difficulty saying that Obama is naive or inexperinced without coloring flip-flopping W with the same words

No they won’t. Look how easy it is:
Barack Obama is inexperienced and he’s naive!
Barack Obama thinks flip-flopping on Iraq is going to work on the American public. Before in 2007 and beginning of 2008 he was saying 16 month withdrawals and that American troops should get out immediately, now he’s saying that they would leave "teams of counter-terrorist units" sounds like he’s saying the Army will stay.

Before he was saying that the Surge in Iraq was a failure and would never work, and now he’s saying "[The Surge has indeed worked thanks to our troops]"

Face it, Barack Obama is a flip-flopper.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:36:07 +0000

"my desire is to see the war cleansed of contractors, mercenaries and neo-liberal fantasies about privatization and cheap oil."

OK I’ll bite utsu. So what does your idealized war look like?

By: utsu

utsu — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:14:51 +0000

"Maliki’s response is due to political survivability"

Well, he answers to the Iraqi people.

By: Interested

Interested — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:38:25 +0000

Once that has happened I’m more concerned about other things. I’m just saying that Maliki’s desire to throw the US out sooner or later is heartening

Maliki’s response is due to political survivability, he’s walking a line to get stability for his position he does not want to lose from every possible direction.

By: utsu

utsu — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:46:26 +0000

"So you actually expect that Obama will end the war?"

That’s not my main priority - my desire is to see the war cleansed of contractors, mercenaries and neo-liberal fantasies about privatization and cheap oil. Once that has happened I’m more concerned about other things. I’m just saying that Maliki’s desire to throw the US out sooner or later is heartening - Maliki knows what the Iraqis want from their leader, and the US can’t denigrate him without denigrating the Iraqis. Even McCain is flip-flo - I mean straight-talking his way closer to talking about timeframes without leaving such a discussion for later. W as well. Everybody wins except the far-wingers who have made their silly position the holy grail.

By: Interested

Interested — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:12:15 +0000

Anyway, I truly love how people now will have difficulty saying that Obama is naive or inexperinced without coloring flip-flopping W with the same words. This is really cool and a boon to those who want this sad little mulligan-mulligan-mulligan war to end.

So you actually expect that Obama will end the war? He’s already saying 16 months out. I’d love to see how those rose-colored glasses fit.