Let's get real: White House interferes in the election, then accuses Iraq

[Youphemism]

First, the White House has Condoleezza Rice release a statement telling US staff overseas not to help US Senators traveling on a diplomatic mission -- something that wasn't issued before McCain's trips to Colombia and Canada.

Then, when the leader of a sovereign nation -- *before* Obama's visit -- announces his country's *preferences* for the disposition of US troops on his soil, the White House first claims he was mistranslated, then claims he was misunderstood, then when he doesn't bow to pressure, claims he's playing with the US election.

Who do they think they're they kidding?

These were despicable actions on the part of the White House to use foreign policy maneuvers to influence the election. Someone needs to call them on this.

As a democratically elected representative, al-Maliki has every right to tell the US when he wants our troops to leave. But he didn't do that. He has every right to ask us to accept a proposal of a time to leave. But he didn't do that, either. He simply suggested a vague, movable preferred time for his country to stand on its own, without US troop support.

When the White House couldn't get him to retract that suggestion, they attacked him for doing exactly what it's doing: Using the US military and foreign policy as a pawn in the election season.

Someone needs to call them on this. Forget the "Who's Ahead Today?" game and look at how the White House is taking a direct role in trying to manipulate foreign nations to influence our election process. It wasn't enough to try to do it behind the scenes. Now the White House is making public accusations about a foreign leader for doing exactly what the administration itself has been unsuccessfully trying to do.

This could have a very negative impact on our relationship with Iraq at the same time we're trying to convince that country not to be influenced by Iran -- and all just to promote a public perception that Obama's timeline is "unrealistic" -- even as *multiple* nations are embracing that exact position.

This administration is wrongly using its power to try to influence the outcome of the upcoming election. And, in case you can't tell, it's pissing me off. I hope the media wakes up and spotlights this issue.

[pinto]

1. Good points.

:kick:

[Youphemism]

2. One minor self-edit...

"the White House first claims he was mistranslated" -- in fact, the White House had the military claim he was mistranslated. I don't want to overlook that point of manipulation.

[opihimoimoi]

3. K&R Good call. Desperate Rats scurry for holes to escape. BushCo are using dirty tricks

no end to achieve the impossible,,,stealing yet another election.

[fasttense]

4. The bush also manipulated a foreign nation to influence our election

when he went to Israel and spoke before the Knesset with that ridiculous statement against negotiating with our enemies; comparing negotiations to appeasing Hitler.

Republicans will use everything they have to attack Obama because they are so, so desperate.

[Youphemism]

5. Very good point. The media even (casually) mentioned that one...

...So it's an established pattern of behavior already. That should make it all the more glaring to them each time it happens again.