Text size:

Barack Obama gets face time with Iraq's leaders

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

July 22, 2008

BAGHDAD - Face to face with Iraq's leaders, Barack Obama gained fresh support yesterday for the idea of pulling all U.S. combat forces out of the war zone by 2010. But the Iraqis stopped short of actual timetables or endorsement of Obama's pledge to withdraw American troops within 16 months if he wins the presidency.

The Democratic presidential contender also got a military briefing and a tour from the top U.S. commander in the region, Gen. David Petraeus, and he met with a few of the nearly 150,000 U.S. troops now well into the war's sixth year.

As Obama visited Iraq for the first time in more than two years, comments yesterday by the nation's government spokesman roughly mirrored the Illinois senator's withdrawal schedule and offered a glimpse of Iraq's growing confidence as violence drops and Iraqi security forces expand their roles.

"We are hoping that in 2010 that combat troops will withdraw from Iraq," spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said after Obama met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who has struggled to clarify Iraq's position on a possible timetable for a U.S. troop pullout.

Iraq's Sunni vice president, Tariq al-Hashemi, said after meeting Obama that Iraqi leaders share "a common interest ... to schedule the withdrawal of American troops."

"I'd be happy if we reach an agreement to say, for instance, the 31st of December 2010" as the departure date for the last U.S. combat unit, he said. That date would be some seven months later than Obama's 16-month timeline.

In Washington, the White House expressed unhappiness about Iraqi leaders' apparent public backing for Obama's troop withdrawal plans and suggested the Iraqis may be trying to use the U.S. presidential election as leverage for negotiations on America's future obligations in the country.

"We don't think that talking about specific negotiating tactics or your negotiating position in the press is the best way to negotiate a deal," White House press secretary Dana Perino said after al-Maliki was quoted in a magazine article supporting the 16-month troop withdrawal timeline proposed by Obama.

"It will not be a date that you just pluck out of thin air," Perino said. "It will not be something that Americans say, 'We're going to do - we're going to leave at this date,' which is what some have suggested."

The Bush administration has refused to set specific troop level targets, but last week offered to discuss a "general time horizon" for a U.S. combat troop exit.

This is the third leg of Obama's tour of the region, which has included stops in Kuwait and Afghanistan.

Obama, who is traveling in a congressional delegation with Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), wraps up his stop in Iraq today, and then heads to Jordan and Israel.

WHERE THEY STAND

Barack Obama and John McCain on key hot spots:

IRAQ

OBAMA: Has said he would withdraw U.S. troops from combat over 16 months. Says that "only by redeploying our troops can we press the Iraqis to reach comprehensive political accommodation. ... " Following the redeployment, a residual force in Iraq would perform "limited missions."

McCAIN: Has resisted any timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, calling it "strategically and morally essential" for the United States to support the Iraqi government until it becomes "capable of governing itself and safeguarding its people."

AFGHANISTAN

OBAMA: Says the war in Afghanistan, where Taliban- and al-Qaida-linked militants are increasingly aggressive, deserves more troops and attention than the conflict in Iraq. He advocates a relationship with the Afghan government based on "more for more - more resources from the United States and NATO, and more action from the Afghan government to improve the lives of the Afghan people."

McCAIN: Says the strategy of increasing troop levels in Iraq should also be applied to Afghanistan. McCain says three more brigades should be sent to Afghanistan, as well as a presidential envoy to deal with countries vying for power in the region. Also says the Afghan army must be doubled to about 160,000 troops and has called on foreign countries to help pay.

IRAN

OBAMA: Says he will push for an incentive package that seeks to deter Iran from its nuclear goals. But he continues to fend off criticism stemming from remarks he made in a debate last summer that he would be willing to meet with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea "without precondition." His campaign has since added nuance to that position.

McCAIN: Says the recent testing of Iranian missiles "coupled with Iran's continued refusal to cease its nuclear activities should unite the international community in efforts to counter Iran's dangerous ambitions." A key leg of U.S. strategy, he added, should be the construction of an "effective missile defense." McCain also backs tougher sanctions against Tehran.