Obama meets with Maliki, Talabani

Posted: Monday, July 21, 2008 1:34 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
Obama is making the rounds in Baghdad today, meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, President Jalal Talabani and Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi.

"I have had a wonderful visit so far and excellent conversations," Obama said after the last meeting with al-Hashimi, "but we have several more meetings over the next two days and at that point, I'll give you a general assessment of the war."

VIDEO: Following a brief stop in Afghanistan, presidential hopeful Barack Obama travels to Iraq to meet with U.S. commanders and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports from Baghdad.

Calling Obama "precise" and "specific," Hashimi praised Obama for learning about the conditions on the ground.

Questions to Hashimi after his meeting with Obama quickly turned to the Illinois senator's proposed 16 month timetable. While Iraqi government spokesperson Ali Dabagh earlier called for a timetable "up to the end of 2010," Hashimi did not want to be bound to such specifics. "I don't want in fact to put any rigid or hard time schedule on that," Hashimi said, instead calling for a compromise on when American troops should return to the United States, along with taking care of a security vacuum and upgrading the capacity and potential of the Iraqi armed forces.

Hashimi said he would "be happy if I reach an agreement to say for instance, the 31st of December 2010 would be the last time where by the last American unit leaving Iraq," but conceded that "whatever the end, whatever the conclusion, it will be written on a consensus basis."

The vice president hesitated when asked if he thought Obama was a man who would compromise, before saying the senator "presented himself that these things in fact need a compromise." Hashimi said he would work with whomever becomes president of the United States.

"First of all, the criteria is my country's common interest, not whoever might be in the White House. So whoever might be in fact the next president of United States, I'm going to work with him."

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Comments

Will this give Obama "gravitas" or will he need to use Biden as a VP?

Jamie, Pine City, NY (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:41 PM)

Something missed by the media is that most everywhere Obama goes people are smiling. No matter if it is meeting with supporters, talking to advisers, meeting World leaders or even taking an aerial tour of Baghdad; when Obama is around... people can not help but feel the optimism of this guy.

It is all about charisma. Some people have it and some do not.
Compare this with the forced laughs at bad McCain jokes or the stoic appearance of the participants in his town halls. Charisma is something all great leaders have (whether you agree with them or not on policy).

It is no small point, sometimes it is force of personality and pure charisma that gets people to put aside differences and come together.

Washington had it, Lincoln had it, Roosevelt (Teddy and Franklin) had it, Kennedy had it, Reagan had it and Clinton had it.

Obama has it and McCain does not.

http://laststopmidwest.blogspot.com

James, Wichita, KS (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:43 PM)

Oh, so Hashimi isn't really wanting a pullout date? Has it occurred to anybody that they might have been getting worried that Obama elected he would have started jerking troops out immediately and that maybe they want some idea of how long to expect support. And, BTW, Stinky, you were in Afghanistan for about 24 hrs and made your "assessment". Why is it going to take so long in Iraq since you already have your plan and Iraq doesn't matter to you?

NObama (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:48 PM)

The issues of Afaghanstan and Iraq has exposed McCain for what he is...he still believes that just because he was a POW, he is smart and intelligent...but events in recent days have shown McCain has neither strategy nor does he understand the world. If he is smart, how comes it took him 25 years to succeed as a presidential candidate?

Obama's grasp of issues around the globe actually makes him a better commander in chief. McCain has shown time and again he does not quite understand the world...he is simply unfit to be commander-in-chief.

Stephen, Missouri (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:49 PM)

Oh thank you, General Obama. Please do give me a "general assessment of the war," which I shall accept as gospel, rather than the assessments which have been put forth by our generals who actually do this for a living.

Joe (NJ) (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:49 PM)

Before all of the wing nuts on the right claim that Obama is planning to surrender in Iraq, let me just say:
1. In just a few hours, Obama has gained more praise from Iraqi leaders than W has in 5 years.
2. W is also talking about "targeted horizons" for withdrawal now - you may think it's different than a timetable, but it's no different from what Obama has been talking about all along.
3. Obama's plan is not a surrender, nor is it set in stone. Obama has consistently said we need to be as careful getting out as we were careless getting in. That means he will withdraw troops along a general timeline, but will adjust based on conditions on the ground.

If Obama's meetings continue to go this well, McCain might as well hop on his wife's plane and go home. In fact, he can just do it now. The repubs will have to cheat (again, but much more) to win in November.

KJ, CR, IA (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:51 PM)

It was probably refreshing for the foreign leaders to talk to someone that seemed to have command of the English language instead of leader that talked as though he was still in grade school. The election can't come too soon to suit me. Let's hope people elect someone we can be proud of.

