Chicago Tribune: Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki backs Obama troop pullout plan

[Douglas Carpenter]

Maliki backs Obama troop pullout plan

link to full article:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-obama-iraq_2_5sjul20,0,2659361.story

By Liz Sly | Chicago Tribune correspondent
8:58 AM CDT, July 20, 2008

BAGHDAD—Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki threw his support behind Barack Obama's troop withdrawal plan in an interview published Saturday, ahead of an expected visit by the Illinois senator to a significantly calmer Baghdad than the one he last encountered two years ago.

"U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months," Maliki told the German news weekly Der Spiegel, referring to the plan the Democratic hopeful outlined last week to bring U.S. troops home over a 16-month period starting next year.

"That, we think, would be the right time frame for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes," Maliki said.

snip:"That the prime minister is publicly endorsing Obama's Iraq proposals may make it difficult for Republican presidential contender John McCain to continue to justify his support for a more open-ended commitment.

Maliki said his support for Obama's plan was not intended as an endorsement. However, he added, "those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq are being more realistic."

"Artificially prolonging the tenure of U.S. troops in Iraq would cause problems," Maliki said."

link to full article:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-obama-iraq_2_5sjul20,0,2659361.story