Iraqi Government Confirms Preference For 2010 Withdrawal
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Barack, Foreign Policy, Iraq, McCain, Video, WarAnd this time, just so there’s no confusion, they say it in English.
So…is this definitive enough for all of you who’ve been doubting that Maliki meant sooner rather than later? Is the word “timetable” specific enough?
Meanwhile, Obama is talking about a timetable that specifically states we would get out by 2010, and McCain has hinted at a plan that has us out by 2013, but he certainly won’t commit to any actual “timetable,” because he claims that would tip off the enemy to when we’d be leaving (as if we could actually leave unnoticed?).
2010 sounds fine by me.
How about you?
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July 21st, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Fine by me. I vaguely somebody in this administration saying that we can stand down when the Iraqi’s stand up. Ok. They stood up. We have a glorious victory. We get to stand down now. Well, between now and 2010.
I just hope MCain figures it out in the next 24 hours and does not blow this opportunity to get on the same side with most of the American people. He could turn this election around right now by embracing Maliki’s statements.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:02 pm
[...] Donklephant [...]
July 21st, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Al-Dabbagh said the government did not endorse a fixed date, but hoped American combat units could be out of Iraq sometime in 2010. That timeframe falls within the 16-month withdrawal plan proposed by Obama, who arrived in Iraq earlier in the day as part of a congressional fact-finding team.
“We are hoping that in 2010 that combat troops will withdraw from Iraq,†al-Dabbagh told reporters, noting that any withdrawal plan was subject to change if the level of violence kicks up again.
Note the selective tight clip of the video to delete the context.
But partisans hear what partisans want to hear. Iraq is playing its own game, not ours, not Obama’s, not McCain’s. (To my mind that’s a good thing, if somewhat annoying in the silly season of domestic elections.)
Expect further “refinement” of Obama’s “plan,” and ask yourself whom is pulling whose strings here.
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:50 am
McCain needs to be asked “If the Iraqi government asks us to leave, how would you react?” How long we stay is not solely our decision, and it looks like (at least at the moment) the Iraqi government wants us to start withdrawing soon. I’m with mw – violence is way down, and the government looks like it’s starting to function. The threat of civil war seems to be passed. To me, that sounds like we’re winning, so we should be able to start withdrawing soon. I don’t expect that the Iraqis can do without us completely (as McCain has pointed out, their Air Force is next to non-existant), so I expect it to take a while, but I think we should be able to cut our forces in half over the next couple years. I’m really happy that Obama wasn’t elected a couple years ago. Had we pulled out then, Iraq would have been a royal mess. But if they tell us to leave, we need to start leaving – and it looks like that’s going to happen.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:28 am
Tom,
McCain was asked that question. In 2004. And he gave the right answer. All he needs to do is repeat that exact same answer verbatim.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Lets say in late 2009, Iran is caught red-handed procuring fuel for a nuclear bomb. Imagine the most definitive and compelling evidence possible. Israel launches a military strike against Iranian facilities, Iran strikes back, gives Hezbollah the green light and starts a terrorist campaign inside Iraq. Territories are taken over by militias, suicide bombs in Bagdad, kidnappings, the whole deal. Iraq is on the verge of collapsing again – should we put a hold on the timetable and use our security forces to get a hold on the situation? Justin says no.
I’m not so sure that would be so wise to continue withdrawing troops. I don’t think Obama would either. What’s the point of a fixed timetable for withdrawal with no regard for the security situation at any given time?
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:46 pm
ADDENDUM:
Brilliant move by the McCain campaign today, as he says he would like to bring the troops home sooner than 16 months, if conditions permit.
This just points to the fallacy of a fixed timetable, as if it is the only way to get troops home; as if achieving victory and then moving out according to conditions on the ground is not a viable, not-to-mention better option.