JoAnn, Moundsville, WV (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:51 PM)

Calling Obama "precise" and "specific," Hashimi praised Obama for learning about the conditions on the ground.

Sounds like Commander-In-Chief credentials to me.

Sounds like the Irai's want us out by 2010.

Sounds like the Iraqi's threw McCain under the bus again today.

....and the McCain repsonse will be....wait for it....If it weren't for the surge...blah blah blah.

He can't even get the Gop ot the Iraqi's to agree with him

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:51 PM)

No matter how Bush/McCain try to spin it. Al-Maliki said exactly what he meant to say to the German magazine. We are seeing Obama's character by the fruits of his labor. It is being reported that up to a million people will come out to hear Obama at the Tower in Germany. This is indeed a wonderful trip.

It will be so fine to have a President who can think, remember, have positive energy, care about Americans, and work to solve world problems. We haven't had that for a long, long time.

Ron Indiana (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:54 PM)

I just hope that it's not all about charisma - that it will be supported by actions that work. It's not about learning on the job but actually applying wisdom to every major decision that have to be made. I just hope that he is not about pleasing the crowd but actually will decide on what is best for everyone.

We've had enough of the learn-on-the-job-best-friend-neophyte Presidency. We all know where that took us. Now we are backing another -not-that-experienced person on the job simply because we don't have much of a choice. I can only hope that this time it's a different case.

Joyce, NY (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:55 PM)

Charisma is something all great leaders have (whether you agree with them or not on policy
---------------
James in Wichita: All great leaders might have it. But, having charisma does not make a person a good leader. The ice cream man makes people smile so why don't we elect him President?

NObama (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:56 PM)

1. Wonder how many dead and wounded American's we've suffered during the "Surge" as McCain claim's credit for this change in "Battlefield TACTICS". Not sure how anyone can claim this was a strategy.
2. If Iraq wants us to leave and we refuse, isn't that by definition an occupation.
3. Fairness in the Press. Listening to McCain is like watching paint dry.

Over 60 Nucklehead (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:57 PM)

gee the meeting must have gone bad. Hashimi didn't get a "tingle up his leg" like Chris Matthews when hearing Obama speak.

NObama (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:58 PM)

MALIKI WAS 100% IN AGREEMENT WITH SEN. OBAMA WHEN HE GAVE HIS INTERVIEW TO THE GERMAN NEWSPAPER. HOWEVER, AFTER THE STORY CAME OUT, SOMEONE PULLED HIS COAT TAILS AND TOLD HIM TO BACK OFF HIS COMMENTS, IT'S OBVIOUS, YOU DON'T NEED A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO KNOW THAT THE PLAN HAS A TIME TABLE BUT SOMEONE WANTS TO KEEP IT A SECRET UNTIL AMERICAN VOTES FOR A NEW PRESIDENT.

AMERICANS ARE VERY SMART YET REPUBLICANS DON'T GIVE US CREDIT BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT LIVED UP TO OUR INTELLECT IN THE PAST BUT WE ARE AND WE WILL COME NOVEMBER. WE CAN SMELL A RAT COMING.

TIME HORIZON IS A TIMETABLE NO MATTER THAT THE ADMINISTRATION THINK THAT WE THE PEOPLE ARE NOT SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE, THERE IS NONE.......

IF THIS ADMINISTRATION SPENT MORE TIME FOCUSING ON SOLVING OUR CRITICAL ISSUES RATHER THAN SPENDING TIME FIGURING OUT "BUZZ WORDS THAT AMERICANS CAN BE FOOLED WITH" THEY COULD GET A LOT MORE DONE BEFORE LEAVING IN THE FALL.

vl, fl (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:01 PM)

Iraq has a Vice President?

Who knew?

P.S. I wonder if Senator McCain wants to push Senator Obama to do anything else? The Obama campaign should definitely send Senator McCain some doughnuts or something - this was a great idea!

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:03 PM)

We're all good, we're all on the same page. Iraq's leaders want the US Occupation forces out and 85% of Americans also want the US Occupation forces out of Iraq.

No one is hung up on the 16 month time line as much as the Republicans are, the rest of us don't care if it's 6 months, 12 months, 18 months or even 24 months. As long as a carefully planned and executed withdrawal takes place, America is happy -- with the exception of the war mongering, neo-con, chicken hawks, but then, they've run things for to long, it's time for them to crawl back under their rocks and let the rest of us get on with peace and prosperity.

