Obama’s Iraq pull-out plan is not Maliki’s plan

Charles Krauthammer claims that Iraq Prime Minister Maliki endorsed Barack Obama’s 16-month Iraq withdrawal plan, but it’s not true. Even Krauthammer seems to argue against his own point:

“Maliki’s very confidence allows him to set out a rapid timetable for U.S. withdrawal, albeit conditioned on continuing improvement in the security situation -- a caveat Obama generally omits. But Maliki calculates that no U.S. president, whatever his campaign promises, would be insane enough to lose Iraq after all that has been gained and then be saddled with a newly chaotic Iraq that would poison his presidency.”

I’m actually considering voting for Obama, but holy cow, that vote would have almost nothing to do with Iraq. Obama’s first plan was to have all troops out by three months ago, even in the face of genocide. Now his official plan is to have all troops out by May 20, 2010, and if you listen to the Democratic zealots, that’s May 20, 2010, no extensions, even if Iran is invading with Moktada al-Sadr at the lead.

The differences. But even before Obama left Iraq, Maliki’s spokesman was saying his hope was that all U.S. combat troops would be withdrawn “by the end of 2010,” and still, that would depend on actual security conditions in Iraq.

So Obama’s plan is 16 months, no turning back.

Maliki’s plan is 23 months, or maybe longer if the violence takes another upturn.

Those are two different plans. (In fact, Maliki’s plan is John McCain’s plan, except that McCain would leave Iraq even earlier if conditions permitted.)

Playing politics. If you don’t believe the Obama and Maliki plans are different, just imagine Barack Obama telling the Democratic National Convention next month that his 16-month plan really is at least 23 months. Would you expect applause?

Where Krauthammer is right is that Maliki sees his army growing, and he doesn’t believe any U.S. president would abandon a victory practically won. And, we forget too often, during the current talks on a new agreement covering U.S. forces in Iraq after 2008, Maliki has to pander to the Sadrists by looking as if he has no use for the Americans.

After meeting with Maliki, Obama made a major concession. He said he would not be “rigid” in applying his withdrawal plan. Just a few weeks ago, Democratic activists jumped all over Obama when he suggested his Iraq plan might be “revised.”

The big change. Now 16 months-fixed equals 23 months-plus, and the Democrats are turning a blind eye to Obama’s total revision. They know Obama has to look credible on foreign policy. Finally, the Democrats would rather win a war than lose an election.

Frank Warner

Comments

[Lou Marciano]

Barry is an empty suit. Why would you be "considering voting for him"?

[Frank Warner]

I'm still thinking about that. I will explain.