OH NO... The new drumbeat: Obama shouldn't

have been negotiating with a world leader about the war and
when it would end.

Watch this grow like a cancer. David Gergin (sp) saying
now on cnn how unprecedented it is.

David said that we have a president to do that.

Barf

He NEGOTIATED with a world leader about the war and when it would end?

And he's not even president yet?

WOW -- he's better than I thought!! Now THAT has to be the mark of a truly exceptional leader!!

Thanks for letting us know, Gergen! WOOHOO!!! :woohoo:

Bush has done nothing to end this war. Bush has done everything in his power to prolong it.

for the station. His goal now is to help finagle some kind of
long term gravy train contracts of some sort.

for the station. His goal now is to help finagle some kind of
long term gravy train contracts of some sort.

Obama, Hagel, Reed say Iraqi government progress lags.
By Lynn Sweeton July 21, 2008 6:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

AMMAN, JORDAN--Wrapping up a visit to Iraq, presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and two senators along on the trip--Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) issued a delicately worded statement near 2 a.m. here, in time for the Tuesday papers and news in the U.S.


Statement of Senators Obama, Reed, and Hagel on Trip to Iraq


BAGHDAD, IRAQ - U.S. Senators Barack Obama, Jack Reed and Chuck Hagel traveled today to Iraq, first to Basra, then to Baghdad. In Basra, they met with U.S., British and Iraqi troops; Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin, Commander Multinational Corps - Iraq; Major General Barney White-Spunner (UK), Commander, Multinational Division Southeast; and Major General Abdul Aziz, Commander, 14th Iraqi Army Division. In Baghdad, the Senators met with U.S. troops; Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki; President Jalal Talabani; Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi; and Vice President Adil Abdulmahdi. They received a detailed briefing from and consulted extensively with U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus, Commander, MNF Iraq. They visited with doctors, nurses and patients at the 86th Combat Support Hospital and took part in a helicopter over flight of Baghdad conducted by General Petraeus.


"We are in Iraq to thank our troops, diplomats and civilians for the remarkable job they are doing and to let them know that, back home, Americans are proud of them. We came to consult with our military leaders, embassy team and the Iraqi government about a way forward in Iraq that advances the interests of the United States, Iraq and the entire region.


"We found a strong, emerging consensus on a number of critical points:


"First, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our armed forces, more effective Iraqi security forces, the decision by the Sunni Awakening to fight 'Al Qaeda in Iraq' and the cease-fire by Shiite militia, violence in Iraq is down significantly. An overwhelming majority of Iraqis reject what remains of 'Al Qaeda in Iraq' and violent militias.


"Second, political progress, reconciliation and economic development continue to lag. There has been some forward movement, but not nearly enough to bring lasting stability to Iraq.


"Third, Iraqis want an aspirational timeline, with a clear date, for the redeployment of American combat forces. Prime Minister Maliki told us that while the Iraqi people deeply appreciate the sacrifices of American soldiers, they do not want an open-ended presence of U.S. combat forces. The Prime Minister said that now is an appropriate time to start to plan for the reorganization of our troops in Iraq -- including their numbers and missions. He stated his hope that U.S. combat forces could be out of Iraq in 2010.


"Fourth, Iraqis seek a long term partnership with the United States to promote political and economic progress and lasting stability. In particular, they want our continued help in training Iraqi security forces, helping conduct counter-terrorism operations, developing Iraq's economy and advancing political compromise. Vice President Abdulmahdi noted that "the quality of American engagement matters more than the quantity."


"We raised a number of other issues with the Iraqi leadership, including our deep concern about Iranian financial and material assistance to militia engaged in violent acts against American and Iraqi forces; the need to secure public support through our respective legislatures for any long term security agreements our countries negotiate; the importance of doing more to help the more than 4 million Iraqis who are refugees or internally displaced persons; and the need to give our troops immunity from Iraqi prosecution so long as they are in Iraq.


"America has a strategic opportunity to build a new kind of partnership with Iraq and to refocus our foreign policy on the many other pressing challenges around the world - starting with the resurgence of Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan."



http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/07/obama-hagel-reed-say-iraqi-gov.html

Coulda fooled me.

.

Leaders talk Dave, not just go wave their dicks around and threaten countries whenever the fancy strikes them.

No negotiation or discussion of Iraq withdrawal - smart move on Obama's part. No coercian.

DUers are than the mass media. I am a nobody - but just from
reading the posts here, I constantly notice errors and
omissions during news and interviews.

Anderson Cooper and Gloria Borger were sitting right there
with Gergen. That should have known what you know - but
didn't.

full of it. How could he negotiate....under what authority. Unfortunately we still have King George in charge as our commander and thief.

:silly:

"Barack Obama has just made the first mistake of his foreign policy trip". Yeah, it's apparently INTERJECTING oneself into negotiations by releasing a fucking statement AS HE'S LEAVING THE COUNTRY, even though each Iraqi official who he met with said that they did not discuss his plan for withdrawal. Fuck David Gergen. And then Gloria Borger chimed in "Yes, it was a mistake, and it will be interesting to see how Republicans and Democrats will classify Maliki now that he has taken sides and is CLEARLY doing it for domestic reasons." Uh, Domestic reasons? Why else would he do it, its THEIR FUCKING COUNTRY! Peter reporting for Iraq definitely dealt them a little blow by saying that the surge alone was not responsible for decreasing the violence, and that if it had been JUST the surge, violence would still be up. David Gergen then completely ignored that and started to talk about the success of the surge and I swear I could hear Peter trying to talk over him. They were also doing their best to try and paint Obama's statement as admitting that the Surge! had worked, even though his statement said no such thing, and had instead pointed out numerous factors having to do with bringing down violence.

:puke:

If he doesn't make a mistake or commit a "gaffe" they will simply make one the hell up.

Disgusting - but right out of the Repuke playbook.

certainly they can't glean that from the statement, where they only reported what they were TOLD by Iraqi leaders. But they must trump up a charge anyway. Gotta make sure to level the field and slam Obama on something.

but the way they mischaracterized it was just so blatant. He must really be doing well.

Maliki had to defy their wishes to kiss AssHat's butt. Now, he sees the real "horizon"
getting rid of the evil-doers - BushCo - and ya just can't blame the guy - he's HAPPY

the Iraqi leaders thought, and NOT to see how things were going. Apparently, they were supposed to go on the taxpayer dime for the fine cuisine and the hot Iraqi chicks. But they accidentally stumbled into discussions of substance and import, and that is a no-no.