Obama 08

NoMcCain (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:04 PM)

Hashimi calls Obama "precise" and "specific". Is this a dig at McCain who seems to lump all factions and even all countries in the region together? If so it's very understandable.

Imagine how aggravating listening to McCain lump Shia with Sunni, el Qaeda with Iran, and talking about the Iraq/Pakistan border must be to proud ethnically, religiously and politically diverse people. It's like being told "whatever, you all look alike to me". How nice it must be for them to encounter a multi-ethnic American who comes by sensitivity to such distinctions so naturally.

Sounds to me like Obama is the guy who can best make our case to the world on a wide range of negotiable issues.

Solution Seeker (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:10 PM)

OBAMA ACTUALLY PRONOUNCES TALIBAN AND PAKISTAN CORRECTLY--- GIVING RESPECT TO CULTURAL PRONUNCIATION AND HE DOES NOT PRONOUNCE WORDS AS A WESTERNER WITH NO CULTURE.

celeste (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:11 PM)

Can there ever be a mature and adult discussion about issues instead of the constant snarking and sniping.

Can the man just finish his trip already?

If you aren't going to vote for him (fill in your 'him' here), fine. That's your right, but why the nasty commentary. That won't change anyone's mind or vote.

Does it just make you feel better?

Enough!

JessicaElaine (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:11 PM)

Barack Obama will not win unless he selects Hillary Clinton and he knows it. Bush has been a disaster and McCain has embraced all of his policies. A smart person would think the Senator from Illinois would be far ahead in the polls, which he is not; face it, Obama will pick Hillary if he wants to win; if he doesn't, he'll lose and I will never forgive him if we get McCain.

The Senator from Illinois best wake up and smell the coffee brewing at the polling places, and fast.

Drama for Obama (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:11 PM)

I think everyone (particularly Sen McCain and Pres Bush) should pay attention to what the Vice President of Iraq said in the last paragraph. "The criteria is my country's interest."

Iraq is a sovereign nation. We don't get to dictate how long we stay and when we go - Iraq does.

It's too bad that Sen McCain doesn't agree. Thank God Sen Obama does.

Obama '08

Liz, NY (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:14 PM)

Over 60 Nucklehead (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:57 PM)

It's been an "occupation" for several years now; we never should have gone; once we did, we should have left years ago.

Drama for Obama (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:14 PM)

And that, Mr. Bush and Mr. McCain pay attention please, is how it is done.

Laffin (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:15 PM)

Do you remember when George HW pronounced Sadham Hussain like "So-dum" as in "A cleaner of shoes" in their language? McCain, Cheney and W are goofy. They are arrogantly always right.

This is totally refreshing. We need to do something else. The soldiers who have lost their lives would want their comrads to go home safely if we could do it today. The Bush Admin is trying to save its ripped up raggedy legacy and that is all.

kathy in michigan (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:16 PM)

JOE (NJ)
Every official from iraq is on board with the timetable as well as the plan to start withdrawing troops could it be that the republicans have been wrong this whole time and are dictating what our military has been saying about iraq? I guess everybody is wrong except you and the few followers he has left, I DONT THINK SO!

James Lawton, OK (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:16 PM)

So far, so good. From all the reporting from the various media; print, television, on-line, etc., Barack is handling these meetings with dignity and great grasp of the various situations on these particular regions.

I hope the media continue to follow closely, as to all the American people and world the chance to see how Barack interacts with the very leaders he hopes to join.

Lee-- Dallas, TX (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:16 PM)

Will this give Obama "gravitas" or will he need to use Biden as a VP?
Jamie, Pine City, NY (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 1:41 PM)

Biden is a wonderful person and would make an excellent VP; however, face it, Senator Obama should be much further ahead in the polls than he is; he needs Hillary Clinton; he knows it, everyone who is not too stubborn or selfish to admit it, knows it, too.

If Senator Obama loses because he refuses to pick to one person that will ensure his victory, I will never forgive him if he loses; shame on him if he doesn't wake up and realize he's doing terribly right now. He will not win without Hillary Clinton, period.

Drama for Obama (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:18 PM)

I really feel McCain needs to spend more time examining the problems that exist on the Iraq/Pakistan border... By the time he figures out the geography, this election will be over...

Someone needs to tell him to stop digging.

Lyn, KCMO (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:19 PM)

I believe the Iraqis are taking a bit of pleasure in tweaking W's nose. Note the specific date thrown out by Hashimi. Me thinks they smell lame duck...stewed lame duck. An opportunity to reclaim their country from KBR.

Gary Schear, bozeman Montana (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:19 PM)

Joe - About some of those generals. Did you know that they were given stock in some of those contracting businesses that are doing oh so well because of the war. They were given that stock so that they would say what Dubya wanted them to say.

And, by the way, the Commander in Chief is supposed to make the decisions not the generals. You get advice from generals, you don't kick them out when they disagree with you.

Oscar, Rio Vista CA (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:19 PM)

Solution Seeker: "Hashimi calls Obama "precise" and "specific". Is this a dig at McCain who seems to lump all factions and even all countries in the region together."

That's exactly how I took it.

I've got this impression the rest of the world, and especially Iraqis, are beyond tired of ignorant Americans, who are more interested in listing "evil" countries than in learning the specific dynamics at play in another country or region.

McCain, with his long string of ignorant statements about the relative power of al Qaeda in Iraq and which ethnic group the Iranians were supporting, has demonstrated he is another Bush - maybe not as uninformed as he seems, but even the seeming lack of information is problemmatic.

Obama must seem like such a relief from the era of the stupid American.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:22 PM)

James in Wichita:
We understtod wha tyou were saying when referring to great leaders with charisma. You did not say that was all they had to have as NObama has so incorrectly implied in order to provide a SA response. We understtod what you meant. And that is having charisma was one great quality for leader to have and that without it a person who may even have other qualities might not be as effective as another who has charisma.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:22 PM)

Wellyo CELESTE move over there or join up on OBAMMAS crusade for afganistan it wont matter how us western folks sound you can learn how to speak afgani seeing how the rest of the world is so fair and filled with wisdom like like beheadings the spanish inquisition or MUSSILINI or MAO maybe we could learn how to act from the kind hearted slavic people they helped the jews so much during WW2 AMERICA love it or leave it because aint nobody gonna change it OBAMMA included It is still with all its flaws the best place in the world

kenn (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:22 PM)

obama is the best person to handle the comming problems in iraq and afghanistan. and im happy that the bush administration is taking and applying some of obamas plans

Video of unenthusiastic anti-obama Protest
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/video-of-puma-just-say-no-deal-losers-hold-a-protest/
or
http://sensico2.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-blogs.html

camie (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:22 PM)

I actually now have more confidence in Obama and his judgment regarding the middle east - much more confidence than I have in McCain. McCain's latest - his concern about the Iraq-Pakistan border... Obama has been right since the start - McCain thinks it's still the 60's and every war is viet nam.

Lord help us.

Mary (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:23 PM)

Kennedy used his chrisma to get us into VIETNAM how bout hitler lotsa chrisma filled NURENBERG stadium lotsa fans the masses have been wrong plenty of times look at BUSHES approval rate after 911 golly we all love the guy,Since when have the dems been quoting MALIKI what a name reminds me of star trek,GEN. BETRAYUS give Obamma insight he dosent trust you or your plan unless its for AFGANISTAN OBAMMA is counting on YOU SIGN UP NOW AND FIGHT IN AFGANISTAN whats your excuse now demorat CHICKENHAWK HAH were all neo cons now right mister telecom OBAMMA

kenn (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:28 PM)

NObama, Maliki is already on record on supporting a pull-out plan that has a strong affinity to Obama's plan. Therefore whatever his vice president says, or interpreted to say, is irrelevant. Learn to read the news, guy.

DrToketee (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:30 PM)

Sadly...McCain...will not be able to agree with leaders that know where their countries are on the globe, McCain should take the 6th grade geography class that Gov Bush failed...thats if he dosen't scare the children when he gets mad when he gets called up to find the Czech Republic on the map and he can't find it.....

Alex P, Brooklyn, NY (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:30 PM)

Just an observation.

Maybe it's because of the increased press coverage, but doesn't seem that Obama is meeting with more of the senior members of government in each country he has been in. Certainly more than McCain did. Additionally, the comments from these government officials have been unusually complimentary to Obama.

Could be that these officials sense who will be the next POTUS.

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:30 PM)

So the Shiites want us out by 2010 and the Sunni and Kurds are a little more circumspect. I wonder why?

Alan, NJ (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:32 PM)

The McCain and Bush views always speak of ¨winning¨but they never say what ¨winning¨is. Yet, when they speak of Barack it is always in terms of ¨cut and run¨. The fact is they have never had a clear plan and that is why they leave it so open. They have played and continue to play politics with a war that kills. I have no respect for them as leaders. Refreshing to hear another leader speak of an american leader as precise and specific. Would that we had some of that during the last 8 years rather than the generalized fearand governing by deceit, smoke and mirrors. Voting for McCain is likely to give that liar Karl Rove one more door to open into the workings of our government. That man should be behind one door only...a cell door.

mexed, san antonio, texas (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:32 PM)

Obama knows the difference between Iran and Iraq, SHia and SUnni, that Iraq and Pakistan don't share a border, and that Czeckoslavakia no longer exists...can't say the same about McCain.

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:33 PM)

Hey NObama . . . you are starting to sound like a fish pulled outta the water and flapping around uselessly on the deck. There's alot of that noise going around out there lately. Let's spell it out for you . . . L-E-A-D-E-R-S-H-I-P. For those of you still not able to keep up, let's have this discussion again after the debates sparky.

Marilyn in Phoenix (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:36 PM)

"Please do give me a "general assessment of the war," which I shall accept as gospel, rather than the assessments which have been put forth by our generals who actually do this for a living."

Which generals? The ones Bush fired, or the ones who told him what he wanted to hear?

Remember, the PRESIDENT is the Commander-in-Chief, the President dictates policy, the President is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the campaign, not just the military aspect which is the general's purview, and war is an inherently political act (Clemenceau's may have said it best 'War is too serious a business to be left to the Generals').

Michael (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:39 PM)

Horizon definition according to Merriam Webster: Limit. Line definition according to Merriam Webster: Limit

Uses a Dictionary, USA (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:40 PM)

Wait a minute! Obama met with the Talabani? Terrorist!

OGLiberal (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:40 PM)

OBAMA ACTUALLY PRONOUNCES TALIBAN AND PAKISTAN CORRECTLY--- GIVING RESPECT TO CULTURAL PRONUNCIATION AND HE DOES NOT PRONOUNCE WORDS AS A WESTERNER WITH NO CULTURE.
celeste (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:11 PM)
-----------------------------------------------------

Most people don't even realize it's pronounced Iraq (e-rock)...I noticed this awhile back that Obama has properly pronounced countries, and helped Identify groups with the correct Pronunciation.

This is huge over there...you instantly lose respect if you cannot pronounce the names of countries and so forth. It's the details that Obama is bruising McCain on.

GP Chicago (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:40 PM)

When McCain claim he knows how to win wars, what war has McCain won? We respect his service in Vietnam, but his claim that he knows how to win wars is outlandinsh.

McCain also say that we should listen to Bush generals...how can we trust what they say when we know Bush had them cook the reasons of going to Iraq in the first place? Can these generals really be neutral? As Obama says' it is the commander in chief who makes the decisions...the US left Somalia and the country fell apart...yet no one accussed America of cutting and run...no nation should ever sacrifice its own men and women in uniform to quote "spread democracy throughout the middleast"

Has it occurred to McCain and Bush that the Iraqis too want peace? Where are the enemies that McCain and Bush keep referring to? The Sunnis, Kurds and Shiites are rulling together...why would they want to be joined by Al-qaeda?? It is time to let the boogieman rest...the scare tactics have outlived their usefulness.

Stephen, Missouri (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:42 PM)

NObama, the fact of the matter is, whether timeline/table or "time horizon," that's just talking about the particulars of WHEN - not IF - the American combat troops withdraw from Iraq. It's not the indefinite occupation stance of McCain; and, since Obama said that it was basicly an outline - that we would "be as careful getting out as we were careless getting in," and that deployemnt/withdrawal would depend on the conditions on the ground/talking to the commanders on the ground and troop safety (which he said back in Jan., during the Dem primaries, so this is no flip flop or linge to the center/middle for the GE), this has not altered, countered, or "corrected" Obama's position. It favors HIS foreign policy over McCain's "100 years." Obama's still right that we never should have been in Iraq in the first place (current "success" of the surge notwithstanding); al Quaeda WAS, and still is, in Afghanistan and Pakistan (where the elusive bin Laden has been hiding), there were no WMDs in Iraq, and Obama was right about needing a "surge" in Afghanistan and exhausting all possibilities with Iran, including diplomatic talks without preconditions. I am amazed at backwards Repubs and neocons who get stuck on stupid with "16 mos," but REFUSE to listen to anything Obama has said that tells that that was an OUTLINE for withdrawal (not a rigid timetable/line), a rough draft, a talking point, to get the Iraqi government to be TRULY independent and democratic, if they know we won't hold their hands forever, at the costs of OUR lives, and on OUR dime.

sheribaby, St. Louis, MO. (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:45 PM)

There was a time in our history when we recognized the right of countries to 'self-determination'. There is no reason to pursue the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive military action even one second into his successor's presidency. It is such a positive step to see Obama reaching out already overseas.

http://ilfamilypolitics.blogspot.com

Midwest Mom, Illiana (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:48 PM)

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